Time to take a break

[mattiem]

To clarify my post just in case it was misunderstood, when I said "older members" I mean in terms of the number of years they have been members on this forum, not age.

Reading comprehension is one of the things lacking in today's world. Most of us understood what you said and meant but there is always someone ready to jump on and feel hurt by what they THOUGHT you said. I know that will sound mean to someone but sometimes the truth does hurt and maybe, just maybe it will open up a mind and make it actually think.

Mattiem, words fail me at the moment. I'm deeply saddened, I hope you chose to come back soon. I get it, I really do. I'm glad I missed that thread, haven't been here much lately. If you do decide to leave for good, I hope you remember foremost the people you have helped and touched. I'm one of those, I'll miss you dearly. Please think about dropping by once in a while, at the least, to let us know you're doing well.

Oh man, Mattiem, I'll really miss you.

Thank you dear FT. You are one that I will miss the most, but I have decided that it will just be a break instead of just gone. I would miss a lot of y'all to much to just go away.

If you would, could you message me your email. I would like to make sure you are ok from time to time

Ya know I will be checking your status every once in a while to see if you have popped online

Done, thank you bunches

 

[Robino1]

Per the OP's request, title of the thread has been changed

 

[Kenna]

I kind of like to vape right next to a sign that says no smoking...................

Absolutely! I vape. I don't smoke. I don't hide it. Unless there is a law that's says I can't vape in a specific spot I will continue to vape anywhere I please. I am courteous to the extent that I avoid blowing vapor across anyone, & I don't like having that done to me. If confronted I will advise that ANT to walk away & as long as I was there first I will stay where I am. They came into my space. I did not go into theirs. Rude is rude on both sides. I'm not going to argue with someone about it. If they choose to remain ignorant, then so be it. I don't argue with the flat earthers either. I don't allow myself to be baited by trolls which is what these people are. If they come here to "argue" their cause then they are trolling the Forums & should be reported as such. I will not argue with them or try to change their minds. It' s feeding the trolls.
Take a break, @mattiem, recoup a little. But please don't stay away. There are so many conversations here that are supportive & fun & informative. There's no need to look in the snake pit for someone to converse with.

 

[Rickb119]

That's not bad. I recommend something meatier: The Internet Classics Archive | The Art of War by Sun Tzu

“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

And then there is this perspective:

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, lest he be wise in his own eyes".
Proverbs 26:4-5 NAS

 

[mattiem]

Per the OP's request, title of the thread has been changed

Thank you Robin

 

[classwife]

....the Forum hasn't changed, but it has GROWN.
With that growth the negative also grows proportionately...
The keyboard warrior that has the bravado of anonymity, the lack of being able to converse without creating a battle...and those that just live to stir a pot.

It's tough when a tidbit from garbage news is repeated as fact. It's even tougher when the repeating is done "by our own".

I look at it like teaching a child with learning disabilities - you need patience and persistence to find the way that they will hear you and be able to learn.
But you also need to understand that some just won't learn.

@mattiem (((hug)))



The Ignore Feature is a great tool to utilize.
Another great tool is the report feature...if someone is violating the Forum Rules - report it !
I can tell ya...there is nothing more frustrating then reading a thread and coming upon a post that gripes "the Mods aren't doing anything here"...and not a soul had even bothered to report a problem.

 

[440BB]

I'm glad it's just a break. Goodbye sounds so permanent!

 

[Kenna]

[emoji56]

 

[DavidOck]

I am going to miss a lot of folks that I have met here but enough is enough.

I am not closing my account yet but I know there is no way I can be as active as I used to be.

Gosh, Mattie, I couldn't like the starting post, but your later ones about being a break gave me hope. You've been such a help and boon to so many here over the years, was really sad to think you might be gone forever.

As said, do consider joining us on the Porches, at least now and then!

 

[Bunnykiller]

there are 2 types of "fighters"
one fights for a cause
the other fights for the challenge .... ( haters gonna hate)

 

[DeAnna2112]

I think we should respect public places as well as the decisions a place of business has made on where we can or can not vape. You seem to be upset that more then normal lately on the forum agree with this. At the end of the day there are those who vape and there are those who don't. Both sides need to be respected. It seems you only want your views represented and respected on this forum and that i disagree with....and it's speaking up with that view that upsets you according to your original post because you feel anything less then allowing a vaper to vape where ever they want is unacceptable.

