Re: Alternate site


Bill Wrote:
Sue wrote:


Sue,

As an observer of this forum as well as other dental forums on the
Internet for many years, I can say that any dentists who post HERE are
far more subject to rude and insulting behavior, as well as personal
attacks, than on ANY other sites -- bar none.

Just look at what Dr. Braces has had to endure this past week!

Although it doesn't bother hard-nosed, old-time participants like me or
Steve or Joel, because we recognize the powerlessness of the insulting
posters for what it is, most people don't return to places where they
are attacked and insulted.

Although I know that you experienced an unfortunate conflict with just
a couple of individuals here on SMD, the majority of the dentists and
other posters here did not have any such conflict with you and got
along just fine, as we continue to do today!

I know that I have read and enjoyed your messages for quite a while. No
problems here.

But the fact remains that there are indeed, many non-dentists who post
here who are abusive and intolerant of any viewpoint but their own
particular quirks.

Much of what they post is just plain ignorant, but they don't care.

Over the last twelve years that I have participated here on SMD, there
have been literally hundreds of very accomplished, scientifically
educated dentists and other health professionals who have contributed
their knowledge to other members of the professions and members of the
public.

Most of them are now gone. Only a handful of dentists remain here.

Why? Because most dentists were abused, attacked, and insulted by the
same, little hardcore group of crazies that has plagued this NG off and
on for many years.

When this newsgroup started, the Internet was in its infancy, and SMD
here was just about the ONLY means of rapid, personal, worldwide
electronic news and commentary distribution. But that has greatly
changed!

Today, there are literally thousands of dentists on sites like the
Internet Dental Forum and Dentaltown, as well as the newer
scimeddentistry.com. There are VERY lively debates on all issues in
dentistry -- and such sites show a wide variation of opinions by a
number of posting dentists. These issues are debated daily.

Such popular sites, however, adhere to civilized rules of discourse.
The vivid insults and ad hominem attacks that plague THIS forum just
don't show up on most discussions on those other, more popular forums.
There, the discussions center on science and on clinical results,
rather than on political grandstanding and self-puffery.

On those other sites, dentists freely discuss their personal successes
and frustrations with the many different methods of dental treatment
and of newer dental materials and equipment.

But not here.

On those other sites, leading researchers and inventive developers of
dental products and materials discuss their work and all the pros and
cons of new methods.

But not here.

That's because the behavior of our all-too-familiar non-dentist "attack
gang" is more reminiscent of a teenage chat room than of a mature
discussion of professional clinical issues. People gravitate toward
decency, and away from ignorance and rudeness.

That's why so many dentists left.

Fortunately, there are still several dentists who frequent this forum
despite the presence of the crazies. Those of us who have been here for
a decade or so, have developed ways of separating the wheat from the
chaff. For me, it's like sorting though all the junk mail that arrives
in the US Mail box each day. I attend to the important mail, and
sometimes browse through the junk mail, and even answer some junk mail
when it piques my interest. But it's important to remember that junk
mail is still junk mail.

I still encourage other dentists to participate in this newsgroup, and
remind them that the little group of crazies generally have no
credibility ITRW (In The Real World), so there's no need to pretend
that they have any particular standing on the internet either.

But again, most people (and dentists are people too) prefer to
participate in forums where the normal standards of human decency are
the rule of the day. That's why you find THOUSANDS on other forums and
what -- maybe a dozen? -- here.

I've been here for twelve years and I'm not going away (unless my
computer breaks!), and I will continue to read your posts with
interest.

Some members of the public who are in real need of dental advice will
still come here. Such people can still be helped with free, reasonable
advice from a real dentist, as Steve amply demonstrates. I'd hate to
see them subjected only to the personal agendas of some Internet
propagandists instead.

The scimeddentistry.com site offers members of the public access to
advice of a number of experienced, respected dental clinicians. It's
one site where the conversation can focus on clinical dentistry instead
of on political agendas.

I look forward to reading your posts in the future and I hope you stay
around for a long time!

Thanks,
- dentaldoc
Bill,

I don't think anyone likes being attacked. Is it possible to ignore
these topics (amalgams, etc.)? Is there not a feature where you can
turn off the people that you do not wish to read?

BTW, when the new forum was formed, I was told by a non-dentist old
time SMDer that none of the SMD dentists could stand me and that I was
the reason why they left. He also made it clear that that I am not
welcome on the new forum.

Thus I am here.

Thanks for accepting me. Thank you more for answering patient
questions.

I'm glad you decided to stick around.

Sincerely,
Sue


--
Sue
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sue's Profile: http://dentalcom.net/forum/member.php?userid=15
View this thread: http://dentalcom.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4101

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