My 4 pennorth.
Firstly Cherrypie and Copepod have both just completely gobsmacked me! - as a long-standing diabetic myself I regard both of you as exemplars of how diabetics can optimally treat themselves, you both have a way with words and getting things across to people. Copepod is quite analytical about situations; I appreciate that because I'm not very; it's more gut reaction with me. Cherrypie finds some of the most interesting articles/bits of research etc on D related topics, nutrition, whatever - it's ever been my pleasure to come across. I regard you both as 'wise' (diabetically speaking) friends!
We do have silly 'chats' with each other sometimes it's true (bacon sandwiches and Landrovers springs to mind) - but the minute someone chips in with a D topic or summat that requires a serious answer, the vast majority of us who might know summat about whatever it is, snap straight back into 'advisory' role.
As some of you know, I've only attended one meet. Yes, I did wonder if it would be 'cliquey' - it wasn't - as ever if you are prepared to be 'open' with folk, people are 'open' with you. I enjoyed it. I liked the people I met. I don't partic want to travel all over the country to meet people from any of the forums I or we belong to (be it D, cars, motorbikes, motorhome) but if it's handy, or not but I just fancy it, then I will.
One thing that did used to happen on here quite a lot, and was worrying to me (and others) but is happening FAR less now, I stress - is that a newbie would post an intro and include questions. 2 pages of Hello welcome - and no sign of any answer to their Q's. When they come back they have to plod through the 2 pages of (pleasant) nothing before someone says anything useful. By all means say Hello, nobody wants to stop that, especially if you are amongst the first 2 or 3 people to find that new person's post - but perhaps if it's already 4 or 5 'Hello' posts and no-one has answered the Qs yet and you can't, come back later when someone has, to add your welcome.
(Fraid 'you' had the reputation of being the 'There There, Dear' forum, very nice people, but not much actual help)
Personally I click on 'all unread' and if there are several pages and the Q's have been answered and there's plenty of hellos, I don't add a Hello cos there's no point. I don't believe people think 'She isn't very nice, because she didn't say hello to me' - do they?
I've always thought it was no bad thing actually, sort-of being at arms length from DUK. There's a lot of long-standing D's out there (some of whom are sorted and some who ain't) who aren't fans of DUK - either for the amount (%age wise in comparison to some other charities) apparently spent on Admin or for other reasons. As for me, I'm sometimes their greatest fan and at others their greatest critic. I joined in 1972 and FWIW I'm still joined LOL Bit like my relationship with the NHS really! I hope that DUK use attitudes of people who post here, to inform their perception of what people really think of them and the NHS treatments that we get for our D (or more particularly, often don't get) If you search the forum, there are very few links or refs given in answers to forum members, to DUK info to help their problems. Yet surely almost every Q a diabetic asks about their D, SHOULD be being answered by DUK ? - we know very well it isn't. WHY?
So - are we a resource of DUK - or are we independent? (apart from the platform being funded by them I mean) I think what we do do about publicising the place depends on the real answer to that one, doesn't it?
Long post, sorry. I had a lot to say ..... hope some of it is of use.
