I’ve been a member since 2004 but was on the news mailing list and a lurker from pre-2000.
I think DR1 gives a bit of a skewed view of the north coast problems, with focus on the negative by a few members who bring up the same topics incessantly.
There are many people, myself among them, who while recognizing some of the negative issues simply work around them and enjoy the heck out of what the north coast offers.
DR1 itself has had a tone change over the years from the only website where information on a variety of Dominican topics was shared, and was made up of not only an online community, but many who knew each other in real life. While that still exists, that community has gotten smaller.
Problems were always discussed, but with humorous responses and an eye toward having fun dealing with the problems encountered… think Robert, Rocky, Hillbilly, Ginny, Matilda and many many others as great examples of this attitude.
Computer tips, jobs, travel, real estate, girls, sankies, gossip, news, charities, immigration, hotel advice, food, shopping, automobiles… many things… used to be shared and discussed with much light hearted banter.
That sense of positivity, community, and advice on daily living and travel has been replaced in many ways by Groups on Facebook.
Groups such as Everything Sosua, Everything Cabarete, Jobs Cabarete & Sosua and others. Then there are the YouTube vids and blogs for mongers, and Facebook pages for women desperately in love with a hotel worker and wanting someone to tell them that it can work.
People on those sites are excited about the DR, motivated, living their daily lives. There’s much less complaining. There is talk about restaurant openings, charities, music events, arts & craft shows, dinner specials, travel and lodging advice, taxis, etc.
If you want positivity, check out those sites and you’ll see why many of us (myself included after 20+ years) are happy to call the north coast home.