A Real Life Interlude

@p1kef1sh (45681)
September 11, 2010 3:21am CST
When I first joined myLot I was here several hours a day, every day. I was recovering from illness and I had not a lot else to do - apart from housework and we all know how exciting that is! I made lots of new friends, some of whom I have become very close to and even meet. In time though I developed other interests and then got a part-time job. These things drew me away from the computer. Also I started to notice that many of the discussions were coming round again - there is little that is truly new and different - and I got tired of answering them. We went through an unfortunate time where some of my friends felt that they had to leave myLot as they found themselves under constant attack and abuse from "Trolls". So they, and me, set up shop elsewhere. A place that doesn't pay us but we exist by invitation only. But I still keep coming back here occasionally to meet up with old and new friends but I am certainly not as active as I once was. Has real life slowed your myLotting down?
10 people like this
37 responses
@charylady (419)
• Philippines
11 Sep 10
yes i get to come here only once in a while now. when i joined mylot i was on summer break from teaching and i was here everyday. ever since the semester started things have gotten really busy. i really am looking forward to sem break . . .
2 people like this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
Good luck with the semester. I look forward to seeing you when you are able.
1 person likes this
@Wizzywig (7847)
11 Sep 10
I've also found that I dont get onto myLot as often as I did and I do miss people who were "regulars". I think there are times when, even if we're not feeling particularly sociable - for whatever reason - its nice to see a familiar name & know that someone cares. Glad to hear things are going well for you.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
I think that there is a familiarity that draws us here. There are some that are only here and I do miss them when I am not.
@Wizzywig (7847)
12 Sep 10
Good to see you too Bill. i am doing ok & hope you & yours are too Good to see you pike & fjaril too of course
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
12 Sep 10
Hi Wizzy, it is good to see you. Yes it has been a while since I saw you here. I hope that you have been well my friend.
@dorypanda (1601)
11 Sep 10
Short answer: Yup. Longer answer: Yes, 'real life' has got in the way of a lot of my computeryness. I'm still doing a blog regularly, but I'm too tired to do much else. (As you know) I've set up a business and that's taking a lot of my time at the moment, when I'm not doing that, I have my house that I need to keep clean and relatively tidy. It is a shame when real life gets in the way, but unfortunately that's what normally takes precedents over cyber world. It's still good to catch up with computery friends every so often though. :)
1 person likes this
@dorypanda (1601)
11 Sep 10
Thank you, I'm hoping so. :)
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
Your business might well be a little gold mine Dory. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will anyway. XXX
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
11 Sep 10
I've noticed you are not here as much but it's always a pleasure to see your name in my mailbox! Yes, life has a way of interfering. I'm not here as much as I used to be. I'm busy writing articles, mostly, and I've cut down my hours on the computer because I was sitting here every waking hour and that is NOT good! So I'm here less, too, and sometimes my mailbox fills up with notices from myLot--I've learned that I can't answer every one and to put things in perspective. It sounds as if your life has filled out and gotten more interesting, and that's a good thing! Life does tend to get in the way, if we're lucky!
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
Life is what we make it I think. I realised that having got out of one rut I had simply exchanged it for another. I started volunteering and that led to a job offer. The Boss tells me that I "work" more hours than ever now. The difference is that I enjoy what I am doing and find it worthwhile and rewarding in a way that money doesn't.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
11 Sep 10
When I first joined myLot, myLot slowed my real life down. I must admit there was a point in time that I also left because some of my friends left, and so the place got boring, discussions were repeated, others clearly were just in for the money, a lot of guideline violations happening all around. By, place that doesn't pay us, do you mean Facebook?
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
Yes. FB is where many folk hang out now.
