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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AKC on July 11, 2001, at 10:09:46
Because I don't think it would be appropriate to respond to your latest post to my question in pyscho-babble, I decided to post this request here, SalArmy4me. Please do not respond to my inquiries in Psycho-Babble. You do not appear to be able to address the point of my questions. I am not asking about what will happen when I get up to 200 mg of topamax - I am asking if anyone else has experienced what I am experincing at the level I am at now. Similar to my last post about seroquel - I was not asking about what other meds I could try - I was asking about peoples experiences with seroquel. I would rather have absolutely no response than to have your response be completely off the subject. Thank you for respecting my request here.
AKC
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 11, 2001, at 23:43:55
In reply to Dealing with particular posters - SalArmy4me, posted by AKC on July 11, 2001, at 10:09:46
> Please do not respond to my inquiries in Psycho-Babble. You do not appear to be able to address the point of my questions.
Sorry, but I'd like people to feel as free as possible to post. If you find posts from someone in particular not to be too helpful, then just skip them? And if a whole thread goes off in a different direction, it should work just to restate, as you did here, what kind of input you're looking for.
OK? Does that sound reasonable?
Bob
Posted by AKC on July 12, 2001, at 6:27:03
In reply to Re: Dealing with particular posters, posted by Dr. Bob on July 11, 2001, at 23:43:55
Emotionally, I am doing a lot better of late - but that doesn't mean that I am there yet - I still lack a lot of coping skills. When I found these boards a month or so ago, I thought, great, a place I could get some support and some answers. What has happened with this particular poster is that when he posts, it makes me feel "unheard" - and wonder why I even bother. You speak of wanting people to feel "free to post." When I take some time to put my thoughts out there - to post a concern or a question - I am taking a risk. This particular poster seems to answer every post in Psycho-Babble - many times with a paste from some medical site or whatever - nothing personal. And this last response - I don't know - it just came across to me like he doesn't expect me to be able to get up to my and my doctor's goal of 200 mg of the med - like he is waiting for me to fail or something and will get great pleasure from it. I know - talk about paranoid, but something about him and his style of posting - this response really upset me. And I am the one who ends up not feeling very "free to post" (even if it is just a misperception, it still is my perception).
My last two posts in Psycho-Babble have been very specific - I am really looking for people's experience, strength and hope with particular meds (good AA lingo I know). His responses are nothing like this. And these responses don't make it very freeing for me to post - it is very hard to not read a response to my own post. Trust me - I don't read his responses anymore to anyone elses posts. I quit doing that weeks ago. I just thought this would be one way to find a way I could feel comfortable to keep posting on Psycho-Babble and not be attacking of this poster.
Posted by Shar on July 13, 2001, at 0:05:14
In reply to Re: Dealing with particular posters, posted by AKC on July 12, 2001, at 6:27:03
I have an issue with another poster, or rather what this poster is doing. This person is in the midst, apparently, of a hypomanic episode, and the way it is being played out on the board is like "come on a trip with me" or something. Like it is great fun, and the misperceptions and unique hypomanic experiences are funny and fun.
Maybe they are. However, I sort of thought the point of meds was to even out highs and lows for BP II folks. That highs and lows are evidence of the ailment, not funny spinning around and laughing at things. I also read that the more often an episode occurs, the more likely it is to come back again, even stronger and eventually get more to the depressive side of the coin.
I don't have a problem at all with people making funny comments or using dry wit to describe the effects of their ailments, but this has occurred over a period of days and it is like watching someone drink too much; it is funny to them, but not good for them, may not seem funny to others, and may even concern others (it does me).
If I am wrong, wrong, wrong please set me straight. I am just not comfortable with celebrating a symptom. I do not feel at liberty to tell this person not to do this, that is not my place. I have asked whether he/she is on a mood stabilizer, and haven't done anything else.
Shar
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 13, 2001, at 17:47:28
In reply to Re: Dealing with particular posters---2, posted by Shar on July 13, 2001, at 0:05:14
> it is like watching someone drink too much; it is funny to them, but not good for them, may not seem funny to others, and may even concern others (it does me).
