Small Talk: The Prayer Closet

[CalicoKitty]

Now it is back to normal.  I don't know what is going on.

 

[EtheltoTillie]

12 hours ago, CalicoKitty said:

Now it is back to normal.  I don't know what is going on.

 

I had that problem briefly last night also, but then it fixed itself. 

[floridamom]

I have noticed that since our "traffic light" advisory, the number of posts has dropped. I know I'm nervous about posting comments for the most part as they might be screened incorrectly. Do you fellow posters feel the same way?

[Fosca]

I'm assuming this will all be going away in April 1, so I'm finding alternate places for snark.

 

[floridamom]

Fosca, before you go, please post here where that will be as I wouldn't want to lose the great people who post here on the Counting On thread. Thank you so much.

[Salacious Kitty]

10 minutes ago, floridamom said:

Fosca, before you go, please post here where that will be as I wouldn't want to lose the great people who post here on the Counting On thread. Thank you so much.

They have asked that we do that via DM. 

[Iguessnot]

9 minutes ago, floridamom said:

I have noticed that since our "traffic light" advisory, the number of posts has dropped. I know I'm nervous about posting comments for the most part as they might be screened incorrectly. Do you fellow posters feel the same way?

I noticed this discrepancy: Let's turn this 🔴Yellow Light to 💚Green by 4/1/24. We can do this!

I don't know if the red dot was called Yellow light initially, but that's what is posted now. I got criticized for comments I made after the red lights went up, but I still don't know what initially caused the disciplinary action since I hadn't read these forums for about 2 or 3 days prior. It's about as quiet as a nunnery here, so we will see.

[AstridM]

58 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

They have asked that we do that via DM. 

When?

[Salacious Kitty]

2 minutes ago, AstridM said:

When?

There's a mod note at the top of the page.

Out of respect for your fellow posters, we kindly ask that you continue any discussion about alternatives via PM or the Technically Speaking: Bugs, Questions, & Suggestions area.

Edited March 18 by Salacious Kitty

[AstridM]

1 minute ago, Salacious Kitty said:

There's a mod note at the top of the page.

Thanks, I missed it. They posted that, yet still won’t give us any details on what kinds of posts they found inappropriate here? 🤦‍♀️

[On the Bias]

I almost never comment, but I read here every day and have so much enjoyed sharing this space with all of you!  Would someone kindly DM me with the site where I can find you all again?  Thanks so much!

[Meow Mix]

2 hours ago, On the Bias said:

I almost never comment, but I read here every day and have so much enjoyed sharing this space with all of you!  Would someone kindly DM me with the site where I can find you all again?  Thanks so much!

Same here.  My favorite thing about this site was that it became are real community where people supported each other, especially during the pandemic isolation.  I also love the no politics policy.  That's why I have avoided other places where personal sniping happens frequently and everything turns into politics.  

I also want to say that I have worked in the DEI space for years in a large corporation as a volunteer in addition to my day job.  I helped socialize and implement DEI policies and learned from some very good facilitators how to have delicate discussions.  When I facilitated discussions, we had concrete examples in the ground rules of how someone could express a delicate point rather than vague guidelines.  That helped people to have healthier discussions.

So given my background, I think I know what I am talking about when I say that the lack of engagement here except for punishment is not the way to go about raising the bar of conversation.  I absolutely am fine with changing thread titles and doing away with some derogatory nicknames (particularly ones aimed at children), but engage with us.  We want to preserve this space and we are willing to work with you.  A mod engaged on the Sister Wives forum and got a positive response and that forum can get pretty snarky.  Why is it different here?  I understand the mods may be overwhelmed, but if you are going to say do better or else we will shut you down, give some concrete ways we can do better.  

[oliviabenson]

All the mods will do is drive away the regular posters aka lower the traffic to the site. I mostly post on here and I lost interest as is. So when this portion closes I don’t think I’m gonna post at all. Oh  well everything changes…

[CouchTater]

The ambiguity here at Counting On is getting really old.  I have always admired the intelligent posters and postings that we have here, and quite frankly, I find the "elevate the dialogue" (or whatever it is) mandate to be a little bewildering and insulting.

