Posted by name on January 23, 2001, at 18:45:45
In reply to Re: The worst of Both Worlds., posted by Rach on January 23, 2001, at 1:50:37
> You said so yourself - people find enjoyment, share pain, gain friends and aid each other's recovery through this site.
I didn't quite say all that!
> How can that not be a good thing?
What I was trying to say is that, just because good things occur, it doesn't mean *only* good things result.
> You also talk about pollyannic sympathy, unchallenged facts, and a controlling spouse boosting support for themselves via this forum. ... But that is no reason to question the system that is in place.
In this instance, the questions were not so much of the system, but of how the system is assessed in a journal. If we assume that *only* good things result, we might lose sight of ways to improve evolving on-line discussions. Improving the system is a good reason to question the system.
>And as far as challenging facts go - what good would that do?
That might be a limitation of this kind of system that needs to be explored. Most law enforcement professionals and emergency clinical workers agree that it is best to inquire how and why people are injured.
> This place has improved people's lives. And I know of no instance when it has done the opposite. Where is the harm?
Those who seem to suffer from their contact with the site are sometimes exluded. There is no controlled method in place to measure the impact of this site on peoples' state of mind. The anonymity of the site precludes the kind of follow-up study that would identify circumstances where the group dynamic might dispose someone to harm themself or another.
Hypothetical benefits need to be weighed against hypthetical risks. Science can be a harsh test for systems of belief.
poster:name
thread:266
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20001124/msgs/288.html