1 person likes this
@atv818 (1980)
• United Arab Emirates
11 Sep 10
Mylot has a different effect on me. It has an opposite result, the more I do MyLot, the more addictive it became. If I can have it my way, I would MyLot from sunrise to sunset. Where in the world can you find giving out your opinions and getting paid for it? Only MyLot can.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
I might have been like that for the first few months, but money isn't everything.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Sep 10
The money isn't enough to help with my bills, buy a much-needed coat or much of anything else. I come to mylot because I care for my invalid husband 24/7 and it helps first thing in the morning to get my eyes open. But too often now, when the e-mail from mylot arrives, up to half the posts are about that new site that seems to have a virus attached or moneymaking, not able to make money, how to make money, when to make money, do you make enough money to do anything with it, or when is your money payout expected. Frankly on those days, I skip through looking for anything vaguely interesting and if I don't find it, I consider mylot a waste of my time for that morning. As you said - money is not everything. Occasionally, I actually like to be challenged (not degraded, challenged - there is a difference) for an answer. But, it seems if a subject of importance arises, few people bother to answer it and it is rarely posted on the email. My schedule is too busy to go searching for what is getting to be more and more the impossible dream of intelligence debate on serious subjects.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
12 Sep 10
It certainly has. I joined Mylot a month before I had my second child. I was at my mother's for the delivery and had nothing much to do (no housework and the only work I had was to go for my checkups and take my older son to his classes).A month after my delivery, I came back home but we didn't have an internet connection and I was off mylot for 9 months. Once I got a net connection I was on Mylot many hours in a day. I had a part-time job when my little one was 18 months old....I still managed time for mylot. But slowly family responsibilities and work took its toll and I would could come less frequently and then it became once in a month...and sometimes once in two months! I've made a few good friends at Mylot...I'm regularly in touch with them through emails and at other social networking sites....and sadly, it's been a while since I emailed a few others.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
21 Sep 10
Not as actively as earlier...but I'm somewhere on the net daily too:)
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Sep 10
Children necessarily take up time and of course they are your family and they must come first. I find that I am a bit of a drifter now. I come and I go, but I am somewhere on the net almost daily.
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
11 Sep 10
Real life slows everything down. :-) What invitation only place are you at?
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
Actually that was here. Anyway, you're there.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Sep 10
I was here, but now I'm somewhere else...
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Sep 10
Dawns don't natter...
@GreenMoo (11834)
11 Sep 10
Real life means accessing the internet via my mobile phone in an area where the signal just sneaks through the mountains on a good day. Real life means having to put the generator on to power up my laptop as the kids have flattened the batteries watching DVDs. Real life means being too damned tired to bother! Sadly, myLot is something I get to do far too rarely these days. On a positive note, I´m sure I get many more useful things done as a result, but I´m sure they´re not nearly so much fun!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
You are one of the folk that I miss seeing so am delighted that you've dropped in today. Maybe you should get the children set up with hamster wheels and they can produce their own electrickery!!
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11834)
12 Sep 10
I´m not sure about the kids, but I´ve often thought that the dogs ought to serve some useful purpose about the place. There must be some way of converting noise energy into electricity. Upon consideration, if I included the kids in the system I could probably make a few bob selling leccy back to the National Grid.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
12 Sep 10
Good morning, no, i haven't slowed down on mylot. It is so much company to me. I'm in the house more than alot of people i'm sure. I like u have made some good friends on here & i treasure those friendships alot. There is alot of silly discussions on here but i just ignore them if i vcan, lol. I'm glad u have found a good place to visit w/your friends, Have a great sunday.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
14 Oct 10
I am sorry that I missed responding to you. I have made some very good friends here. People that I have met and to whom I confide all sorts of things that I mightn't elsewhere. Many of these people have come with me to pastures new. But I am still here from time to time.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
14 Oct 10
tHAT'S O.K., hOPE u are having a good thurs.
11 Sep 10
Hi P1key, The only thing that slows me down on Mylot is that most of my dear friends like you don't come here often for the reasons you have stated obove i.g Trolls, so I have missed them as their discussions has been fun and had somany tread going but of late nothing, but silly discussions that I have no interest in, also I am on other forums and on Facebook where most of my friends are, so that is the only thing that slows me down on here. Hugs. Tamara xxxxx
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
LOL. I wouldn't want to be without you Tamara. See you wednesday we'll pick you up about 11.40. XXXX
1 person likes this
11 Sep 10
Hi P1key, Oh!!! briliant!!!, I'll be ready and waiting, look forward to seeing you then, hugs. Tamara xxxx
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
11 Sep 10
Hi P1key! When I first joined here, real life came to a grinding stop (other than essentials), because I was here so much. That had to change! Now I spend less time here, and only answer the discussions that I really have something to say about, or that strike a chord with me. Many of the friendships made here had continued at other sites, or other means. I think I've achieved a happy balance where reality and MyLot co-exist happily.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
I have reached that position too I think. Although I am quite convinced that I am an internet junkie now. I'm about to have a few days away - how will I cope?!!!
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
11 Sep 10
I was offline for 3 days last weekend. It was almost shocking to find how much time I had on my hands. But, not so shocking to do it all the time While you are away, know that we'll miss ya!
