That's it from me

[Jellybeans]

I realise that I am unwelcome here so I am sure that many of you will be relieved to hear that, after some thought, I have decided not to comment on the forum any more.

 

I know that I have been seen to be controversial but the problem is that I am not afraid to say it how it is and a lot of people can be somewhat wary of the truth. I have also tried to ensure that the identity and safety of children are protected which has also met with dissent. The conclusion that i have drawn is that since the change in admin and the introduction of new moderators, the site has become more of a general chat room than a serious ballet forum which is fine but it is not something that I want to participate in.

 

This will be my last public post but I will respond to private messages for a while if anyone wants to continue the discussion there.

 

Thank you to those that have been supportive of my posts and good luck to all of you in your future endeavours in the dance world.

 

 

[balletla]

That is very sad, Jellybeans. I have found your posts to be refreshingly honest and a healthy contribution to many a debate, often saying what many would not. Sadly this can often be something that people are not receptive to and therefore courts controversy. Sorry that you have decided to leave and I wish you well.

[Anna C]

I'm very sorry that you feel that way Jellybeans.

 

The Committee and Moderators here are all volunteers, nobody gets paid to run or moderate the site, and we try to run the site for the benefit of all posters, to the best of our ability, and in accordance with the policies that posters agree to when they join the forum.

 

All posters are welcome here and I hope that you change your mind and continue to contribute.

[Belljul]

I think the moderators (volunteers) to a great job in their free time with the variety of discussions and personalities have on here so I feel it is below the belt to put blame on them. I am sorry if you have had an unpleasant or frustrating time on the forum but it is important to remember that your version of the "truth" may not be others. Best of luck in the future though.

[Belljul]

Posted at the same time spanner!!

[taxi4ballet]

Don't go Jellybeans!

 

Lots of us on the forum can be forthright and opinionated (I'm thinking particularly of myself here ) and it would be a real shame if we can't all agree to disagree on some subjects.

 

I'm often struck by the differing opinions on the forum, and I'm frequently given cause to think again on many topics. It's very easy to post first and think afterwards, and sometimes this means that unintentionally we offend the people whose opinions we value the most.

 

Please do stay

[tomuchtallent]

Jellybeans,I dont know what the problem is!

I definatly appreciate what everyone has to say and have also been swayed on certain topics.

I think your worrying for nothing.If we all thought the same we wouldn't need this forum!

Have to say though,a big thank you to the moderators,without your hard work, dedication and love for ballet and this forum I would of never of gained so much knowledge about the ballet world,training,schools, and life of the ballet mums in the Uk, which has helped me to feel confident enough to help my dd in her dream of being a ballet dancer and making a big decision to return to the Uk for her future.

[primrose]

This forum consists of many members, not everybody can agree on the same things. However, I would like to think that we all respect each others opinions.When you have posted jellybeans you have done so with the best intentions, we all understand that, but not everybody will share your thoughts. Thats life. I believe that the moderators do a fantastic job, is done voluntarily and in their own time. So a huge thankyou from me to them.

[Natalma]

Jellybeans you have bravely courted controversy by making your decision the subject of a post! I take your post as a reminder to each of us of how challenging it is, when posting in an online forum, to ask questions and express opinions in a way that keeps the forum a completely safe and welcoming environment for all.

[hfbrew]

I really hope you change your mind jellybeans. I'e always thought your posts very sensible (just re read a few) and surely we need differences in opinions and experiences so that people reading this forum don't get a one sided view! You were absolutely right for example to express concern about protecting candidates identities and their schools in the recent Molly Lake thread. But I don't see that any responses to your posts have been unwelcoming, rather they have prompted very useful discussion. You do seem to be a realist and as such forums such as this really need people like you!

 

And I agree with the other posters on here that the moderators are doing a fine job and I for one like the fact that I can now share my experiences (for example my work with teaching dance to boys) without being told off for self promotion!!

 

Thankyou moderators, don't know how you do it. If like yesterday I'm out for the day , I find it incredibly time consuming catching up on threads- so glad that I'm doing it as part of my passion for ballet and not because I have to!

Edited November 18, 2012 by hfbrew

[Sheila Beelam]

I've always thought of this forum as a group of friends - with ballet in common. Friends have different opinions on subjects, but underlying these differing views, remains friendship and this continues once the discussions are finished.

 

Mods are also very much appreciated for giving up their time - if I had one thing on my Christmas list, it would be a wish for more time, so thank you got giving up an irreplaceable commodity

[All4dancers]

I echo what Just Ballet says. It wouldn't do if we all had the same opinion, we need balanced views. Personally, I get so much from this forum; not just the invaluable support and advice all things ballet related, but through these posts I had my daughter's belongings sent to uni through a courier service and found out how to convert dvds into a format suitable to play on an ipad to name just a couple of things! So I feel sad when people feel they can no longer be a part of this community. Thank you moderators for this service.

[Evie]

I have been accused (mainly by my family!) of being opinionated! Guilty...as charged! I love opinions, I love it when people disagree with me because I enjoy debate.

 

But seriously, if we give our opinions we should be able to accept other peoples opinions too. I value everyone's opinion and appreciate that we may have different points of view, but at the end of the day you don't have to agree with them!

