WomensSpace

[RazberrieTart]

Rabble good luck
I agree, times do change. And yes we do need to grow and adapt, but when things have veered so off course and ppl try to bring attention to it, to some it may seem as whining. Not necessarily. We have a problem and we brought it here. But like a few of the last posters have said "hurry up and read my post before it gets deleted" just makes me wonder as well. Why should we be in fear of having what we say deleted, that's just sad that we should be in such a state we are afraid to express what we feel needs to be said for fear of deletion or from being kicked out of the chatroom.
We are not all gifted speakers or typists, Lord knows how many things I have misspelled or left out of my posts. Hoggie I know tries her best with what she has and she should be commended for trying. Bookie and Susie had some very nce points, well said ladies ! Cookie, every room needs rules, you know that. Espeially one as ... for want of a better word.. structured as this site and rooms are. True chats can be fun, chats can be serious. But to just say rules are meant to be broken is kind of defeating the purpose. I do agree, we do need to bring some of the lightheartedness back into the fun chats though, make it a place where we do feel welcome, and relaxed.
And yea Jan is a great roomie and friend Not everything can or will be solved in a forum, but what is good is that we are making our views known. Brava and Bravo to everyone that has, may the rest who pass through also feel free to drop your views and sides and opinions in.

[cookieart]

Sounds like "rabblerouser" dosen't have a real life or get "sappy" hugs. I feel sorry for you.

[Rabblerouser]

Oh hun no need to feel sorry for me! I'm not really in a hugging place right now. I'm in a "waiting for someone to say something worthwhile" place.

I got all day.

[janpo1]

What may seem worthwhile to one person may mean something totally different to another so to judge people is wrong any way you look at it. When people are upset for whatever reason to just deem it not worthwhile is jumping to conclusions. People should be able to voice their own opinions without trying to hurt someone elses feelings. Freedom of speech is one of our great rights and to me anyone who is posting has strong feelings about things and should be heard. To just deem them not worthwhile and not "real life" is ridiculous. Wow is a women forum for women~ women of all races ~ straight or gay~ good typers or not. That's what wow women stand for.

[seo58]

{{{{{{{{{Twinkle, Twinkle}}}}}}} little Star, how I wonder where you are
I was gone for a while but am back to find you gone. I am very saddened by this, you are one of the sweetest persons I have ever chatted with and will miss you dearly
I dare not speak anymore but my whispers can be heard in the wind

[bitOme]

SPACE SPACE SPACE SPACE
Making your feelings/thoughts be known is good. I guess my question is for us all, how can we all make things better working together with WOW's and eachother to continue good chats and atmosphere in chats? I have seen some really good discussions along with playing too. Its a good diverse room and group of people. Not all will like all, but its our choice to better something by possitive input also.

Rabblerouser made some good points, so how can all of us make chats a place to learn, grow, empower ourselves and contribute? I don't see anything deleted above, but its also ok to disagree with something too. I think we all want the same things, so without (as Rabelrousser said) pulling out our claws, what can we add personally?

Chit chat is fun sometimes, but women's issues are very important too. I know we all have them. Something is said/done we don't understand, like, disagree with, is life. We don't have to like it, but we can't "stall" and lose focus on what we are all wanting to achieve together in the rooms and here on the boards. I have never seen or heard anyone say don't support someone. Doesn't mean it didn't happen, but the anger of some can't overshadow all the good I see from so many working hard to make this a good place. I'm sorry some are hurting, but can't we support without pointing fingers and tearing down too?

Calling names of anothers post is no better than what some are complaining about now, imo. Positive input gets things done. Lets be bigger than name calling and finger pointing and work together if we "really" want to have a good room. imo.

Raz and hog have posted some good things along with some things they don't agree with, thats a discussion, imo, not whining. So lets try to post growing, not get hung up on anger and such. Bring something to the table with a suggestion, otherwise, it gets redundant and ears seem to close, ya know? We're a great group and can go far if we stay focused and work for the good of all. So as Reblerousser said also, give some suggestions that are constructive if you have them. Lets do this!!

[cookieart]

Hear ye Hear ye to Jan. Amen to that! Wtg Jan! My hero!

