How is ewveryone?

Again I ask, "where is everyone?" We need a reunion. I'd particularly like to restart the Illinois board. Not like the diary it had become, but just chatting about what's been going on with us over the years. And helping the newbies like we were helped when we were newbies. We came here when we hit our stalls and got great advice. I thought there were friendships formed. We talked about things other than what we ate that day.

I've only been on here for five years, and even in that time, participation has dropped off. I think a lot of people use Facebook groups now. And since you had your WLS in 2006, it's probably really changed since you were a newbie. The group that comes closest to what you're describing is the RNY menu thread. We do talk about what we're eating, obviously but we also talk about other things, too. I've made several friends through that thread - virtual and in real life.

The RNY menu thread is what we use now to discuss anything and everything.

Unfortunately, there was a period of nannying/busybodying about how and what could be posted and OH took the side of people who are no longer here, (except to yap once a year to let us all know how well they're doing).

Those of us who had been here and stayed, mainly long term veterans, were exiled to a private group which is way more lively than the Main Boards.

We do post on the public boards to help newbies where we can.

It's a shame there's no longer the public camaraderie of years past, but usually people disappear once they no longer need help. Only the truly committed stick around to pay it forward.

HI Eve,

Thanks for your note. I am currently about to get a surgery date so the power hour draws near for me. While I have been attending the classes that my surgeon puts on and I have lost abou 32 pounds on my own since May 1, Im trying to prepare my mind and myself for what life will be like in the immediate weeks and months after the surgery. I am hoping to have surgery on Dec 16th.

Any words of wisdom are welcome here

I still come here to look but like you see not much participation. It appears that since OH took the initiative to move certain posts to other forums that many have dropped off. Don't know why they feel they need to censor us, I think we are more than capable of doing that ourselves. Sometimes people need to be called out if they are spreading false or misleading information and that is what our veterans did. In the interim it helped me, and even others like me who are basically mid-veterans (VSG 2014). I still need help, every time I think "I got this" I don't "got this"! As long as we experience life with its changes, we will also experience new issues, challenges and so forth. While I may can help someone who had surgery 2-3 years ago, others can help me who had their surgery 5,10,15 years ago. Even newer ones contribute toward helping all, and their eagerness and zeal can re-energize and motivate others! So sad that OH does not get that the veterans ARE what makes the forums, and they are more than capable of moderating their own!

Hello & how r u! Like some people mentioned, participation has dropped off. People mostly post when they have a problem, or if OH moves posts to a forum that doesn't get a lot of traffic. (off topic forum)

Also there are a lot of fly by surgiversary posts. Which is fine if they bothered posting on more than their surgiversary, then it reminds me of a look at me post as they fade away into the sunset for another year.

Really the only forum that gets a lot of action is the rny what are you eating posts, which does talk a bit more than just what they ate that day.

Other posters have mentioned about the lack of participation, but it's a 2 way street. It's not just posting a topic, but getting responses too. The other forum is successful because both sides are there on a regular basis for the most part & that takes work.

Another problem is walking the thin line of the OH mods when they see a post start to go way left, they edit the hell out of it, so it makes no sense, or it gets pulled, or banished to the wastelands. (Steven King fan here & yes I'm so there for the Dr Sleep movie)

I am ready to see Dr. Sleep! I was so skeptical when he announced the book after such a long delay but it was so good. The movie looks great.

My sis got me the blue ray of The Stand for my birthday and I'm about halfway through with the rewatch -- makes me very excited for the new streaming version coming soon.

Hey, you see my sn right? lol.

I read my 1st King book in the mid 70s. My husband would get angry because they'd give me nightmares and I'd wake up screaming. Hey, that's how I'd know it was really good. When I finally got a computer my daughter gave me the sn scaryreader.

It always seemed to me that activity decreasement is always a natural process, but if there's people who bumping up the threads and encouraging others, everything going to be ok.