[mrsD]

Perhaps we should just turn it over to some kittens! LOL

My little one here can remove red X's after all!

[paula_w]

Is this the PMS forum? Who needs mods when you can be scolded by the members? Lighten up, DJ designated this as the open thread for comments. Oh did he screw up again too?

It isn't just about you or anyone else. Lighten up, he''s trying to narrow it down.

paula

[Mama Bear]

After all of the comments made here at BT2 vilifying John Lester, Braintalk, the moderators, and the wild speculations, the what if's and how come's, the slander, the rock throwing, and the overall griping -- I wouldn't blame John Lester if he just threw up his hands and walked away from Braintalk altogether.

Who would want to spend the time, money and energy to keep Braintalk going after being dragged for days behind this virtual verbal garbage truck?

You wanted an update. You got an update. But, you're not happy with that update. You want more. You aren't happy with the messenger either, so you skewer him as well.

You are perturbed with John Lester because you thought the disks arrived on Sept. 5, and now it's Sept. 18, and still no Braintalk. Just a reminder folks, John Lester isn't your cable guy. He doesn't have to give us a 4 hour window on the necessary repairs.

Put yourselves in John Lester's shoes, and then read the things that you have said about him. What if dozens of people were writing these terrible things about YOU on this or any other discussion forum? How would you feel?

John Lester is a human being, who experiences and feels the same things that you do. He is technologically talented, but he isn't the technology.

You seem to think that he has to explain and defend himself. If I were him, I wouldn't want to face this firing squad now. It's fairly evident that no matter what he says, fault will still be found with him.

Wouldn't you feel awful if you found out that John Lester was ill all of this time, and he didn't say anything, because he didn't want to worry or upset anyone, or because he wanted some privacy?

John isn't our servant or our employee. He doesn't exist to do only our bidding. And he voluntarily created and has sustained Braintalk all of these years. Braintalk isn't his job. Braintalk is what he does in his spare/free time to help us.

He's the reason that every one of us (save a few new non-former BT'ers) are here on this site. If there had not been a Braintalk, there would be no Braintalk 2.

If Braintalk benefits John Lester's career, that's another wonderful outcome of the community, which he established. How can anyone begrudge him that?

Disgruntled folks here are declaring that when/if Braintalk is up and running, they will not return but will stay here at BT2. I'll venture to guess that many of you, who are forswearing returning to Braintalk, will post again there when/if it returns, or at least read there on a regular basis, or use it for information.

It's not as though we have to pay to subscribe to Braintalk. And those of us who donated did so voluntarily to help John and to keep Braintalk available. Typically, when we donate to a charity, we don't expect to get anything in return. But in this case, we did get something: Braintalk.

John is a pioneer. He imagined a need for a place on the internet, where people with (or caring for a loved one with) a neurologic condition could meet and discuss their conditions, treatments, experiences, and feelings. Then he created that place, maintained it, improved it with more features, and found a way to keep it going after he no longer had the MGH umbrella.

Regardless of the reason for Braintalk's downtime or sparse and spare updates, John Lester deserves our gratitude and respect. He certainly doesn't deserve the mistreatment and disdain he has received here on this forum.

Patience and forgiveness are virtues, because they are very difficult to implement. How about if we all work on developing these two virtues? You'll be surprised how much better they will make you feel.

Mama Bear

[stevem53]

Originally Posted by paula_w

Is this the PMS forum? Who needs mods when you can be scolded by the members? Lighten up, DJ designated this as the open thread for comments. Oh did he screw up again too?

It isn't just about you or anyone else. Lighten up, he''s trying to narrow it down.

paula

I think this is the anger management forum...

[Thelma]

Come on now and get off the pot.

No one is slandering anyone here. That they are asking for a response to their question of it returning and what is the matter is not to be misread as labelling John or Braintalk.

They deserve a response as they and they alone are the reason he has what he has today. It well could have been someone else in his shoes.

As for his underling boo

[always-aching]

Well said Mama Bear. Could not have said it better myself.

[DocJohn]

Two things --

1. I designated one thread for continued BT1 discussion because I don't want this community to get "stuck" in a mode where every discussion about our community turns back to BT1. Everybody has had their chance to express their feelings about what's happened, so I'm hoping we're coming to some "closure" with that.

2. I sincerely hope that someone who runs a community that had over 40,000 members doesn't assume that a dozen or two people who've expressed some frustration or anger here about the events somehow speaks for the other 39,975 members. Frustration and anger over the events that have occurred are normal emotions to have and it is a natural reaction to what happened. Expecting people to act like they *don't* care and aren't allowed to express negative emotions would seem to be more fake and artificial.

In virtually every thread where this was brought up, I also saw many of those same people (virtually everyone here) express their heart-felt appreciation as well for JL's work. So it's not like it's been a one-way street of "slander" and "rock throwing."

John

[LIZARD]

Hey, DocJohn.

I'm willing to bet that, like me, they're just frustrated and concerned (for the most part). We had a family over there, as many of us had been there for years and are on several of the boards, and when families get uptight and upset, their members often say things they wish they could take back. I would suggest to some of them that they write it and then erase it, just to "get it out." I'm not trying to defend their behavior; I think they need to show some restraint, personally. I do understand it to some degree, though. I'm just grateful to you for giving us a place to be, for the time being, or even in addition to.

Thanks so much!

LIZARD

[paula_w]

Who would understand the expression here - both positive and negative, better tban John Lester? That's why he created forums in the first place.

Problems are arising from people trying to control what is said or felt by others - you can't do it. You can disagree, but there's a way to do that without spanking before bedtime.

Steve how about a round of "I Feel Pretty"?

Unknown - I understand that you are frustrated with thread interruptions. It will all settle eventually. it doesn't happen overnight.

Paula
[had to see the move Anger Management to understand I Feel Pretty.]

[stevem53]

MARIA
I feel pretty
Oh so pretty
I feel pretty and witty and gay
And I pity
Any girl who isn't me today
I feel charming
Oh so charming
It's alarming how charming I feel
And so pretty
That I hardly can believe I'm real
See the pretty girl in that mirror there?
Who can that attractive girl be?
Such a pretty face
Such a pretty dress
Such a pretty smile
Such a pretty me!
I feel stunning
And entrancing
Feel like running
And dancing for joy
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy
GIRLS
Have you met my good friend Maria
The craziest girl on the block?
You'll know her the minute you see her
She's the one who is in an advanced state of shock
She thinks she's in love
She thinks she's in Spain
She isn't in love
She's merely insane
It must be the heat
Or some rare disease
Or too much to eat
Or maybe it's fleas
Keep away from her
Send for Chino
This is not the Maria we know
Modest and pure
Polite and refined
Well-bred and mature
And out of her mind!
Miss America, Miss America, speech!
Miss America, bravo, speech!
MARIA
I feel pretty
Oh so pretty
That the city should give me its key
A committee
Should be organized to honour me
I feel dizzy
I feel sunny
I feel fizzy and funny and fine
And so pretty
Miss America can just resign
See the pretty girl in that mirror there
(What mirror, where?)
Who can that attractive girl be?
(Which, what, where, whom?)
Such a pretty face
Such a pretty dress
Such a pretty smile
Such a pretty me!
MARIA & GIRLS
I feel stunning
And entrancing
Feel like running and dancing for joy
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy