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This list meets the needs of many pwp. Some are either frightened at their diagnosis, fearful of symptoms they don't understand and some just want some comic relief from this serious business of living/dealing w/pd. We all deal with stress in different ways. Having just joined the list in Jan. 98, I first thought I'd just be a "lurker" and didn't even send a "Hi, I'm new to the list post." What I found was a list that was tolerant of questions as personal as constipation and humor that made me forget I have a chronic neuromuscular disease that presently has no cure and a prognosis of decline. I soon found that through encouragement of other list members, I, who am typically a shy, quiet gal, was sending Jerry Finch my newbie story w/photo to publish on a webring site that could literally be viewed/read by anyone in the world with www.access. What caused me to open up and talk w/total strangers about something as personal as pd? The assurance that that even though not every pwp is just like me, we all share a common enemy. I remember the relief when I found other women w/pd, janet, Marling, Gina, Linda, Nancy, and a host of Barbs. There were actually alot of pwp who were intelligent, caring, coping individuals who were/are willing to share their experiences with others. Though the list I found out about the Parkinson's Rally in July 98 at Columbia, MO which I attended and actually saw/met pwp and their friends, family and a community of medical pros. who are a forward looking bunch. During the Q/A session of that rally a question was raised re:vitamin supplements that was promptly answered by a medical professional who said, "Take your meds, vitamins aren't the answer." If that had been asked on our list, family list members would have asked why/why not, what flavor, how costly, do you sell vitamins and profit from their sale. We would not have taken only one person's response as the ONLY response to the question. I believe the variety of responses and individuals who make up the list is what makes the list so successful. We each have something to say and in our present forum can do so (realizing that as in any "family" other siblings will respond). I believe growing up in a family w/parents who were both republican/democrat, male/female, educated formally/educated less formally I seldom found complacency or total agreement on issues. This friendly family debate on a multitude of issues has shaped me to feel that hearing all sides is a good idea. I find I usually agree w/something that either side may offer. Tolerance of fellow list family members is a middle child trait that I recommend we practice. Jeanette Fuhr 47/9mo <[log in to unmask]>