Is the DIS REALLY 'different'?

[Dan Murphy]

I know I have said it MANY times here over the past 5+ years I have been on the DIS, and have seen many of us say likewise, 'The DIS is different, the DIS is special, there is no place quite like it.'. But I do have to admit my scope and experience on Internet BB's beyond the DIS is a big -0-.

I don't particpate on any other boards, never have, Disney oriented or otherwise. I have only viewed, from a 'safe distance', LOL, a few of the 'DIS spinoffs' that have started over the years , and other Disney oriented ones, found in searches, that are part of other Disney information sites (and there are many Disney sites out there).

But there are boards for just about anything out there, probably everything out there. (That's ) I know that the DIS family here is so very special to me and my RL family and I think so highly, in general, of just about everybody here on the DIS. I guess my question is, are there other boards (I'm not leaving, LOL) that have as caringly and diversely knowledgeable community as we have here on the DIS?

I think that sounds about what I am trying to ask, are we really as unique as I/we think we are??? I think the DIS is.

 

[DVC-Don]

No different. I participate in 3 automotive boards, 1 local town board and 2 other disney boards. 2 of the automotive boards are more than twice the size of the DIS. They are all their own little communities who think the world revolves around them and full of nice folks. The local town board have more fights than any of the rest.

 

[barbeml]

That's a great question!

I only have experience on three other forums (all linked to favorite TV shows), and I must admit that I have "conversed" with a great many friendly, funny and informed folks.

But nowhere else have I encountered people so willing to go out of their way to help others, lend an ear, offer advice or comfort, look up some esoteric info, commiserate or share a laugh. As long as I stay away from the Debate Board, I feel very welcome here.

Barbe

 

[kild]

I have been a member of many boards and have even created and ran some boards. I have seen this kind of family atmosphere before, but never on this large of a scale or to the extreme as the DIS.
This a great place that I have now become addicted to. I blame all of you

So, to answer your question, I would say the DIS is very unique.

 

[DVC-Don]

Double post and could not delete. sorry

 

[JenBlaze]

Here's my two cents.

I'm on this board and another that I've been on for 2 years.

The stuff that people pull here - personal attacks, insults, and the like - would get you banned at the other board I'm on.

As a new person, I was really disappointed with the number of exclusive cliques on this board, and the whole "tag fairy" thing honestly does nothing but make the tagless feel like they don't belong.

I don't come here often. I came here today to check on news on Delswife's mom. I used to come here daily - but this place just isn't terribly inclusive, so I don't anymore.

 

[Micca]

I don't have much "extra-Dis" experience but the few boards I visit are cordial, and all extend sympathies and support difficult times, but I find the Dis environment warmer and the most sincere. Could that be because I've been here so much and more involved? In any case, I agree with the positive things Dan said about the Dis

 

[Laurabearz]

I have particapated in three pregancy boards... one for each of my children, and the first group.. May 1999 moms were, far and away, a tight group from the get go... we all meshed perfectly....

We have booked vacations together..... wonderful!

But your right Dan.... the gang here is a good one.... but as another person stated.... it can be clicky.

 

[darlene9947]

Originally posted by JenBlaze
Here's my two cents.

I'm on this board and another that I've been on for 2 years.

The stuff that people pull here - personal attacks, insults, and the like - would get you banned at the other board I'm on.

As a new person, I was really disappointed with the number of exclusive cliques on this board, and the whole "tag fairy" thing honestly does nothing but make the tagless feel like they don't belong.

I don't come here often. I came here today to check on news on Delswife's mom. I used to come here daily - but this place just isn't terribly inclusive, so I don't anymore.

Jen,
I know how you feel. I have been lurking on these boards for about 1 year and love to check on what's going on, but sometimes you do feel left out of the loop, so to speak. Maybe it's just this counity board. I have had a lot of help on the eBay thread from some of the regulars there, but on this particular site, I just lurk. Everybody does seem real nice, though.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Being here definitely feels like a big family to me. There's a widows' board I've been visiting for quite a few years, longer than the DIS, and that is definitely a "sisterhood," not a family. Completely different. I visit a couple other places, and they don't feel great as it is.

 

[jipsy]

are we really as unique as I/we think we are???

No. There are a bazillion internet communities just like this. People who get together for a common interest and become good friends. They laugh together, they cry together, they have meetings, they vacation together...

My first internet experience was a chat room, not a bb. I was a participant and eventually a moderator of that chat room for several years. I gained many close friends from it. The chat room could have as many as 100+ people at a time posting, and if you've never participated in chat, when 100 people are posting and it's INSTANT, it can be daunting. It can be an extreme challenge to moderate. It was also a "family" chat room, no personal insults, no spamming, no cursing, etc. You could also have private chats with each other. At times I might have the main room and as many as 10-15 private chats going on at one time. The regulars of this room met each other many times, had dinner together, several fell in love and got married and had families. It was a great place. Unfortunately, I moved and had to do without a computer for several months, so that by the time I returned, it was not the same there for me as it had been those many years.

The DIS may be special to you for your own reasons, but that doesn't make it an internet icon. You can find a board or chat room, large or small, sweet or nasty, for just about any subject you desire. They are all communities and they all feel they are "special".

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I think that on most boards that stick around for a couple of years, a core group of posters form that become hard and fast friends. Several of these groups exist on the DIS and I can certainly see where that is daunting for new people. JenBlaze isn't the first person I've seen say that she never felt welcome here, others love the place.

