Author Topic: Welcome to Romper Room!  (Read 34653 times)

flower

  • Guest
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #75 on: October 27, 2004, 03:47:51 AM »
Hi Phoenix, I know this is your thread,  but since I was addressed here by Solace, I will respond here.  

Hello Solace,

  Registering shows you are establishing an identity, being open.

On this very Romper thread you said:

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And you, Flower, are truly one of the pure, true lights in this place. I hear your loving heart in your posts and your kindness to others and your gentle way is sooo obvious. I wanted only to let you know what a true Flower you are and help you to really believe that about yourself because it's sooo true!!



 You say you mean the things you say like this. Why do you give compliments like this when you have a hard time accepting them?  That makes for an unequal exchange. Although these compliments appear very nice and caring, it is embarrassing to receive compliment after compliment such as this. People just can't swallow it. Just stopping at the first sentence would be a nice gesture. If it weren't for the fact that it singles me out as someone "special." (I'm flesh and blood like everyone else here, making mistakes like all the rest of us. )  But there are four more compliments after the first.  I feel like I am being put up on a pedestal or mocked.

  Two proverbs:

It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to search out one's own glory.

A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.

 So please don't lavish the over the top praise on me.  That is what my mom did to soften me up before she hammered me down. And also after making these lavish compliments when one can't receive compliments in return,  a person looks insincere, like one is above others,  not on others' level and manipulative.

P.S. You were the mystery poster.  Thank you for your honesty about that and expressed regrets. I hope you see this response as constructive criticism.  I hope your lavish compliments are a sincere attempt at being supportive, but I wonder about your comments (in areas besides your homelife) that keep offending others on this board.

Anonymous

  • Guest
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #76 on: October 27, 2004, 07:08:45 AM »
yes flower, you're right.  

I don't think she is mocking although it sounds like it.

I think she is trying to 'copy' the voices of others here on the forum, voices she thinks are acceptable.  She's adopted several mannerisms of other people, especially from the Ramble thread.

I guess she feels it's safer to be someone else other than herself.  Perhaps also she is hiding her real feelings, her anger, from herself as well as the board.

Very 'icky'.  Very cloying.  Time to find your own voice, Solace.

Time to work out what your parents did to you to make you marry the kind of man you did and stick with him through thick and thin.

What are your needs that you stay with him.

Feel your anger and your world may change.  That takes true courage, but your world will change for the better.

Anonymous

  • Guest
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #77 on: October 28, 2004, 08:21:05 AM »
Hi Flower:

I decided to wait a day before posting back to you because I was crying when I last posted yesterday to this board, so I knew I was in no state to respond further, plus I had other things to get done (crying not related to anything you said, by the way).

Thankyou for your considerate reply.  I am sorry to have embarassed you.  That was not my intention either.  I am very sincere in my compliments to you and my desire to add something positive, but I have no way to prove that to you.  I am sorry if I sound insincere and I'm trying hard to use the right words.

What I won't appologize for though, is your associating my words with your mother's.  I won't bring any hammer down upon you, nor do I have any wish to cause you to feel as if I am doing that.  We all associate things with other things sometimes, especially if they ring bells from the past and so I understand where you're coming from.  Have done the same thing myself, so how can I possibly fault you?

As to responding to the negativity in the next guest's post, it's hard to ignor but I'm doing my best.  I agree with Discounted Girl's idea to ignor nameless posters, at least, those who post nasty stuff.  To me, the guest option is a good thing to offer positive comments, when one is wanting to get a point across without bringing whatever negativity is associated with our own identity into it.  Also, to speak about things that are scarey to reveal about oneself or to begin to find a voice, when one is very timid.  But if it causes the person posted to to feel as if they are associating with "a ghost", as you mentioned at one point Flower, then I see the point in identifying oneself.