>
> If I am wrong, wrong, wrong please set me straight. I am just not comfortable with celebrating a symptom. I do not feel at liberty to tell this person not to do this, that is not my place. I have asked whether he/she is on a mood stabilizer, and haven't done anything else.I don't think you're wrong at all (let alone 3 times). I think it's fine to say something more. To be concerned and supportive and non-accusatory, of course... :-)
Bob
Posted by lissa on July 15, 2001, at 21:24:35
In reply to Re: Dealing with particular posters---2, posted by Shar on July 13, 2001, at 0:05:14
Dear Shar,
I think your post raises some important questions about what sort of humor is acceptable on psycho-social-babble.
It concerns me that we are singling out Dreamer, in particular. She is certainly not the only one on psycho-babble who is unapologetically "out-there." I like her spontanaeity; I also like how she encouraged AKC to contribute and to be more spontaneous. I understand the concern about Dreamer's apparent hypomania, but I also feel her posts are a bit contrived for purposes of humor; i.e., I sense her thoughts really aren't that disconnected and that she could easily write sentences which logically followed one another if she put her mind to it. She writes like that to be funny and to add some life to the board.
Don't get me wrong, I see where you are coming from and I take the message of your post to be "people like this should not be encouraged"; also, that you are concerned that Dreamer is not seeking the help s/he needs. As I see it, over time, maybe s/he will feel more open and put up less of a front of humor, giving more details about his/her situation and asking for support. Until then, some will skip over her posts and others will chime in where they sense some resonance to their own senses of humor or situations.
As for me, my sense of humor tends to be very idiosyncratic and I will try to keep it to myself more. I feel bad that I keep confusing Willow, who is from a different culture (though, I realize there are probably many from my own culture who would not appreciate or understand my posts).
It is difficult for me, however, to see where to draw the line between acceptable humor and the unacceptable within such a diverse group. Dreamer is, by far, not the only playful, creative type among us. We are a diverse crowd in terms of our cultural backgrounds, the severity of our illnesses, our levels of education, our senses of humor, and the extent to which we are sensitive and will be offended.
I feel it would be a loss to restrict humor too much on psycho-social-babble. The group uses that board for very different purposes: 1. for humor and socializing; 2. the more serious purpose of presenting problems and seeking support (and also offering support). Maybe something should be included in the FAQ or just posted on the board about humor for those who use the board more for the second purpose (2). If I am going to post something silly again, for instance, I will indicate in the subject line an [H] for humor.
Best Wishes,
Lissa
Posted by Shar on July 15, 2001, at 23:20:26
In reply to Re: Dealing with particular posters---2, posted by lissa on July 15, 2001, at 21:24:35
Lissa,
You may have me at a disadvantage by knowing Dreamer much better than I do. Let me assure you that my post was meant only to address the issue of someone in the midst of a hypomanic episode not seeking help; in fact, letting it play out on the board as a fun "magic carpet ride."I also was aware that this was the first time I'd seen Dreamer write in this manner, which supported my own thinking about her being hypomanic.
In my post, I was direct about what I meant, and was not alluding to the use of humor in general.
My post did not presume to address any of the following issues you mentioned:
.....what sort of humor is acceptable on psycho-social-babble.
.....singling out Dreamer, in particular.
.....her spontanaeity
.........keep it to myself more.
........where to draw the line between acceptable humor and the unacceptable within such a diverse group.
........playful, creative type[s] among us.
........severity of our illnesses, our levels of education, our senses of humor, and the extent to which we are sensitive and will be offended.
......restrict humor too much on psycho-social-babble.
.........Maybe something should be included in the FAQ or just posted on the board about humor for those who use the board more for the second purpose
.......If I am going to post something silly again, for instance, I will indicate in the subject line an [H] for humor.
If you believe the issue of humor needs to be addressed, that is fine, and I applaud your participation in providing input about how you think the board should be run. You may want to write more about it on a separate thread, so that it gets input on its own merit.
