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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 26 to 50 of 68. Go back in thread:
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 28, 2013, at 23:08:44
In reply to Re: Is Babble in trouble?, posted by sigismund on July 28, 2013, at 1:59:28
> Dr bob, there's always a reason to see doom and gloom. ;-)
> And maybe, there's always a reason to see things in a lighter/brighter way.And maybe there's something to be said for being reminded of both.
> I'm impressed that you've kept this site going.
> I guess it must be worth it to you? Somehow?
> I guess I've found reason enough for the past.... Uh, omg, like 10 years, to keep wandering around here.
> And in that time, Facebook and twitter have become forces to be reckoned with! The Internet is craaaaazzzzy!
>
> sleepygirl2I guess it's worth it to all of us who are here. Do you get something out of Babble that you don't get out of FB and Twitter?
--
> > It's simply a fact that there are far fewer posters, and even fewer posters posting in an intimate manner.
>
> How could anybody be pleased with that (except the person posting)?
>
> sigismundI'm starting to appreciate some possible reasons:
1. They could feel less exposed.
2. They could feel it's more like a refuge.Bob
Posted by sleepygirl2 on July 28, 2013, at 23:31:47
In reply to Re: Is Babble in trouble?, posted by Dr. Bob on July 28, 2013, at 23:08:44
Tweeting has never caught on with me.
Facebook.... I'm addicted to it, and I tend to fight with people there about politics, silly, silly, guaranteed to make me unhappy.
On PB, I'm anonymous, I'm talking about myself, maybe.
People tend to be more respectful. There's a few people here I like very much, because who they are comes through.
And, really, where else can I talk about meds and therapy.
On Facebook, the best thing I can do is post cute pictures of cats and stuff, and feel inferior for seeing the updates in my acquaintances lives.
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 30, 2013, at 2:35:24
In reply to Re: Is Babble in trouble? » Dr. Bob, posted by sleepygirl2 on July 28, 2013, at 23:31:47
> Facebook.... I'm addicted to it, and I tend to fight with people there about politics, silly, silly, guaranteed to make me unhappy.
> On Facebook, the best thing I can do is post cute pictures of cats and stuff, and feel inferior for seeing the updates in my acquaintances lives.> On PB, I'm anonymous, I'm talking about myself, maybe.
> People tend to be more respectful. There's a few people here I like very much, because who they are comes through.
> And, really, where else can I talk about meds and therapy.Hmm, maybe it makes sense for PB and FB to evolve in different directions, since they occupy different niches in the online ecosystem.
Bob
Posted by Poet on August 3, 2013, at 14:54:59
In reply to Re: Is Babble in trouble?, posted by Dr. Bob on July 30, 2013, at 2:35:24
Wow, I leave babble and the whole place seems to be in chaos. ;)
The reason my last post was sometime in late 2009 was that I am extremely private and was horrified that something I said would be linked to facebook.
If PB and FB went in different directions, it might bring back some old timers, like me.
Poet
Posted by alexandra_k on August 3, 2013, at 23:13:27
In reply to Re: Is Babble in trouble?, posted by Poet on August 3, 2013, at 14:54:59
welcome back :-)
Posted by Dinah on August 4, 2013, at 17:59:54
In reply to Re: Is Babble in trouble?, posted by Poet on August 3, 2013, at 14:54:59
I'm so happy to see you!
I've been wondering how you were. (Would you be interested in our Psychology Babble virtual reunion? I'd love to catch up and see how you were doing.)
Posted by Poet on August 5, 2013, at 12:50:02
In reply to Poet!!!!!!, posted by Dinah on August 4, 2013, at 17:59:54
Hi Alex and Dinah,
I've been lurking for the last few months and thought I'd post my thoughts on PB and FB. I think the virtual reunion seems safe enough, ie, confidential so sure I'll join in.
I'm doing okay, unemployed (AGAIN)so life seems to be going around and around once again.
Poet
Posted by Partlycloudy on August 5, 2013, at 18:35:30
In reply to Re: Poet!!!!!!, posted by Poet on August 5, 2013, at 12:50:02
> Hi Alex and Dinah,
>
> I've been lurking for the last few months and thought I'd post my thoughts on PB and FB. I think the virtual reunion seems safe enough, ie, confidential so sure I'll join in.
>
> I'm doing okay, unemployed (AGAIN)so life seems to be going around and around once again.
>
> PoetHi there, I was drawn back too.
Ain't life a hoot.PC
Posted by rjlockhart37 on August 6, 2013, at 0:32:09
In reply to Re: Is Babble in trouble?, posted by Dr. Bob on July 30, 2013, at 2:35:24
yea dr-bob, i've posted similar things here on babble to facebook , i got deletion extreme, its more of a social thing...babble is just lol babble...
and one thing i've got to lay off doing is talking so much here....i do want to help build this site more like a info database....for medical stuff....
but really i talk too much here, silence really could be golden and have simple reponses...write too much.....
but yea babble is just babble in itself lol
Posted by Poet on August 6, 2013, at 13:13:03
In reply to Re: Poet!!!!!!, posted by Partlycloudy on August 5, 2013, at 18:35:30
Maybe there was a silent message in cyberspace that it's okay to post again?