But the hurtful, accusatory, false-story-making, button-pushing things that some no-names post is abusive.  And I will speak out against abusive stuff until the day I die.  I may not have any effect, but I will go to my grave knowing that I tried and I did not remain silent or numb to it.

I believe we will all meet our maker and be accountable then for any behaviour we did not take responsibility for already.  I understand, that some people have a different opinion.  Time will tell.

S

Solace

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Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #78 on: October 28, 2004, 08:25:38 AM »
Sorry again.  That was me, Solace.  Forgot to log in.

I am an early bird this morning and must be off.

Hope you all truly have a good day.

S
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
 
 (Dr.Suess)

Portia

  • Guest
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #79 on: October 28, 2004, 09:02:06 AM »
Hi S. Tell me why I have this urge to shock you all the time? Odd. I do. I just noticed that. I don’t know why. Here’s a shock. I agree with some of the things in the guest post above. It’s not all negative, some of it is questioning. But I think the poster was trying to help. Okay, it’s one person’s interpretation of what you’ve said here. And some of it is very ‘directing’. But it’s some kind of gift. It’s not laid down as the ‘truth’. It’s an opinion (that’s all we have, maybe). But that ‘feel the anger’ line above. See, I agree. It doesn’t sound to me, listening to you, that all the anger is out. Honestly. But it’s not something we can know, and until/if it ever happens, let’s face it, it’s not something you can know either. Is that a double-bind? I feel that something is not ‘right’ but you don’t know it and I can’t tell you but believe me, something is not right, not finished. How could you process that? How could anyone? See how daft it is? But I think Guest meant you well in a very harsh way.

If you were crying because of what you wrote about your sister, I read it and I’ve started a reply, but I won’t get back to it until a weeks’ time as I’ll be away. Sorry. But you were crying? I’m sorry there too, for you crying. I wish I knew why you were. On a lighter note?-

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I believe we will all meet our maker and be accountable then for any behaviour we did not take responsibility for already. I understand, that some people have a different opinion. Time will tell.

Another day, another time we’re going to talk about this one. Yeah! It’ll be good. P

PS. Phoenix, it’s still your thread, hope you’re getting better and don’t mind us taking up the thread with this stuff.  

PPS. Sorry Flower, for barging in there.

Anonymous

  • Guest
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #80 on: October 28, 2004, 09:52:29 AM »
Solace - You choose to experience objective feedback as negative and abusive.

That must threaten your very sense of being.  That's a tough call.  But it's something we all go through to reach the truth.

Perhaps your sister isn't so 'N' after all.  Perhaps she too has been trying to give you objective feedback.

What she has done has hurt you to the core.  It doesn't mean that she was wrong.  Perhaps you really can't see what you need to see - the patterns of your past.

Anonymous

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Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #81 on: October 28, 2004, 03:14:18 PM »
Hi Everyone:

Back to you P.

First, I didn't state something correctly.  I was referring to a number of nasty guest posts, not just in this thread either, not indicating that the previous guest post was entirely negative.  I wasn't clear there, sorry.

Next:  "I think she is trying to 'copy' the voices of others here on the forum, voices she thinks are acceptable. She's adopted several mannerisms of other people, especially from the Ramble thread."

Let me reword this, for the sake of discussion only, I do not think this but let's pretend I was saying this to you:

"I think you are trying to 'copy' the voices of others here on the forum, voices you think are acceptable.  You've adopted several mannerisms of other people, especially from whatever thread".

What am I really saying?  Am I saying, in a polite way, that you are mirroring?  That you have no identity?   I'm not saying I can't see your individual mannerisms I'm saying you don't have any, aren't I?
Am I not saying that I know what you think?
Does this statement represent positive feedback to you?  Can you prove or disprove this, even to yourself?  Is it so general and non-definitive that it is confusing?  Do you find it pushes any of your buttons?   Is this an accusation written in opinion form?  What feelings does this type of statement  about you generate?
This statement is, at the very least, questionably negative, imo, in that it could cause a person confusion and insult and who knows what else?  If so, that could cause real harm, depending on a number of variables.

