[ellie]

Ok well I'm part of another online forum, to do with health. I've been a member on there for probably 1 and a 1/2 years.

Anyway, occasionally our state meets up for lunch. I've been to about three or four get togethers.

Anyway, each time I've gone, I never really felt comfortable, like friends have been already formed and feel it's quite clicky.

Anyway, I've noticed they ♥♥♥♥♥ a lot about everyone on the forums and I too have been sucked into this bitchyness, which is really what has made me annoyed with myself and another reason why I no longer want to get involved in these meet-ups.

Anyway, one particular member is a real health nut and has strong focus and manages to get to her goals and so everyone on the forum thinks she's a saint. However, since meeting her I've found her to be the instigator of all this bichyness and yesterday broke the camels back when she yet again brought up a member (lets call the member Mal) who say, "Will Mal ever come to a get-together? She always says she will but never does and what's her deal?, is she even real?" and then went onto comment that "she doesn't have the time of day for Mal person because she's always ill, or got a problem and wants sympathy".

At this point I was really annoyed, because I have met Mal and she is a really lovely person and I thought who was this lady to tell everyone what she thinks. So I said, "I have met Mal and she's a real person and she's very nice and maybe she's ill a lot and wanting sympathy there's an underlying problem. Well the member, kept on saying, I don't care see seems like a sook and I just don't bother reading her posts".

Anyway, she could see I was annoyed, because I glared at her and there was this vibe at the table and we both didn't look at each other in the eye. I seriously was about to walk out, not because of this one incident, but because she brings it up at every get together. In addition, she continued to ♥♥♥♥♥ about all the other members, who say they will turn up to the meet, but never do and said "I don't have the time of the day for these people either". (for me I personally don't get offended if people don't turn up. I think, "that's life, and there are more important things to do".)

What annoyed me even more, she brought the whole thing up again when one of her friends from the forum arrived late, and I could here her making statements about Mal, yet again. I couldn't believe she couldn't hold her toungue, especially since she knew I was annoyed in the first place.

Anyway, I feel like announcing on the forum that I no longer want to go to these meet and greets and why? Maybe it's silly, but I want members who don't turn up to know what's been said about them. I mean I will feel so uncomfortable if Mal ever turns up, and they all play Mr nice guy around her.

The silly thing is the only reason I go to these get togethers each time, is that I too am worried they will ♥♥♥♥♥ about me. But now I am at a point where I think enough is enough, and I shouldn't care what they say about me, because at the end of the day I get nothing good out of those get togethers.

Do you think it's not worth it and just leave it be? I'm sick of holding my tongue about issues like this.

Of course I wouldn't name names, but just give the members an idea of what goes down at the greets and then they can make a decision if they still want to go or not.