Viewpoints Review

I joined sk-you.viewpoints.com on August 18th of this year.  I had been shopping at  Kmart and when given my receipt the cashier suggested I go to the website and take the online survey.  I might win a shopping spree.  I came home that evening and did the survey and was rerouted to the sk-you.viewpoints website.  At first I wasn't sure what I was viewing but I read a few highlights and thought, "This might be something I would enjoy."  So, I joined sk-you.viewpoints.  Then the fun and confusion began!

First of all, I have never been a member of any other social networking site.  I don't have accounts with facebook or myspace.  I may have posted two really short reviews on  Amazon-com as a result of products I ordered but nothing else.  I was a bit apprehensive to put myself out there to complete strangers so at first all I did was write a review and read others.  

Jolie  was my first friend, as she is to everyone.  She had just posted a review on Mamma-Mia, the movie and I commented on her review and then I thought, "Well, I need to share my opinion."  Well, that began my publishing career at Viewpoints.  I stayed somewhat active in writing reviews and reading other reviews, voting, and commenting on them.  I began building a circle of friends and fan club and this was looking pretty good and yes, still felt safe.

Then, one day Jo invited me to go to a discussion board.  What!!  I had heard horror stories about people connecting with people in chat rooms--no way was I going there.   Then I began to think: "You are in control--you give them as much or as little information about yourself as you so choose...."  That would be my safety tactic so off to the discussion boards I went.  I honestly don't remember the first board I visited but I never went to one of the newbie boards.  Aha!  I can blame my "addiction" on Jo, she was the enabler.

This is where the confusion began.  Because I joined thru sk-you.viewpoints not Viewpoints I went straight into the Sears/K-Mart retail boards.  Boy was I a fish out of water and I probably started driving Michelina crazy too!  Sorry ;+(   I found some board with a topic I thought I could relate to and I posted my comment.  In the meantime, as I established cyber friends I began following them to various boards by means of the friends' activity. 

So, what's so confusing about this?  Well, when I posted a new topic on the boards none of my friends could find it.  This went on for at least 2 months and then lilsquibb  finally realized what was going on.  Because I was signing on thru sk-you.viewpoints I was generating topics on their boards.  We nipped it in the bud real quick.  I deleted sk-you.viewpoints as my favorite; logged in thru viewpoints and then saved that as my favorites.  So now I am with all my friends but I did bring some of the others from sk-you.viewpoints with me to "our" discussion boards.

Viewpoints is a great place to hang out and I do that a lot!  I pick with my friends and family and tell them I am addicted to this site and we need to establish a Viewpoints Anonymous with a 12-Step program.  I think vivasuzi  and I could co-lead it and we could probably even get this2shallpass19 to join the leadership team.  The problem is this: Our meetings would probably be on a discussion board and thus, defeat the purpose of weaning us off the site.  Viewpoints is a guilty pleasure for me.  I am single so I don't feel as if I am depriving a husband or child of my time by being on the computer as much as I have been.  I have, however, been neglecting my reading.  I used to read 2-3 300-600 page books a week and now I'm doing good to finish one a month--aagghh!!

So you may ask me: "What is your deep fascination with Viewpoints?"  That's easy to answer.  VP is a fun and safe place where no one is a stranger and everyone is a friend to someone.  There are many fine attributes of Viewpoints that brings me here daily, several times a day, several hours at a time.

Publishing and reading reviews:  I love to write and after 18 years of college my writing research papers came to an end and then what?  Viewpoints gives us an opportunity to express our personal opinions on anything imaginable to mankind; except of course, porn, illegal drugs and firearms.  See, Meredith, I have thoroughly read the guidelines ;+)  I don't feel as if I am going to be berated or attacked for what I say but note: I am respectful of others that hopefully I will not cross the lines when it comes to intentionally offending someone.  I can be honest in my opinion about a product, service, etc. but I have no reason to attack anyone because of their race, educational/economic status, religious affiliation/beliefs, etc.  Now there have been a few crazy people out there who seek to sabotage our wonderful members but we just take that with a grain of salt; know who our real "friends" are and keep on pressing on. 