Posted by Partlycloudy on August 6, 2013, at 14:25:42
In reply to Re: Poet!!!!!! » Partlycloudy, posted by Poet on August 6, 2013, at 13:13:03
Posted by Moishe Pipik on August 6, 2013, at 14:59:09
In reply to Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Twinleaf on July 21, 2013, at 10:05:14
I may not have suggestions to make PB better, but I can say that while membership and participation have dwindled over the years, the founder has done virtually nothing to liven things up. Not even so much as a facelift. I wonder if he espouses such an unchanging, un-evolving, one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, in general.....
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 6, 2013, at 23:16:27
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Moishe Pipik on August 6, 2013, at 14:59:09
> the founder has done virtually nothing to liven things up. Not even so much as a facelift.
He hasn't even changed his posting name!
Bob
Posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2013, at 20:32:27
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Dr. Bob on August 6, 2013, at 23:16:27
I didn't either. I am who I am. Phillipa
Posted by Moishe Pipik on August 8, 2013, at 13:17:13
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Dr. Bob on August 6, 2013, at 23:16:27
> > the founder has done virtually nothing to liven things up. Not even so much as a facelift.
>
> He hasn't even changed his posting name!
>
> BobAh - pride in intractibility. Impressive.
Posted by Moishe Pipik on August 8, 2013, at 13:52:30
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Moishe Pipik on August 8, 2013, at 13:17:13
I'm sure there are many like me who were ostracized for being "different", starting at a very early age. The "problem" really surfaces when starting school, where compliance, obedience, conformity, etc. are the currency of "success". So, from very early on, we took constant psychological battering by teachers, peers and parents as a result. If we didn't learn to be like "them", we were screwed. Adult life and the working world revealed little more tolerance of "non-compliers" than we experienced earlier in life. The implicit AND explicit message was, "Do it our way, or else!".
So, we come to a place like Babble, expecting maybe something a little different, where the participants might have a better understanding of what it's like to be treated poorly for no better reason than not being quite like the mainstream. Yet, the experience here is no different, and compliance to the likes of political-correctness is vigorously pursued by the administration, as well as many members. The same message as the one we've been endlessly beaten with prevails here: "Do it like the mainstream, or else!".
I made that mistake for much too much of my life - the mistake of believing that there was something terribly wrong with me that wouldn't be fixed unless I could become one of "them". A lifetime of that message exacts its toll, and one would think a purported mental-health support site would understand that. I honestly don't think that Babble supports anything other than the compliance model that has been so damaging in so many ways (remember that the compliant "successful" people are running our government and business and doing a fine job of effing everything up).
"One size fits all" is a horrible maxim for a society, and Babble is no different.
Posted by Moishe Pipik on August 8, 2013, at 14:06:48
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Moishe Pipik on August 8, 2013, at 13:52:30
how does PB evolve to become a place where differences are valued, celebrated, shared, learned-from, etc.?
Posted by Lou Pilder on August 8, 2013, at 14:16:56
In reply to So, the question is..., posted by Moishe Pipik on August 8, 2013, at 14:06:48
> how does PB evolve to become a place where differences are valued, celebrated, shared, learned-from, etc.?
M_P,
You wrote,[...differences are valued...]
Posted by Dinah on August 9, 2013, at 12:54:17
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Moishe Pipik on August 8, 2013, at 13:52:30
Oddly enough, I saw the civility guidelines in the completely opposite way. Where people who were "different" could come and expect to be treated with respect. And where lack of that respect would not be tolerated.
Posted by HomelyCygnet on August 9, 2013, at 13:02:29
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Dinah on August 9, 2013, at 12:54:17
Posted by Dinah on August 9, 2013, at 13:03:42
In reply to lol (nm) » Dinah, posted by HomelyCygnet on August 9, 2013, at 13:02:29
I don't know why you think we're so different.
Cygnet, see thyself.
Posted by Dinah on August 9, 2013, at 13:13:53
In reply to Re: lol » HomelyCygnet, posted by Dinah on August 9, 2013, at 13:03:42
I take that back.
We aren't really so alike at all.
Man, I hate hope. Hope hurts.
Posted by HomelyCygnet on August 9, 2013, at 14:20:20
In reply to Re: lol, posted by Dinah on August 9, 2013, at 13:13:53
Posted by HomelyCygnet on August 9, 2013, at 14:23:19
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Moishe Pipik on August 8, 2013, at 13:52:30
Posted by Moishe Pipik on August 9, 2013, at 17:30:36
In reply to Re: Why Babble is in trouble..., posted by Dinah on August 9, 2013, at 12:54:17
> Oddly enough, I saw the civility guidelines in the completely opposite way. Where people who were "different" could come and expect to be treated with respect. And where lack of that respect would not be tolerated.
I suppose that was the GOAL of the guidelines, but it didn't seem to work as well in actual practice. The enforcement devolved to some degree of pettiness, where something that MIGHT be interpreted as offensive got as much attention as something blatantly offensive. Jeez, almost anything can be taken the wrong way. The silly mathematical block calculation formulae added yet another layer of dumb.
People being watched all the time cannot be relaxed, be themselves, be spontaneous, be honest, etc.. The result is a rather sterile and banal forum.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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