Ya know, Pat? I had the same thoughts, basically, but held back from posting about it because the website that came to mind is no longer, but while I was a member of it, it was just as safe as this one is. Bashing, flaming, angry arguments weren't allowed and I might say, people who insisted on doing this were banned a lot more quickly!

On the flip-side, I have also frequented a "grandparent's rights" message board. Talk about pulling back a nub!!! YIKES! NO ONE had nothing nice or positive to say to anyone else. In fact, it went so far as to some of the members looking up personal information about others and USING it in public! Nothing was ever done about it.

I'm thinking that these are examples of both extremes. There HAS to be a middle ground somewhere as I have no doubt there is. It also seems to me that the above comments are based on ONE site. Sky "pulled back a nub" at ONE site, not many. "IMO," it's not a fair judgement.

There are also a lot of other considerations to be made regarding the way one is received on any given site. In Sky's words "as you are generally NOT supportive, but skim by with the skin on your teeth" ... well, then... you're going to get back what you give. Some are perfectly content that way and can only digest so much. Again, the old issue of being in a different stage of one's journey... which gives me the impression of "skiming by on the skin of your teeth" as also being a very unfair statement.

Personally, I haven't EVEN thought of looking elsewhere. I have no reason to. I feel comfortable here for many reasons; I feel basically "safe" because of the Admin and moderators but mostly because I take responsibility for my own actions. I feel well accepted and even loved here. There are a whole lot of people you can have an intelligent interaction with and most members respect each other most of the time. Why should I "fix what ain't broke"??

I can go on and on in a long rant about the subject but I won't as the thread has a great potential to become inflamatory... if it hasn't already.

I'm sure Sky's intent was to totally defend and laud this site. For those of us that know Sky, we know that sometimes her wording can be a bit harsh. Maybe that's what you and I picked up on, Pat.

So there you have my $1's worth... not $.02!