Posted by Jana Miller on 9/21/13 5:01pm
Msg #485479

Wow.....

Have you all forgot what being "nice" is all about? Or are you all so slow that all your time is spent on here being nasty to people. Someone asks a question and you jump down the throat of the poster. I had someone PM me when I first started on here about 3-4 weeks ago telling me to "listen to the veterans on here that they know a lot"... Ummm NO. To me they no nothing. People come here to get help. Whether its about hard copies or where do I put my stamp. Who cares what the question is? Its important to the asker. This is why I never post anymore and don't want to. That and the fact there are too many whiners on here about slow down. Make your own business happen. Instead of sitting around waiting for your phone to ring or sitting your butts on here criticizing others, go out and make business happen. Not even sure why I joined this site. Some mean old people on here. We are all notaries public. Work together. This post is JMO Well I'm off to make some money since I have business to take care of. Jeeesh. You all are welcome to tear me down now.

Reply by 101livescan on 9/21/13 5:20pm
Msg #485482

You noticed? That we have some very opinionated, grumpy ole pharts on this board? Maybe they haven't had enough coffee yet, or they got up on the bad side of the bed, just came back in from mowing the lawn and they hurt all over. Too much time on their hands cuz biz is slow doesn't make it any better.

Yep, lots of views on this board.

But all in all, there are a lot of good, honest, very skilled and knowledgeable resources here. And a lot of big hearts and brainiacs.

Of course, we all miss PAW who was above it all and certainly a fine human being and gentleman. One of the most knowledgeable Notary of all time.

Don't be too hard on us...Give us a second chance

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/21/13 5:47pm
Msg #485486

Jana, you may not like the delivery many times

but you won't find another forum that gives you more verifiably good information than this one.

As for this - "I had someone PM me when I first started on here about 3-4 weeks ago telling me to "listen to the veterans on here that they know a lot"... Ummm NO. To me they no nothing"

Sorry you feel that way - don't tell me you haven't picked up SOME knowledge here - if you haven't, IMO that's not the fault of the posters... but since you feel the veterans here 'know' nothing - so be it.

Not sure why you joined? Well, if you feel the knowledgeable people here know nothing and the board is full of mean old people and whiners who have no work - if you truly feel that way then I'm not sure why you joined either. But you're still here - so there must be something to it.

Sign me tired of being lectured by newbies, both forum and industry newbies.

JMHO

Reply by CJ on 9/21/13 6:00pm
Msg #485488

Believe it or not . . .

This place is a lot nicer than it used to be. I stopped coming for a couple of years because it seemed like every question that anyone asked was like blood to a shark. I came back and noticed everyone was being nice. Maybe I missed the lecture. But now that times are slow, people might be getting crankier. It's no excuse. I recommend laying low and just doing a lot of lurking - its much safer.

Reply by Les_CO on 9/21/13 6:01pm
Msg #485489

Re: Jana, you may not like the delivery many times

I admit to being old, grumpy, verbose and always opinionated. But I do believe I know ‘something’ about this business. But if you don’t think so….I would suggest in the future when you see my name just skip by my posts…. Like they say experience is the best teacher, try that.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/21/13 5:57pm
Msg #485487

Clearly you're new to this forum, Jana, if you think those comments were bad... You should have been around in the bad old days when there was **serious** sniping going on here!

Seriously, though, I just read that whole thread and there were a few uncalled for comments, but most of the answers were sincere attempts to try to add some light - to whatever extent they were able - to a very good question. I hate to say it, but it seems to me that your criticism of some of those posters is lowering yourself to the same depth as some of those responses. (And I think it's a tad bit unseemly to be lecturing folks who have been members here for roughly a decade - even though I do think you made some good points. I'm just sayin'...)

So please don't judge the many by the few. Also please try to keep in mind that there's a long history on this forum and that there often may be more to some statements than what readily meets the eye.

One more thing. You said that people come here to get help, but no one is under any obligation to provide it and that is not the originally stated purpose for the creation of this forum. Actually, people coming here asking for help is a big part of the problem. Some of them come here demanding help or actually asking for what amounts to a handout. And they very often ask for information that's already been provided here numerous times. They can't be bothered to do the research themselves, but they expect some "old timer" to use their time to explain it once again... ("Please tell me how to get business"; "Who are the good companies out there?" I could go on. I don't know if you've taken the time to read the famous message #33325, but I recommend you do to get a better idea of what this forum is really all about.) This has made some of us "old timers" a bit testy on occasion, as we've seen it over and over and over and over and over again.