My older sister is flying to my city later this month for a meet of an Internet Board she has belonged to for about 13 years. The originally formed as one of the old Prodigy Groups way back in the old days of the internet. The internet, like outer space, is an incredibly vast place. I've belonged to many many boards where close ties have been established. I think some might find it a little naive and insulting to hint that friendship and niceness can only exist here.

 

[jipsy]

The originally formed as one of the old Prodigy Groups way back in the old days of the internet.

Ahh yes prodigy - my first taste of chat, which is where I learned about mIRC.

I wonder if I know your sister TF? :lol: Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Originally posted by JenBlaze
Here's my two cents.

The stuff that people pull here - personal attacks, insults, and the like - would get you banned at the other board I'm on.

As a new person, I was really disappointed with the number of exclusive cliques on this board, and the whole "tag fairy" thing honestly does nothing but make the tagless feel like they don't belong.

I am totally addicted to the board and have been for something like 3 years. The personal attacks never used to happen....but they do now. I am one that was attacked about a month ago. I miss the old board. I do believe that the tag fairy should venture out and choose other people rather than keep tagging several people that already have tags. It does make you feel "unworthy". There are now cliques and once again makes you feel uncomfortable. It was due to a clique that I was attacked. But with all that said, the majority of the people here are so totally awesome, willing to help anyone and anybody. I have made lifelong friendships here on the board. We now vacation with several families, exchange Christmas gifts, talk long distance etc. I just can't see how it can compare to any other board.

 

[Melora]

My first experience with people thorugh the computer was with a chat room for a TV series that I used to be on. The group of people was fantastic and many of us became friends in real life. 2 even came from the east coast to visit with me.

It was a very tight knit group and I was sorry when I fell out of touch because of changes in my personal life.

As for this board being clique-y.... anyplace is clique-y when you first start to visit. I do not think there is anyplace on these boards that if you decided you wanted to be a part of that you would not be welcome. Its just daunting sometimes to join in.

Yes some of the people can be a little overly emotional about their polti and religion, but I suppose thats real life too.

 

[helenabear]

Yes and no... for pure post counts alone, http://www.big-boards.com/index.php?type=vBulletin we rank in the top 10 so that's pretty cool.

I don't find this place that cliquey... which is nice, but compared to the other sites I have gone to (not spin offs) it's about the same. I have found that almost all "cliques" out there aren't really true ones and are happy to have anyone post with them.

This board is more friendly in willingness to meet eachother than the others I post to but ranks equal to the one my husband is at (if not a little less). I have made several friends from my husband's foum (he goes to General Mayhem) and one regularly comes and spends the weekend with us.

It does stand out a little compared to most places I go, but I have found some places similar. Still it is a great place

 

[mt2]

Dan, I have been lurking this sight for a long time. If I remember correctly, $35 to register so the boards to be kept on going and only one board. I didn't register until this month.

So much has changed since the beginning. I remember when most of the talk was almost always about Disney. Everyone started becoming more comfortable, take off their shoes when they came in the door. Things started becoming more and more personnal. Many of the posters talked about everything about their lives, childrens, in laws, pets, health, etc. and getting more away from Disney but the tie that was common was/is the love of Disney.

This community has evolved just as our children do. We nurture them, guide them, love them,sometimes don't really like them but we love them for who they are. We blink and then we notice that they have a life of their own. We hope that the roots are strong enough to handle everything.

I have seem many positive things here otherwise I would not have "stayed/lurked" for so long. I have also needed to take a break sometimes due to the negativity but I have always come back.

I'm sorry for rambling on. I have been looking at pictures of when my DD's were young and the hospital called to do pre op stuff for one of my DD.

Yes, this place is my happy place. If I am feeling a bit down, I'll go read a trip report or a restaurant review. If I need to find a good deal, I'll check out the budget board. If I get upset with my in laws, I usually find one worse than mine here. LOL

Happy Thoughts to all,

mt2


Again, I'm sorry if none of this makes any sense. Dan, I have found that you are one of those people that never seem to meet a stranger. Just a friend that you haven't been introduced to yet. That is a rare gift. Thank you.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I LOVE the DIS boards! I have never felt excluded and have been welcomed with open arms on the "clique" threads. I think it is just how you percieve things. If someone gets snippy with me, I just chalk it up to they are having a bad day or I just misunderstood them. The DIS is great and unique to me because I have no experience with any other BB and don't intend to.

 

[CajunDixie]

The personal attacks never used to happen....but they do now.

Actually they used to happen long ago also. The membership was much smaller then and the mods kept a handle on things quite quickly. I remember when Pete used to post........ahhhh the good ole days. LOL

I do think this board is unique in the fact that there are so many close relationships yet there are ??? what around 56,000 members?

Although I havent been there lately I think Ahnalira's boards are also very unique and have a family feel too.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Yes, the DIS is unique and different. I've been to a few other boards: College Confidential, IOA Central, and one for a program I went to last summer. None of the boards draw me back on a daily basis like the DIS does. The DIS is amazing really. While I'm still in that getting comfortable mode, this place is a lot more comfortable than any other board I've visited. The people here are different. Cliques happen anywhere, as do the political attacks. It's part of life. I just avoid those specific threads (well....sometimes).