I am not exactly sure how to take this thread, but here I sit again a bit perturbed at the fact that I need to defend the DIS and the good people on it. Because there have been a few posts like this as of recently, I will keep this short in regards to how great the DIS is, how welcoming its members are, and so on. However, I do want to question why you are feeling this way. I have personally never seen a thread on here where you were slighted or treated rudely. Likewise, I have never seen anyone make comments about you, your family, etc. I have only seen positive replies to threads, information given, and so on. I don't feel that these actions are negative in any way nor do they shun you. Instead, I see them as making you a part of the community.
I am also confused as to where people gave the impression that you make them uncomfortable. Again, I have not seen anyone post this so I am very confused. What am I missing?
In a way, I do take some offense to this not only because I consider myself a part of the DIS community, but also due to the fact that these events take countless hours to arrange, organize, and offer. Similarly, due to my work schedule I have not been able to attend any of them. That makes me very sad, but I feel no different from those who are able to go. I love hearing their stories and seeing the event through their eyes. Saying that you actually
have the opportunity to go and are
not going to because you feel that people don't like you bothers me quite a bit. I'd give anything to go and I guarantee you it wouldn't be based on my perception of whether I was well liked or not. It hurts me that you have such an amazing opportunity here and won't grab a hold of it. I so wish I could make things work out to have that same chance.
I have said this before and will say it again. In order to be a part of something, you need to put yourself out there. Participate. Talk. Laugh. Entertain. Joke. Join in the threads and offer your insight and opinions. Attend a weekly chat. Comment on segments of the podcast show for the week. This is how so many friendships were formed and I know you could connect in this way. It's how I did. It's how all of my friends did. You cannot expect a friendship to be born overnight. It takes time. I could never have the same relationship with one person as another who has known her for five years. That is just how it goes. You need to put into a relationship in order for it to develop.
Please do not take my reply in any disrespectful way. I am just very confused about this thread and why you feel this way. The DIS is a happy place full of amazing people. Saying that one is being ostracized against is something I find hard to stomach. I truly hope that you reconsider and take advantage of this special event.
But..if that's the case..I just don't know how to go about it. No one has said anything in particular...just the way I guess it has come across to me.