I'm very happy to be able to say that you have been the refreshing exception to that long time pattern. But again, as someone who has only been here a short time, I encourage you to not be too hasty to judge. Everyone has a bad day from time to time (some more than others...), but for the most part, this is a pretty incredible forum, imho.

Reply by 101livescan on 9/21/13 6:10pm
Msg #485490

If it makes you feel any better

I joined this board on February 2, 2003. Dead of winter. Been laid off from my fabulous high tech job making buku bucks, for a s/w company that developed "text messaging" then deemed not to be very compelling...following the 911 attack.

I've been on this board faithfully, kicked, scratched, hair pulled, disemboweled, but continue to pick myself up, dust myself off, and feel there is no place like home, TOTO. I'm pretty sure I have more friends than foe on this board, but I absolutely know who my foe are, they've made it clear. I also know who my countless friends are. You just can't be too sensitive here. You won't make it.

This month I am nearing 11,000 profile views. I guess I have something to offer up, not just hot air, but tangible, crisp information. I try to address people here the way I would if they were standing nose to nose. People deserve their respect, and sometimes their disrespect. You must remember, Jana, we are regionally, and culturally vastly different from coast to coast. We're no longer in Kansas.

This forum is the best resource for notaries across the country. Sometimes you gotta sift through postings and skip a few if you don't like them or find them disinteresting. There have been others, like you, who have abandoned the forum altogether. You wouldn't be the first. I've met a lot of our members face to face, and find no better place to share information.

If one desires to be successful in this field, this forum is our best resource. NR offers many benefits of being a premier member, you can ignore the old pharts if you want to.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 9/21/13 6:21pm
Msg #485492

"listen to the veterans on here that they know a lot"... Ummm NO. To me they no nothing.

Then why come here? You just want to get answers from newbies?

Reply by Notarysigner on 9/21/13 6:21pm
Msg #485493

Hey! You have good intentions and that's

what this forum needs. Don't be discouraged about anyone posting here! We are all BONDED, HAVE NO FELONIES OR MISDEMEANORS and YET we'll attack each other as if we weren't the wimp we are!!!!

Reply by ananotary on 9/21/13 6:25pm
Msg #485497

Re: Hey! You have good intentions and that's- AGREE!! :) n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 9/21/13 6:29pm
Msg #485499

Good point, JD, a bunch of good fellows here!

While a few forgers and ID defrauders have slipped through the cracks, for the most part this forum is populated by a bunch of legal eagles. No pedophiles, ax murderers, horse thieves or kidnappers.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 9/21/13 7:18pm
Msg #485508

Re: Good point, JD, a bunch of good fellows here!

Agreed.... there are a lot of good people here. I think the job itself tends to attract a certain type of individual -- and I'm not talking about just any notary. I'm talking about the truly professional ones who care about the profession. There are a lot of really smart, really opinionated people here. Strong opinions are fine... in fact, some of the notaries I respect the most tend to have a different opinion that I do on some things. I kind of like that because it keeps me researching and learning for my own professional benefit.

Reply by Notarysigner on 9/21/13 8:00pm
Msg #485516

Marian,....... a bunch of good fellows here!

I betcha I've learned more about being a great notary from YOU, than you have from ,me...but I can live with that!!!!!

Reply by HSH/WA on 9/21/13 6:35pm
Msg #485502

Re: There are some real prigs and outright

nasty people some of whom seem to gang up a lot on NR, but all and all I've learned a lot. I'd urge you to stay with it especially using "Search" for questions. SC is invaluable - I've have turned away signings based on low stars and later read that the same 2 star SS were still slow or no pay. Glad to have avoided them. In the long run I think you will find it worthwhile.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 9/21/13 6:49pm
Msg #485505

Here's the way I look at ti... sure, there are a lot of mean comments here. You have to look through that and find the value to what's being said. I know that I, for instance, an often seen as a tad overbearing and preachy. Oh, well... that's how I write. I was trained as a technical writer. I often use an authoritative tone in my writing. I also realize that I'm a little bit of a control freak. Again... oh, well.. that's how I am.

