Post by geekdevguy on Apr 23, 2011 10:22:51 GMT -5
I feel kind of odd writing this. I mean, I know I am not welcome here, and thats fine, but I wanted to thank you all for being here anyway.
I'm a guy, a straight guy, who is a devotee. Ergo, not welcome here. But I can't tell you how much confidence I have gained from lurking and read here during the past year. I've known about devotees for a long time. I've pretty much known I have been one for nearly that long as well. However, during most of that time I had been trying to suppress it. Trying to believe I couldn't actually be one. Lying to myself and telling myself that someday I'd actually see a girl walking down the street that made me go *wow-zers* like would have if she had been rolling down the street instead. This site has helped me change that.
Most places I have come across on the web regarding devotees has been one of two varieties, either they are places where devotees are vilified and are regarded as the scum of the earth, or they are devotee centric places that are overwhelmed by the few who really are deserving of the stereotype that a lot of PWDs have of devotees. Reading Paradevo the past year or so has shown me that there really are good people out there who also happen to be a devotee. It's not something that I have to feel internally ashamed about. It is just who I am. The feeling I have when I come here and read what everyone has posted, is such a feeling of being "at home". The feelings, emotions, and experiences that I read on here seem so close to mine at times it is almost spooky. So, thank you all for being here and sharing, it really does make a difference to people even if that isn't your intention. My self confidence this past year has really increased thanks to this resource being here.
Lastly, thanks to Ruth and Annabelle. I have really enjoyed your writing. It is such a refreshing difference to what I have found on other devotee sites. It has even inspired me to write a little (badly), as a way to express some pent up emotions. So thanks, and I can't wait to read whatever you choose to write next.
All, I'm sorry for violating one of the basic rules of the board, but I just wanted to thank you for what you have done for me.
*Returning back to the depths of lurking*
I'm a guy, a straight guy, who is a devotee. Ergo, not welcome here. But I can't tell you how much confidence I have gained from lurking and read here during the past year. I've known about devotees for a long time. I've pretty much known I have been one for nearly that long as well. However, during most of that time I had been trying to suppress it. Trying to believe I couldn't actually be one. Lying to myself and telling myself that someday I'd actually see a girl walking down the street that made me go *wow-zers* like would have if she had been rolling down the street instead. This site has helped me change that.
Most places I have come across on the web regarding devotees has been one of two varieties, either they are places where devotees are vilified and are regarded as the scum of the earth, or they are devotee centric places that are overwhelmed by the few who really are deserving of the stereotype that a lot of PWDs have of devotees. Reading Paradevo the past year or so has shown me that there really are good people out there who also happen to be a devotee. It's not something that I have to feel internally ashamed about. It is just who I am. The feeling I have when I come here and read what everyone has posted, is such a feeling of being "at home". The feelings, emotions, and experiences that I read on here seem so close to mine at times it is almost spooky. So, thank you all for being here and sharing, it really does make a difference to people even if that isn't your intention. My self confidence this past year has really increased thanks to this resource being here.
Lastly, thanks to Ruth and Annabelle. I have really enjoyed your writing. It is such a refreshing difference to what I have found on other devotee sites. It has even inspired me to write a little (badly), as a way to express some pent up emotions. So thanks, and I can't wait to read whatever you choose to write next.
All, I'm sorry for violating one of the basic rules of the board, but I just wanted to thank you for what you have done for me.
*Returning back to the depths of lurking*
