Posted by Dinah on November 9, 2008, at 9:00:26
In reply to My contention. » Extreme, posted by seldomseen on November 9, 2008, at 7:04:22
My guess is that part of the problem is that the participants will know what's going on, while the existing posters won't. There is a potential for existing posters to feel like they do when someone changes their posting name. Like they're entering into a relationship without as much information about that relationship as the other party. That leads to anxiety.
Have you ever heard the expression "You have the advantage over me."? It comes up when one party speaks to another and obviously knows their name and who they are, while the other doesn't. And there is truth behind the conventional phrase.
I think the difference between this and a lab technician is that a lab technician is paid to draw blood samples. That's his job. He assumes his employer tells him what he needs to know to be safe in doing so. We're not being paid to do something relatively routine. We're participating here in forming relationships. (Well, that may be less true on the meds board where people may come to disseminate and receive information.) Certainly anyone who comes here at any time may be less than candid. But this is a contrived situation that puts us, in the sense of that expression, at a disadvantage.
Also, while this is less of a concern for me because everything I know about Dr. Bob shows that Babble is something he does for the benefit of Babblers in terms of support and education, I recognize that there have always been those who are concerned about the involvement of Babble in his presentations and papers. I don't share that underlying concern, but I do respect that it is a reality for many.
People react differently to authority, to secrets, to concerns about many of these issues. People have differing levels of familiarity with research and what it may or may not entail.
I hope that Dr. Bob, and those who aren't anxious about one or all issues involved, are at least respectful of those who do feel anxious and fearful. We aren't foolish or silly. We're just different, with different tolerance for change, secrecy, lack of an even playing field, unilateral actions by authority, etc. We're respectful of other differences on Babble. Hopefully we can be respectful of this one too.
Which is not to negate the responsibility of those of us who are anxious to express those concerns and whatever anger we feel in terms that are respectful of Dr. Bob as well as others. And needless to say to be welcoming and polite to newcomers who may or may not be involved and who may have perfectly innocent reasons for being here and who may be perfectly sincere in all they do.
I always tell my son that what others do is what others do. My actions on babble to other posters will be the same as they always are. And I have every confidence that they should be, that Dr. Bob would not allow anything that would make fools of us or hurt us. But even if I'm wrong, what difference does it make? If someone else behaves dishonorably, that doesn't negate the fact that I behaved with kindness and honor. Not that I'm at all saying that anyone has or would behave dishonorably. It's just a world view. So I'm not going to refuse to post on Babble, and I'm not going to be reserved around newcomers unless and until I discover that reserve would be prudent with any given newcomer. No different than now.
But I do understand, and I empathize. I too dislike being placed in difficult situations. And I expect those who place me in the difficult situation to do what they can to make it less difficult.
Dr. Bob? Please do what you can to make things less difficult for those who have supported Babble and are feeling anxious about the unknown and the known.
poster:Dinah
thread:861412
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20081003/msgs/861736.html