I really want to lift your spirits, but how can I when I feel like rubbish myself?

[MuffinChops]

Me and Whywhy always had a giggle, I'm seriously upset that she's not coming back, and I don't even know her outside of this site. All the great members I remember from 8 months ago when I joined here, have disappeared, the site is seriously not whole or uplifting without them. I'm feeling a tad emotional, so this is affecting me more than it probably should, but I want it back to how it used to be, now it's just a mess.

Get well soon Grog <3

[fadedlizard]

I'm still here Muffin, lass. Faded to the point of vanishing and ragged around the edges but I'm still here. Be strong.xxx

[MuffinChops in reply to fadedlizard]

Hi Liz, you are one of those legendary posters, from the top of my head there is whywhy, briarrose, willrich, lou41, grog, baylien, funkyfairy, and many more! It's so upsetting what has happened here, but at the end of the day we are a clan and we stick together, fighting off the trolls! (What's left of us...)

I think many more members will leave soon, myself included as I have also been victim to the new moderation scheme, which is making my condition worse. They say we should think about other people, well they should think about us too!

So miffed, muffin is not happy. I am not upset for myself, I am upset because everyone else is upset, I hate it. I hope it all sorts out soon, we need to stick together, like glue, lol!

xxxx

[fadedlizard in reply to MuffinChops]

My point exactly. You and I have a similar condition, apparently Admin does not realise how paranoid and vulnerable many members are. Also you cannot please all the people all of the time. I am certain far more people have been hurt by their actions and the subsequent fall out than were ever offended by the original post.

Take Care of you and Keep posting.xxx

[MuffinChops in reply to fadedlizard]

Definitely right you are! My paranoia is going crazy, I've been experiencing a bit of psychosis too the past few days, since my blog was deleted and drove me wappy lol! (I hope people don't think I'm calling psychosis sufferers 'wappy') PLEASE DON'T REPORT ME! Grrrr lol! I will stick with my clan in debate over the new moderation crap, as if reality isn't depressing enough, lets not turn the online community (which is all some people have) in to a place of depression too!

<3

[fadedlizard in reply to MuffinChops]

Exactly.

Good Night and God Bless.xxx

[hamble99b in reply to fadedlizard]

knowing you both are both staying lightens my heart.

sandra xx

[BriarRose]

Dear Muffin, Liz and everyone

I am NOT minimising what has happened on the site over the last 24/48 hours. How can I? A dearly loved member is in hospital as a direct result of what happened, other members (including, I will say, one who was invaluable!) have left, and, speaking selfishly, I myself have been in tears at the effect actions taken by this site have had on our dear Grog - get well soon, Grog, we're all rooting for you!

BUT - all groups, including forums such as this - tend to go through such distressing times, although not usually with such painful consequences! Group theory talks about - forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning, as the stages which groups go through - and this is probably even more true of a site like this, where we only "know" each other from what we write - or don't write - where we are all, in different ways, suffering, and where people can "disappear" without, in some cases, us ever knowing why - whether they got better and moved on, or found the site unhelpful.

But, please, do not despair. New members will join, new connections will be made. Will they fill the gaps? No, of course not. They will bring different gifts, different strengths, as well as different problems. People will find others they can relate to, others who understand, support and encourage.

What has happened has been terribly painful, and when I think of poor Grog, whose courage and humour lightened many a dark hour, I am sad and incredibly angry at how it was handled - with, frankly, a high-handed callousness not in keeping with the aim of this site. But I am reminded of a poem, which I would like to share, in the small hope it might help in this dark night.

Say not the struggle naught availeth,

The labour and the wounds are vain,

The enemy faints not, nor faileth,

And as things have been they remain.

If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars;

It may be, in yon smoke conceal'd,

Your comrades chase e'en now the fliers,

And, but for you, possess the field.

For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,

Seem here no painful inch to gain,

Far back, through creeks and inlets making,

Comes silent, flooding in, the main.

And not by eastern windows only,

When daylight comes, comes in the light;

In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly!

But westward, look, the land is bright!

Arthur C Clough

Be kind; be strong; we can come through this!

With much love

Rose

{{{{{{{{{{{{{Everyone}}}}}}}}}}}

xxxxxxxxxx

[fadedlizard in reply to BriarRose]

What a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing that, Rose.xxx

[BriarRose in reply to fadedlizard]

Glad you liked it, Liz - it was one of my mum's favourites! xxxx

[fadedlizard in reply to BriarRose]

I've not heard it before but it is definitely appropriate to my currant situation. I will be holding on to it.

Thank you for being there today.xxx

[BriarRose in reply to fadedlizard]

It is inspiring, and a message of hope when we need it most! xxxx

[hamble99b]

a peaceful goodnight to all

sandra

(( ))

[robbie12]

I must have missed something here....sorry to hear you guys are sad

I'll be totally honest and admit that I tend to float from one site to another...nomorepanic is one other and even twitter.Maybe I should learn to stick in one place.

{{{{{{{{{{{{Everyone}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Andy