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Hello Barbara and Kees, You asked listmembers to respond with comments about the list. I am sure there will be many replies making similar comments to mine. The Parkinson Information Exchange Network is really one, big support group in electronic form. The list provides a remarkable platform for sharing on a worldwide basis. I have always been impressed how much knowledge Parkinsonians have to share even in small groups. This sharing involves much more than sympathy, kindness and understanding. Support groups exchange real knowledge and valuable information. I really believe that patients often know their own condition better than even the most expert neurologist. Through support groups Parkinsonians can come to realize just how well they do understand their condition, Whether sitting together in a room or participating in this unique worldwide Internet room, everyone is an expert and everyone is equal. This kind of communication is truly a two-way street (to change my metaphor). We can share our knowledge and receive in return the knowledge, and the wisdom, of many others. And maybe the wisdom is the most important part of it all! Certainly Parkinsonians don't have the same kind of technical or scientific knowledge that the health professional has, but they do have knowledge that is frequently discounted by the medical community. Knowledge is power and the Parkinson's Information Exchange Network empowers. Indeed, the Internet is rapidly giving hundreds and thousands of Parkinsonians access to a remarkably high quality information and discussion. We need to keep the emphasis on sharing. We all have much to learn in the exchange. This includes everyone -- Parkinsonians, families and caregivers, health professionals and students. Finally, the list is remarkable for the breadth, range and quality of discussion. The flow of topics is fascinating and none of it is lost because of the archives. As always, and with thanks again to you Barbara, best regards, Peter Kidd P.S.: Barbara, I know the official name of the list is the "Parkinson's Disease -- Information Exchange Network" and I really don't want to restart the debate over the "d" word. You may have noticed that I omitted it from the reference to the list earlier in this message. The use of the term "disease" is of course strongly opposed by our Halifax- Dartmouth Chapter. I hope you don't mind if we continue to drop the word "disease" on an informal basis. We hope, of course, that in time it will fall out of common use except in purely medical contexts. ========================================= Peter J. Kidd Learning Materials Consulting Services Phone & Fax: (902) 443-4262 Email: [log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask] http://www.cfn.cs.dal.ca/~aa163/peterkidd.html =========================================