Dear Friends,
I would like to share a thought with you, and I pray no one if offended, as I know playing defense is the last thing any one of us needs.
Please know that the last thing I would want to do in this post is be anything less than warm and compassionate when I make this suggestion to all members of our wonderful community.
When I began posting and commenting on this site, we had numbers of about 300 or more. We are growing. It's a good thing. Ben and Scott have provided us a place to come to commune with others who can understand our feelings better when dealing with this.
Please may I suggest that when replying to a post that one replies in a spirit of warmth and compassion to the member whom they are addressing when they are expressing an oppositional opinion to any content posted by another member?
We all are dealing with pain, some of us very severe, and it could be easy to be harsh with another member when challenging their ideas and input regarding treatments, ideas, etc. It is a widely misunderstood illness by even the healthcare community. Furthermore, I know that this pain is enough to make a saint "edgy" sometimes. However . . . please be kind in your replies to the content of other members facing what you are, I humbly request.
We exchange info which may or may not be possibly helpful to others. I believe that anyone has the right to negate, or to better inform, someone who they may feel is incorrect in their information, or in the delivery of their suggestions and to let them know that in a diplomatic and concerned fashion.
I have been seeing something more and more that not only has a tiny edge of harshness in reply has not only happened to me lately by other members, but to several of my dear friends on the site. I consider you all friends that I don't know yet, even if you aren't on my list due to the fact that we share either caring for someone with, or suffering with a disease which can be so ravaging that it is deemed "The Suicide Disease". It is a cruel disorder.
I humbly implore all members, even in disagreement, to be kind and gentle in their expressing of ideas, or their better knowledge upon a subject presented. Better knowledge is a great thing which can positively impact the person to whom it is being presented as well to others. I encourage anyone to share their knowledge to better inform other members, if you feel they don't know the whole story in a gentle manner.
We suffer. I believe it is a good idea when we put on our kid gloves when addressing other members, regarding their ideas, input, content and contribution, as we are already facing a monumental challenge with our pain.
So, with caring respect, I ask all members to check one-upsmanship and the door and instead put on your "kid gloves" when expressing an opinion contrary to the post you to which you are replying. We all need "Chicken Soup for the TN Soul".
Our members deserve warmth and compassion when coming for support and information.
Let's always strive to give one another the gift of support. Communications, ideally, should be tempered with gentility especially due to the nature of our disorder.
I wish each and every one of you warmth and compassion when dealing with healthcare professionals, others in your world who may not understand what you are going through, and from members of our friendly and knowledgeable community, who are all in one way or another already facing a the very harsh reality of "Living with TN".
Your friend,
Stef