Or this:  ""s" maybe you need to find another group which welcomes people with your pedophile/molester background."


Who is the pedophile?  I find it exceptionally interesting that this diagnosis has been made here.  It is totally contrary to what the testing, the assessments, the evidence, the conclusions many so-called experts and  doctors have made.  It is not true and yet it is being stated, without basis of fact.  Does this guest have the qualifications to make this diagnosis?  It is a medical diagnosis.  Has this person assessed, with the current tools available?  Have they experience and knowledge to make such a diagnosis?  Not only is it a diagnosis but it is a very damaging label.  Putting damaging labels on others without having the qualification or facts to base them on..is abusive, imo.  

I have done this myself, so I feel no anger toward this person.  What I think is that such a thing is hurtful and wrong and I feel frustrated with it.

I have stated that my sister is an n and I have not stated such a diagnosis to her, to harm or upset her.  I have since questioned my own statements on that.  It's one of the positives I'm gleaned from being here.  The fact is, I don't know that she is.  She has many n behaviours and she may be one.  I don't know and I have no right nor qualification to label her as such.  My posts in regard to her, as time has passed, have left that damming statement out.  I realized this awhile back and stopped calling her my n-sis.  Just my sister.

My husband did not molest anyone.  I did not molest anyone.  Who is being referred to here, anyway? Me?  My pedophile/molester background or my husband's?  Ok, maybe a slip of words there.  I can appreciate that and I'm being a bit picky about the statement but the fact is--my husband has been deemed NOT a pedophile.  Has anyone asked me that? nope.
It's been assumed that he is one.  Must I report this.  I don't feel comfortable talking about it all and re-living it all but I am taking another risk and adding this bit of information because I really think it is extremely important.

Have I ever made incorrect assumptions before.  Yep.  We all do it sometimes.  But some cause more harm than others.  Some lead to much more hurt than others.  This one has sent waves of stuff in all directions and this guest is not the first person to make this statement.

Portia, you have not shocked me at all.  I may very well be reacting to feedback too sensitively but please do not assume that I am missing the intention or misperceiving all intention or taking every word to be negative.  I am trying to work on me.  I do sometimes feel like saying:  "Work on you" to some, like to the misdiagnoser, but that is just another reaction.   Probably anger, you're right.  I do feel angry when I read such stuff, initially.  Would you, if I labelled and misdiagnosed with such ease and that was then deemed truth?

I posted to you that my anger is toward my sister and I'm trying to voice how confusing that is for me.  It's not my sister's feedback that angers me.  It's her behaviour.  I do empathize with her, maybe more than you might imagine, and this is also adding to the confusion.  I want to release my anger but I feel guilt for even feeling it.  How ridiculous is that???

I also said that I'm stuffing a lot of that anger about my sister and I am fully aware of it.  I came here to try to help myself, in that regard because I know I need help with it and because I hope that with understanding more and more, I will be able to find some kind of peace.

My statement about my belief about meeting our maker.  That is definately my opinion and I note it because because I think you, Portia, may have a different opinion and I am trying to point out that difference, to help others realize that we are not the same person posting under different names.  I respect your opinion, whatever it is, and not just your's.

Third, how can anyone decide that I have taken all negative feedback as abusive?  (next guest poster).  Yes, that's your opinion.  I'm not angry about that but I am pointing out that you have assumed I'm making a choice and that you are incorrect about that.  I'm not taking all feedback as negative but I am in disagreement about some of the objectivity.  No insult meant.

Anyway, this is Phoenix's thread and I hope you are feeling better Phoenix.  The flu sucks.  Takes a lot out of me, when I get it.  Take your rest seriously and please take care of you too.

