OK, that's it. I'm done. Prego can burn in hell without me.
Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: XM 71 - Watercolors (a calming effect sorely needed right now)

By everything that is holy on this mud-ball planet, why did I have to waste time at Prego during lunch today ? (heavy sigh) First it's the "Oh, I must have these 6587 dolls coming out this year - does anyone want the 8764 I bought last year ? I'm cutting back." attitude that pervades the place like a roiling stench. But I ignored it and made visiting Prego a part of my life while I waited for my first of only two Tonner dolls to arrive. It felt so good to be part of a group !

 

Then it's the "I'm such a wonderful guy- I own more dolls than you've eaten meals in your life, and I'm playing stupid games with all of you because I know I can, and my little minions will grind anyone who dares disagree with King W. - that's me ! - into figurative dust. I'm selling dolls you can get cheaper anywhere else, but where could you get the panache that comes from the doll being in my possession for 36 hours ? Have I bragged to you lately about all I have, and made you feel poor in comparison ? No ? Well, remain standing and I will, since I don't want you to be left out of the glory that is W." butt-plug. I didn't want to believe anyone could be such a self-centered, mindless braggart, so I said my piece, tried to understand. Came to the "I have a quarter-million dollars worth of dolls, and here's how I dust every mother-lovin' Swarovski-crystal bearing one of them"  follow-up post and knew he was what I thought he was in the first place. So I ignored him, too.

 

I ignored the ‘How can anyone possibly *like* that Wicked Witch doll ? She looks like something out of a Concentration Camp' comments. While that is opinion, couching it as ‘how can anyone not agree with me ?' was rude and judgmental. And now, I know it's merely typical.

 

It was about over when they provided support and encouragement to a woman who's swindled over 30 others, stolen, embezzled, lied under oath, and is even now trying to abuse bankruptcy law. But, according to Prego, that's OK, because she didn't swindle or screw over any doll people. Or anyone that they know. So we should support her, and never say a negative word ! People, I know right from wrong. What she's doing is wrong, even if she isn't doing it directly to me or anyone I know. Who you support shows me who you are. And if you're so d@mn determined to plug those holes in your life with her stuff, it shows me you have no scruples, no sense of fairness, no concern for anything not within the grasp of your desperate fingers. I've had enough desperation and stupid choices in my life. I don't need yours.

 

But today, they crossed the line. It's the same line they've crossed over a few hundred times, but I'm finally pizzed enough and weary enough to not want another helping. So you don't have to read it - enough folks left enough hints for me to find out what everyone's cheezed at *now* - here's the situation. There's a travel doll - if you choose, you can be part of the doll's journey. You take photos, add souvenirs, etc. while the doll is with you. Then you pack it all up and send it to the next person in line. Ancillary rules : Post photos while the doll is with you. Post any additional photos to an online photo album, so the next person can post their images without competing with yours.

 

Fairly simple rules. Yet one site star, who routinely posts numerous photos nearly every day, chose to ignore them. Even when it's not a travel doll, she posts four or five versions of the same photo - same dolls in the same positions with the same props, with only the camera that's moved - in each of her ten or so photo posts every week.  Fine, whatever, I simply avoid ‘Shutterbug' posts unless I wanna see the same stuff over and over. She does a lot of detail and prop work, and that's fine. Happy she has something to do with the long days. But she continued to post an entire album of travel doll photos every day, it seemed - long past the time she packed the doll and sent her along. In fact, the next person rarely posted any images of the doll's stay, so as to not compete with Shutterbug. The doll has even gone on to the person after that, with only two photos that aren't Shutterbug's posted.

 

The next person - let's call her Patience - to get the travel doll had enough after about a solid week of continuing Shutterbug photo posts. She nicely reminded Shutterbug to let her post her photos, and Shutterbug could put hers in the photo album. Patience didn't want to compete with SBug, but the doll was gone to the next person, and she hadn't been able to post anything yet, due to waiting for SBug to finish. SBug said she wasn't keeping Patience from posting, so as far as she was concerned, they could both post at the same time - ‘cause SBug certainly wasn't gonna stop.

 

Well, this started another of the clique wars. And I am done. Rude little comments obliquely referring to this minor incident continued to pepper the messages for days afterwards, which is annoying. If I don't know what's going on, folks, and if it's best left alone, quit referring to it ! Well, you know how I am, so I soon had the whole stupid story.

 

Of course, someone had to make a ‘I can't take all this negativity, I'm leaving !' drama call, and of course, the few people who took Patience's side were ‘evil, insensitive nasties' who should be ignored, lest all the nice people leave. Um, guys, look around. About 20 people post messages. Everyone else either just posts stuff for sale, or lurks, probably scared of setting off another drive-by insulting, or unwittingly crossing a site star with (gasp !) a different opinion !

 

I'd had it when one little Pregoite said that some mean nasty people just like to hear themselves talk, so I let her have it. I'm mean and nasty because I have a different opinion ? Well, you're gonna hear mine, honey. Like it or not. Only reason I didn't get involved with the Bankruptcy B!tch situation in my post is because I didn't want my words deleted until someone read them, d@mn it !

 

So you don't have to go lookin' for it, here's a cut/paste of my words. I don't have the clearance to post hers, so I'm not going to. If you're interested, it's easy enough to find. I am done with Prego. They're doing quite well on their own path without me.

 

So everyone who doesn't agree with your opinion is an insensitive jerk ?

Posted by Dorrie on 7/28/2006, 3:07 pm, in reply to (deleted)

Umm...maybe it's time for me to leave, too. Seems like every time there's a minor difference in opinion here, no matter what the topic was, those who don't agree with the majority are mean, evil, insensitive nasties. Yes, what was said before could have been said in a more kind fashion. But from what I can tell, the tone wasn't the issue - the message was. I happen to agree with the 'mean, evil' side. Have on several previous occasions. I also think that Sybarite dolls look like men in drag. Those views doesn't make me a bad person. They don't intend to offend those who think differently. Just means I'm someone with her own opinion who learned long ago that Prego didn't wanna hear anything but 'oh, wow !' and 'sorry your cat is sick'. So I don't share my views here. By the words of your post, anything against the collective opinion is wrong and evil. I'm not part of the Prego Collective. I am me. I will not always agree with everyone, and that doesn't make me a black-hearted troll. Just means I don't agree with some folks sometimes, and I know not to say anything or risk a board-wide condemnation, because I dared to cross the more-valued and very vocal members. If anything, the ones who spoke up at least are brave enough to do so. Or would you rather everyone who didn't agree with everyone else just go away quietly ? It would be a quieter group ! When people can't share their opinions honestly, without fear of being trounced on, or stirring clique wars, what you end up with is a yes-person group. If that's what you want, be happy ! I only come by once or twice a week, and now I see that's a waste of time. To think, I was just gonna go without any drama... At least my absence will balance out Wayne's ! DB, signing off.

 

And there it is. I've deleted Prego from any bookmarks, and if you see me there again, you have the perfect right to slap me upside the head with a wet, three-days-dead trout. Or any other deceased fish of your choice.

 

Don't I have better things to do ? And better people to share my life with ? You betcherass I do.