Chemar, my response is #29 and apparently the only one that violated existing or reinterpreted rules. This is further evidence of the tolerance that exists here. Thank you for making my point. Enough said.

I dont believe I suggested you had violated any rules Sheryl

DocJohn's post was however pretty clear in explaining this issue and so was bumped for that reason only, as there were a number of varied responses after his post, not just yours

perhaps things are being taken far too personally when nothing personal is intended

honestly, I am rather puzzled by this reaction

I don't see any religious intolerance going on here.
Busloads of rowdy baby boomers are coming in a tidal wave - millions more Parkies, and they are climbing board. We will almost certainly wreck old age the same way we wrecked high school, university and rational politics in the 1960's and we wrecked the economy for decades; millions of Boomers are on their way. At least the music will be good. At least we will have that going for us, as we all slowly die of the same disease. We will have good music.

Some need to just get over it.

As mrmojorisin has been heard to say........

Music is your special friend,
Dance on fire, as it intends,
Music is your only friend,
Until the end.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear before, but I do not share the views of those of us who are religious (of whatever ilk) and I am no more offended that someone finds solace in faith than i would be by someone who finds solace in a blankie.

I think there are a lot of things said here that are opinion more than fact, but opinion is of interest to me as well.

Some years ago when we used to entertain, there was nothing i found more enjoyable than sharing a dinner table with people of intellect and diverse opinions. I look at this place as my dinner table now and hope the diverse opinions will not be stiffled. As long as we deal with each other with kindness and respect all our conversations can give us pause for consideration. On the odd occasion we might even learn something.

I just want to say that I have no idea how the forum has declined and, like Bob, as a relative newbie here, I feel somewhat responsible. I too use sarcasm and my warped sense of humor in my posts at times. If there has ever been any chance that I have offended (if it is made known), I take immediate steps to redress it.

I also want to say that if there senior members who have left due to a change in tone or quality on the forum...only to do so quietly complaining to others in private, I say shame on you. Whatever happened to the idea of having a senior guard or mentors to guide us newbies in our contributions? I think that in just leaving, an opportunity is lost to help keep the forum on track or to see it evolve in a guided way. It goes back to that trite saying "become the change you want to see".

Without this group, I would be profoundly lost. We are unlike any group I have encountered because we have the voices of experience here. Without our seasoned PWP here, I would still be cluelessly following the misinformation conveyed by my neurologists. I would go so far as to say if I were a Professor teaching the newly diagnosed, this entire PD forum could provide a framework for a course, and I would require all my students to join, read, and post. I have learned more here in the course of one year, than I have in the course of six years I have paid to see a Movement Disorder Specialist. It is hands down the most comprehensive source of patient directed information on the Net. As Bob says, my neuro's role is to dispense meds; they signed on for that in choosing to conservatively follow the Western medical model. Most make it clear they won't support anything else I wish to try. I expect more of those who have chosen the role of healer, so here I am...instead here we are, helping heal one another.

Frankly, I'd like to say that Paula's occasional slip into murky spiritual waters seems natural to me; it reminds me that there is more to this than molecules- it is a warm, human element that we could use a little more of here or anywhere. I just find it ironic that many of us have lamented how we are not treated as a whole person...PD affects us stem to stern- this includes body, mind and spirit - we focus basically on the body here by way of the mind, but I think we all have room for improvement when it comes to accepting one another. To be forced to carve out a separate place only for spiritual topics seems to marginalize this part of us- then what do we there...create a separate subentry for each religion or mark them Christian, Judaism, Jainism, etc. ?

My 2 cents.

Laura

Bluedahlia has been here twice as long as myself, and her experience with Mirapex was far more than I could imagine. She taught me that I was totally wrong on a really major issue, and I was not just mistaken, I was DUH really stupid, stubborn and thick. She endured emotional stress to finally, finally, get me to see what she saw. I was, and still am, a radical believer in free will and freedom and responsibility; which is all very impressive in the abstract, but Bluedahlia taught me that free will is not there when a billionaire drug company hits you on the head with a hammer, leaves you for dead, and then lies about it.
And from the first day, whereas I was intellectually saying she was wrong, I was emotionally expecting she was right, because she posted a magnificent collection of staggeringly beautiful art in the “Sticky” section on top where it says “Who loves art”. Beauty is part of my religion.
I knew from experience that anybody who could knock me out with Beauty is already far above any argument I could make. And when I went through all of what she had shown me about Mirapex and Pharma, it was completely obvious that she was right and I was wrong. My great theory about free will was very very nice, but completely out of context.
And now she sends me a message about music.
I am not accustomed to being forgiven so graciously; I am not accustomed to being treated so well. Forgive me my trespasses.

I don't post as I once did because, well, because I don't feel motivated as I did in the beginning. Arguments do not bother me, but I sense that the taboo subjects of religion and politics, when delved into, have a lot of posters angry deep down. Many think they have the right answers, but maybe nobody does.

Anyway, the more I don't post, the more distant my connection to the forum becomes. The topic of PD is becoming less understandable to be as we learn more about its pathology, and all the research seem to do is describe more precisely the structure of Parkinson's while giving no real solutions.

I have been diagnosed for 14 years now and the cure is still five years away, just as it supposedly was 14 years ago. I have volunteered for research, but as part of those trials, I have taken the cognitive tests so many times, I cannot see the validity of them. I have drawn clocks, named animals, counted backwards from 100 by sevens, until I want to scream. The purposes of these research sessions were again to define Parkinson's. No cures materialize.

As for Mirapex, I still don't gamble but my eating habits have become more compulsive, and weight gain has become status quo for me.

The old group had its personality. The newer group does also. As for music, like the poor, it will always be with us.

"Rock and Roll is here to stay.
It will never die.
It will always be that way,
Though I don't know why.
I don't care what people say.
Rock and Roll is here to stay."

I am beginning to think the same of Parkinson's.

Ann