Posted by SLS on November 30, 2006, at 11:03:11
In reply to Re: Ame Sans Vie and Babble, posted by Jost on November 29, 2006, at 19:56:29
> One small (or not so small) point.
>
> The Hippocratic oath requires a very high degree of care--that's why it's so significant in the ideal behavior of the ideal physician. Far from the level one could expect from a casual relationship, or even a fairly demanding standard of responsibility--
>
> how an online message board could possibly meet that standard is beyond me.
>
> That would effectively end Psychobabble, which I think would do a disservice to us all.I tend to agree with this.
What is the responsibility of the administration of Psycho-Babble?
I think it is counterproductive to limit the submissions to Psycho-Babble to those that are deemed containing information or judgments consistent with the majority opinion of the medical community - as if such a thing were actually practicable. Of course, it has happened many times that the majority opinion in the medical opinion has been wrong, and that support groups such as Psycho-Babble have been the on the vanguard of exploring the newest and most accurate information and ideas.
No, I don't believe it is the responsibility of Psycho-Babble to secure the best use of the written material submitted on its boards by 100% of its readership. This is not the venue for the distribution of professional medical advice, which itself is variable depending upon the expert providing it. It is a community of mutual support and education, for which the administrators of the site provide caveats regarding the validity of the posted text: "Don't necessarily believe everything you hear. Your mileage may vary. The only posts I take responsibility for are my own." Personally, I think the language used here should be stronger and more explicit, and perhaps not to appear in a small font. However, I think it is currently sufficient to promote a cautious approach when interpreting the posted material.
As with the rest of the Internet, it is the responsibility of the client to exercise reasonable caution when surveying it. It comes as the price of admission. It is part of the cost of free speech and the free exchange of information and ideas. I believe these free exchanges are important to help guarantee to all the availability of information and ideas.
It has been my observation that Psycho-Babble seems to succeed more often than it fails. It works because of its wealth of participants. Accurate information almost always emerges. Often, several recommendations are offered that reflect standard as well as novel approaches, and are usually described as such. It has become the norm in behavior to offer recommendations as unqualified suggestions, rather than statements of absolute certainty.
Yes, Psycho-Babble has, and will continue to provide an arena where posted material can be interpreted by some individuals in ways that will encourage them to behave in ways that are inconsistent with their best health. This is a consequence of the free exchange of information and ideas that occurs on the Internet.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:706108
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20061018/msgs/708962.html