Re: knowing how lucky we are

March 22, 2002

Hi ,

Some points in your post I agree with, some I really don't and must comment

on:

> As a group we can wander aimlessly, sometimes quite close to `the edge' with

> some quite bizarre messages. It is a good thing to have the views of someone

> with medical training and good mind. We need them to keep the group from

> going over the edge and becoming dangerous.

I think the idea that the group needs anyone here, with medical training or

otherwise, to " keep them from going over the edge and becoming dangerous " is

absurd! I think, by and large, the innate intelligence of individual group

members will always rule, regardless of what their " training " is.

> So I'm asking us to look for the good in all members and concentrate on the

> benefits of everyone's opinion. That takes effort and discipline. Of course

> it is far easier to become cynical, but for the benefit of us at large it

> gets us no where.

It depends on how you are defining cynicism of course. From one point of

view, cynicism can be a huge benefit and can take you far. Cynicism of what

unaware dermatologists prescribe as treatment has led many rosaceans to

question, for example, use of steroids on their skin. I would say that a

healthy degree of cynicism is what leads people to this very list.

I would also disagree with cynicism being the easier road to take. Not at

all....as a friend of mine likes to say " it takes a live one to swim

upstream. "

Cheers,

March 22, 2002

I think is sharing a real problem here. We have posters who are

concerned about getting hate mail when then share safe, reasonable

use of topical steroids, while other posters talk unabashedly about

having their mercury fillings removed.

No one should be getting hate mail, and no one should be embarrassed

about sharing their experiences and knowledge to the group.

To the now-mercuriless poster's credit, she posted links that discuss

the dangers of mercury. Earlier, someone else posted Quackwatch links

denouncing the mercury dental scare. I believe that person also

commented that removing/replacing a filling is potentially dangerous

to the tooth, and no competent dentist would consider replacing any

filling without a very good reason. General dentistry is quite

competitive nowadays, and one can make lots of quick bucks catering

to those who want fillings removed, but that doesn't mean it's

harmless dental care.

I think that kind of exchange has real merit. The " going over the

edge " part to me is that it's being discussed as if not the side

issue it really is, while core medical understanding and treatment

about rosacea is left out in the mainstream of this group. Part of

that bias is the result of a handful of powerful posters here --

popular online, writing helpful posts and seemingly friendly and

wise -- who then turn around and harass others behind the vast

majority of the group's back by writing polite and not-so-polite

critical private email to posters they don't agree with. It

discourages public postings, which prevents a broad based but well-

centered exchange of ideas and information that we all need and

deserve.

has to decide how to handle that problem. I favor Justice

Brandeis' solution: sunshine is the best disinfectant. I think a

discussion like this can be part of that sunshine (that is, as long

as we all remember to wear our sunblock )

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

March 22, 2002