Posted by Larry Hoover on April 2, 2005, at 15:48:58
In reply to Re: Pfizer link offensive » Larry Hoover, posted by ed_uk on April 2, 2005, at 13:45:16
> I am sorry that you were offended. It seems strange that Dr. Grohol blocked replies, how frustrating.
>
> Kind regards,
> Ed.Thanks, Ed. I've had much different sorts of reactions from other people.
I started a new thread to make clear just what it was that offended me, and Poof! it's gone. That is how things are managed, yonder. Not a word from the administrator. Just Poof!
Just for the record (as the record itself went Poof!), I compared an hypothetical banner, which might read "Forums Sponsored by Pfizer" to the actual one "Pfizer Happy Pills Forums". They are non-equivalent, and it is precisely the nature of the non-equivalence which is offensive. The only place you see the phrase "happy pills" is in the lay press, or coming from the mouth of one of the "ignorant masses" (sorry, but stereotypes can be useful). I've never ever heard that phrase used in an empathetic or considerate way. It perpetuates a stigma, one directed specifically at an identifiable disabled group, the depressed. One must always be on guard against agents which perpetuate these stigmae, lest their messages become internalized. A mental health professional ought never be seen to invigorate such misperceptions.
I PM'd Doc John, and he was dismissive, and refused to discuss my concerns.
I didn't much care for the environment before (too many annoying little smiley thingies), and I find I like it less today. We'll see how I feel when a little time has passed.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:478484
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050330/msgs/479009.html