 

This forum has been invaluable to me, this year, thank you. I discovered Graze boxes too, although I don't think my ds is so impressed after delivery of his first one this week!! But I digress, sorry!!

[Lisa O`Brien]

Please don`t go ,Jellybeans. You are a valued member or this forum and are as much entitled to your opinions on here as is everybody else.This forum would be so boring if everybody agreed with everybody else all the time on every subject. In fact,what would be the point of it if that was the case? Debate,argument,contradiction even getting cross at other`s views at times,is all good,healthy,harmless stuff. I think if the forum was just filled with comments which were simply nicey nice all the time,I don`t think it would have too many members.!!

[Tulip]

At the end of the day, this forum is here to support all of us to support our children in the dance world. Everybody is entitled to their oppinions, but our forum moderators are still there to ensure we all follow the rules as sometimes passions for certain topics can get a little heated. We all nearly lost this forum but thank goodness we had these wonderful volunteers who have given up their free time to run this site. Not many of us were able to give our time or had the experience to do this, so none of us should forget how fotunate we are to have these people running this forum for us. I also hope most people who could afford to donate did so and I can imagine again the work that was involved in organising this.

 

This forum is a friendly site for advice, support and yes sometimes a chat. We have some very experienced members that offer their advice and support and experiences, so again there is so much more to this site.

 

It is a shame you feel the way you do Jellybeans, as I feel that you have been welcomed by all the members. You are entitled to your oppinion as is everyone else, sometimes we agree sometimes we don't, so long as we all folllow the rules there really is no problem. May I wish your daughter my best wishes and lots of luck if she chooses to follow the dance route.

 

May I also take this opportunity to thank our moderators and all our membersl in making this site available, you have all been a wealth of support throughout the last few years, I only wish I had known about this site in the ealier days. Moderators you are very much appreciated for all the hard work that you do, and I don't know what we would all do without you all.

[taxi4ballet]

We are all fortunate to live in this era in a democracy, and in a part of the world where free speech is taken for granted. We're all different, and of course we will have differing opinions on a huge variety of subjects.

 

On this forum, I've found all sorts of information and advice on auditions, pointe shoe fittings, injuries, the relative merits of different dance schools, the joys and despairs of successes and failures, and much else.

 

Also, we have discussed racism, eating disorders, child protection, continuing to dance while injured and many other contentious subjects which are likely to provoke a lively discussion whether at the school gates, the dinner table or indeed on internet forums such as this one.

 

There will many occasions when widely differing views are expressed, and that's how it should be.

 

The only things we all have in common are ballet and this forum, so we will naturally have ideas and experiences unique to us and which will influence our opinions. Long may it continue.

[Pups_mum]

What a shame. I've used a lot of different internet forums on various topics over the years, and this one is without doubt the most civilised. I've hardly ever seen anyone being rude or disrespectful to another poster, whereas such behaviour is commonplace on many other forums. Yes, of course people disagree, but it's almost always healthy debate here rather than out and out argument.

I'm not the most regular poster here, nor the most knowledgeable but I've never felt not welcome. I've always found people happy and willing to help and I've learned loads from reading other people's posts even when I've nothing to contribute.

There's often not one absolute right answer to a question which is why it is good to get different people's opinions on things. A post that says something different to the majority is often thought provoking - nothing wrong with that.

I hope jellybeans will reconsider as I think that the variety of people who post here is one of the forum's great strengths.

And I'd like to add my thanks to all the mods and admin people. I remember how upset everyone was when we found we were losing the old ballet.co.uk and I think it's brilliant that people have stepped in to keep things going.

[Pas de Quatre]

Don't go - the wider the membership the more different views will be expressed, which gives the best overall picture. Everyone has something valuable to add, even if we do disagree amongst ourselves sometimes.

[Seagazer]

I can only reiterate what the others have said, it is different views and opinions that make this forum such a balanced, thought provoking and informative place to visit. I am often fascinated by other peoples view points on here, as they are so far removed from my own- it gives me a lot to ponder on, doesn't always change my opinion, but gives me real insight.

Your contributions are valued, and I hope you will reconsider.

 

 

A big thank you at this point to the Mods and Committee who have kept this wonderful site running - it is such a font of knowledge and real haven, how I would have floundered without it....

Edited November 20, 2012 by Seagazer

[Anjuli_Bai]

I don't know what happened, but do reconsider Jellybeans.

[Michelle_Richer]

WOW Jellybeans, I don’t think we have actually met on this forum, but just look at the wonderful expression of warmth from your friends not to leave, I for one have been really touched by that. I think Just Ballet has got it absolutely right:

I've always thought of this forum as a group of friends - with ballet in common. Friends have different opinions on subjects, but underlying these differing views, remains friendship and this continues once the discussions are finished.

 

On several occasions I have fallen foul of the general consensus and I have had to take it on the chin, but I have always regarded these people as my friends.

 

So for goodness sake be there for your friends and continue with your contribution to this forum.

 

Michelle x

[lisadebs]

This is very sad - have always enjoyed reading your posts. I do hope you reconsider.