12 Year olds stirring up trouble on social networks
 

I was talking to my neuro last night about the CCSVI turmoil on some of the social networks. Told him how it seems to be splitting the MS community, esp on Facebook.

He told DH and me that there has been some studies done about how tweens are getting onto these social networks and stirring things up, pretending to be adults. They are very intelligent kids who love to see people get upset. He even quoted the percentage of kids who were found to be doing this...something like 40% of posts. The average age is 12:eek:

So I guess we all need to take every post and thread out there with a grain of salt...except here of course...:hug:

Dang!!!! I was afraid you guys would find out I'm 12, not 54. 8-D :p

Thanks Debbie. I have been reading a few of those sites and have not seen any evidence of this sort of nonsense. I will be more vigilant. :)

There goes my cover.

I have found a couple of friends on my list on Facebook are quite ...how shall I say...expressive about the CCSVI in different countries, and different states. I find somedays that I have 12 posts of outrage about some decision that was made somewhere, by some random MD and how its unfair to not immediately accept this as a viable tx and just hand it out like candy at the fair. Followed by credible links, and they can back up the statements with public records.

I would hope the 12 y/o kids would have better things to do than become involved in debates about healthcare and CCSVI along with many other issues. Holy crow lets talk about music, clothes, boy/girls, social issues that affect THEIR circle. Some of the debates are well reasoned, well researched, and quite passionate. I find it hard to believe a 12 y/o would be capable of being that expressive about such a complicated issue. Am I underestimating the abilities of todays 12 y/o? When my kids were 12 they wanted to talk about video games, and football clubs, not medical stuff.

I find FB can be an explosive place anyway.

I guess I can get rid of this disguise now. Come on Sally and Sandy!! Let's go down to Game Stop and then stop at the candy store on the way home! :)

BTW, I know Dr W is frustrated when he tries to treat patients and they tell him they're going off their meds to try out bee stings, or whole foods or the like. He tries so hard and cares so much too. Imagine if you had a patient that was doing well and stopped meds because of some side effect or other, then stopped to try something unproven and untested and got worse. They come back to you with worse symptoms ... It has to make him feel bad, and/or frustrated, especially since they work so hard there to make sure they do as much as possible for us.

It's pitiful. How sad for them that they can't find anything better to do.

although my INTERNAL age is 12 sometimes but...

I take EVERYthing with a grain of salt. I'm like that.

Cover blown...

Tom

I'm not the only immature one here it seems.

There are a surprising number of 12 yr olds who are very interested in new medical experiments like CCSVI. Personally I am bombarded with CCSVI information on a daily basis. But like all of the other information I have received online, I take it with a grain of salt. My neuro and I talked once very briefly about ccsvi. It was not an avenue either of us felt was an option for me.

But I can tell you that I know a couple of 12 year olds who are very up to date on MS research and studies and testing. One is a little boy with MS and the other is my future step daughter. Not saying the 12 yr olds that are stirring up stuff on the internet are as well versed or as intelligent as these two. But I will also point out that these kids are the future doctors engineers researchers, pharmacists, nurses, patient advocates... Yup.