thenewme

For the record, I sent the following pm to thenewme 2/8/11 at 9.23pm after reading that she had asked the mods to delete her account.

"Hi,just want to say that it is sad when someone who is informed and passionate chooses to leave. It is the 'arguing' and insults that need to go, not informed people like you. I know you have had a go at me at times, but i still value your information. I think it is the tone that is used by some, and the ganging up when someone from either 'side' comments, that has made everyone here feel frustrated, on both 'sides'. I wish you all the best, and hope you reconsider. I have only stood for 'how' people are spoken to here, never against discussion of merits of therapies/posts "

For the record, i believe that, Luan, also, was just as passionate, and maybe frustrated, as a number of us were. I hope Luan's membership is also re considered.

Sometimes its healthy to step back when things get contentious.  

Hi Sunflowers, thanks!  Unfortunately, I don't think the separation between ALT and INT is helpful or wise.  Honestly, I've looked around and I see that already the lines are very blurred, and I think it will only cause more trouble, not less.

IMHO, there are wayyyy too many forums here at BCO, and it really fragments the community and causes confusion.  

The fact that there is now a separate "alternative" forum lends some sense of legitimacy and endorsement of the methods discussed, despite BCO's wishy-washy disclaimer.  Personally, I feel it's a forum designed to allow misinformation and false claims to be posted with no room for facts or debate allowed, and I find that very wrong.   Facts and information correction / discussion / debate should never be discouraged, and I believe that's exactly what the new board is doing.

AnnNYC,in another thread, posted the following information, which I think bears repeating here:

"... a great strength of an internet breast cancer discussion board was that misinformation was quickly corrected by subsequent posters:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1444809/

....The authors concluded: "Most posted information on breast cancer was accurate. Most false or misleading statements were rapidly corrected by participants in subsequent postings."

That being said, I realize it's not my site and I don't get to make the rules, so I admit I struggle with the decision to stay or go. 

ETA- Thanks, Aprilgirl!  I couldn't agree more that "SCIENCE ROCKS!"  :-D

thenewme:  I am very glad your posts remain, and I hope you will stay also.  I hope BCO remains a place where people like you, who are honest and informative, are welcomed.