First off, thank you so much sher, for your post. I have read all the bashing, the complaints, and yes, that reference to "mob mentality", which in itself is bashing. I know people don't think what they sometimes say is "bashing" per se, but it is.
Thank you also for the recognition of the time and effort that goes into making this board a mostly fun place to be.
It really is astounding when someone takes to the board to post their "issue" instead of contacting board personnel directly. Especially when they indicated they would no longer be posting, just lurking.
And you are right. We have all read posts/thread that have said negative things about various characters, nearly every single one of them, except perhaps Alice. Even Maggie has caught heck a few times. I love Lucas, Jack, Rafe, and have read tons of negative things about them all. I don't agree, but that is what a debate is all about, isn't it? Varying opinions on a situation, a character, etc.That is what this board is about.
That said......
I used to be a huge fan of Sami's, despite her schemes, her rash behavior, her revenge plots. And there are posters on this board who have never liked her, not from Day 1 when she returned as a teen. But to me it did not matter. That is until earlier this year. It was bad enough the former writers had Sami who had never ever been unfaithful do so......but she did so with the man who not only raped her, but had conspired to put an imposter in her bed, engaging is rape by proxy. Without making the huge list of that man's transgressions against her, it was horrifying to see Sami embrace, defend, be cordial to that man, and to throw her loving husband out of the house for a kiss when she herself was guilty of much worse. And currently, Sami's behavior has created a lot of talk. Just her turn. Carrie had her turn. So did Austin, Abby. EJ has had several turns, so has Nicole. Carly. Currently it is Sami.
I learned today, that rude comments were deleted from a post, and what the comments were. And they were bashing me, insulting the board and it's moderators.
That is not tolerated. I was very upset. I read another post a couple minutes later, wherein the poster is unhappy because people disagree with the poster's opinions, and so the poster is going to leave the board and not post, just read, That is the person's perogative. And those comments were deleted. And I am not going to publicly state the reasons.(Admittedly I also learned that people make copies of all their posts, don't know why, but they do, maybe it is so they can repost elsewhere, or perhaps just repost on the same board in a new thread! )
I put a lot of time & effort into making this board a safe one, and I am so grateful that I have help in that area from the other moderators. I have read too many posts from members who were so happy to have found a place where people cannot be insulted, disparaged personally for their opinions. I have visited other boards where such things go on, and have been horrified. We have very few rules here, but #1 as most know, is respect. Towards each other, the moderators and administrators.
No one is being attacked when someone disagrees with their opinion. If they feel that is the case, they should report a post they feel is PERSONALLY attacking either themselves or other members. But stating an opposing opinion is not attacking. Debating is presenting one side, and then someone else presents another side. It is too bad when a person decides that because others have a different opinion, and express it, they must be attacking.
Days does have a rich history, which is why there is constant reference to some of it. Doug marrying Addie, having Hope, Addie dying, and then marrying Addie's daughter, Julie. Patch & Kayla's romance. Marlena possessed. Susan Banks giving birth to Elvis. Chelsea being responsible for Zack's death. Nicole being Victor's ex-wife. John having been thought to be Roman, raising the twins, and then real Roman appearing, turning John's life upside down. Hope being turned into Princess Gina. ...it is all history, all matters, just as EJ raping Sami matters, and it was just a few years ago. Tje rape by proxy was much more recent.