Trip reports - my take

I have my own personal relationship with Negril.com forums. It provides an escape when things are tough, a laugh when one is required. A glimpse into other lives when I'm a tad lonely. It provides me with exact information that has led me on great adventures, saved me oodles of time, money and disappointments. It is teaching me how to behave in a web based village and I'm still learning. I have also invested not a little emotion in the trip reports of others. I have read reports of newbies who have arrived in Negril with a load of trouble on their shoulders and leave a little more relaxed and more open minded to tackle their problems, from a new perspective. I have been sad with the marital breakups and the slow healing, and then pleased at the signs of the rebirth of possibilities of new love, no matter the age, young and old. I have seen poets sing the praises of a women they can't believe they deserve. I've read of long married couples settling into mediocrity, sneaking off to the cliffs to have a wonderful fresh affair, with each other! I've read of tough living tattooed bikers kneeling to a child with a huge grin exposing their hearts. I can't count how many grandmothers have cuddled their grandchildren at home to allow Mom a little break and recovery in Negril. I feel the love!
These life snippets and stories have come to me through Negril.com trip reports and I am ashamed to admit that I spend too much time and invest too much emotion on them. I prefer to believe that they all are true. Maybe exaggerated, but true. Maybe expressed from one point of view but true to them. I also see many talented writers and poets exposing their creations on the board as well. Fantastic tales that should be optioned off to be made into movies for all to enjoy. Well written lyrics based on events sometimes real but very often imagined embellished with good intentions but certainly not real, have a place. But they are not trip reports. So thanks Guirigay, Tiz, TicToc, Clarity Pool guy, Marley and so many others for a peek into your lives. And thank you all, the creators of fact fiction. You do tear at my heart and cheer me up with your fables and as I believe that wise man Booger once said "It's all good"

By the way. Thanks Rob

Wonderful Dash!
I've had the enjoyment of reading hundreds of trip reports in the almost 10 years that I've been lurking & then finally posting on Negril.com.
Each trip report has been unique, a labour of love, a lot of work and a true pleasure for me to read! Thank you, ALL!

Dash you hit it right on the head. I love the stories no matter fact or fantasy. I have been here on Negril.com from the begining I have watched many boardies and Rob go from being single to married. Watched great romances take place like Sweetness. Watched a boardie fight for what seemed like forever to get his child to the US. And I miss people when we haven't heard from them in a long time like Smith. I like most of you have laughed and cried with things posted. I have used it both for information and a way to relax after a bad day and fantasize about my next trip. I enjoy reading peoples thoughts on different hotels and their take on the people of Negril, and especially their expierences there. It is nice to read others opinions and I always keep in mind that people percieve things differently. I am kind of shy in RL so I don't post a lot but I am so thankful for the boardies that do. It is strange how so many people who have never met can connect in their love for Jamaica and when we do meet feel like we are old friends. The people of this board are very diverse in age, lifestyle and expierences yet it always reminds me of the saying "One Love" which sums it all up.
So even though we can be a pain in the butt, thank you Rob for giving us this board and also thank you everyone who posts here for sharing your lives with us.

I also love the TRs. They do give you a little fix or allow you to live vicariously through them, if only for a bit. I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes it is almost painful to read them if you don't have an upcoming trip in the works. So Negril.com is kind of like an internet "home", you may not always show up there all the time...but when you do it's like you never left.

Well said, Dash. Couldn't agree more. Some TRs I'm all consumed with and can't wait to check back to read more, others not so much, but I do agree that they are all a labor of love, and I totally appreciate because they help ease the longing in between trips. Thank you!

Well, I have not been a member here for very long, am a relative newcomer. I follow Vi trip reports religiously her reports give me a chance to lose myself in all that rich flora of places like Port land as I do not travel much.....when I do come on (which is not very frequent) I do a Vi search Trip report.

I have been following Leslie Chow TR and must say it perks my interest am loving, enjoying and laughing when I read.

My take I read, if what am reading I do not like I move on to something else. If nothing else peaks my interest I leave the site.....move on.

Thanks for the site Rob. gives me a chance to get away from my dulldum here in Canada:o

Fact or fiction it doesn't really matter the point is 99% of everything written on this Board / Forum is positive about Negril and Jamaica. The bottom line to the naysayers is don't read it if you don't like it. Rob does an awesome job mediating / managing (not an easy job) and everybody that posts or reads this is obviously interested enough to take time out of their lives to do so. Everybody take heed Positive Vibration is Positive!!!!

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Dash & Prism-you beautifully wrote exactly how I feel. I love all trip reports and check in multiple times a day to look for postings when a new trip report is beginning. The only time I do not check in daily is when I am there but as soon as I get home I catch up so I don't miss anything. It is definitely an addiction for me but a good one! Thanks to Rob & Lisa and all the boardies.

Dash / Prism ----- DITTO!! Well said!:cool: