Just have to get this out in the open and I hope that you all bear with me.

With the commotion going on about the games and Valli's position with regard to playing/not playing, I have to say that I have never before seen women stick together like they are in this forum. As many of you know I am an RN, so therefore, I have worked with many women all of my life. It really wasn't until I became the psych nurse at the Denver City Jail that I could observe lots of  MEN working together (deputies - we had female deputies too, of course, but the majority were men). Men usually seem to work much more positively with each other. Women, (not ALL, but many),  especially women in positions of authority seem much more likely to tromp all over each other; back -stab; snipe, etc. Even many of those not in positions of authority seem very willing to throw another woman under the bus, while fawning over men in positions of authority.

Now, I know that we technically speaking are not "working" together here. We each come to this forum with very diverse backgrounds and opinions. It amazes me how we respect each other and each other's opinions. We offer suggestions and help. We back each other. I wouldn't put it past any of us to hop in a car, plane , train or bus to go to the aid of another member who needed us. Why is that? Well, of course, it's because we are all good people - right? I think it's also because Valli has set a tone in this forum and it's one of consideration and respect. We haven't "elected" her as  a leader, but she is a primary factor in the cohesiveness of this group.

 

I, for one am very proud to be a part of this wonderful group (you all know who you are)!

Nicely said Jeanne, couldn't have said it better.

Nice sentiments, my friend!  I too appreciate all the fabulous ladies here at the HF forum!!  (Although I often wonder why they're aren't a lot of men here. I would imagine there are lots of guys who read HF.)

Anyway, sweet post, Jeanne!  Thanks!

Awww....Jeanne, wonderful post!  I agree - before this forum, I was never one to join online discussions but now that I've found this one I feel "home".  Although I've never "met" any of you, I truly consider you my friends! 

Ditto! Hear! Hear!

I luv this forum!

Jeanne, that was a very nice thing to say. There are very few places one can chat on the 'net' without fear of discord and snarkiness (Amazon is awful these days), but here at PBS as well as Goodreads and HFO are great places to hang out and chat and make friends.

As a newbie to the HF forum, I can say that I was immediately made to feel welcome here, and it is greatly appreciated!  You can tell when you stumble across a nice group of people...and I did, here!

Michelle V. said: - before this forum, I was never one to join online discussions but now that I've found this one I feel "home".  Although I've never "met" any of you, I truly consider you my friends! 

Michelle, Linda & I feel exactly the same!! We were never 'chatters' or 'commenters' until we started following and then participating in this wonderful forum. Hats off to all of us! I think we are a little hidden gem that more and more people will eventually find ... as did Vicky T. who said,

As a newbie to the HF forum, I can say that I was immediately made to feel welcome here, and it is greatly appreciated!  You can tell when you stumble across a nice group of people...and I did, here!

Vicky, we couldn't agree more. Very true words! We were welcomed and cherished as new members from the very beginning. There was never a feeling of being an outsider looking in, or some kind of rite of passage, etc. And, the intelligence, humor, experience, comraderie & friendliness of this group keeps us coming back!

Lastly, Misfit is exactly correct in her comments about Historical Fiction Online. Mom & I don't comment as much there as we do here, but we are very welcomed and it is a warm & wonderful group of people. (This one is global in scope which adds a wonderful perspective, includes several authors, i.e., Elizabeth Chadwick, Susan Higginbotham, C.W. Gortner & Michelle Moran to name just a few, and Shelley, does have men who participate.) Mom & I don't share an account on that site - Linda is 'lindymc' (my Dad used to call her 'Lindy' as an endearment) and I am 'loisann' (my fat black cat's name).

So, what's the common denominator - it's pretty simple - a love of books. Something we all have in common and a true equalizer of geographical, socio economic & cultural differences.

And, Jeanne's original post? Yeah, me too!

Kelly (& Linda)

Echoing the above....this is home and I adore my co-HF-ers here....

It is a fun and warm place. I enjoy chatting with everyone.

