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Stick with it Bob, right on. [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert A. Fink, M. D." <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 10:41 AM Subject: Direction of the List > OK, folks, it is time to fish or cut bait. Is this List designed for > support/education, etc., for people with Parkinson's disease; or is it a > place to tell jokes, make fun of minorities, and criticize those who > object to insensitive behavior? "Boobs", "dumb blondes", and some > of the other things which have passed for "humor" lately on this List > can be followed by "kikes", "wops", "polacks", "queers", "crips" > (which is what I have heard used to speak of PWPs before), and other > choice epithets. > > I had always thought that if something was offensive to one person in > a group, that common decency dictated that the offensive behavior be > stopped for the sake of the group; but that apparently is not the belief > of the majority of the Parkinsn group. Several people have posted to > me privately that they support my position (actually, quite a few; and > you all know who you are); but, for whatever reason, they have not > posted to the List as a whole. Therefore, what is being posted on the > List is continuing blather as to how people like me should "live with > it". > > Well, I will not "live with" acceptance of ridicule or demeaning of > human beings because they might be "different", or belong to one > gender/group/race or another. It is against common decency; and, in > most cases, the law, as well. > > I don't know how many physicians remain on the Parkinsn List. For all > I know, I may be the last one. I joined this List many years ago > because my father-in-law, also a physician, was afflicted with PD (I > diagnosed and treated him until he died several years ago at the age of > 91), thinking that I might have something to offer the people here. It > appears that this is no longer the case and if I try to convince folks to > be more mature and "adult", it is me who is "shouted down". > > A copy of this posting is going to Barbara as well as to the List. I will > remain here for the next few days, waiting for people to *publicly* > post their true feelings about the points that I have been trying to > make (about offensive postings under the guise of "jokes"). Unless I > see a majority of this List standing in support of sensitivity, I will > leave this List. > > Maybe my usefulness is gone, anyway. > > > Best, > > Bob > > > ********************************************** > Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S., P. C. > 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 > Berkeley, California 94704-2636 > Telephone: 510-849-2555 FAX: 510-849-2557 > WWW: http://www.rafink.com/ > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > "Ex Tristitia Virtus" > > *********************************************