My views probably won't mean anything reguarding the Abbey? Why do you ask? Because I'm 'part of the problem'. Actually, it comes down to the fact that /fighting and arguing and angst and too much drama/ is the problem. I've had many of my chars feed into the fighting, the drawm and the angst. And make it worse. Yet I'm not the only 'guilty' party, nor the only one who made this problem worse. Not even close. People blame the ones that left on how the Abbey is now. Partly, they are right but if they felt welcomed, they most likely would have stayed. I'm not trying to burn anyone, simply stating a opinion that I've sat on for far too long. Yet the abbey is a place of peace, compassion and caring. A place to build friendships and to work hard for peace and to /keep/ their home peaceful. People coming in talking about death and picking fights /doesn't/ help. It not only makes the troublemaker look bad doing it a monastary, but the Abbey as a whole. Its uncalled for. Yes, it causes conflict and rp. But not the type of rp needed to help the Abbey grow as a whole. Rather, it knocks it down. In my view? Don't do it. Don't bring trouble into the abbey or upon its doorstep. We all made mistakes. Fighting doesn't help the problem, but makes it worse. I understand all the views posted here. I don't fully agree with all of them completely, but understand them yes. Antonia's mail I agree with because I've felt the same many times which is why I had left the abbey many times before. Do I agree with the way she went about getting the point across? No. It was wrong and uncalled for. Do I understand how she feels? Yes. Completely. Everyone has their views, some go along, some don't. Take it from someone who leads: Pleasing everyone is impossible. But a leader should try. Leading isn't easy. And with the Abbey with so many different views, leading is nearly impossible. So what happens from here? Who knows. As for the person that has been here for a long time Kevarr mentioned (and I hope things get better for Kev), yes. This person worked hard and accomplished a lot. And I stand by said person 100%. I'm expecting to get bashed down but I'm done sitting here and not speaking up. Time for positive action. I now have Gideon within the Abbey. A old, wise pygmy shrew. A cripple who makes books that wants to teach, and to join the Order. And he was /accepted/ into the Abbey with open arms. Yes, most of the rps I've been in have broken out into fights and arguments without him directly involved. But the fact is-the rp continued but the ones who caused the grief, seem to just get set and get away with it. I say toss them out and tell them if they behave, come on back in. If not, stay out. Nuff said. You want some rp that has no angst or violence, that's fun and enjoyable and you want to aid the Abbey instead of knocking it? Then go to the Abbey. I'm back. And I'm staying to /help/ not hinder. The abbey needs to come together...and not stay torn /apart/. Its been too long. Let's fix it. Together. Nuff said.