Alice

Kelly & Linda are wrong about one thing....  never a feeling of being an outsider looking in, or some kind of rite of passage...you must read the ENTIRE Bernard Cornwell Rampage thread, look up Cathy's Wallbanger list and order at least one book recommended by Valli or Genie before you are a full-fledged member of the HF Forum     I'm proud to have done all three!  Thank you ladies for expanding my reading list and my horizons.

I completely agree! I enjoy each and every person here! It's a good thing I'm not the leader though - I have a terrible sense of direction! I'd lead you all right off the edge of the map, lol.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to go on a little road trip with my Aunt and SIL, but I'll be back in just a couple of days. Everyone behave! I'll miss you guys! I would say I could check in on my phone, but my Blackberry will not log in to PBS anymore. I don't know what is wrong with this stupid phone, but it drives me bonkers.

See you in a couple of days!!!

I'm new here too and I have to agree this is a wonderful place.  I don't post much because my little ones are keeping me hopping, but whenever I have time, I'm enjoying the discussions here.  It's grown up talk.  =)

Boy Shannon you are new you must read this.   Welcome and you've been warned.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/search.php?q=advice+to+new+members&s_type=st&fid=107&action=search

Full thread.  http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=186454  

Ditto Jeanne as well.  I was never a poster or commenter till I came here and found my home!

I love this forum and the people that post in it.  It's my favorite place on the web

My favorite place too :)  I'm so glad I stumbled in here two years ago and was fortunate enough to meet such a welcoming group!   Even better is this group keeps expanding with even more wonderful people.  You ladies are awesome!  I wish I could meet you all IRL.

Well.... I'm actually just annoyed with this forum  -- because you've all completely undermined my credibility as a parent. I have spent the last few years raging at my kids about how they spend too much time on the computer and how their "Facebook" friends aren't really their friends because they've never met them and how impersonal such relationships are and how silly online chat rooms and the like are....

And then I stumble upon this forum -- and discover how wrong I am -- that one can in fact develop online relationships and that online discussions aren't ridiculous. And I can no longer yell at my offspring for racing to the computer when they enter the door because I do the same -- they immediately log on to FB while I hop right to the HF forum. 

As others indicated, this is indeed a wonderful group -- intelligent, warm, friendly, respectful, fun. Thank you Jeanne for pointing it out so eloquently -- and thank you all for making this forum such an enjoyable place to hang out. (Now, if anyone wants to come build me more bookshelves....)

Deb, I do exactly the same thing - hop right on to the computer to see what is going on at the good ol' HF! My DH thinks this is my life now!! LOL.

We had company over here for the Super Bowl and believe it or not, I excused myself TWO times (held myself back) to check this forum!

Jeanne - LOL!  Now we not only excuse ourselves from social gatherings to read, we do it to "talk" about reading too!  LOL!  I do the same thing.  Between here and videofitness, I spend a lot of time on the computer!  I've been pestering DH for in iPhone but he hasn't caved to my demands yet.  He says if I had an iPhone, I would never be off-line!  LOL!  He's probably right.

My husband, not a reader or a computer-user, keeps asking me what I'm doing on-line. Who am I "talking" to? How could it possible be that interesting, especially since I use a computer all day at work. I usually rush to the forum, mostly lurking but definitely paying attention to what you're saying. And while I haven't read all the Bernard Cornwells, I've certainly listened to recommendations from all of you (which is why my husband is putting together another bookcase!)  Debbie

I am so glad I found this forum and met all of you.  I was instantly welcomed, and while I have you all to blame for my erupting Mt. TBR, but also have you to thank for introducing me to wonderful books and authors I'd never heard of!  I do consider you all my friends

AAAHHHH. Group Hug!

LOL - my  husband loves to make fun of me "Are you on the Paperbackswap forum again"?  He calls me his little geek!!

I'm starting up a "live" book club and I keep thinking to myself how much better it would be if I could just have all the PBS HF ladies near me so I could meet with you!