Well I've been here for just one day and before I even got around to posting my introduction I had an experience in the chat that has already made me question whether I should stay or not.

I shared a personal experience with another member in the chat and was told that it sounded very cliche, like something out of some movie. Well that's nice and thank you very much.

Honestly, I don't care whether anyone believes me or not. It was my own personal experience, I was there, I know what happened and I know what I saw was real. So I don't care if anyone thinks I'm just making it up for attention or just some delusional nutcase (which are the two reactions I usually expect from most people) because their opinion doesn't change what I know happened. But I must say that if this is the kind of reaction I'm going to be faced with by the members here then I don't think I will be sharing any more of my personal experiences with anyone.

I'm no starry eyed kid, I'm 48 years old and I've seen and experienced a lot in my 48 years. I came here because the experiences I've had have left me with an intense interest in all fields of paranormal investigation and research and I had thought this was a place where I could not only meet others that share my interest but a place where I could share my personal experiences with others without being scoffed at and at least be given the benefit of the doubt. Now I'm wondering if perhaps I was mistaken.

Great way to make a new member feel welcome.

At the end of the day you KNOW that your experiences are real no matter what anyone else says or thinks. Maybe it was not meant the way it came across in the chat? Sometimes things come across different in an email to how you meant them to be. If not then do not let that one person put you off as from what I can see most of the people on here are nice.

I've just joined recently too and although I have not gone into the chat, I have found everyone here very pleasant. We all have had strange experiences that maybe others find hard to believe. I quit sharing my experiences years ago because they made me sound like a right nutter, even to myself.

I agree with Jana that maybe the person didn't mean it the way that you took it. It is so difficult to talk only in text with no emotions or inflection. That's why someone invented emoticons. I hope that you stick around!

Well maybe you two are right and it was my misunderstanding but I don't know how else to interpret the words; "Your experience sounds just like something right out of a movie, the typical cliche encounter. JMHO"

And in all seriousness, if I can't share the paranormal experiences I've had in my life here without the fear of being called a nutter then what is the point of me being here in the first place? If I wanted to be labeled a nut or an attention whore I could accomplish that anywhere on the web or off. Just sayin'

Empath,

One thing you have to remember is that this is a world wide system, and not everyone's views will be shared by all. But I also think that in total you will find more people here that are going to be here to help and support you than anything else.

What I would suggest is get into the swing of things in the forums first. Chat is great as well, but many of our members here are somewhat "gun-shy" so to speak. After all when you're a sensitive, you sometimes have to deal with far less acceptance than many others do. So when someone new shows up there can sometimes be a short period to get those warm and fuzzies about them.

I think you're in the right place, give it a bit of time. I've talked to others who at first felt the same exact way you do now. But they're now active, vocal and thriving members of the site.

Certainly don't leave because of one negative experience in the chat room.
Look forward to hearing and seeing your input on the forums more. And then perhaps join us in one of the formal chats on Tuesday night. I'll be there as well.

I'm sorry, maybe I'm being overly sensitive, in fact I probably am because I am a highly sensitive person. But that really did put me off.

SensitiveEmpath wrote:


If having unusual experiences makes you a nut, then pass the chocolate. Cause we're chuck-full-O-nuts here.

One recommendation I would also have, since it sounds like many of your experiences are related to you being a sensitive, try starting out in the sensitive corner area of the forums. I think you'll find tons more acceptance there.

Remember the site has many sides (Sensitives, Investigators, Paranormal Science), we're trying to bring them all together into harmony but change takes time. I'm hoping that someday all investigative groups will bring a sensitive into the mix.

@crystalcross Not sure I'd feel any more comfortable or accepted in the sensitives corner right now either since the member that I had this issue with claimed to be a sensitive.

I know you're right and I may try sharing again in the future but at the moment I'm feeling somewhat wounded and disheartened so for now I'm just going to remain quiet and keep my personal experiences to myself because as Jana said, at the end of the day -I KNOW- that my experiences were real.

A huge thank you to everyone who replied with kindness.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience but it is the Internet lol there will be people like that at times.. At any rate, welcome

Hey I'll admit that my experience does sound pretty fantastic and if I hadn't been the one to have experienced it myself and was listening to someone who was a stranger to me tell it, I would probably wonder to myself if they were telling the truth or not too so on that point I don't blame her. But I would at least give them the benefit of the doubt and not tell them or even imply that their story was cliche or sounded like something straight out of a movie because that would be unkind.

She was also sharing things about herself that may or may not be true because I don't know her any better than she knows me but I didn't imply that she was making it up. All I expected was that same respect and consideration in return. But as Spookycute pointed out, this is indeed the internet and there are always going to be people like that.

Thank you for the welcome Spookycute.