S

Solace

  • Jr. Member
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  • Posts: 52
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #82 on: October 28, 2004, 03:23:33 PM »
Did it again!!  Forgot to log in.  That was me,

S
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
 
 (Dr.Suess)

Anonymous

  • Guest
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #83 on: October 28, 2004, 04:00:26 PM »
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how can anyone decide that I have taken all negative feedback as abusive?


You added the word 'all' so perhaps you are misreading and misperceiving more than you realise.  That's not intended to add to your confusion - just an observation.

Quote
What am I really saying? Am I saying, in a polite way, that you are mirroring? That you have no identity? I'm not saying I can't see your individual mannerisms I'm saying you don't have any, aren't I?  


Wow!  Mirror, mirror on the wall.  Projections projected.  Can't keep up with the mirrors in the mirrors here.  I think that's an accurate account of how you really feel or who you really are.  Not sure which - but it's one of those two.  You had to project it out in order to understand it.  But you've got it.  Well done!

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Am I not saying that I know what you think?


Sorry - that was one step too far.  Couldn't 'get' that one.  

I also observe that you avoid the positives, the supportive comments.  If you don't value them, you'll stop receiving them.

Solace

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Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #84 on: October 28, 2004, 04:41:49 PM »
Hi Guest:

"You added the word 'all' so perhaps you are misreading and misperceiving more than you realise. That's not intended to add to your confusion - just an observation. "

Point taken.  Thanks


"Wow! Mirror, mirror on the wall. Projections projected. Can't keep up with the mirrors in the mirrors here. I think that's an accurate account of how you really feel or who you really are. Not sure which - but it's one of those two. You had to project it out in order to understand it. But you've got it. Well done!"

I need more explanation here.  Not sure what you mean?

 "Am I not saying that I know what you think?"

If I use the words "you think", am I not assuming to know what you think?

"I also observe that you avoid the positives, the supportive comments. If you don't value them, you'll stop receiving them."

I have not commented on them.  My post was very long winded.  I hear you though, avoid may be not so correct as not comment on maybe?

S
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
 
 (Dr.Suess)

phoenix

  • Guest
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #85 on: October 28, 2004, 05:21:55 PM »
Portia and all,


I am still feeling queasy, so that is going to put a damper on my ability to respond with the vitality in which I started out with. Maybe that is good, I don’t know; my mind feels wrapped in cotton and all I want to do is sleep.

I had put a lot of thought into how to reply, and it seemed that if I said a little, I’d have to say a lot. Or do I just let it all go? But I don’t think that it is fair to light a wildfire and walk away.

It is pretty amazing to see how this has blossomed into other threads.


Quote
I have been having a difficult time understanding what actually bothers me about the Ramble thread.


This is what I hoped others would address in regards to Ramble. What exactly is it that is bothersome? Not just to express your hate or scorn or fears, but to examine why? Maybe with defining just what it is that bothers us, we can offer awareness to the participants there.

For me, I no longer want to discuss it. I have grown past the need to, because for me, every effort I had made previously was rebuffed. I don’t trust that I can say what I feel and be heard. I have gotten what I need, not what I wanted. What I wanted was communication, what I got was freedom from caring anymore.


Quote
I joined this board a few weeks ago to gain support for dealing w/ the Ns in my life & to share stories (& maybe a little validation). It appears I ended up in the wrong place...


Although I feel I officially joined here January 28, 2004, I came across this site at it’s origination. I was probably one of the first five posters.  It had a desperate quality to it then that I found extremely uncomfortable. Lonely, lost, suicidal, distressed, without any  old timers established to offer any hope. When I came back to it, it had grown up, and now has a feel of having established itself. I found it inviting, and well structured, peopled with others who had already traveled the road I was on, a place I could come in from the cold. At it’s very worst and heated, it is still a much better site than it was

Quote
So what if you've frightened and bullied the bogies away from the board. They're still there in your life.

Get rid of them from your mind and then you won't need to get rid of them from the
board.


Well, the first thing that comes to mind is that this is a board designed to work things out on.

