USVI-On-Line

I've been cruising some other forums in planning for an upcoming Med cruise.

I've done my homework so that I didn't have to ask too many questions, but have seen responses that say 'go do your research'. Ugh!!!

I've seen many posts here on the same topic, and never did anyone ever say - "go figure it out".

thank you all for being so patient and friendly AND letting me rant.

I don't "get" mean people.

I think, for whatever reason, this forum has attracted some really nice folks. In addition to that, I think we all love talking about St. John so much, we don't mind answering the same questions over and over and over. It just lets us revisit the place we love so much one more time!

I couldn't agree more. I posted this just a few weeks ago on another thread. We were considering St. Maarten next year and was excited to find a very active forum. It took me just a couple days to realize the forum was not for me and maybe St. Maarten wasn't either. While I'm not a huge poster to this forum, I am a constant lurker. Thank you to those that always have something nice to say as well as the wealth of information you're always willing to share.

I remember a post a few months ago (by someone a little unhappy) about this forum being for "insiders" and the "cool kids" ... I remember feeling so shocked! I have never & will never be one of the cool kids. I think this forum is more for the totally devoted (some blindly so) to STJ. So I feel more like we're a bunch of STJ geeks ... you included Vicki

I LOVE this forum. I'll take a looksee at other forums if there's something going on the I am curious about, but I never post and rarely visit any others more than once in a blue moon. I am here everyday! Well when I am not in Utah

I agree about this forum!
I have been on others and they can get mean!

I have been trying to research a possible Hawaii vacation and I can't get into those forums. I will probably just use the information, but not be a regular. I seem to keep coming back here when I have a spare moment and not going there. What is wrong with me? This Hawaii vacation will probably be a once in a lifetime thing, yet if the hubby said let's go to STJ instead I'd probably do it! I don't think I would get together at a Bar in Hawaii with people I met on that forum. Nor would I go there with 5 other women I met on that forum!
I love all of you!

I joined a couple of other forums on various topics, but its mostly a bunch of complaining and bashing. I enjoy the info, reports, pics and all the other fun we have on THIS forum.

I think we all just have the St. John vibe: relaxed and happy!

Another, more technical thing that keeps this forum friendly is that you have to be registered to post here. The old incarnation of this forum was nice too, but not nearly as friendly--people would often post snarky comments under false names. I found it to be annoying, and much prefer this format.

flip-flop wrote: ...this forum being for "insiders" and the "cool kids"

This forum is for the cool kids?????? I've never been able to talk to the cool kids before. Maybe next year they'll let me sit at their table at lunchtime.

This is a very warm and wecoming environment. There are very few grumpy postings here. I think it has something to do with what our fly fishing instructor told us. "Trout don't live in ugly places." Perhaps there are some of those same features regarding this forum and STJ.

JIM

(by sea-nile), Hawaii vacation will probably be a once in a lifetime thing, yet if the hubby said let's go to STJ instead I'd probably do it!

sea-nile, not too long ago, my very good friend offered for my husband and I to join him and his SO on a trip to Hawaii, which would have included airfare and hotel, and I declined but offered that he could join us on our STJ vacation. (Honestly, it was just too far a distance for me to be away from my children, so maybe someday, but for now, I'm just happy to have found STJ.) Ali~

It must just be a little bit of luck and a lot of people willing to see the bigger picture.

I spend some time on another forum for my running club and it's the same thing, great people, good support, sense of humor, etc. But for every one of those, it seems there are several more that are just not nice.

I'd rather have one great place that makes you feel good than a place where you have to deal with meanies. That happens too much in daily life as it is.

liamsaunt wrote:The old incarnation of this forum was nice too, but not nearly as friendly--people would often post snarky comments under false names. I found it to be annoying, and much prefer this format.

I couldn't agree more! I liked the old board (minus the mean people), but I LOVE this one!

I haven't particpated in any other boards other than this one (and the old version of this same board). I do occasionally post reviews on Trip Advisor for other travels.

We've all been through a lot together on this board and it's sort of becoem a cyber-family of sorts. We've lost some good folks (Howie) been through some serious illnesses, loss of children, births, you name it.

It's nice to be able to turn to the folks here on this board in good times and bad. It just so happens that we help other folks out along the way.

We've all be drawn to STJ for the same reasons and it brings out the best in us. Thanks to Anthony we have a place to "share the love."

Let's keep up the good work everyone!

I guess I am just a forum geek in general Besides this forum I hang out at a couple of BBQ forums, a couple of coffee forums and forum dedicated to Creative Zen music players. I've found that a lot of the character of a forum starts with the forum moderator(s). Their goals for he forum seem to influence the type of people who use the forum the most. Anthony does a good job here and lets us have some freedom to stray off topic, but he will steer us in the direction if we go too far. The forums that I like best are run by similar people.

For example, one of the guys that have gotten to know through a BBQ forum lost his home to fire. The guys on that forum instantly took up a collection and the guy who owns the forum let us use his Paypal account to handle the money. Since the guy who suffered the loss also hangs out on a different forum that i frequent I posted an announcement on that forum about his loss and posted a link to the page we had set up for the collection. The moderator of the other forum deleted my post because I had violated his rules by posting a link to a "competing" BBQ forum (even though the contribution page was separate from the forum, it shared the URL since the owner of the first forum also allowed us to use his web server). Guess which forum I no longer visit.

perhaps there's just something about STj that attracts special people? some get it, some don't. Personally, I'm glad you all are here. Otherwise, I'd be convinced I was the only crazy one obsessed with this island!

I agree that it probably has something to do with the people that go to st john and "get it"! I love coming to this forum daily. It is comforting to hear the news of my favorite vacation spot even if I don't have a trip planned! I can still dream and remember through every post!