To the Editor:
I have lived in The Villages for four years. I am someone who likes to express his thoughts about local and national public affairs. My points are supported with logic and evidence. And I offer a possible solution. Thinking it was the only show in town, I have always done so through the “Talk of The Villages” forums. Typically, the rebuttals are not the civil, debate-style responses that foster reasonable argumentation. Rather, they are personal attacks that belittle my upbringing, my social status, my IQ and my lineage. The authors of such comments are the “The Villages is perfect; King Morse is always right; like it or leave it” group. I call them the “Stepford Seniors.” I am forced to respond in kind. The conversation degrades to a verbal fist fight. With very few supportive comments, I have come to believe that I am a minority of ONE.
I love The Villages. It is wonderful place for retirees to live and play. However, like all human creations, it is not perfect. I believe it is the responsibility of those who are a part of such creations to observe and report on aspects of them that can be improved. To disagree with me is very much OK– it should lead to a dialog. But, when I am pilloried so often by so many for just claiming such imperfection exists, leaves me discouraged. How can so many people want more than a “bubble”? They seem to want a wall that keeps out anything or thought that differs or disagrees with them.
However, I have discovered a cadre of reasonable Villagers! Their thoughts and comments – positive or negative – are readily published here, in the “Villages-News – Letters to the Editor,” and commented on with sensibility. From now on I will be focusing my electronic reading on the Villages-News; especially your letters to the editor. I look forward to commenting on them frequently, and reasonably.
David Lyons
Village of Collier