[Rabblerouser]

Originally posted by janpo1
Wow is a women forum for women~ women of all races ~ straight or gay~ good typers or not. That's what wow women stand for.

Is it?

It would be interesting to see what people here think WOW stands for. From what's been posted so far, some people believe WOW is a sort of virtual kaffe klatch. In my opinion (and yes, everyone does have a right to an opinion...and not agreeing with someone doesn't necessarily equal 'judging'), there are plenty of women's forums around that don't challenge women to become more than they've been made to believe they can become. There are lots of places to kaffe klatch (here on the boards, for instance!).

What's all this nonsense about people talking quick before they're deleted. Have any posts been deleted? Have the *POWERS THAT BE* that seem to frighten you so much tried to shut you down? Let me know if they have; I haven't seen it.

If you got let go from a job, how long do you think the management of a company would tolerate your friends wandering around the building whining about your release?

This is great! Everyone is entitled to express their feelings and opinions within the rules of the forum!

What a world we live in. What's that swelling music I hear?

[Cod]

LOL...I've been around here a LONG TIME! I've been reading this item for the past few days and haven't posted, because I've seen this all before....many times.

Everyone has a right to use these boards to express opinions and send messages, BUT...personally, I prefer to send my hugs and messages of support and friendship by email. It just seems a bit more sincere to me.

I was pleased to see a post or two echoing my own opinion that it's time for positive SUGGESTIONS now. So stop waving the "dare you to delete me" flag and return this discussion to making the chat rooms better for everyone.

[susieB28]

OK, just read a bunch of posts, and I must say most had very valid points.

I for one am all for having a discussion where we can all offer our opinions or suggestions on how to make WOW a better place to be.

I do have a couple of suggestions......I think we need more serious topic chats, I for one love a great debate.... I also think that perhaps we all need to be a little more open minded when someone does step forward with a suggestion... In that I mean (and I understand that this is only done out of loyalty to WOW) when some of the roomies express concern about the declining numbers, maybe we could discuss it, instead of always getting the same reply "its always slow this time of year" no matter what time of the year it is,lol.

I do have an opinion as to why the rooms are slow lately... most of you have probably heard this before....I believe it is the server we are currently on. This is after all, a role-playing server, and I am not sure how many folks would think to look for chat rooms of our type on a role-playing server.

That is my opinion, and I sure hope it isnt costrued as whining..it was not.

As for hugs, I like 'em..lol

((roomies))

[cookieart]

Here I am Susie to give you what I do best.
(((((((((((HUGSSSSSSSSSS))))))))))))))
(((((((((jan))))))))))))
(((((tart)))))))
(((((rabblerouser whoever you are)))))
((((((all roomies)))))))))))

[Cod]

susieB28...good post! A viewpoint expessed, a suggestion made...YAY!

Not everyone has to agree with your viewpoint or suggestion, but that post commands respect and I saw NO whining!

I give you a 9! (would have been a 10 but you mentioned that "whine" thing at the end)

Seriously, this is good discussion susie.

[janpo1]

My suggestion is to try and go back to the Womensspace of a couple of years ago. None of this bashing and flirting was tolerated. We had serious chats and funny chats. Now some people are afraid to speak up on anything because of the repurcussions they feel they might face. When i joined Womensspace i felt like i had found a home away from home. Wows were respected and listened to. Wows also were chatters and roomies first~ wows second. To be a good wow is to be friends and friends share things with each other.

[quail]

Hi, folks.
I've been following this thread and I have to say (and I'm sure a few will agree with me), deja vu!!

Many of these points have been addressed in the past, in 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998.......you get the idea. It seems like a cycle. I don't know, perhaps Scribe or Pastel or Bird or Tammy, someone who's been here since QWorld and eWorld days, can correct me if I'm wrong, but every new generation of roomies and WOWs goes through this.