Random question:  why is this post recommended at top of this page?  I have no opinion one way or the other on the post, I just don't understand the logic:

 

Edited March 19 by CouchTater

[Ancaster]

6 hours ago, Fosca said:

I'm assuming this will all be going away in April 1, so I'm finding alternate places for snark.

 

I don't watch and have never watched the tv program and only got here by some fluke.  I didn't even realize the connection for years and for me it's never been anything other than a friendly, supportive chat site.  I just scratched my head and moved on from references to people with weird spellings like Jinger that I'd never heard of - and wondered what idiots would spell it like that.  All I knew was that I'd stumbled across a place where I could reach out or reach back, where we could share funny stories about our whacky families or silly misadventures, where politics weren't involved.

What I really don't understand is why the mods can't just come on and say something transparent and actually acknowledge that we're wondering what's going on.  Something like, "While the parent thread is being closed down, we love this particular thread and how you just offer a supportive and non-combative space to chat, so we will be moving it to xxx.blahblah.xyz"

Too much to ask?  Obviously, yes.

Edited March 19 by Ancaster

[ChiCricket]

3 hours ago, On the Bias said:

I almost never comment, but I read here every day and have so much enjoyed sharing this space with all of you!  Would someone kindly DM me with the site where I can find you all again?  Thanks so much!

Ditto for me...the more places DMed to me the better! Please and Thank you!

[jcbrown]

1 minute ago, ChiCricket said:

Ditto for me...the more places DMed to me the better! Please and Thank you!

Same, please. I am beyond frustrated with the current situations, as others have articulated.

[kaleidoscope]

I would also really appreciate a DM about where everyone will be.  Thank you.

[Ancaster]

That's a lot of DM-ing we're asking for!  I'd love one too, but there's got to be a better way.

[Ancaster]

Posting while I still can.  Thanks everyone.

 

Through a sort of clearing site for volunteers, I've been trying for a couple of months to connect with a very elderly person who is just looking for company once a week.  (Don't worry, it's through a very well-recognized organization, all above board, legally cleared, sanctioned, vetted, etc!)  We've spoken on the phone and he's asked that I come visit.

(The clearing house checks references, puts any would-be volunteers through background checks, etc.)

The ineptitude of the paid (and yes I'm sure over-worked and under-compensated) person in charge of this has been flabbergasting.

I thought we had finally got to the point of the "client" and me meeting (tomorrow), when this point person just emailed to ask for my phone number so they could make sure everything was cleared.

It's not just that it was on all the masses of paperwork and clearances needed for me even to get to this point, but could they really not just go up to the last-but-one email and see that I add it as part of every signature?  Do client files no longer exist?

Sorry to take my frustration out on you all, but this person is at the end of his life and has no family or friends to visit him.  Something is wrong with the situation.

I have the address so I'm just going to go anyway and deal with the consequences.

Edited March 19 by Ancaster

[Fosca]

I've been reading here for twenty years, through the various permutations, when I heard about this bizarre Duggar family (I've still never seen an episode).  I came for the snark (and, in the case of the TWoP version, the Doctor Who recaps from Jacob), and if this goes snark-free, I don't see a reason to stay.  I'm not interested in sincerity and such when it comes to the Duggars, and I rarely use this Small Talk forum (but I don't begrudge those who do; anywhere one can find community is well worth keeping), so I'll likely just go where the snark is.  As it is, this is pretty much the only set of forums I read; the others tend to be sincere rather than snarky and I'm looking for escape and laughter so this new version likely won't be a place for me.

I wish you all the best.

[GeeGolly]

Maybe its just me, but DMing info doesn't feel very inclusive. 

Anyway, we had a week of spring like weather last week and now that spring will official start the cold weather is back. Its currently in the mid 30s and we'll start the first day of spring in the 20s.

[jcbrown]

9 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

Maybe its just me, but DMing info doesn't feel very inclusive. 

It's not just you.  It's "you people in the demographic we're not interested in are making trouble with your rationality so shut up while we quietly let the active threads with good community die. But we're not going to engage with you because we've already made up our minds."