The other thing is that I think it in my right to address bullies when they are in my path. And there is that saying sometimes the only way to fight an n is to behave like an n – or nish behaviour. I have no problem with this, and won’t be shamed into thinking otherwise. If you want to let someone tread on you, that is your prerogative.

Good people have always attracted bullies- throughout history. It’s not all in there head.

 But let me ask you this, if someone is beating up your neighbor, do you just look the other way, and say, well it’s not me, it’s not in my reality, they are attracting this because the it is their mindset?

What you are saying here is lame thinking, only intended to silence me, to have me doubt the right of my actions. It only serves you, in your effort to not hear what I am saying, so you can continue to pick at my argument, as if it doesn’t matter.

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Flower- I've used the guest feature in the past. Now I don't like that I didn't have the courage to name myself. Part of getting our voice is not being afraid what others will think of us. What if we all posted as anonymous guests? What if no one took the risk of showing an established identity. It would be such a mess. We'd never straighten it out. Wouldn't that be fun?


I saw a commercial the other night. It was a group of ladies in an anger management class. There was music playing, and the ladies were sitting in their chairs in a peaceful circle. The lights flickered, went out, the music stopped, and you could hear the sounds of these women in a scuffle, in the dark. Then the lights came back on, and they were frozen in unconcealed astonishment, in various poses of their slugfest: entangled, hair pulling, grabbing, hitting, ect.  It made me think of this very thing.

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Guest- Hi Phoenix,

I don't read the Ramble thread. Period.

I don't always read all the threads posted, and don't always reply. I only reply to ones that resonate with me and/or if I have something of substance to say (maybe  ).

That's it.


I don’t really “read’ Ramble, I just check in occasionally from curiosity. Or with a wary eye, checking it’s pulse. But I won’t from now on.


Thank you. That’s all I am asking. Those who post here freely, not feeling harassed, don’t realize that for me posting comes with a price. I feel I’m always looking over my shoulder. Not for the bogey man, necessarily, but for the little stinging bee that no one else notices. I just want others to be aware of how I am feeling. Why should I have to put up with that?


Quote
Blue Topaz-You may have come to the end of the road regarding the issue, and I sure admire you for speaking your heart. I actually do think you might have helped make some changes, which may only become apparent down the line.


It was taking it’s toll on me to not speak up. I started this thread not as a last ditch effort to be heard by Ramble, but to be heard by others, that this is what is going on with me, and I am thoroughly frustrated. I think we may all have come to the end of this road.

Portia, I started to reply to your post, but I am not going to, it can only spread the venom further on both parts.

Solace -You  pm’d me, thanking me for once sticking up for you, and asking for me to now see you in a new light, to be your friend? Why did I stop being supportive of you? Did you ever figure that one out? You figure out what you do to continually annoy  people here and change that, I will see you in a different light. But as it stands now, I don’t. Don’t waste your time trying with me, I am not interested.

Phoenix

Anonymous

  • Guest
Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #86 on: October 28, 2004, 05:42:49 PM »
To Solace

I also observe that you avoid the positives,
the supportive comments.  If you don't value them, you'll stop receiving them.


I too observe you doing this at times Solace. Perhaps it's natural when feeling defensive. Tending to look actively for offences to take, and at the same time often not seeing too readily the postive sentiments within  the same message. The things others may see. And more misunderstanding and conlict results. Perhaps its not resaonable to expect you or anybody
to be perfect in this area. I too believe I do precisely the same thing at times. Perhaps it may be helpful to keep this in mind.

Just a thought

Solace

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Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #87 on: October 28, 2004, 05:50:40 PM »
Hi Phoenix:

I'm glad you're feeling well enough to post some.  I appreciate the thought you put into it and many of the points.  Since you mention the pm I sent to you, hope it's ok to post it here.  I don't want to mix anything up, ok?