11 Sep 10
We went to Orkney and Eday which is an island in the middle of the North Sea. Previously it was kind of "cut off from civilization", but now they have broadband there.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
11 Sep 10
Real life slowed down my MyLot experience from the start. I would love to spend more time here and find it quite addictive, but I have a family that needs my attention too, plus there is a business to run and housework to do, sport, exercise, reading, learning guitar, sleeping, the list goes on! That is great that you have made so many good friends here. I have too. I am glad to hear that you have found somewhere else 'safe' to hang out as well, just for the fun of it.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
11 Sep 10
I shall meet three myLotters next week Bill. I guess that will more than make up for the lack of internet access whilst I am with them. But life is sometimes much more interesting that the computer, even with myLot on the screen! LOL.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
12 Sep 10
You are right, life is much more interesting 'offline' than online. It would be great to meet some of the people on here. I have not had that opportunity as yet. Australia is such a big place and my Aussie friends here are spread wide and far. The closest is a two hour drive away. I did nearly meet 'Hiccup' one time though as I was in his part of the world, but I ran out of time the day that I was passing through.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
11 Sep 10
My mind works with numbers. And I like building stuff. And racking up total counts. That's why I stay here in myLot. I have little goals like reaching the next hundred, or the next thousand, etc. I do have a job and a life away from this computer, so at times it has slowed my myLotting down. But I always come back too.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Sep 10
You could say that you "bounce" back! LOL.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
25 Sep 11
It's a bit OCD-ish, but it works for me.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Sep 10
hi pikey well outside of the 11 months when life for me and my son' turned upside down and we felt like we had been struck by a runaway train, I have been on my lot a lot since I got back on the net. At first I had my computer and monitor ouf of storage but was not on the net as I had to find out what cable company serviced the area where I reside in this tiresome retirement center. then I found time Warner cable. and got on and am paying my internet bill by my mylotting.I am finding that a lot of new ones do not seem to give a damn about making really good discussins but only about making money, which is sort of funny and stupid in that good quality discussions are the ones that will make them their earning. None of them seem to care about having fun or making wonderful friendships and thats sad as I am here because of you and all my other wonderful mylot friends. I remember that time when some really great mylotters quit because they were being harrassed, and felt so bad as we dont need trolls here.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Sep 10
Overall the good times outweigh the bad I think. But for me at least, I have found other things that do cut into myLot time. But I've not given up on it.
• United States
12 Sep 10
I'm probably as active as I ever was. Like you, I do get tired of responding to the same discussions over and over, but I sometimes still respond because I figure it was started by a newcomer.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Sep 10
I have sometimes done that too. Although the third or fourth time... Zzzzz. LOL.
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
12 Sep 10
Repeated matters can also be interesting if it can be presented intelligently. We specially me is fortunate that you did not leave myLot forever. I enjoy your discussions and responses. But for lacking of English language I can't response to your responses properly. Sometimes I can't understand also. In your discussions I find some specialty. Thanks for not leaving us.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Sep 10
I am pleased to see you Bhanusb, I can understand you and your English is a lot better than many others.
@indahfth (11161)
• Indonesia
14 Sep 10
I felt my life was not slowed by Mylot. I logged in Mylot, every day use the phone, I logged in Mylot when all work is completed. I do not have many friends, and I am more often alone. Mylot is a friend of mine, when I'm alone, Mylot who always accompany me. Mylot has taken away my loneliness.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Sep 10
myLot is a good thing in that we are able to make lots of new friends. Thank you and enjoy your myLotting.
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
12 Sep 10
I'm actually a little bit diffferent on this whole scale... when I got some bad medical problems, and had to stay inside and seated for months, I started going to another site, "Hi5". They were big on topics that I found really interesting, and most of the people who were there were really interested in the direction of the message boards, so there was always really cool topics coming up, and I'd be going there everyday. After long enough, though, the site started to die down... I was doing other things, but I still have time to be going to websites. Ever since facebook came around, Hi5 had started to die, and the message boards aren't nearly as interesting. I decided to join Mylot because it seemed busy, and the money aspect was a nice addition... but then, even in the first week of being a member, I got so irritated by the simplicity of some of the topics... even moreso with topics that I'm really big on, where the people posting literally sound stupid about it all... But, I'm still here. I just want to have a good message board site, where thats all it really cares about, and anyone can be a part of it... so you don't know what to expect. This one may not be the best, but at least its something.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Sep 10
I found Hi5 irritating - but I think that it is aimed at a different age group to mine. Good sites are hard to find and this one, in my opinion, is one of the best.
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
Just like you I used to spend a lot of time in Mylot before. I spend an average of 5 hours a day when I have work and almost 18 hours when I am on rest day. However, I'm not as active as I used to be ever since I had my second child who is just 2 months old now. Aside from that the Nanny of my eldest went away. I still visit Mylot when I have free time just like today. I'm on leave for four days. However, even if I'm on leave I only find time to be here in Mylot when both of my sons are asleep.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
14 Oct 10
I used to go to bed thinking of myLot and wake thinking of it too! Nowadays I have to make a real effort to come here. But when I do I usually enjoy it.