[Ancaster]

I've tried to respond and have had my posts deleted.

I've tried to respond and posts I've quoted have been deleted.

At this point I just hope to read what someone else has to say.

(I'm really hoping those hairs on the palms of my hands aren't an indication of something truly serious.)

Edited March 19 by Ancaster

[jcbrown]

I suspect others feel similar to the way I do. I have been chatting with many here for close to a couple of decades in several website iterations (TwoP on--there's a reason I have not changed this dumb username). This iteration of the discussion in particular is honestly one of the most inclusive spaces I've found online full stop. Many of you have been with me through the deaths of two parents. To be told without discussion that we're doing it wrong, to be threatened with deletion, and to have such a refusal of engagement on how to improve, is infuriating, infantilizing, and depressing.

[Salacious Kitty]

11 minutes ago, jcbrown said:

I suspect others feel similar to the way I do. I have been chatting with many here for close to a couple of decades in several website iterations (TwoP on--there's a reason I have not changed this dumb username). This iteration of the discussion in particular is honestly one of the most inclusive spaces I've found online full stop. Many of you have been with me through the deaths of two parents. To be told without discussion that we're doing it wrong, to be threatened with deletion, and to have such a refusal of engagement on how to improve, is infuriating, infantilizing, and depressing.

The mods need to see this. 

@CM-CrispMtAir @cm-soupsipper

[CalicoKitty]

I'm leaving Wednesday for the Arctic.  Packing for 20-30 degree weather is proving difficult, but I think I will make it.  I'm going to have to take a separate smallish bag just for my heavy boots and warm shoes.  I don't think I am overpacking, but everything is just bulky.  Anyway, this supposed to be a good year for viewing the Northern Lights (lots of sun spots, or something like that), so I hope I get some good views.  And I hope I don't freeze.  I love Norway, and have never been there in the cold weather, so this will be a new experience for me.  If anything happens here, please let me know where to show up.  I don't want to lose my friends!!

[Ancaster]

8 hours ago, CalicoKitty said:

I'm leaving Wednesday for the Arctic.  Packing for 20-30 degree weather is proving difficult, but I think I will make it.  I'm going to have to take a separate smallish bag just for my heavy boots and warm shoes.  I don't think I am overpacking, but everything is just bulky.  Anyway, this supposed to be a good year for viewing the Northern Lights (lots of sun spots, or something like that), so I hope I get some good views.  And I hope I don't freeze.  I love Norway, and have never been there in the cold weather, so this will be a new experience for me.  If anything happens here, please let me know where to show up.  I don't want to lose my friends!!

Have a wonderful trip!  I'm very jealous, despite the monster boot conundrum (don't ever forget to wear that additional pair of thin socks!).

PM me with an email address and note to remind me (Long Covid brain here!) and if the site disappears while you're gone, I'll try to keep you posted, or at least stay in touch.

Caveat emptor: I have zero insider information and no contacts and know nothing about anything, but if this closes down, I hope we'll all be able to reconnect somewhere.  I don't want to lose these friends either.

Edited March 19 by Ancaster

[Love2dance]

I would also like to be PM’d where to find everyone. I am overwhelmed when I look at some of the other sites mentioned here. Please send details of the exact threads where I can find my dear small talk friends. TIA

[oliviabenson]

Let’s meet in chit chat section.

[Lisa418722]

I feel about this forum like I do about my job.  You don't have to tell me I'm doing a wonderful job, but if I'm doing something wrong, tell me what it is so I can fix it. Otherwise, I'm going to continue doing what I'm doing.  I may not post often, but I do read this forum regularly and I will miss everyone. 

[GeeGolly]

If its demographics they're concerned about maybe we need to do a roll call for the under 40s who post here.

Also, again, even understanding this is a business with the goal of making money, the mission statement doesn't seem to jibe with the business model.

Edited March 19 by GeeGolly

[zoomama]

i m just sad to see the whole duggar forum dying off. since this notice was posted, the comments have dropped off to almost no new posts at all. i hate to see it go, for exactly the reason above...the social value and connections made here on small talk after all these years. i dont really like reddit and will likely not be there and i did join chit chat but its not the same.  i hope those in charge finally reevaluate and recognize this forum has kept growing even after the show was cancelled and has a strong following here.

