Over the last few weeks and months I have become increasingly disgruntled, annoyed and embarrassed at what seems to be rising number of complaints and negative comments that this forum receives by new members or anonymous posters. I am sure many of us have read them as the ill feeling has become more prevalent over time.
According to these comments, which I think are warranted, it seems that some of us are bashing people for asking silly questions or berating those who lack knowledge about a particular issue that we feel they should know more about. Well, I just cannot understand why we would do this! I am not a founder of this forum and I have not read or decided upon its 'aims and objectives', but it seems that the majority of us use this forum for positive reasons, and rightly so. It is a resource for people with (or somehow affected by) cystic fibrosis... so the content SHOULD be positive. We're not here to debate about prostitution, abortion or America's gun laws. We're all on the same page... so why can't we show our solidarity?
Firstly, there are those of us who use it for mutual support, as contact over the internet has become an increasingly useful medium for CFers (due in part by the cross-contamination problem pwcf have with inter-personal communication). I think it is wonderful that so many of us can feel like a family when some of us are going through problems (both CF and non-CF related).
Secondly, there are a large number of people who utilise this forum for educational purposes. There are the members that post regularly to learn and engage in debates and conversations about treatments, exchange info about experiences and things like that, and there are students who come on here to pose questions to us, the self-appointed experts (I don't include myself in this group btw!).
Thirdly, there are those of us who just come online to chat about whatever, get things off our chest and read what other people are thinking about the world and his dog.
So, whats the problem? Well, it seems that there are too many people on this forum who use it as a punching-bag for the crap that life throws them. They come on here and bitch at everyone for not knowing more, or for asking what they say are silly questions. I think it sucks that some of us need to resort to making others feel bad in order to help us feel better. It makes me angry and embarrassed that some of our newest members are afraid of becoming members (ie with their own login name), because they are concerned with the reactions they will get from asking questions and speaking openly. Can you believe it?! Is this what the cysticfibrosis.com forum has become? A sight where we are aggressive and verging on abusive to other people to the point where they fear us knowing their identity? To my mind it goes against the whole point of what this forum SHOULD be, a place where people affected by cf can trust and be trusted, be open and honest about themselves and their fears, and grow to become more courageous and inspired individuals. It should be a place where we encourage this openness and honesty, because we realise that this is the only way to survive in a world of loneliness. Is there a need to put people down?
I salute those of you (the majority) who encourage us all to be better people, to inspire and to be the supportive people we all need. But to those of you that decide to bring us all down to your level of childishness, immaturity, petulance and ignorance by being 'honest' under the veil of fruitfully discussing topics related to cf, then I suggest you question your place on this earth, the role you have in affecting other people's lives (especially on this particular forum) and the legacy you will undoubtedly leave when you are gone.
Rob 24 wcf
According to these comments, which I think are warranted, it seems that some of us are bashing people for asking silly questions or berating those who lack knowledge about a particular issue that we feel they should know more about. Well, I just cannot understand why we would do this! I am not a founder of this forum and I have not read or decided upon its 'aims and objectives', but it seems that the majority of us use this forum for positive reasons, and rightly so. It is a resource for people with (or somehow affected by) cystic fibrosis... so the content SHOULD be positive. We're not here to debate about prostitution, abortion or America's gun laws. We're all on the same page... so why can't we show our solidarity?
Firstly, there are those of us who use it for mutual support, as contact over the internet has become an increasingly useful medium for CFers (due in part by the cross-contamination problem pwcf have with inter-personal communication). I think it is wonderful that so many of us can feel like a family when some of us are going through problems (both CF and non-CF related).
Secondly, there are a large number of people who utilise this forum for educational purposes. There are the members that post regularly to learn and engage in debates and conversations about treatments, exchange info about experiences and things like that, and there are students who come on here to pose questions to us, the self-appointed experts (I don't include myself in this group btw!).
Thirdly, there are those of us who just come online to chat about whatever, get things off our chest and read what other people are thinking about the world and his dog.
So, whats the problem? Well, it seems that there are too many people on this forum who use it as a punching-bag for the crap that life throws them. They come on here and bitch at everyone for not knowing more, or for asking what they say are silly questions. I think it sucks that some of us need to resort to making others feel bad in order to help us feel better. It makes me angry and embarrassed that some of our newest members are afraid of becoming members (ie with their own login name), because they are concerned with the reactions they will get from asking questions and speaking openly. Can you believe it?! Is this what the cysticfibrosis.com forum has become? A sight where we are aggressive and verging on abusive to other people to the point where they fear us knowing their identity? To my mind it goes against the whole point of what this forum SHOULD be, a place where people affected by cf can trust and be trusted, be open and honest about themselves and their fears, and grow to become more courageous and inspired individuals. It should be a place where we encourage this openness and honesty, because we realise that this is the only way to survive in a world of loneliness. Is there a need to put people down?
I salute those of you (the majority) who encourage us all to be better people, to inspire and to be the supportive people we all need. But to those of you that decide to bring us all down to your level of childishness, immaturity, petulance and ignorance by being 'honest' under the veil of fruitfully discussing topics related to cf, then I suggest you question your place on this earth, the role you have in affecting other people's lives (especially on this particular forum) and the legacy you will undoubtedly leave when you are gone.
Rob 24 wcf