But people who know me, know I'm really not like that. I'm actually quite generous and have gained quite a few wonderful friends and trustworthy business contacts here.

I read this forum for years before I started posting. I quickly realized that this is *not* newbie training central. This is a forum for professional notaries. It's not hearts and flowers all the time. It's BUSINESS. I realize it's a cliche... but it's true. It's not personal... it's business. If you can't handle being told the truth, this isn't the place for you. You will find a great wealth of information here. The person who PMd you and said to pay attention was dead on. There's a big difference between attacks and straight up, truthful business advice.

Knowledge and wisdom do not have to include pampering and platitudes.

Reply by leeinla on 9/21/13 7:15pm
Msg #485506

Re: Wow.....It is not all bad

I gave a notary a recipe the other day. I don't let negativity bother me. Life is too short for that.
Overall, this is a great board to learn and ask questions. Some people gripe, but all the advice is free.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/22/13 1:09am
Msg #485532

"Knowledge and wisdom do not have to include pampering and platitudes."

Love that!! In fact, it's been my experience that pampering and platitudes don't much help me grow. I'd rather get the straight scoop with a wire brush if it helps me improve myself and my business.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 9/22/13 1:22pm
Msg #485546

I learned this while in college. I entered a program for English/Technical Writing. It was the school with the best program in the country, and IMO, still is. In fact, I'm planning to go back eventually and enter their Master's program. But that's a different story.

Anyway, one first day of class, one of the professors stood up and said... and I still remember this speech...

"It's likely you will not like me very much. I'm not here to be your friend. You all may be Arts and English majors, but you've entered a major that isn't flowing poetry and emotional creative writing. You're hear to learn to tell people what to do. You're here to learn how to write boring sh!t nobody will ever want read. You're here to learn how to write reports, to program educational materials and to create a different kind of art. I'm not going to give you a sticker and pat your back for every complete sentence you fart out. You're adults. I'm preparing your for the real business world. Nobody is going to be nice to you in this industry until you get some experience under your belt. Your clients and employers will just expect you to know certain things. My job is to make sure you don't look like an idiot when you get there."

He was the best professor I've ever had. He was actually pretty nice, too. He was tough, yes... and had high standards but he was also pretty nice. He was the adivsor for our student chapter of the STC and often had us over to his house for meetings. When he let the compliments loose, it was for people who truly earned them. He had expectations and didn't reward people for simply meeting them.

Reply by Darlin_AL on 9/21/13 7:16pm
Msg #485507

Re: Wow.....who's old? it's all relative, ya know! n/m

Reply by sueharke on 9/21/13 8:43pm
Msg #485519

Your comment reminds me of being a student in a grad school class. The instructor had a reputation of requiring students to think out the question and ask it in a clear sentence form. If a student didn't- it was very clear from the instructors reply! I was one of the students that did that once...I never did it again. I learned a lot about how to analyze information to formulate a question and use the same process today. Maybe that instructor is living on this forum and still teaching students to think critically.

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 9/21/13 8:56pm
Msg #485523

Jana...Give Not Rot a chance..This board is a lot tamer and nicer than it was just a couple of years ago..Wow..We have people that know a lot about this field and we have others that think they know it all about this field on this board..Hang in there after a while you will know who to listen to and who not to listen to.

It is a great place to learn your craft..Signing Central will save your business a lot of headaches, the Search button will answer a lot of your questions..The leisure area will make you laugh and sometimes cry..The politics area..(well Im not going there)..My point is there is a lot to learn and gleen from us and yes some people will be mean and cranky but on a whole there is a lot of helpful, nice and friendly people too..Good luck

Reply by PegiT_MN on 9/21/13 9:05pm
Msg #485524

And wow to you too Jana. Take what you need and leave the rest.......haven't you ever heard that expression before? No offense or anything, but I think you're just as rude as the people you are talking about. Not everyone on this board is rude. There are a lot of veterans on here that do know a lot and are more than willing to contribute to this forum in a positive manner. Just because to you they "no" nothing.....that's your loss. You are correct when you say that people come here to get help, but you act like every single member of the Notary Rotary family is old, mean, a whiner, doesn't have any business, and sits on their butts criticizing others. That is simply not true and you need to check yourself before you come on here and start a thread talking crap about everyone on this forum and then say some crap like "well I'm off to make some money since I have business to take care of". Jana....we all have business to take care of.

