Patient to Patient. (P2P)

I see some unrest that I care about. And while I am on "vacation" as a moderator I can't let go unless I say something. I saw a post today about Pete Grimm. It's kinda funny. I will likely meet him this Fall and introduce myself as the HealingWell moderator that booted him from this website. To make it sound more egregious, he is one of the respected radiation oncologists in the western US.

Our site is built on the premise that all that are posting are afflicted with the forum disease and we are all equal. They are not doctors offering advice. I have booted surgeons here. And nutritionists, and supplement "specialists" and more. The fact is that once we open the doors to "professionals with vested interests" we run the risk of screwing up everything we have accomplished by being a peer to peer website. Our little tussles and fusses are what makes a patient think and learn. It's when they become BIG tussles and fusses, or vendetta's, that runs the same problems and issues as allowing "professionals with vested interests".

The fact is that I know a very little about prostate cancer even after five years of research and working with the professional speakers and attending many conventions. I have been what I thought was the most proactive patient and advocate, too.

I know a lot more about support groups. And we cannot idolize our members just like we should not make villains of them. And many times we over idolize our doctor's too.

I saw a post today about the number of posts a person makes. And I can say that I really thought this was a very unimportant. The experiences that one tells is what to learn by but it's only available to an open mind. I have learned from a poster that had less than two posts before. (do your math on this ) I have also read the journey from beginning to end of those that have died of this disease.

Believe me when I say that I would rather everybody post about than die of this disease.

This website is going to have conflict built into it's nature because we are a patient to patient network. And this may be the most important positive about it.

Peace to all. And please listen to and tolerate your brethren. Don't miss anything because it's actually pretty cool to have this opportunity...

Tony

Umm, rather than click the Report button, click the email button to one of the Mods. Peter is a come and go guy, we mods are here everyday, usually. We should be the first step in problem solving.

I think if people would just take things with a grain of salt, and not approach this forum with a chip on your shoulders every day, expecting problems, their forum life would be much more pleasant. Also, if you can't take a joke, or a little teasing, or you are having a bad day, maybe that is a good time to go do something else for a little while. If you just have to try to tweak someone and get a rise from them, why not go pull wings off flies instead? Be cruel somewhere else.

Stranger in town: say, fella, what are the folks around here like?
Townie: Well, how are they where you live?
Stranger: they're rude, self-centered and really not that friendly
Townie: Well, I'd say you'll find the same kind of folks here, too.

Agreed, Tony. My little "lots of posts" post was supposed to have been retorical, just to remind people that if we count all the "attaboys" and "just a few more" comments, they are huge numbers, and they really do help (at least they did help me). I was surprised that anyone really wanted to "answer" it.

It started out as a "thank you" for the people who give the online equivalent of a wave as you pass your neighbor on the way to the mailbox. Not much to each one, but when added up, if they weren't there, it would be a loss.