dreamer2009

Knitette thank you for such eloquent words...words that have been in my heart for weeks.

I have backed away from SS this year because of behavior issues.

Used to be the best thing to wait for all year.

We have always had great clean fun here in the past years; not so much this year.

Broke my heart. I stopped playing the games this year; wasn;t fun.

I mean after all Terri created "Naughty Corner" for me as I like to raid stash at night and get in

trouble and had good fun bringing others in with me.

I loved posting pics and Christmas Carols for everyone.

When you live alone and have no one to share the holidays with this was my go to place.

That changed this year; and it was not a good change.

So again Knitette; thank you for your words


Today, 04:01 PM #4699
tlrnhi

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Knitette....Thank you soooo much for your words. You have said it MUCH better than I could have.
You have hit the nail on the head!

I hope those that are complaining will take heed to what Knitette has said. If you aren't happy with what you rec'd, just bow out of the thread graciously. When you post publicly these negative things, it makes you look as if you aren't a nice person. It's your choice to join. You read the rules and you agreed to them. I stated in the rules that some will get packages better than others and it was nothing to complain about, but here you are complaining. I do suggest that next year, you not join Secret Santa. Honest, it won't break my heart and it won't break the heart of the others that join the fun. The fun is in the giving......it's Christmas time people!

Originally Posted by Knitette
Forgive me if I tread on anyone's toes - you can blame on me being a 'foreigner' if you like, but I've been reading all the posts for the last few days and see there is quite a bit of hurt feelings. Never underestimate the power of the written word.

I haven't been terribly active on this thread. Although I started off in fine fettle, the endless pages of stream of consciousness posts are not for me - I find them too exhausting to keep up with, so decided not to, and only dipped in and out from time to time. My choice.

I know that lack of thread participation by 'swappers' annoyed some people and there was bad feeling which Terri thankfully jumped on. Some 'joking' posts were clearly thinly veiled digs in order to 'encourage' people to join in more. I suspect others felt like me - they simply couldn't/didn't want to keep up. Some days there were hundreds of posts akin to a chat room. This may have intimidated some who may have otherwise joined in. Others just don't post, but prefer to stay in the background. Anyway it's their choice.

Another area of hurt feelings was that not everyone joined in the opening at the same time. Some people need to realise that this is a fun swap and this opening may not be the most important event in their lives............ The rules state "There will be a chat session, so everyone can come and we can open our gifts together." It doesn't say you HAVE to open your gift at that time, although that is a huge part of the fun for many. Bear in mind that this gift bought by someone else, might be the only gift they get this Christmas. It is their choice how they decide to savour it. Others will have simply have forgotten about the parcel that arrived weeks ago. (Mine did last year - the world didn't end.)

Similarly, life gets in the way of people posting on time. I know six or so weeks is a long time. If only all our lives are so perfect that all we have to do is organise one parcel and pop it in the post............. Some people may have to wait for pay day and it may be a large chunk of their budget. I will repeat the previous sentiment when my own parcel wasn't posted on time, 'We do not know what goes on behind closed doors'.

As for not liking what you got sent - words truly fail me. Isn't it about giving, not getting?

I'm nearly ready to jump off my soapbox now. However, one thing I would love to see introduced is that all participants have to send a personal message of thanks to their sender. I was brought up to always send a 'Thank you' letter for any gift I received and I really don't think it's too much for people to write a short private message of thanks. They don't have to participate on the thread, but can if they want to. I too love seeing all the parcels and I choose to post pictures. Sending a short 'Thank you' would circumvent a lot of bad feeling - you may find out why they were late/didn't join in the thread/didn't open 'on time'.

So, in the true spirit of Christmas - it is better to give than receive, thinking of others before ourselves. Surely that's the true intention of the Secret Santa? I know that this may offend some people and may feel as if I'm sermonising. You are free to disagree - it's your choice.
Peace to you all.