There's very little about WP I like now

Post Reply New Topic

I tried taking a break.
Tried posting in threads/fora I don't usually post in.
It all feels totally blah.

I used to love this site.
Now I get a slightly sick feeling whenever I'm here and end up slipping further into depression the longer I stick around.
Some of it is to do with people who have left.
There's still nice people here, but I can't engage with any of them, it all seems empty and hollow and I lack the will to make a connection, even irl.
And what is the point of making a connection only to have people disappear, it hurts too much.
I feel there's no point being here.

PPR board has been terrible for me as well. I stay because of your addicts thread & a few folks I know.

_________________
"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos

I am sorry you feel that way, by the way here is a cat. Lots of people missed you when you were absent.

You can thank Darmok for this one.

Raleigh, I don't know what I can say to you. I'm glad to see you again, even though we don't exchange very much. I also am feeling like there is less fun and inspiration here than once, and more and more people I just make a point of not engaging with.

But I don't have any other online hangout. So I'm stuck with this one for the time being.

I try to spread myself around among several interests, and change when one isn't satisfying. Maybe this would work for you?

You’re my buddy, Sir Walter.

Here, I found some extremely heavy metal for you.

_________________
"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos

Hugs

I agree wp seems to be dying and going toxic.

ditto!

hugs

My memory is bad so I don't remember who all was here x amount of years ago and what's different between then and now. I know places of work are like that, stay there long enough and there's a lot of turnover and the environment changes.

As Stephen King wrote, friends come in and out of your life like waiters in a restaurant.

But I will say I feel less zeal reading and posting these days. It does seem more vapid. Not sure how much of that is the current WP and how much of it is the current me.

I'm newer, so I didn't know WP "back in the day". I'm guessing it was very different and I could see how it must have felt more vibrant to you and like a big close knit group of really good friends. I think WP still has great people.

Ezra makes a good comparison with the workplace analogy about turnover.

When I was a teen, there was a very small group of teens that were the first punks; around six people in the whole town (approx 100,000 population). I joined and was accepted the next year and the scene grew to around thirty (approx 20 in a core group and the rest as outliers of the outcasts). It stayed that way, very close knit, very vibrant and very memorable for for a good three years. The elders, the first six, moved on and most moved away. At the end, the rest of us were starting to do the same. However a new batch of young kids started to filter in or try to. The scene was never the same. That golden period couldn't be recreated and couldn't be sustained. Such is life.

I understand how you feel Raleigh, but it takes a number of our more creative and interesting posters to make WP interesting and they can't be here 24/7 even if they want to. We can't prevent members from disappearing for whatever reason, and there are countless reasons they might. Sometimes they come back.

I also felt WP was more interesting when I first joined and was more engaging. There are still numerous members making a valuable contribution to the forum discussions but many are sadly missed. But we're always welcoming newcomers who bring fresh ideas.

There are many I truly miss and would love to know how they're doing. I'm in email contact with one or two who have left here.

But the situation won't improve if more of our favourite members such as you decide to abandon our planet and seek other worlds.

You bring bright shiny stuff to the table of ideas here. Don't desert us! Rather stay for dessert, as it's about to be served!

I think WP hit a funk recently because of politics. I'm hoping we can spend more time talking about autism and making connections, and less time talking about controversial issues or alienating people's point of view. I also feel sad because there hasn't been a lot of gratitude on the site lately. Many members have written very supportive or helpful posts in response to other people's questions, but there is seldom a thank you. I've seen a lot of people go above and beyond to help others, only to be ignored or shot down.

I sincerely hope our beloved members stick around and / or return. There is so much good to be had on Wrong Planet and I would never want to lose that.

Hugs to Raleigh and others who feel down.

Raleigh,

I am relatively new, just over a year. I was sorry when you left. I am sorry B19 and Ferris left. Sorry really isn't the right word. There is an emptiness, even though this is "just" online. And others missing as well. I don't go on PPR at all anymore because it was hurting me in my heart to see how cruel people could be.

I could see the joyful interconnections between you, Ferris, Darmok and others in WP anonymous and other such threads. It used to make me smile and laugh to see the wit displayed. I can't begin to approach that level of wit, but I love it when I see it. I loved reading it.

I don't have an answer for making things better.

It does seem to me that it is impossible to get a thread or discussion going without someone coming in with a pet peeve and blasting out anyone who sees things differently. Or taking things off track. I have been guilty of that last myself at times, but I do try to notice and stop myself.

I frequently don't post because I don't have anything to add to the conversation. I quite often admire your posts, for your gentleness and wisdom. But I don't say so online. Should I be posting when I see something I admire? I think about that with Ferris too. I didn't tell him either.

Thank you for that smidgen of inspiration Isabella!

I often wish we had "likes" or upvotes on here like on some other sites. After all, many posts are read but not responded to for numerous reasons, but a quick thumbs up would be cool.

B19 hasn't been well and that's why she left us Blazingstar, but perhaps she will pop in now and then.

I didn't know about Ferris as I haven't been around much for a while.

I agree about the politics. But, I think it is going to start up again.