Beakerfan said:
I've been here since 2004, and here's what I've found: We're all like family here, but it isn't always gonna be like *POOF* you don't feel new anymore. It's up to you to take the time, get to know people, and build relationships around here, because we can be friendlier than a starfish on a sunny day, but we can't make you jump in and get to know people. I was here for *ages* before I started really getting to know anybody, because I looked at this place as a bunch of strangers I didn't know and was only interested in conversations I wanted to input on. But know that we are *ALWAYS* happy to see you and welcome y'all to our family with open arms. We don't want to make you feel like the baby or like you don't fit in, because hey, we're all Henson fans, right?
I was being facetious. Besides, Baby Sinclair, who I quoted, wasn't solitary and helpless, either.
It's taken awhile to get to know people (I'm still working on that, anyway). Some people I felt really cool with no longer post. That's life I guess. I only really feel bad about it when I'm hormonal because if it weren't for forums, my social life would be near non-existent.
I left pokemon fandoms mostly, only posting in debate boards on them, simply because it stopped meaning things to me and people I really admired left to do other things.
I try to have passion for the Muppets, and this site helped re-ignite a waning love for all things Henson. I don't know about most of the drama I've seen implied about on this thread and elsewhere, but I've seen my fair share. I guess drama can't be avoided, but it hurts when the good ones leave due to drama because all that leaves are the drama-morons and the ones either strong enough to stick with it or too weak to complain. The best solution I've learned is to ignore the drama queen and eventually, when they realize they can't get the attention they crave, they leave.
I feel like the "weirdo" sometimes, not necessarily the baby. It's more like sometimes I feel like Pumbaa -- step within smell range and whoosh watch people flee.
I don't always feel that way, but sometimes I get the inclination. I'm a rather open person -- if I have a bad problem with you (not technically the poster I quoted, but the general "you"), I'll tell you. I've rescued at least two friendships that way. I prefer people do that with me. I can't learn what I do wrong if I'm just avoided. I have a very vivid imagination: if I don't get word about feelings, I assume a lot. No flame is worse than silence, at least for me (of course, maybe that's how hurtful some people like to be).
Anyway, I tend to take short breaks when I'm not in the mood to post. Also, eventually, hopefully, I'll be a nurse and I won't be as glued to my laptop as I am now LOL.
One thing that has always impressed me, though, is that this DOES feel like a community. Sometimes it feels like a community of isolated individuals, but on the whole, I see a shared passion that is hard to get elsewhere. On the pokemon forums I'm on, there will be the people who come on just to troll and say how pokemon sucks -- even on the debate boards which aren't about the franchise at all. I typically just hang around the Henson boards, the Dorms, and the fanfic board, but I don't really see a lot of hate here.
That's why I stay (or come back, if I'm taking a break).