Date: 11/5/2009 9:13:34 AM
Author: princesss
Not uncomfortable. A little shy. Everybody seemed to know each other SO well, but eventually I started adding my voice to the fray and as I got to know more people it seemed less like chaos and more like going out to dinner with a bunch of smart, funny, boisterous friends.
I still feel like a total newbie in RT. I can pipe up sometimes when people ask for subjective opinions (do you like cut X or Y better?), but I leave it to the prosumers to answer technical stuff. I love the discussions over there about the theory behind light performance and cut and wavelengths, though. They''re fascinating! I don''t always totally understand them, but it''s like the most interesting science class I''ve ever been in.
Date: 11/5/2009 10:44:34 AM
Author: monarch64
I don''t remember feeling uncomfortable as a newbie. I kind of just jumped right in. I remember getting called out a couple of times by longer-standing members but no one was nasty or condescending.
Haha, ditto packrat! I tend to open up to people after I know them a bit better, but I can be a little shy or awkward at first. Mostly I didn''t want to offend anyone and still don''t!Date: 11/5/2009 11:01:41 AM
Author: packrat
I felt awkward. I still do sometimes-I''m just an awkward person I guess. I only lurked off and on for about a month before joining and posting. I mean well, but sometimes I feel like a dork!
I think you hit the nail on the head for me, Mara. Whatever somebody''s personal feelings are about another poster, when that person needs help nobody sits back and says, "Well, I could help, but I really don''t like so-and-so." Everybody pitches in whatever they know that could help. Helping each other, whether it be about diamonds, settings, strollers, interview tips, etc., is what we do. And DANG, we do it well!Date: 11/5/2009 11:14:43 AM
Author: Mara
ahh Kaleigh those good old days back in ''04. spit n''vinegar!
when i joined it was a really tiny community. my first few posts were asking for advice on an OEC. once i went back and found them just for kicks. i also lurked a fair amt because the forums were not ''chatty'' like today. there were only a few posts a day total. there were a few of us who were in same stages of life and we became pals. today, PS overall is an extremely welcoming place, if you take it at face value...as with any online community it''s not all roses all the time.
the one thing that is so impressive about PS given other online communities is the wealth of knowledge that resides here. whether or not you like someone doesn''t make a difference if they are imparting information that is relevant to you and your life and can be useful. it is almost like an informal about.com IMO, which is ironic, because that is the vision that Leonid had for it so many years ago.and i just love that there are a few of the oldies still around...it surely wouldn''t be PS without them.
Yup, again!Date: 11/5/2009 8:21:03 AM
Author: geckodani
Uncomfortable? No. Awkward and clueless? Yup.
thingDate: 11/5/2009 10:21:40 AM
Author: thing2of2
Ha, good topic DF! That's kind of shocking coming from you!
I was a little shy/uncomfortable at first. It did seem like several posters totally ignored me, actually. But I don't get my feelings hurt too easily so I didn't care that much! I never thought I'd get as into PS as I did. I'm less into it these days but I still like to read and post so it appears I'm not going anywhere!
hehe I can so relate to that in the beginning! I never belonged to a forum before and I didn't know I had to read the threads so I learned as I went. lol Also, we all post so I thought it sounded like we talked at each other rather then to each other so that took me awhile to get use to! heheA bit- at first all the abreviations took a while to understand and everyone here just knows each other so well I felt like a bit of an outsider.....
Still kinda do but that's the way I am I guess
Date: 11/5/2009 1:42:45 PM
Author: Haven
I never felt uncomfortable because I was a newbie, but I did feel strange posting info and questions online because I had never been a part of any online forums before (or since!) and it was surprising to me that people seemed to be friends with each other on here. I found PS as an LIW and here I am, married and still jabbering away, so I obviously got over that initial feeling!
I remember being afraid to post pics of my original e-ring for fear of it being called "frozen spit" or "poor performer".Date: 11/5/2009 9:04:32 PM
Author: fsu1227
I do. Especially when posting ring pictures...I assume people will be uber-critical.