Hi, Ida. I understand what you mean when you talk about expressing anger
and arguing being very necessary parts of our human existence....and that
it should not be shut down or banned. I certainly agree with you there!
This list would not function well without debate which can escalate to
argument and anger. How can we grow, as a group and individually if we
can't let others know what we think and what we feel and what our life
experiences have been. On the list, we both act and react. If each time
we acted (posted a message), it was followed by negative, sarcastic,
mocking reactions, we would very quickly learn not to post openly and
honestly about our feelings.
The Parkinsn list exists for ALL of its members as a source of
information and support in living with pd. There is no way this list can
meet everyone's needs all of the time. I was saddened when it became
obvious that some of the list's messages and members had become so
irritating to David that he responded the way he did. David said he was
leaving the list and I deleted him. I did NOT ban him. He is welcome to
return any time he wants to be a member of our little group as long as he
(and all of us) respect the rights of others.
A few years ago, I had started another internet discussion group called
CAVEAT (Citizens Against Violence Everywhere Advocating its Termination)
loosely linked to another group in this area started by Priscilla de
Villiers following the kidnap and murder of her daughter, Nina. The
first hint that this was not going to be easy was when I learned that, as
a safety precaution, I had to remain anonymous as listowner....you heard
it here first, folks. The membership grew quite quickly but ranged from
victims of violence to academics to social workers to people with their
own agendas...which is the only way I can think of to describe them.
This last group, which consisted of two or three members, responded to
each message as a challenge to THEIR rights and with negative, sarcastic,
mocking messages. Very soon, their's were the only voices heard. In
order to protect our more fragile members, the decision was made,
reluctantly, to have the list become moderated. It died. Maybe it was
killed.
I don't want that to happen to Parkinsn. I will try my very best to
prevent it. I am sure that most, if not all, of us share that feeling.
We need everyone's voices, David's included, if we are going to make a
difference in the care & treatment of pd and the motivation and funding
of research. Speak up. Tell your story. Ask your questions. Answer
questions. Debate/argue about the answers. Debate/argue about the
goals, administration, day-to-day functioning of the list. Tell a
joke... but please don't attempt to silence anyone else's voice. Please.
Barb
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Barbara Patterson [log in to unmask]
HSC 2J22 905-525-9140, ext. 22403
School of Nursing
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