I sincerely hope a break from the forum will give you some time to hear yourself and maybe step back from this one way street mentality that only your view as a vaper is right and matters. There are a lot of good vapers on this forum who believe in vaping and support vaping...but there are going to be things that not all vapers agree on and that should be respected and expected.... not met with a "i am leaving the forum" rant all because others opinions on this forum don't agree with yours.

I really hope you don't leave because i enjoy hearing your views and opinions whether i agree with them or not...i just wish you would in return welcome others differences in views and opinions as well because according to your OP... you clearly don't.

 

[Robino1]

I think we should respect public places as well as the decisions a place of business has made on where we can or can not vape. You seem to be upset that more then normal lately on the forum agree with this.

That isn't quite what she is upset about. It is more a disagreement that we shouldn't vape where smoking is prohibited. There is a difference.

If an establishment prohibits vaping, that is well within their right to do so. I and everyone else should respect that. As she and I have pretty much the same point of view, I understand where the frustration comes from.

It comes from the blanket statement: If smoking is not allowed then don't vape there either. The consequences being implied are if you vape there, it will be banned there.

Both sides need to be respected.

Absolutely they do.

Please read the last sentence in your last paragraph.

 

[DeAnna2112]

That isn't quite what she is upset about. It is more a disagreement that we shouldn't vape where smoking is prohibited. There is a difference.

If an establishment prohibits vaping, that is well within their right to do so. I and everyone else should respect that. As she and I have pretty much the same point of view, I understand where the frustration comes from.

It comes from the blanket statement: If smoking is not allowed then don't vape there either. The consequences being implied are if you vape there, it will be banned there.



Absolutely they do.

Please read the last sentence in your last paragraph.

I am disagreeing with her view, not disrespecting it by going on a rant that i am going to leave the forum BECAUSE i disagree with it and BECAUSE i don't want to be apart of a forum where she and others share such views.

 

[AG51]

I look at it like teaching a child with learning disabilities - you need patience and persistence to find the way that they will hear you and be able to learn.

I can tell ya...there is nothing more frustrating then reading a thread and coming upon a post that gripes "the Mods aren't doing anything here"...and not a soul had even bothered to report a problem.

quits talkins bouts me Classifieds. I cam't helkps zit iffin I gots a disabillys dam its

and yes please I habes a reports dat Matties needs ta stays here wiff me

cuz i lubbs her muchlys ands I gots a new dress

ut-ohs

I gotta poop

Matties pass da papers please I rummin outs !

 

[SteveS45]

An old saying comes to mind here...................

Can we just all agree to disagree?

 

[Robino1]

An old saying comes to mind here...................

Can we just all agree to disagree?

In a perfect world......yes. In an imperfect world.....

Differences of opinion happen. Trying to understand the written word sometimes is a bit difficult. In heated discussions, one must make sure that the facts *as you know them* are accurate. If a link is posted that may contradict the fact, maybe take a look at it.

With something that can truly affect how vaping is regulated, there are studies that back up both sides of the debate of public vaping. Unfortunately, the ones that go against public vaping are found to be not quite so truthful, when they are scrutinized by people that understand the language.

We have learned to not trust those. Again, unfortunately, we tend to dismiss those immediately. Thank goodness that we do have people that will delve into it and pick them apart to find if there are inconsistencies.

The ones that seem to back up the ability to vape in public are not rewarded with attention as that would completely go against what the Alphabet organizations want.

The fight has been ongoing for years. Some get tired of the battle. It happens. We get burned out.

We see more people that are new to vaping and they bring with them the old mindset of a smoker and how it was drilled into our brain all the bad things about tobacco. We enter the vaping arena still under the impression that nicotine is the bad guy.

Constantly battling that mindset that cannot divorce the two is hard.

 

[SteveS45]

So what are you agreeing to disagree or disagreeing that you can't agree to disagree?

 

[SteveS45]

Another old saying comes to mind................

Can't we all just get along??

 

[skoony]

@mattiem Hang in there from personal experience I can tell you it only
gets worse. (just kidding)
It just seems like the world is against you. In reality it is just a few who
seem to think they speak for everyone including the general public.
I have always wondered if I missed an election cycle and these people
were elected as representatives or they have pockets full of mice.
I am supposed to behave in a certain way as not to offend or disrespect
all "those other" people. Who these people are I don't know. Perhaps
there is a list lying about somewhere. Maybe someone can PM it to me.
Best to you.

Regards
Mike

 

[DC2]

Like I always say, it should be up to the owner of a place whether or not they allow it all else is fair game!

This is the correct answer.