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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by medlib on August 2, 2001, at 2:04:41
Dr. Bob, et al--
It saddens and frustrates me so to see the tone of several threads on PB turn negative once again. Perhaps it's hopelessly retro of me, but I still believe that it's possible (and desirable) to disagree *without* being disagreeable--at least in a forum such as PB!
In every instance, problems seems to arise when the subject of a posted response is shifted away from the original question and toward the previous poster. I would love to see PB restricted to sincere med-related questions and responses to those Qs. If someone wants to query or address a previous poster in a thread, they would have to start a new thread on PB, or take it to PSB if it's not med-related.
For me, the most useful part of PB is the variety of response types. I believe that the vast majority of posters sincerely want to help others. Many offer their experiences; others, their opinions (informed and otherwise); still others, their information sources; and a few, their specialized knowledge. Each response has a real chance of being helpful to someone, IF IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION ASKED!
Am I the only one who sees a big difference between the statements "I believe strongly that ... is true" and "I believe strongly that you are wrong"? Wish we could have a PB without the latter.
Climbing down off my soapbox---medlib
Posted by Wendy B. on August 2, 2001, at 11:11:08
In reply to Wishful thinking--PB, a haven for Q A?, posted by medlib on August 2, 2001, at 2:04:41
> Dr. Bob, et al--
>
> It saddens and frustrates me so to see the tone of several threads on PB turn negative once again. Perhaps it's hopelessly retro of me, but I still believe that it's possible (and desirable) to disagree *without* being disagreeable--at least in a forum such as PB!
>
> In every instance, problems seems to arise when the subject of a posted response is shifted away from the original question and toward the previous poster. I would love to see PB restricted to sincere med-related questions and responses to those Qs. If someone wants to query or address a previous poster in a thread, they would have to start a new thread on PB, or take it to PSB if it's not med-related.
>
> For me, the most useful part of PB is the variety of response types. I believe that the vast majority of posters sincerely want to help others. Many offer their experiences; others, their opinions (informed and otherwise); still others, their information sources; and a few, their specialized knowledge. Each response has a real chance of being helpful to someone, IF IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION ASKED!
>
> Am I the only one who sees a big difference between the statements "I believe strongly that ... is true" and "I believe strongly that you are wrong"? Wish we could have a PB without the latter.
>
> Climbing down off my soapbox---medlib
>
Dear Med,I wholeheartedly agree with the points you've made, see my answer to Kingfish above...
I wish there were some way to *keep people on the subject* rather than straying off into who's right, who's wrong, and do they have the research to prove it... There has even been swearing and name-calling, people lashing out. It's disturbing...
Hope we can make this a better place somehow, and get the Board back to its original intent. I'm not exactly an "old-timer," but I have posted and been a member (so to speak) for 8 months, and I believe I have a legitimate opinion to express here.
Dr. Bob, anything you have to offer would be helpful...
Thanks for the post, Med,
Wendy
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 3, 2001, at 1:26:15
In reply to Re: Wishful thinking--PB, a haven for Q A? » medlib, posted by Wendy B. on August 2, 2001, at 11:11:08
> > It saddens and frustrates me so to see the tone of several threads on PB turn negative once again.
> >
> > In every instance, problems seems to arise when the subject of a posted response is shifted away from the original question and toward the previous poster. I would love to see PB restricted to sincere med-related questions and responses to those Qs. If someone wants to query or address a previous poster in a thread, they would have to start a new thread on PB, or take it to PSB if it's not med-related.> I wholeheartedly agree with the points you've made...
>
> I wish there were some way to *keep people on the subject* rather than straying off into who's right, who's wrong, and do they have the research to prove it... There has even been swearing and name-calling, people lashing out. It's disturbing...
>
> Dr. Bob, anything you have to offer would be helpful...I do what I can to try to (a) maintain the focus of each board, (b) encourage posting, (c) keep it supportive, and (d) minimize how much I intervene. It's hard to keep four balls in the air! :-)
Peer pressure can be different from pressure from me -- just like support can be different depending on who it comes from. It can also be tricky, since putting pressure on others is frowned upon:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
At the same time, into each life some rain must fall. It's not possible to avoid conflict completely. I try not to lose my cool, but not to ignore it, either; to react, but not to over-react.
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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