Not only do I like writing reviews; I also love to read the reviews that my friends have written.  I have made it a goal to read every review, to vote on it and to post a comment, even if it is a blurb so they will know I read.  Many know of my "courstesy reads" and recently I discovered that Ms.AnnaBanana  also does them.  A courtesy read is me reading a review on a product or service that I know I would never purchase, utilize or support but I read it out of respect for my fellow members who took the time to write it.  Please know that I don't want to appear rude when I tell you if I may not be interested.  That's just my way of letting you know I read your review but it's not for me.  Everyone wants the helpful votes and the visits to their profile, me included.  I would encourage others who read a review to also vote on it.  I don't understand how a review can get over 500 reads and only a handful of votes.  It doesn't take any extra time to click on the vote and if you don't like it you aren't going to offend the writer because they will not know you voted no.

Blogging: Since being at Viewpoints I am now blogging, cool!  I love to post little thoughts for the day, bits and pieces of trivia or history, or what is going on in my life.  I also love to read fellow members blogs and comment on them too!

discussion boards:  Whoa baby!  They say you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.  Well, Jo led me to the water and I have been drinking by the gallons.  This is where my Viewpoints Addiction evolved.  I love the discussion boards and "board games" and have made my fair share of contributions.  These forums are a wonderful place to hang out, vent, laugh, cry, what have you.  The boards give you a chance to really get to know your fellow members.  I have made so many friends as a result of getting to know them thru the boards.  I even got myself a few cyber twins out there: krislynn,  jasyjen and PattyTherre.   

Reviewer11  is my partner in crime; especially at the virtual slumber party @ Anyone-else-staying-up-LATE.  If you want to see some wonderful performances just visit us there late at night!  We are still trying real hard to get Michelina and Meredith there but we have succeeded in getting LisaCarey and MikeMaroon is our honorary guy at the party! All are welcome but he has actually been brave enough on occasion to hang out with us.  Bring your blankie, pillow, snacks, games and movies and join the fun.  We hang out there late at night; especially after 10 on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Not all boards are fun and games.  We do some very thought provoking boards too and like I mentioned way up top: I even discuss with the "Ivory Tower" Michelina and the employees at Sears and K-Mart. 

I love the staff that helps to troubleshoot all of our problems.  I have emailed Courtney11   and Meredith on numerous occasions and they have always been very willing to help and the help usually comes quickly.  Meredith even emailed me a printable version of a troubleshooting technique similar to what I said AOL does.  I believe someone by the name of Kevin has also assisted me.

I learned how to navigate Viewpoints by following my friends' activity.  If I saw Meri  or  Katrena posted a comment or review I would follow over there.  That would lead me to another review or comment and in the process I was also establishing my friends and fans.  I feel blessed to be a part of Viewpoints and I hope that this site stays with us indefinitely. 

I can't compare with other social networking sites so I don't know if some will say we are worse or better than they are.  All I know is I have found a place that I feel safe being a part of.  This is my Internet family.  I have mentioned many people already but I must introduce a few people that are a part of "our gang-my little family" that is constantly growing. VixenViewTreasures,  writersquill,  cmohr80,  Caprig,  LadyMagic,  LaurieM, CrystaBush, and the wonderful dynamic duo TheBard and LoveisJoy.   There are many more out there, check out my friends and fans to see who. 

Viewpoints is a place where you can develop friendships and people reach out to perfect strangers.  The compassion and love for one another is unreal.  I have never been so impressed by the generosity here.  During my recent illness I was surrounded by a lot of well wishers, prayer warriors and people who cared and for whom?  A perfect stranger?  Not so--strangers here on earth but citizens in Heaven.

In closing: When you visit sk-you.viewpoints or Viewpoints just heed the advice from Leslie on Bridge To Terabithia   : "Keep your mind wide open."  Come along with us.  At Viewpoints you will learn and grow.  You may laugh and cry.  And in the end, hopefully we will all be better people after having experienced what Viewpoints and everyone here has to offer.

There are no strangers here, only friends we haven't met.