lori i have some questions (and a couple of comments) about your post and hopefully since it was posted on this thread i can comment about it here. is this swap going the way of trying to regulate everything that is said, done, or sent out? if that is so, where is the rule book with all of the regulations in it and the list of do's and don'ts so that we can judge for ourselves if we want to continue to play? do we not wish happy birthdays if someone mentions it's their birthday or should they not mention that at all? should anything that we want to mention that is not about package hints, packages received or packages sent to be in another thread? will that be part of the rules now? are we coming to the place in the swap that we should say nothing because we dont know if it's allowed or it will offend someone's sensibilities? i would like to know the "new" rules so i can judge for myself if it is something i want to continue with?
we are all of different personalities and i for one feel that i am mature in my thinking and do not try to make everyone else wear my opinions or even adopt them because i feel that mine are right and perfect. they are just that my opinions. to me there is room for anyone to have their opinion but it is my perogative to accept it or not. on the subject of regifting, i will continue to do so and believe others are entitled to their opinion about it but i do not have to make their opinions mine. i will not change my mind about that no matter what others think. if no regifting becomes part of the "new" rules of this swap, then that leaves me out and i will not play anymore and i am perfectly fine with that. that is part of my mature thinking, if something (as small as this swap is) does not fit me, i wont complain about changing the rules, i just have to make the decision for myself whether to participate or not.
the banter at one time was very negative in my opinion and the opinions of others. i have to say the tone has changed significantly in the last coupla months and it can be fun for those who want to participate. but will there be rules now about what is considered banter and which banter is acceptable? how does one regulate exactly what another person says and how does that person know when they have crossed the invisible line as not to offend someone? how can one pre-determine what will hurt another person's feelings or not?
how does one pre-determine what is going to be an acceptable swap package to another? i believe most of us when we put our packages together think that they are acceptable. how do you regulate this i am curious? i asked a similar question of this swap about a month or so ago. the spending limit is $10.00 for this swap and listed as part of the rules is states that "There is a 10 dollar budget for this swap. Items from your stash or homemade items are not included in the $10 limit." For me i know that everything i include in my packages cost me something even the handmade items and i do assign a cost to those. the fabric i make things from costs as well as the buttons i use or the stuffing i buy. i for one try to stay within the $10.00 limit and have crossed it a couple of time and spent up to $13-$14 dollars because i ordered something for a sp. who in this swap should have the right to determine for me what is acceptable? again a personal opinion to me. again i would like to see whatever rules are gonna govern this so i can make my own decision whether to continue to play.
we are a group of adults and i think we should know how to govern ourselves. we each come from different backgrounds, different socioeconomic classes, different ethnic groups, different life experiences, different philosophies and view things differently and there can never, in my humble opinion, be a collective group think where we will all think alike. again i ask for the rules, written or otherwise so that i can make my decision about whether to continue with this swap. i say with respect that all are entitled to their opinions as i am and i don't allow others attempts to make me wear their opinions about anything. i do what i think is right for me within the context of what i participate in.
mary