Life on this side of the bridge

Today I saw something very unfortunate happen to one of our members. An opinion was stated and the member was treated rudely. I tried to contact the member but she'd packed up her membership, screen name and contact information and left the site.

Sometimes we make comments that aren't meant to sound mean but they do come across as such. Sometimes an opinion is expressed that is unpopular or doesn't follow what the majority believes or wants to believe. That is no reason to be rude.

I have my beliefs and choices. When someone disagrees, fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I hope that all opinions are open to change if something proves to be a better idea. If it's something I'm firmly against, I just ignore the post. If it's something that has been proven medically incorrect or a significant improvement has been made, I may try to inform people. If someone disagrees or chooses to debate the issue, that's fine, too. If I can't quote the direct information, I'll say so, otherwise, I'll share my sources.

But throwing out a question like, "Why are you even here?" or words to that effect, solve nothing. It's an invitation to leave the site. A rude way to say, "Get out. You don't belong here". That, to me is completely unacceptable.

We are all bound together by disease or care for someone with a chronic or debilitating disease. We have to respect each other's boundries and opinions right or wrong. We are all part of this human race and as such should be treated as valuable members of this site, because we are. All of us! Even those of us that are different in our views of life and how to go on living it.

The only way to learn is to be open to new ideas and opinions and accept that others opinions are as valuable as our own.