Songbird... I'm sorry that you feel "not good enough". I wish I could wave a wand and change your instinctive reaction to it Your explanation of how your past has contributed to your perspective on the new forum makes a lot of sense. I do, though, think that the "left out" feeling is likely to be more common in those who are sensitive to or have had bad experiences with rejection. I don't have that same kind of past as you, and I honestly have to say that I felt NO feelings of hurt or exclusion when I read the post (although I later noticed that I had access to the new forum, I guess because I had contributed to the fund drives for a couple of members). When I first read the announcement, I thought "ok, so there is a new forum for people who wrote an article or gave money" and then I moved on to reading what was posted in Relationships and some of the other forums. It was only when I got back here to General did it dawn on me that anyone would feel hurt and excluded by it... that reaction is one that never would have occurred to me had you guys not posted this.

Songbird, I'm glad that you were able to express your feelings in this way. It helps so much more in understanding each other if we each speak about how we feel in terms of ourselves, rather than merely disagreeing with another person's action.

You still have the love and support here -- that hasn't gone away.