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Dr. Robert, I agree with your basic thoughts about the List. Maybe I'm too thick skinned to get really upset about some of the misguided posts. I'd rather see people take out their frustrations and anger here than on their dog or family. I would think that being a doctor you'd have more tolerance of quirks in human behavior. Stay on the list and take life a little less serious. If you want a good laugh watch MS-NBC or CNN for a couple of hours. Personally, I agree that blondes and boobs are nothing to joke about. Greg 48/35/35 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert A. Fink, M. D." <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 1:41 PM 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" > > ********************************************* >