--but had not posted in it until now.

I admit, I was a bit confused as to exactly what issues were being debated.

Near as I can determine--and correct me if I'm wrong--jakatak had orginally posted some rather despairing updates on his condition; this was responded to in various ways, some of which fell more into the "tough love" than "sympathetic commiseration" category. This then blew up further, and Yorkiemom thought it had gone over the line sufficiently that she'd like to take at least a time out from the board.

Now, I can't speak for everybody else's feelings and interpretations of posts, but I don't think anyone here was so egregiously uncaring or insulting as to be beyond the bounds of acceptable posting.

We all have differing perspectives, and because we will express them, we inevitably will come into conflict. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Out of the dance of thesis and antithesis often comes synthesis. A major function of these boards is to present alternative viewpoints, and to have them vetted by others.

Inevitably, some will think that these viewpoints are not being expressed is as optimal a fashion as they would prefer. That's within acceptable bounds as well, I think. I would hate to have people stop posting for such reasons, though.

So, whatever feelings have been compromised, I still personally would rather have those people here discussing their compromised feelings rather than just lurking silently, or leaving entirely. I realize they may be able to glean what they need from just reading--here or at other places--but I still think there is something valuable in the feedback one gets from other posters, even if it's not always one likes or finds useful (or even comforting).

Just my take on this. But it's in a selfish interest--I think the board is better with the aforementioned people than without them. (And I suspect that just about everybody here would have a similar view.)