Reply by Brenda/FL on 9/21/13 9:09pm
Msg #485525

Agree 100% ^^

Reply by MistarellaFL on 9/21/13 10:15pm
Msg #485527

For you, Jana, an explanation

Why there are Grumpy Old Notaries on NR
Posted by BrendaTx of TX on 10/24/11 8:50pm

Msg #401519

Reply by 101livescan on 9/21/13 10:51pm
Msg #485529

DEJAVU! Only now more older and grumpier notaries on NR

and hoards of newbies! who don't understand why everyone is so old and grumpy!

Reply by Christine/OK on 9/22/13 8:23am
Msg #485537

Agree wholeheartedly, PegiT_MN! :D n/m

Reply by Bear900/CA on 9/21/13 11:40pm
Msg #485530

"Very good, Annelle! Spoken like a true smart-ass!" ;-) n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 9/22/13 12:29pm
Msg #485540

My immediate thought: Bye - have a good life.

I'm in the Peggy camp - you presumed too much and gave us qualities you wish you yourself possessed. Wishful thinking and projection will get you no where.

I can almost bet she will be back to lurk and see who will respond and how they will respond. Human nature. And she will quietly take what she wants and/or needs. But that's ok...one less person's agenda to deal with.

Reply by Charlie Ervin on 9/22/13 12:54pm
Msg #485543

Re: My immediate thought: Bye - have a good life.

That right there is the reason why we don't get paid on time and are disrespected as a services. old vs new is dumb... We need each other not all people are the same you may run a person off that could offer something that you don't but being nasty is not the way old or new. We will continue to be disrespected as long as we fight each other.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/22/13 1:06pm
Msg #485544

Disagree - getting paid on time has nothing to do with

this forum but has everything to do with who we work with.

JMO

Reply by Charlie Ervin on 9/22/13 1:12pm
Msg #485545

Re: Disagree - getting paid on time has nothing to do with

If some of the vets and newbies worked together to come up with some legal way to stop all companies from disrespecting us and not paying instead of fighting over a silly post yeah i think things will be way better.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/22/13 1:23pm
Msg #485547

This is a whole different topic for a whole new thread...

But the answer to your problem begins with not working for known non-payers and carefully vetting who you do work with. But you won't be able to stop people from taking work from the worst of the worst cuz it's the only calls they're getting, and you won't stop them from taking $65 for signings, cuz it's all they're being offered....you can lead a horse to water.

I have NO non-payers, no late payers, no issues. I chalk that up to research, reading here every day, and not being afraid to say "sorry, no can do".

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 9/22/13 1:47pm
Msg #485550

Re: Disagree - getting paid on time has nothing to do with

Work together? The information is already here. The warnings...the experiences..... it's all here for the reading. Years and years worth of it for FREE. The problem is that the "newbies" don't pay attention and end up getting burned. They don't know how to research or build basic business skills... and they disappear 12-18 months, often citing how terrible people are to them and how the whole worked didn't hand their promised fortune to them on a platter. It's never *their* fault for not figuring out a run a business, oh no. It's always the fault of other industry pros who didn't give them everything they wanted, or tell them what they wanted to hear.

The long-time pros here often DO work together.

We can't legally force anyone to "respect" us. Respect is earned through hard work, knowledge and dedication to business ideals. "Respect" needs to start at home...with the notary respecting themselves and their business first.

Reply by Christine/OK on 9/22/13 4:53pm
Msg #485560

Agree Wholeheatedly. Great thoughts, Marian! :D n/m

Reply by desktopfull on 9/23/13 2:00pm
Msg #485620

Re: Disagree - getting paid on time has nothing to do with

It your business, your an Independent Contractor, you make the decision about who you work for not the others on this board. Nothing they do or say will affect you getting paid by a company timely or at all. If you make bad business decisions don't put the onerous on others that work in this field. You can search SC and the work forum to avoid G/B/U companies.

Now you can feel free to blast me as a vet on the forum for giving non-sugar coated advise.

Reply by Michele Carr on 9/23/13 11:22am
Msg #485598

You go girl.....I feel the same way.....

Michele