A Favorite Thing: My Lifeline! (Your online social life)

Member Name: Sue Hoskinson

Product:	Your online social life
Date:	18/07/02 (101 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I've got a new lease of life and made some really good friends - I hope!

Disadvantages: none

Ah, what are my favorite things? My family is top of the list but I really don't know how to write about them. I adore movies but don't have any particular favorites there and music is far too subjective and changeable to write about, besides a certain person who hates everything I like would probably laugh me at!

When I received the message in my guest book requesting I write to help Jill celebrate I was more than happy to contribute but choosing something has taken me an awful long time to figure out and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be! .

It's kind of appropriate that writing this coincides with my Dooyoo birthday this week because that alone has opened up whole new worlds for me!

Anyway, one of my favorite things at the moment is the Internet and the world that I've discovered. A few of you will know that I'm married to an American Serviceman, which enables me to travel around the world! Traveling may seem like a wonderful thing but you're never in the same place for very long, it doesn't encourage making friends and staying in touch can be very difficult so the internet can be a life line to someone in my position, whether it's by using e-mail or any of the various messengers that are around at the moment and that brings me nicely to my opinion!

I first discovered the chat room by chance back in April while my husband, Ed, was away in Germany on TDY (temporary tour of duty)

I'm fairly sure you've all heard of the Tooyoo guest books; well that's how it all began!
There was me sitting all on my own on a Sunday night, thoroughly bored and not knowing what to do with myself! I'd signed up for my own guest book and was roaming around looking at various aspects of the site when I realized that people were actually talking on the general message page. I know I sound a little naïve but I'd never encountered anything like this before and was intrigued
so I plucked up the courage to say Hi!

I started chatting with a lovely lady via the general message area that night and when I returned the next evening hoping to maybe carry on the conversation I discovered there was a link to the chat room.
I must admit I was a little apprehensive at entering but I'm really glad I did - everyone was so sweet and welcoming!

What began as a little distraction to pass the time soon became a very regular thing and I've found myself heading in that direction whenever I've been feeling lonely or sad or even when everything is wonderful and I want to share my joy with others.

The chat room I use is Opcom (The Opinionated Community) and I wouldn't use any other! The people are wonderful and despite the elitist image they're given I've never met a nicer bunch anywhere! We've laughed together and cried too!
You'd been forgiven for thinking that the conversations would revolve around Dooyoo considering that most of the people are actually members but surprisingly enough they rarely do. We've played silly games, shared jokes and had some extremely deep conversations where souls have been bared and demons buried.

I met quite a few of the other people in the chat room in London recently and it was one of the most amazing things ever.
I really felt as if I already knew most of them (I won't drop any names but they know who they are!) and they were exactly as I'd pictured them to be. I'd like to think I've made some very good friends and would definitely like to keep in touch when it's time to move on again!

Now before you tell me off for being rash at traveling all that way to meet a bunch of strangers I should add again that they're mostly all Dooyoo people and it isn't something I did alone - I dragged Ed along too, just in case.

I think we all know the rules: don't give out personal information such as
telephone numbers, addresses etc. It's not worth it because there are some very strange people out there! Mind you, I've never seen anybody in there that would worry me at all - they all seem very normal.

It's a lovely place to hang out so why don't you come and join us some time? I know you'll be made welcome!


"Jill Murphy asked me to write about one of my favorite things to help her celebrate her fourth anniversary of cancer-free living and to remind ourselves of all the nice things in the world. It takes more muscles to make a frown than a smile you know. If you'd like to join in, whether you?ve just joined Dooyoo, or you've been here ages, you're more than welcome. Just write about one of YOUR favorite things, make your title 'A Favorite Thing: [your choice]' and include this paragraph at the foot of your opinion. Post it before Friday 9th August."


Well done Jill, I'm really pleased for you! Here's to the next four years - would you like a celebration for that anniversary? (I'll start thinking of something to write now, okay!)

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