I have been reading this board for some time now and find it mostly fun, entertaining, refreshing...and I am looking forward to more in 2004.  However, some of the threads in recent days have been particularly bitter and devisive.  Some slurs being thrown around, etc.sometimes unintentionally...  I don't want to sound like an old school teacher, but...can we keep it fun?  One person whose posts are rare but often insightful (singleton) stated that he is ready to abandon the board due to these mean spirited rants that get going.   He will be missed!  Politics are probably a hot item these days, but it is unlikely someone will post back and say s/he is now converted to the other opinion!  Just state your view and move on.  Debate with civility.    Maybe it is the end-of-the-year blues...
TO all a happy new year...and particularly to the providers and very experienced hobbyests who share their wisdom and insight--you are appreciated.

In the time that I have spent so far being part of the TER team, I have found this forum to be probably the best in the world. You are right though every once in a while there will be an isolated incident of someone bashing someone else; but hat is about it. TER has probably the best staff and moderators around. They are fair and maintain law and order but at all times keep it fun. I used to be part of the PERB Pacific Escort Review Board. That forum is a nightmare, people always bashing people, and law and order kept up only when it is convinient for the moderators. We are very lucky to have the TER.

Thank you for the compliment.  We try our best.  If there is a problem on the boards please Private Mail "Girl Next Door".  She is the main moderator for TER.

If the issue is more review related, please email [email protected]

If you just feel like bitching at someone, my email address is [email protected]

Thanks to great members like you, TER is a great place to hang out.  If you not having fun, you're doing it wrong

-- Staff

We have a good group here, but once in a while, we get 'visitors' who poke in for a bit, and they aren't used to the 'climate' that we've worked hard to maintain, and the genuine comeraderie. So, I guess, Xenopus, the 'regulars' have to clue them in on our good attitudes! LOL

I'm glad you posted this, Xenopus, as it gives me the opportunity to say something I wanted to say anyway.
Here goes..

I post alot on the boards, and just that fact alone increases the percentages or chances that something I say might be misunderstood. I've mentioned before and want to mention again that I very much have an 'approachable, open door', if you will, to tell me if you misunderstand something. It may be nothing at all, something simple, like Stumpy asking me if I meant this ____ and then I can say, 'no, ohmigosh, no' or whatever - whether it's something simple and asked on the boards, or more personal and serious and taken privately in a PM or email.

Communication is important, and you can't tell just by reading text what someone's tone is, sense of humor, etc, but how YOU feel, and what YOU think matters to me. I recently got a PM from a regular poster here and he mentioned that he had sent me a lengthy, helpful PM to me over a month ago and I never responded. I very much appreciate that he brought this to my attention, because that tells me he respects me to want me to know. In this case, it fell through the cracks. It does happen. Not often, but it did with him. He was offended, and I would never have intended that, but had he not ever told me, I also would not have known, to make it 'right' again.

So, what I want to say is, I care about you, and if you want some clarification on something, please, by all means, let me know. I would much prefer that than for someone's feelings to be hurt and I'm not even aware of it. OK?

Happy New Year!

Sedona

...about that "approachable open door"!

heh

I, too, shall work harder to convey my meaning.

Like my hero:

http://www.irwincorey.org/audio/einstein.asx


-- Modified on 12/29/2003 9:29:23 PM

...that this board is so successful IMHO.  It is also nice to have new people drop in...jeez this is how I got 'hooked' on this board.  I was specifically refering to some threads in the last 2 days in which a bitter argument entailed over the Iraq war (see below).   But in the end, I was trying to push the 'reset' button for 2004.  And for you Sedona, have a wonderful 2004 and hope you are feeling better---xeno

Yes, I agree, that the responses to some issues on this Board are sometimes a little harsh. I'm probably misunderstood,too. If I've ever offended anyone, I apologize. I get so passionate some times on certain subjects, but that doesn't mean I am not up for a good debate. I love to hear others' opinions. My only concern is those who post with cruel rebuttals and patronizing comments. I think we can appreciate different viewpoints as long as we are civil.  Singleton, I hope you're not thinking of leaving us. I'll miss you greatly. I also love hearing from Sedona and the rest of you guys. Kudos to all!

Hugs,
Ciara

I would like to apologize to anyone who may have been offended by my posting on the Iraq war. While it is obvious that I am against it, and also, that I will not let someone falsly label or accuse me of something that i am not, this is an erotic board, and not a political board.
While i did want to raise awareness that our countries political interests have been hijacked, I realize that this isn't the place to present my views. I will refrain from posting any possible offensive material in the future.
Again sorry to those that were offended.
May 2004 be a great year and bring happiness to all.
Funtime69...

>I think we can appreciate different viewpoints
>as long as we are civil.

Well said!  
(Unfortunately, it seems civility is one of the first things to go in this medium, and it's important to keep that in mind, too.)

Now let's talk about what sorts of conversations make you passionate...  

heh

When I was brand new to the hobby I got burnt real bad by a provider up in Vancouver, my only negative experience ever up there. I did not give a bad review or anything to that provider. What I meant by getting burnt is, services do not match price and discription shown on the website. This bad service was so obvious too; what I did do was send that provider an e-mail saying that she should not have done me that way, I treated her well, brought flowers blaa blaa blaa. What I did point out to her on our private e-mails was that you might be putting yourself in danger by your attitude if you go up against the wrong client. My point of all this was, I guess I'm too much of a southern gent to have been uncivil either in private or on the public forum.

My family was lucky, and immigrated from Italy about 50 years after the war was over.