My Thoughts...
I really enjoy reading the posts in this community every morning. I have really learned alot about caring for chihuahuas, things to look for and I also love seeing the super cute pics. I have been a little disturbed by some of the bickering that seems to go on lately.
One of the reasons I have followed this site for so long is that there hasn't been a lot of drama. I was a member of other communities and left because all they wanted to do was argue and try to put each other down. The most distrubing thing to me was when I read the replies to a new member of the community which seemed to attack her for daring to buy her puppy off the street and for her concern over the cost of the shots. Perhaps this was not the best place to buy a new puppy, etc. but she seemd to be really excited about having a new puppy and requesting advice to try to do the best job of raising it. Not only did people confront her as if she was personally running a puppy mill, but then when other people suggested that doing so was rude, they were told things like "Leave if you don't like it." I am unsure of how these statements are intended, but in reading them, they come across as the person being snobbish, better than thou, attacking, and somewhat clique-ish - trying to push some members out. I have taken into consideration the fact that people post from different parts of the country and the world and that there may be some cultural differences that affect this. I am originally from the American South and bluntness is considered rude there. I have also taken into consideration that a lot of the people posting are pretty young. In the past I have been very impressed by the wealth of knowledge from the young adults on this site. Recently I have noticed a lack of maturity of some members in attacking other posters. Perhaps the motive is just to pass on things one is concerned about, but as I have gotten older, I realize that I can say the same thing in ways that are helpful rather than attacking. I know if I am doing something that might be harmful to my chi, I'd want to know that, but I also know I would hear it better if it was said in a way that was helpful to me rather than being accusatory towards me.
One of the reasons I have followed this site for so long is that there hasn't been a lot of drama. I was a member of other communities and left because all they wanted to do was argue and try to put each other down. The most distrubing thing to me was when I read the replies to a new member of the community which seemed to attack her for daring to buy her puppy off the street and for her concern over the cost of the shots. Perhaps this was not the best place to buy a new puppy, etc. but she seemd to be really excited about having a new puppy and requesting advice to try to do the best job of raising it. Not only did people confront her as if she was personally running a puppy mill, but then when other people suggested that doing so was rude, they were told things like "Leave if you don't like it." I am unsure of how these statements are intended, but in reading them, they come across as the person being snobbish, better than thou, attacking, and somewhat clique-ish - trying to push some members out. I have taken into consideration the fact that people post from different parts of the country and the world and that there may be some cultural differences that affect this. I am originally from the American South and bluntness is considered rude there. I have also taken into consideration that a lot of the people posting are pretty young. In the past I have been very impressed by the wealth of knowledge from the young adults on this site. Recently I have noticed a lack of maturity of some members in attacking other posters. Perhaps the motive is just to pass on things one is concerned about, but as I have gotten older, I realize that I can say the same thing in ways that are helpful rather than attacking. I know if I am doing something that might be harmful to my chi, I'd want to know that, but I also know I would hear it better if it was said in a way that was helpful to me rather than being accusatory towards me.