[GeeGolly]

Who will play? Lets fill this jar. Using the first letter of your screen name, post something about Primetimer and/or the Counting On forum that you are grateful for. 

I'll start. I'm grateful for all the GENEROUS support from all the posters.

[beckie]

I've been here since TWOP, and at least when TWOP closed we had a place to go (here). 

This whole place has helped me get through some difficult times, this topic and a few others. I feel like I'm losing my lifeline.

If it comes to it, please DM me, too. 

 

I'm thankful for all of you and the delicious snark, that gave me laughs when they were sorely needed.

Edited March 19 by beckie

[Notabug]

48 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

Who will play? Lets fill this jar. Using the first letter of your screen name, post something about Primetimer and/or the Counting On forum that you are grateful for. 

I'll start. I'm grateful for all the GENEROUS support from all the posters.

I'm grateful for the NATURALLY kind and friendly posters who populate this forum.

[Salacious Kitty]

I'm grateful for the SAVVY people here who challenge me to think. 👍

59 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

Who will play? Lets fill this jar. Using the first letter of your screen name, post something about Primetimer and/or the Counting On forum that you are grateful for. 

I'll start. I'm grateful for all the GENEROUS support from all the posters.

@CM-CrispMtAir @cm-soupsipper

You should keep track of what's being said here. ❤️

Edited March 19 by Salacious Kitty

[ginger90]

56 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

Who will play? Lets fill this jar. Using the first letter of your screen name, post something about Primetimer and/or the Counting On forum that you are grateful for. 

I'll start. I'm grateful for all the GENEROUS support from all the posters.

#DEI

[emma675]

I'm grateful for the ENDLESS amount of support, wisdom, and laughs from the posters in this thread over the years. 

[Salacious Kitty]

#kindness #globalcitizenship

[frenchtoast]

2 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

Who will play? Lets fill this jar. Using the first letter of your screen name, post something about Primetimer and/or the Counting On forum that you are grateful for. 

I'll start. I'm grateful for all the GENEROUS support from all the posters.

I'm grateful for the FRIENDS I've made. 

#kindness

[CalicoKitty]

I'm thankful for all the CARING people on this site who are willing to share advise and their CONCERN for everyone.

[Mindthinkr]

2 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

Who will play? Lets fill this jar. Using the first letter of your screen name, post something about Primetimer and/or the Counting On forum that you are grateful for. 

I'll start. I'm grateful for all the GENEROUS support from all the posters.

We are a MAGICAL community of support and caring. 

[Turquoise]

I am grateful for the THOUGHTFUL people who populate this forum, who listen and are willing to share their knowledge to help others.

#kindness

[BradandJanet]

I'm grateful for the BRIGHTandJOVIAL people I've encountered on this forum over the many years. Counting On has been my go-to place to relax and interact after a long day at work or a busy weekend. You are all wonderful people, and I send you happy thoughts across this virtual space. 

[Lisa418722]

3 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

Who will play? Lets fill this jar. Using the first letter of your screen name, post something about Primetimer and/or the Counting On forum that you are grateful for. 

I'll start. I'm grateful for all the GENEROUS support from all the posters.

I'm grateful for the laughs and loving support that we share.  

[sixlets]

I'm grateful for the SUPPORT that is shown on a daily basis.  

I lurked for many months and worried about posting for the first time.  But, I felt welcomed immediately by so many.  And, I really need a place to vent about my husband and family when I can't do it on social media 😉

[Westiepeach]

I am grateful for the wonderful friends I have made on this forum!

[ozziemom]

4 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

Who will play? Lets fill this jar. Using the first letter of your screen name, post something about Primetimer and/or the Counting On forum that you are grateful for. 

I'll start. I'm grateful for all the GENEROUS support from all the posters.

I’m grateful for the OUTSTANDING thoughtfulness and support from all my fellow posters.

#kindness #gratitude

[Liddy52]

I'm grateful for LEARNING so much from all of you!