I agee with Lisa, and I HAVE to say that KY, your entire line of reasoning sounds...
...very, very familiar. I, personally, find your comments offensive. I am saddened that someone with so much to offer feels so negative about this community of polite and welcoming individuals and the format within which we interact.
Just as newcomers don't often succeed when running for office in a community they just moved to, I believe a reasonable amount of time getting to know a community is not unjustified or unreasonable before someone puts their mark on it.
If you feel, after the welcome and support you have received, that we are an elitist group of people operating in an overly cumbersome format then I would suggest that you consider choosing sites you are more comfortable with.
I would like you to stay, but you seem very unhappy with certain characteristics of this board, including the posters who post frequently here. Again, this sounds very familiar. This is a friendly, supportive place that welcomes newcomers. We treat each other with respect and care, and that includes EVERYONE, newbies, veterans, and everyone in between. Mimi supports our desire to keep this board free of abusers, malcontents, stalkers, etc., and we have given her our resounding support and gratitude for doing so.
Peace,
Michael