It has given me a place to voice what I thought, felt, and was going through. I never ever realized how healing and/or strengthing that could be. (yeah, yeah...I am the listener in r/l for the most part. EVERYBODY I know is interested in talking and never in listening unless it is about themselves. ) It is also a place that, even though I may have to look for a minute, I can ALWAYS find posts that make me laugh. Some people have even been super nice, and warmed my heart. (and the rest, I didn't let bother me...at least not too much. )
Everything helps me grow or at least change, don't know if that's for the better or worse. My life would be RADICALLY different if I had not become a regular user of this website. Now I come and go. I can't think of what kind of person I would be if I had not come here, as I've met some great people, others no so great, but at least one became an integral part of my life and now we're connected forever.
It has helped me to hone my reasoning skills when I debate someone who is really sharp, but doesn't agree with me. And I have learned to try to be very tolerant of those who can't see reality the way I do. Even though I am obviously right! And I try to be humble. This is a great place to exercise the grey matter.
Yes. More so than I can find words to tell. If you were sitting in front of me, and had a lot of time to spare, I might be able to express it if it came up. In brief, the existence and good-management-of this site has changed lives. People met and had children in these forums/chat. People have gotten the help they needed to avoid crises, or have gotten the courage to stand up and and get help- or give help- or just get up and live another day. The drug health and safety info here alone has no doubt saved countless lives... kids can do really unfathomable things when they lack information... but heck you know all this. Thank you, moderators and other volunteers who preserve the sanctity of this really rare and special Internet meeting place. I first happened upon this site sometime in 1999... I remember being in chat all night new years ever 99->Y2K ... the talk that night was all about the (then happening) Phish show in FL. Tthis site has been "home" ever since.
I've made some on-line friends here, whom I truly love, so yeah... :grouphug: One of those friendships has grown to the point that a cross country move is happening in order to pursue it further, so yeah... :love:
Good to hear the positive responses...I know I really value my place here,even though sometimes I might react strongly to things or just let them go.