Thoughts on Forum and Community

Hi, Neighbors,

I've told several of my neighbors about the forum, and they said they would join. I think it's a good idea. Thanks, Tom! We still have the Yahoo! group also (VillagioHomeOwner), although it's less active now.

I think the idea of this forum was to provide a venue for communication between the board and the homeowners. I was looking forward to reading what other people had to say and keeping up with issues, since I don't often get to HOA meetings. But I quickly decided just to drop in occasionally and skip most of it. Why? The noise-to-content ratio is unacceptably high for me. All the grumping messes up my chi energy.

Some folks are sounding off about things that could be resolved by a phone call to Peachtree. We pay them something in the neighborhood of $45,000 per year to take care of things. There's no need to come here to grump about someone leaving cardboard boxes in front of their garage (and how terrible it looks) or someone dumping used sanitary napkins in the common area (and how disgusting it is) or to use the forum to carry out a vendetta against a neighbor (imagine that!) - and then have poor Tom have to refer all this to Peachtree. It's an imposition on him to have to serve as liaison between the homeowners (who presumably have telephones) and Peachtree, and it's less efficient than calling them directly. If some kid pees in the fountain, why not just call Peachtree directly?

Another thing. Personally, I have found that if something or someone is bothering me, I'm more likely to get a satisfactory resolution if I go talk to the person directly and politely. Just ring the doorbell and say, nicely, "Would you mind getting it down a bit, please?" It works a lot better than leaving notes or telling them off or complaining here. It also doesn't hurt to share if you bought a whole bag of potatoes because it was cheaper than buying the one or two you needed, or stopping to say hi. We're all living together in fairly close quarters, and it's inevitable that we are going to see, hear, or smell something that displeases us. That's the down side. The up side is that most of our neighbors are very nice people and most of us are willing to live and let live, realize it's not all about us, and chill. Maybe meditate a bit instead of popping off. Or think about why we bought a condo instead of a house and if that's still working for us or if we should get a cabin in the woods.

Helen

Agree, talking to the individual politely can solve many problems then leaving notes.

Hi Helen,

Perhaps your "popping off" as you call it about other peoples' email requires more information than is found in their post. It might behoove you to think about the fact that there is always more than meets the eye. I know, I have written several of the emails you are complaining about.

I was actually surprised that you had the time to write as your many emails complain about your lack of time. Yet, you were able to scour the forum for many months and pick out your examples.

My suggestion....turn the channel. Obviously you don't need to respond to or read everything that is posted. In other words, disregard those emails that are upsetting to your "chi" and achieve the balance necessary in your life by passing over those that are disruptive to you.

Good luck in your new endeavor.

terrychr wrote:Hi Helen,

Perhaps your "popping off" as you call it about other peoples' email requires more information than is found in their post. It might behoove you to think about the fact that there is always more than meets the eye. I know, I have written several of the emails you are complaining about.

I was actually surprised that you had the time to write as your many emails complain about your lack of time. Yet, you were able to scour the forum for many months and pick out your examples.

My suggestion....turn the channel. Obviously you don't need to respond to or read everything that is posted. In other words, disregard those emails that are upsetting to your "chi" and achieve the balance necessary in your life by passing over those that are disruptive to you.

Good luck in your new endeavor.

Please let me rephrase some of what I said.

When I first joined the forum, I tried to read as much as I could of what was there. It didn't take me long to figure out that there were many posts bringing up issues that were then referred to Peachtree by Tom. I suggest that these issues be referred directly to Peachtree, reserving this space for other things. I can assure you that I haven't scoured anything but my kitchen.

I'd also like it very much if this forum had a more pleasant and civilized environment. There've been some posts that border on personal attack, and many that imply "if you don't agree with me, you're just wrong!"

I do believe that issues with neighbors are more effectively handled face-to-face in polite conversation that in making complaints here, sticking notes on their doors, or making anonymous complaints to Peachtree or the Directors. Very few of us (if any) really want to be a bother, but most of us respond more favorably if the bothered one comes to us and says, "Say, would you mind getting it down a bit? It's rather late!" This mostly works better than "Shut the $%^&@ up!"

And, yes, I have pretty much turned the channel, only tuning in occasionally. But the down side is that I then miss out on information and decisions that are important to me as a homeowner; e.g., the last board meeting (there was no notice in the mailbox area as is usual). I'd really prefer to keep up with issues AND avoid snarkiness and having to plow through lots lots of extra stuff that Peachtree can resolve better.

Or, to put it briefly: Chill, man!

Helen