It just goes to show, if it's not one thing, it's your mother. (humor)
Shar
Posted by Willow on July 15, 2001, at 23:49:25
In reply to Re: Dealing with particular posters---2, posted by lissa on July 15, 2001, at 21:24:35
"As for me, my sense of humor tends to be very idiosyncratic and I will try to keep it to myself more. I feel bad that I keep confusing Willow, who is from a different culture (though, I realize there are probably many from my own culture who would not appreciate or understand my posts)."
Again I'm at a loss. Lissa you have no reason to feel bad on my part. It is not unusual for me to not understand a joke until a week, month, years pass by. And as they say with wine it only gets better with time. I'll standing in a line-up at grocery store/bank or wherever and bang I get it. I 'll crack up laughing. Sometimes I'll share with those around me, other times I just enjoy the glow.
For myself the board is entertainment. I enjoy the company of the posters. I do believe the social board is meant to be just that, and being so there aren't many boundaries. I've even been known to laugh at funerals.
No need to say sorry. Is that a line from "Love Story?"
followups directed to the social board or they may be deleted
Willow
ps does anyone ever almost sign their real name?
Posted by lissa on July 16, 2001, at 1:02:51
In reply to Re: Dealing with particular posters---2, posted by Shar on July 15, 2001, at 23:20:26
> It just goes to show, if it's not one thing, it's your mother. (humor)?
... you do remind me of my mother.
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 16, 2001, at 10:16:17
In reply to Lissa ..., posted by Willow on July 15, 2001, at 23:49:25
> ps does anyone ever almost sign their real name?
Sometimes people register with a relatively anonymous name and then later starting signing their real name. I suppose it has to do with getting comfortable. But also with identity...
Bob
Posted by NikkiT2 on July 16, 2001, at 18:31:04
In reply to Lissa ..., posted by Willow on July 15, 2001, at 23:49:25
Oh my god - I dpo that all the time!! I am very gullible too, so sometimes a week later, I realise, and be some where totally unapropriate and crack up laughing, then try and stop it, so I get stupid giggles!!! *lol*
I enjoy those times!!
Nikki xx
Posted by mist on July 16, 2001, at 20:33:23
In reply to Re: Dealing with particular posters---2, posted by Shar on July 13, 2001, at 0:05:14
Dreamer said herself in more than one post that she was hypomanic. I saw that as a kind of disclaimer by which she was indicating that the content or tone of her posts might be a little off while she was in that state. I would be more concerned about a poster who didn’t recognize or acknowledge that he/she was experiencing hypomania.
Dreamer also stated that she had an upcoming appointment to see a pdoc and that the hypomania was AD induced.
Personally, I like Dreamer’s posts and appreciate her creativity and humor. I can see how the ones posted when she was hypomanic could make some people uncomfortable but since she appeared to be aware of her condition and seeking treatment I didn’t find them disturbing. I didn’t see them as a celebration of a symptom but rather a means of coping and self-expression. -mist
> I have an issue with another poster, or rather what this poster is doing. This person is in the midst, apparently, of a hypomanic episode, and the way it is being played out on the board is like "come on a trip with me" or something. Like it is great fun, and the misperceptions and unique hypomanic experiences are funny and fun.
>
> Maybe they are. However, I sort of thought the point of meds was to even out highs and lows for BP II folks. That highs and lows are evidence of the ailment, not funny spinning around and laughing at things. I also read that the more often an episode occurs, the more likely it is to come back again, even stronger and eventually get more to the depressive side of the coin.
>
> I don't have a problem at all with people making funny comments or using dry wit to describe the effects of their ailments, but this has occurred over a period of days and it is like watching someone drink too much; it is funny to them, but not good for them, may not seem funny to others, and may even concern others (it does me).
>
> If I am wrong, wrong, wrong please set me straight. I am just not comfortable with celebrating a symptom. I do not feel at liberty to tell this person not to do this, that is not my place. I have asked whether he/she is on a mood stabilizer, and haven't done anything else.
>
> Shar
This is the end of the thread.
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