This is absolutely the last post I will make about the journal ads and the exodus. I came to J-Land just over a year ago, made friends and began to post regularly. I loved the way everyone treated me. It was like I had come home to a community of treasured friends.
Starting this week, some of the friends that I have read regularly decided to leave. That's okay and I respect that decision. What really bothers me is that some have begun to harass those of us who have decided to stay. Some have made large postings in their journals with crude or nearly crude criticism of AOL. It is your right to do that, too, I guess, but I'm losing respect for you.
In my mind, there is a right way and a wrong way to deal with this. I've sent e-mails and AOL has responded to each one. That lets me know they are at least reading what I wrote them.
Harsh criticism and harassment of members who choose to stay is not the answer. I don't know what is. I will tell you that if you're harassing my friends or making crude statements in your journal, I'm done reading you. You've slipped a notch in my book.
Next, there are many of you I love and care about and will read where ever your journal is. I will make comments about as often as I do on AOL. That's the long and short of it.
I went to see Joyce Meyers a few years ago. She's a television preacher who is pretty well known. She asked her audience if anyone was feeling put upon, - you can't believe the number of hands that went up, mine included. She stood there and nodded, chewed on her glasses a second and said one of the most profound things I have ever heard:
"Get over it!!"
Be blessed today my friends
Penny
20 comments:
I love Joyce. I have her book, "Me And My Big Mouth". I should probably read it again.
oh how i love joyce meyers. how i wish someday i could go watch here. i doubt i will ever get the chance so i will be happy enough to watch her on tv. debbie
Yep!
I never had time for snot nosed stuck up brats to begin with I certainly don't now , yup let them go wallow in their egotistical arrongance, their little anti AOL love fest. I don't need anyone!
~Julie
http://journals.aol.com/joolsinwa/JUSTFORFUN
I love Joyce Meyer. Isn't she great?
My motto is: "Build a bridge and get over it."
I`m glad you are not going to be harrassed into leaving Penny, if we choose to stay it`s our decision. Much as I dislike the ads I won`t leave AOL because of them. They are hardly life-threatening and I can just ignore them. Mainly I`m glad you are staying so that I can contunue to read your journal! :-)
Sandra xxxx
I am also done writing about it in my journal or even thinking about this silliness. I have my core of FRIENDS who i know will care about me no matter what....as long as i am a good person and a good friend that is what matters. Not if AOL has some distracting ads on the top of my journal. I dont want to lose the closeness i have with a few....like YOU. You are very important to me.
Love always, lj
You are a brilliant woman :-) -Kelly http://pixiedustnme.blogspot.com/
I Absolutely Love Joyce Meyers! And the way you ended this post. Good advice my dear Penny! Good advice! That woman is too funny! God has definitely given her a gift. Someday I hope to have a ministry just like hers. Hugs,
Lisa
I too dislike the ads at the top of the journals. Actually, the ads aren't so bad, I can scroll down, but what is annoying was having no say in anything and getting them as a BIG surprise.
I can't believe some of what is going on right now. Some are choosing to leave, some to stay, and some (like me <g>) are sitting on the fence and waiting. I've prepared everything in case I decide to leave, but I'm making no rash decisions. Bottom line, it is a personal decision and NO ONE should be harrassed for either staying OR leaving. I've seen both going on. The people staying are upset with those leaving and vice versa... It's just sad :(
Regardless, every bad thing has a silver lining, and mine is that having so many people leaving AOL (and thus the ALERT system) has caused me to get off my backside and finally set up a Blogline feed! It really is better, and I am looking forward to a cleaner mailbox <LOL>
I'm with you on the rudeness though. Everyone should understand that this was a decision made in the higher ups of AOL, and not by anyone we will be talking too. I think a lot of it was frustration, but still, no need to be rude!
http://journals.aol.com/astaryth/AdventuresofanEclecticMind
http://adventuresofaneclecticmind.blogspot.com/
I know one thing....I bet Aol knows how everyone feels about those ads by now!!! hehehe :-)
carlene
I was discussing the problem with my husband today as we were driving to our destination. The outcome of our conversation...there are move important things to worry about in my life. I have a Grandson who has a kidney disease, I have another grandson who is needing heart surgery. My husband will be having knee replacement surgery...focus on real life :).
