I've recently run up against an online forum restriction issue that, in its core, originated from a personal vendetta. Not here. Another forum. It is entirely disgusting and shameful that the situation had to be exacerbated so that it affected so many people who didn't have anything to do with it or even knowledge if an issue behind the scenes. I took that restriction very personally. I had put many years of loyalty and friendship into that (online) place. It felt like my home. But because of a situation between a sponsor and one if my dearest friends I ended up on the receiving end of the shun. And it hurt my feelings deeply. Why tell you all this? Because what my heart that felt "at home" on that forum failed to remember is that in the beginning and at the end of the day its a business. It was a business before I got there and it'll be business as usual if I decide to leave. A heart has no safe place in a forum. It DOES in the friendships formed there which can't be taken from me. Prior to this big hullabaloo I had swore off FB. I reactivated to be able to stay connected to my circle of friends. Maybe we'll find another "home" in the form of a forum which I prefer. But if not, that's okay, too. It is nice to be able to talk freely amongst ourselves without worry that someone will come in and kick us all out. Its nice to let our hair down! For a non-FB gal it's been a little insight into what the FB folks here are saying about being able to say what's on your mind without editing to conform to rules. Not that Dis doesn't need rules. Absolutely it does because its a public place of business. I stopped even looking at the DisMeet section for my sailings because they all seem to be full of FB redirecting. I know that Dis groups can form parallel to the FB groups but that doesn't seem to happen as often as not. As a mostly not interested in FB person, I found and still find the FB redirecting off-puting. So I do understand the side of the non-FB people. Many say "Well there's no activity on Dis but there is on FB so I go there." I get ya. But, it wasn't always this way. As the FB group popularity grew it adversely affected the Dis threads. Now people (like me) don't bother with the DisMeet threads because they more often than not are full of FB references. Its a cycle. I'd like to think the DisMeets can bounce back but that will remain to be seen. Personally, I'm anti-social enough IRL to be okay with walking onto my cruises with anonymity and no group of people to belong to outside my family. I'm clever enough to have found ways of finding info as needed to build my cruise plans with. It's all good. What I've heard often in many of the posts on this thread is passion and emotion. That applies to both sides of the coin. Neither side is wrong. Both sides care. So many have feelings about Dis because its a "home". For anyone to feel unhappy, uncomfortable, or unwelcome in a place they know as "home" brings feelings of hurt and anger. Believe me, I know!!! Just remember: Dis is a business first and formost. It belongs to its owners, not you. You wouldn't want anyone telling you what you should or must do with anything you own. Right? It's the owner's prerogative to decide what they want. And that isn't wrong. If you want to do the FB groups go to FB & do them. From what I've heard, it's not too difficult to search for your cruise & find the meets there. If you want to do DisMeets, by all means, DO. If you want to do both - you have way more energy than me! LOL! My point is that everyone needs to step back a moment. Understand that these boards are a business that belongs to somebody. Appreciate the passion and emotion of the members/users on all sides of the issue. Both FB & DisMeets have their place and legitimacy in their existences. It's okay for the owners of this site to have a wish to keep them separated. One doesn't dictate value or a lack of value of the other. Take a breath. Relax. Do what's right for you. Respect others' choices, feelings, and opinions as you would like to be respected. This also applies to the owners of this forum/website. It's only fair to give what you'd like to receive. Happy Labor Day....