"From: Solace
To: phoenix
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:14 pm
Subject: Just a note.  
Hi Phoenix:

I have not forgotton that you supported me some, in the original thread I posted in. Thankyou, again. I did appreciate it. Now, in this romper room thread, you say you "dislike" me but it's not about my husband.

Phoenix, I am a separate person, who has not ever been to a public board before (I'm not Portia or CG--but I began reading the ramble thread because there were so many posts to it--it seemed like it must be important. I do like Portia and CG, and that's ok, isn't it?).

I have suffered real traumas and I came here to speak about what was bothering me, what I have not been able to speak of, and to learn about n'ism and it's effects.

I don't understand how you can make such a statement when you don't even know me (about disliking me)?? I don't mean to cause you any hurt or any harm but your words seem so unfair to me.

Haven't you noticed anything good about me at all? Are you absolutely certain that I am some evil troll n-monster who has some mad agenda?

I'm not, Phoenix. I know I'm not but I don't know what to say that will help you believe me.

I am sorry if CG has treated you badly. She treated me badly at first too but later she was kind to me. I don't know anyone here well-enough to judge them as conniving but I know what it's like to live with people who behave that way. It's not very nice, especially if you trust them. I'm sorry if I have said stuff that has upset you Phoenix. I have never wanted to do that and I am trying really hard to just be honest. I really can't stand lies and liars. I have always said I can take anything...but it better be the truth (and God help me, I have faced plenty).

Phoenix, I'm hoping you will change your mind about me. It doesn't matter if you don't feel like pm'ing back to me, that's ok. I just wish I could help you see that the labels that have been placed on me, by some here are not right or true or fair and that I have been really hurt in my life too.

S"

Phoenix:  " Why did I stop being supportive of you? Did you ever figure that one out?"

To be honest, I can't remember if I did or not.

Phoenix:  "You figure out what you do to continually annoy people here and change that, I will see you in a different light. "

Well, that's something to look forward to but I might need help with it, I admit.

"But as it stands now, I don’t. Don’t waste your time trying with me, I am not interested. "

I don't think I'm wasting my time and I can only hope that your interest will change.  I do hear the boundary being set and I can respect it.

I do hope you feel much better soon and no hard feelings Phoenix.

S
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
 
 (Dr.Suess)

Solace

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« Reply #88 on: October 28, 2004, 06:00:45 PM »
Hi Guest:

Sorry I bumped my post in there and missed yours until now.

Absolutely.  I agree.  Defensive to the limit at times.

Some days worse than others, depending on which diagnosis I read or how strong I am feeling or lot's of stuff.

I take no offense and I do appreciate you saying you do it too.  We all do don't we??

Thanks Guest

S
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
 
 (Dr.Suess)

flower

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Welcome to Romper Room!
« Reply #89 on: October 28, 2004, 08:02:01 PM »
Quote
I saw a commercial the other night. It was a group of ladies in an anger management class. There was music playing, and the ladies were sitting in their chairs in a peaceful circle. The lights flickered, went out, the music stopped, and you could hear the sounds of these women in a scuffle, in the dark. Then the lights came back on, and they were frozen in unconcealed astonishment, in various poses of their slugfest: entangled, hair pulling, grabbing, hitting, ect. It made me think of this very thing.


Hi Phoenix,  glad you are feeling a bit better. I remember that commercial too. I hope you feel better soon and hope you come and post on lots of threads with your valuable input.  I really am glad to see you back on the board. :)

Hi Solace,

   I hope you are feeling better.

Quote from: Solace
I do hear the boundary being set and I can respect it.


I hope you will respect  Phoenix's boundary.  If you stop the excessive compliments towards me that will be a solid action. I don't like flattery and a lot of compliments is flattery. The board is full of words so the only "actions" we can really see is discretion in the use of words. I look forward to seeing your growth in this area which will help your credibility here.

Hi Portia,

Quote
PPS. Sorry Flower, for barging in there.


I like to read your posts and don't feel you are barging a bit.  :)