Penny have I told how much I admire you????
Betty
The banner ads are annoying, but there are a lot of things that would annoy me more. And here we are sniveling about all this and there are people in the world with no food and no shleter from the cold or heat . We are all sitting in our warm houses, with plenty of food in our bellies and computers to play on. Shame on us ! Joyce has a way with words and I agree with her....Linda
Joyce is great! When I saw the title of this entry I thought OH NO! I thought you were leaving. I am so glad you are not. I just love you and I would hate to lose your journal too!!! I guess it is way time for us all to move on past this... xo
not sure where I fall in your assessment of things here.
FTR I generally respect folks individual decisions....it's what makes us who we are and His amazing creation.
Having said that I would like to think those I have grown to care for, develop relationships with and respect will give me the same grace....it's one of the reasons I like folks like you....pollyanna that I am, I blieve there is mutual respect. Like you, I am surprised at the downright hateful things said on both sides of the aisle....from some of the "nicest" people.
I''m not a whiny butt just because I feel differently .
respect is two way. KWIM?
You said it well....much better than I ever could.
laura
http://adventuresinjuggling.blogspot.com/
The more I read you the more I love you and I so appreciate the comments you make in my journal too. May you be blessed was such a wonderful ending for this post and most of all, may all those that choose to go to all the trouble of moving their journals to another blog spot be blessed. These are the times that try our souls. What are we made of? Can we take the heat? It is never easy to look at another when the mask comes off and their little self begins to overrun their common sense as it moves even deeper into the "me,me,me - my, my, mine, It's all about me voice." I had no intention of moving because when I started my journal I made a commitment to MYSELF that I would journal for one year and then reassess the worthiness of spending my precious time this way. I do this for me. For my sanity. Writing poetically or living a poetic life means that sometimes we have to do some serious flow writing to move out of our little self and into our Higher Self so we can hear what It is saying and then and only then post something that not only lifts our spirits higher, but the spirits of those that may come upon this word for enlightment. You deserve a spot on my just cleaned off Links to Other Journals. I'll be reading you a lot dear one. Blessed are thee among journalers.
Marlene-PurelyPoetry
http://journals.aol.com/mkolasa101/PurelyPoetry
Yes, the harassment for those of us who are staying stinks.
Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink
This is so well said, Penny. I do not understand why people feel they have to harrass. I do not like the ads anymore than the rest of us, but what I do like is the ease of using the AOL journals compared to other blogs or journal sites. I know we have problems from time to time, but I have put a lot of hard work into my five journals. I ain't going nowhere. Thanks for visiting my photo journal.
Happy Thanksgiving!~
Susan
http://journals.aol.com/rjet33/CountryLivingSouthernStyle/
http://journals.aol.com/rjet33/MyPicturePostcardJournal/
A good post. I love Jland too and will not leave, however, I will still protest but in a polite way. I'm sorry so many good writers left, I'm trying to keep up with my favorites but it is harder keeping track of the other blogs. Everyone had the right to their own choice as to stay or go without pressure, I don't believe in pressuring people like that.....Sandi
I love this entry. I have lurked over here now and again...I love what you say.
I feel I have been running around trying to squash the fires.
And I am one of the 'exiled'...
Go figure. I resent the bashing of people either way. It is of individual choice. Yet it does not mean I wont be around...It is just a link. Both sides make it sound as if we are crossing the Atlantic. LOL...
Where ever anyone lands, it is up to us as individuals to keep the community going. And I for one, whether I am here or there, find it relatively easy.
Nicely put Penny!
Peace
Jodi
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