As I sit on the sideline watching this debate.........

PhillieG said:

Hey Buzzard
I was wondering where you were! You know me and I know you, at least as much as anyone can really know someone through their posts. Most of us are probably the same in here as they are on the outside. Then there are those who would NEVER act as they do on here in the "real world" but the anonymity, and lack of a face to face encounter makes some people feel like they can act however they want because no one can see them.

I hope you read my post and what I politely requested. It had NOTHING to do with stifling free speech at all. All I requested was that maybe that post asking for Prayer Requests for the week might be better suited in the Religion, Spirituality, and Meditation forum.

"There is a place that has been set aside for this type of post over in the Spirituality, Prayer, and Meditation thread. I totally understand that prayer for many, is a part of the support. That is why there is a section just for that."

I believe in free speech, you know that about me. I also believe in the power of prayer and positive healing thoughts. It's certainly a very gray area when we get into prayer and posting prayer requests in my opinion which is why I requested/suggested that just maybe it might be more in line with how the forums are set up to be over there. I obviously knew, and I said as much, that this would NOT be a popular opinion at all but while free speech lets you say what you want, you can not yell FIRE in a movie theater. Isn't yelling fire just an expression of free speech? Could I have continued to look the other was with that post? Certainly I could have. Could that post have been moved or written in the Religion forum? Certainly it could have. Tolerance on this forum has seemed to mean "don't look at it if you don't like/agree with it". If it were in the Religion forum I could do just that if I wanted to but I doubt I would have. I'm sure I would have chimed in. You know I post there as you have yourself and you also know that I do not attack people but encourage them to post their beliefs and thank them when they do. Yes, I will discuss and throw questions at them but that forum is for discussion or religion.

I think that some of this has to do with "Netiquette", the guidelines of being part of a public forum. Manners is part of it too.

There have been a slew of attacks and name-calling directed at me. I have found that the attacks I read made references to imaginary comments people think I made. I responded a few times but I'm not visiting those posts so if "you guys", and you know who you are, wish to tell me something then email me because I am not seeking them out and responding to them anymore. I do not need to justify nor do I wish to give you the attention you are seeking. People who have been here a while know me. They can draw their own conclusions or do nothing at all. What you guys post seems to stem from a personal beef you have since I don't agree with you and visa-versa. I really do not care. I do appreciate all of the requests from you for me to take a hike, or take a hike to he11. All that has done is made me want to stay and continue to help those who need it so I do thank you for that.

So if you guys want to get a rise, put lifts in your shoes or go on an elevator.

coloCan said:

Having found this sit early last October,
it has proven to be a lifesaver. While my doctors have/had provided me with info as to what to expect during my treatment,etc the people on this site have given me info from experience which has proven priceless (wish I knew of site back in May, 09 when my battle began) I don't think anyone comes to this site because they wanted to. Like myself, I think most logged on for help, be it moral support, empirical knowledge, inspiration, someone to talk/vent to,whatever. Whether religion should be discussed here is not my call but we all have the option to read or not read postings, to respond or not respond.To argue publically while some amongst us are getting weaker and losing their battle, I think, hurts everyone. That some,unfortunately, die, there are others joining this site, just like in the greater world of life.For what its worth, thats my opinion, let the chips fall where they may......Steve

lostit2003 said:

I am new to these boards, but not I know we are a real family. Only family fights like this and can still love each other LOL

Buzz, just in case your keeping track hun or sweetie doesn't bother me either


Tina

Buzzard said:

Thank you all for the rebuttals
but this is a place of refuge for all fo us that need it. We are gatekeepers for all who are lost, scared, emotionally drained, and those that need a direction , a calming hand to hold when their live goes south on them. They depend on us to be strong for them, until they can be strong for themselves, as we all started here, and as we pass on the torch to keep this sane station alive and keep the new people coming in at an alarming rate calm and try our best to wrestle our own lives while we try and give them the right paths to follow as well.
We all are an integral part of this forum, and all play a major role in here. We actually feed off each other to give someone new an ease or an escape where before was an unimaginable bad dream that they could never wake up and it would be gone. We have all had that feeling, and we all have had the feeling of despair. Then comes this place. A sanctuary of Hope and Love, with some of the most intellectual and loving people of all walks of life. It is simply amazing how so much can be learned in here and how so many of the ones doing the hardest battles still take the time from their lives through all they go through and can still be the front runners in the guidance department.
To be Stage 4 and still take the time to share Hope and Love with others just amazes me.
My applause to all the stage 4 past and present that help us everyday, giving up time they could spend with their own family to help support their other family here.
Everything I write in here now I try to write as if my sons or daughters are reading it also. I want them to see how these people in here share their feelings with others so that maybe some of the personna in here will rub off on them. I want them to see how to treat others. This is a great place for lessons learned.
I just want for people to forget the old and bring on the new. There is a place for different threads to be posted, there are threads for different cancers, there are threads for different categories such as emotional, caregiver, young survivors, etc. I am old enough that nothing hardly bothers me anymore so if this disturbs anyone, don't take it personal, its not directed at any one individual. Its like my preacher told me once, he said "Son, Im not in the business of making all people happy, Im in the business of serving the Lord"....so not everyone is gonna be happy all of the time. But name calling needs to stop, period. If anyone wants to call me a terd, go ahead, I get called worse than that everyday and Im still here. Warning though, if ya call me a terd and I ever see ya in person, Im gonna open my bag on ya and you think your farts stink !!! So, please don't go there, it makes my own eyes water...
Im gonna take any lengthy views that I have on my faith and also any verses that I may want to share and I will either pm them to the people that I want to receive them or I am going to go to the Spirituality thread and post away on them in there.
Follow suit if you like or don't if you dislike, its a free country and Im going to treat my friends, believers, non believers, or agnostics as they want to be treated, as my friends period. I will not force my views on them as I wish them to do the same in retrospect, and Im sure that will be the case. Im not losing or giving up a fight, there was never one to begin with, and with cancer trivial things such as squabbles seem just as they are, trivial. One of the friends was the 2nd person to ever speak to me when I came in here lost, scared, and emotionally a wreck. He did not turn his back on me ever, and I will forever remember that. Beliefs have nothing to do with what he gave me when I needed it most. Knowledge, and a place I could run to to be comforted when there was no comfort to be found. Yes, he can sometimes seem to be an ****, but thats a fascade he hides behind because everyday of life is a gift to him, every day of his life he struggles with coping, work, and then in here to be haggled, not no but hell no, I wouldn't listen to the ridicule he has either without some type of rebuttal. If I lose every friend in here I have over this then at least I have stated my thoughts and I can rest easy knowing I told the truth as I feel I needed to...I intend on all of you living til your 120 years old. I also intend on people getting back to what made this the "Hotspot" for cancer newbies. A place where all the knowledge originates from, a place where anyone would be honored to be a part of this family as I am. A place where it was a year ago that was the reason I stayed and now have met so many wonderful people.
This is a place for us all, lets keep it that way. There's plenty of room without crowding the bed so scoot over and lets all get a little peace and quiet.

and just for chits and giggles....I wouldn't have anyone to haggle with if he left and thats what keeps me young.....

Love Hope and M & M's..........Buzzard