Razberrie and Susie brought up a very good point - some people think that WOW is not a "support" forum. I don't know what, if anything, the TF forum is doing these days, but it seems that WOW was always a great place to go if you needed advice. There was always *someone* who had been there, done that, and had a suggestion. And how many times have we all said, what a great idea chat is! You make new friends... My RL friends don't understand how close you can get online... Where else can you talk to someone on another continent without a $200 phone bill... I never would have gotten through this without my roomies. That may sound ridiculous to some, even some who are online, but how true it is.

So much of what has been said sounds like a mix-up in communication. As I'm sure everyone knows, communication is the #1 problem area in any organization. And as for the "hurry up and read my post before it gets deleted" thing, rest assured, it's true. Yes the forum leaders have the right to delete anything they wish. And yes it can be unfair, and yes you do have the right to go elsewhere. However, *this* happens to be where these particular roomies are, they don't wish to leave, and I applaud Tammy's judgment in leaving all these posts up, as this is the first step in addressing and fixing whatever is wrong. It's important to listen to the roomies. Remember, without roomies, there is no room.

Since Rabblerouser is so insistent on seeing something "worthwhile," I have a few things. First, I want to remind everyone that "those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." Remember where you started!!! And second, I came into these bits and pieces a while back, and I think everyone who wants WOW to grow, prosper, even survive, needs to see it... especially the *POWERS THAT BE* ~

~donnawow - 04:03pm Sep 12, 1997 PDT (#127 of 327)
I think this is really exciting. I love to picture hundreds of new women out there, who need us and will love us, and are just waiting to find us.

~AddieWOW - 07:02am Sep 13, 1997 PDT (#139 of 327)
WOW Forum Coordinator
...I just remembered something, I had to ask MuseWOW... [a tech question] ...and I was so embarrassed to have to ask. She wrote back the nicest email, telling me never to be embarrassed, that's what everyone was here for, to help each other....

~OpalWOW - 10:55am Sep 13, 1997 PDT (#145 of 327)
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm!" - Colette (1873-1954)
...I really do love helping newbies feel part of something bigger, like the comraderie and support we all have and share in the room.... I've noticed that womensspace has been getting some back-handed compliments, as in "this room is the only place at TalkCity that has real conversation anymore". ... Am I the only one picking up on this or has anyone else noticed it?

~PastelWOW - 12:47pm Sep 13, 1997 PDT (#147 of 327)
Staff Mentor "For Jessica, my oldest and dearest friend and breast cancer survivor."
Opal, I've noticed the same compliment and I say thanks regardless of my state of dress. I think even regulars in the room have deserve some of the credit for making it a wonderful place. I have also seen regular, non-hosties accept compliments for the room, its really neat.

And, from the Tribute to Becky folder:
~You will always be a part of this beautiful entity you have created.... Thank you for helping so many women step into this new cyberworld and learn how to speak fearlessly in a new language... We will continue to help other women do the same. -PastelWOW

~I hope and pray that her dreams for WOW/TF and for all of you who she cared so much for, will grow and be a place of love, comfort, support, healing and safety for all who enter here. -ElynorWOW

And in this vein, the coup de grace, from Becky herself:
~Beck - 08:30 am Aug 11, 1997 PDT (#14 of 15)
....when hosting, you have to ...be there for the members, and let them be there for each other. I do hope everyone gets something positive out of hosting, but we can't lose sight of the point - to provide a safe space for our members to help each other. And that is the job of the host.

And finally...
...a message from Becky to all of you: "Be good to each other. It matters." - Jaclen Moore, 10/16/97

[bookwmn]

Rabble...you left a period off of your first sentence. Sorry. You did, however, get the subject and predicate in there. Did you also say people needed to do something other than wait at their computer for something constructive, and then give people an hour in which to reply? I can only assume you are sitting at your computer waiting for an answer.

I am not usually this irritated about someone's post (notice the correctly placed apostophe, please), but to imply that members should only post if they are in a "happy" place (notice the correct placement of the quotation marks), or should not post if they cannot meet your standards of typing is petty and insulting...maybe you could find a search engine and look up "life".
If your life revolves around proper punctuation and grammar, perhaps you could mentor students online.

The chat room does not require the proofreading skills required for publication. As ee cummings proved, feelings and communication does not require punctuation, subjects and predicates, or capitalization.

bookwmn