In Remembrance
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 31
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In Remembrance
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 31
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Ron
I simpatize with your being upset, but I stopped doing so when I realized that:
1. Particicipants in these forums (including lurkers) are but a small fraction of the total parkie universe. Most non-forum participants have a "real" life or fight every day just to stay alive, or are too old or to infirm to bother with computers. But quite a few might have pretty decent lives in spite of PD but still cannot be bothered with computers. And probably a few - no one knows how many - reversed PD at their very first symptoms, by sheer luck of having found the right treatment, serendipitously, or with a doctor who knew something we don't, such as the blood pressure drug, or the PAS anti TBC drug halting PD.
Who knows how many therapies that defy our conventional way of looking at PD there may be out there that we will never know about, because those usually cured early of any malady return quickly to real life, have no notion of the inferno they avoided and of course did not become "professional" parkies like us. Besides, what work in early stages may become innefective with any progression of the disease.
But these cases of early disease halting/reversal might very well be our greatest loss.
2. Of that small fraction that comes here habitually (including lurkers) an even smaller fraction ever post anything at all,
3. Of the smaller fraction that ever post at all, an even smaller fraction post very frequently,
4. Of this very small number of frequent posters, the following subgroups are easily picked out;
5. Most have a definitive obsessive agenda.
Some examples:
6.There are poor souls who by personality or circumstances, have these forums as their only, albeit vicarious conection to other human beings. They look for hand holding, dislike "search for cures" threads that run too long and derail them to free hands to hold hers/his.
You can feel how they turn on their pc as soon as they wake up to connect with the only link to humanity they have.
7. There are the obsessive researchers, ever cluttering the forums with their latest findings, sometimes in bursts of productivity, with several posts in succesion to their name. They seem to like to rub on everybodies'faces the thought of "see, I am the fastest finder of each and every article ever published", whether worthwhile or not. On the other hand they seeem very smart at searching. However, their posting "diahrrea", mostly inconsecuential, pushes quickly and faster, further and further back any interesting thread that may have captured the attention and imagination of the majority. You can almost hear them saying "hey, look at me ! I'm the star here, why are you paying attention to somebody/something else"
8. Then, there are the self proclaimed "white rats" of experimental research. Some are zanier than others, Some or perhaps one seems to be high on l-dopa or agonists all the time, and instead of gambling their house away, they or he seems to have been able to channel their obsession in a way that may, just may, surprise us all with the "find" one of these days, so I am inclined to be benevolent with this type, as long as he doesn't get too pushy with his projects on other people or get started on to too many searches, without ever concluding any.
9. Then, there are the "I know exactly which research/researchers are on the right track" type, which seems to annoy most, while she might be right ! Who knows, but her manners are not conducive at all to sympathy but rather elicit that old desire to give her a good spank and tell her to shut up.
10. Then, there are the types that float around, very pliable, quick to praise her symptoms improvement and recommending it to any who will listen, openly or by pm, of some new drug her trusted and glorified neurologist prescribed her, only to come back rather soon, after dropping the new wonder drug, dissapointed at some bad side effects she was too quick to wait for.
11. Then, there are the true "english" gentlemen and ladies, ever so well mannered and balanced in their approaches. A "balm" to the spirit of weary souls that we are. No more need be said about them.
12. Then, there are the "lightning stars". Seemengly extremely bright people who ask an incredible thought provoking question, or drop an excellent idea, and leave, never to be seen again.
13. Then, there is.............but no, 13 types is just enough for now.
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