Is this a bad idea? Returning to the TMF, I mean. Not that there’s anything intrinsically bad about this site. I’ve had some nice times here, which I suppose is what accounts for this weird pining I’ve been experiencing for the last couple of weeks.
About 7 years ago I realised that I was consistently coming away from the forum in a worse mood than I was before visiting. And so I forced myself to go cold turkey, as it were. And the reason I put it in those terms is because, as we all now know, social media - of any kind - can be very addictive. Which I suppose makes this sound like a relapse lol. Hopefully it won’t feel that way anyway! In fact, I remember there was one occasion in the intervening years where I did try to log on but couldn’t remember my password - mainly cos I was drunk. Perhaps that’s the sort of relapse I should be more worried about!
There just seemed to get to a point with the forum where there was so much conflict and ill feeling, just trying to have a nice time here began to feel like hard work. Almost as though the troublemakers had been allowed to dictate the ambience of the place. But then, I suppose some people, even if they’re not troublemakers themselves, enjoy that sort of thing. Someone to argue with. An enemy to fight. An opportunity to be scandalised. Personally, I find needless drama tiresome. Not to mention, bad for one’s mental health.
Feels strange returning though. It’s still the TMF that I knew, but quieter, more peaceful. And it’s difficult to know whether that’s because there was a clampdown on bad behaviour or whether, like me, some people just gave it up as a bad job. And of course, some will have just entered a different phase of their life in which the TMF doesn’t feature - nothing lasts forever after all. I dare say I’ll learn more in the coming weeks.
And I’d love to say that I’m a much better, more rounded person now. And that my heart is overflowing with love for humankind etc. But that would be bollocks. Maybe I’m slightly more comfortable in my own skin and less inclined to tolerate bullshit, but that’s not saying very much. Other than that, it’s a case of picking up where I left off I reckon. Hopefully having some nice interactions on the discussion threads. Making stupid jokes. Smiling politely while backing slowly and cautiously away from lunatics and vindictive psychopaths (standard self-preservatory behaviour). And maybe making a few more of these whiny/self-important blog entries. We’ll see.
Anyway, hope everybody’s doing well.
Cheeyers! 🙂
About 7 years ago I realised that I was consistently coming away from the forum in a worse mood than I was before visiting. And so I forced myself to go cold turkey, as it were. And the reason I put it in those terms is because, as we all now know, social media - of any kind - can be very addictive. Which I suppose makes this sound like a relapse lol. Hopefully it won’t feel that way anyway! In fact, I remember there was one occasion in the intervening years where I did try to log on but couldn’t remember my password - mainly cos I was drunk. Perhaps that’s the sort of relapse I should be more worried about!
There just seemed to get to a point with the forum where there was so much conflict and ill feeling, just trying to have a nice time here began to feel like hard work. Almost as though the troublemakers had been allowed to dictate the ambience of the place. But then, I suppose some people, even if they’re not troublemakers themselves, enjoy that sort of thing. Someone to argue with. An enemy to fight. An opportunity to be scandalised. Personally, I find needless drama tiresome. Not to mention, bad for one’s mental health.
Feels strange returning though. It’s still the TMF that I knew, but quieter, more peaceful. And it’s difficult to know whether that’s because there was a clampdown on bad behaviour or whether, like me, some people just gave it up as a bad job. And of course, some will have just entered a different phase of their life in which the TMF doesn’t feature - nothing lasts forever after all. I dare say I’ll learn more in the coming weeks.
And I’d love to say that I’m a much better, more rounded person now. And that my heart is overflowing with love for humankind etc. But that would be bollocks. Maybe I’m slightly more comfortable in my own skin and less inclined to tolerate bullshit, but that’s not saying very much. Other than that, it’s a case of picking up where I left off I reckon. Hopefully having some nice interactions on the discussion threads. Making stupid jokes. Smiling politely while backing slowly and cautiously away from lunatics and vindictive psychopaths (standard self-preservatory behaviour). And maybe making a few more of these whiny/self-important blog entries. We’ll see.
Anyway, hope everybody’s doing well.
Cheeyers! 🙂
