The vast majority of people will agree and support everything you say, as do I.
I guess the internet is a microcosm of life. My own experience suggests that most people want to help, want to be supportive and want to be kind. A few of course have different motives and this perhaps says more about them than the people they attack.
Keep the faith Merely Me. Anything that gets under the skin is irritating so you're right to share the way you feel. Ruminating is the enemy, so far better to get these things out and into the open. A key word for HealthCentral is community - so let's try to keep it that way.
Thanks Jerry!
I think lately all of us writers have been the recipient of some "interesting" responses. 
But you are so right...the vast majority of folk want to help...want to share and to be a part of a supportive community. It is good to focus on the positive aspects of the community such as what happens here on a daily basis of members rallying to help one another despite their own struggles.
Rumination? Who does that? I do! For me it is good to discuss such things out in the open and deal with them directly. This actually ends up being a good experience for me because I am finding out how much community does mean to me. I never just want to write into some void. I need that connection with others to motivate me to share my experiences and in return...hopefully get others to do the same.
Thanks so much for your comment...I really appreciate it.
I used to frequent the now-defunct schizophrenia.com site. But it got to where there were constant personal attacks by a couple of members and it was very upsetting. That's how I found HealthCentral and MyDepressionConnection.com -- I was looking for somewhere that was accepting and helping instead of denigrating. I can't understand why anyone goes to a site for any illness then takes on a personal defamatory rant against the ill person. Just why? That will take me off of a site quicker than anything. That's why I don't go to chat rooms, too, because there are always those who only want to talk about sex or who launch these personal attacks -- they never stay on the subject that was intended to be discussed. I'm glad this site is well-patroled.
Thanks Donna
Was there any moderation over on that site? I have seen this so many times too and it is just a shame...a few stinkers can really ruin a site and then what do you have left? Nobody wants to stick around with that going on unless they too enjoy it. I wish they would teach social skills in school...right from the beginning...how to get along with others...how to deal with conflicts...how to disagree yet maintain civility. I think they are starting to do this some but it just seems (at least to me) that it has become more of the norm to be rude and insulting and think nothing of it. It has now become...entertainment. Who can be more snarky? We put people on these reality shows on TV so they get humiliated and we can get a good laugh. I find it very disturbing.
Remember for awhile there on American Idol for example...they would showcase the "worst" singers...would keep inviting them back...the judges would laugh at them...they clearly did not have a chance. But some of them appeared to be mentally ill or have some type of challenges...and I thought...what is the world coming to...we put people on TV who are different in some way...to make fun of them.
I could go on and on....it is my personal beef.
Thanks so much Donna for commenting. You are one of the reasons this community is so hospitable...you always welcome everyone and make them feel at home. We value your contributions to this site immensely.
freedom comes with responsibility. Freedom of speech comes with the responsibility to use it carefully. Flamers are completely different things - they just enjoy starting fires and to be honest, I believe the best responses no response. Once you engage with them, they get what they want: a response, a reaction and a platform to spew further nastiness.
The good news is that here on HealthCentral, flamers are few and very far between. Mostly, we have fantastic communities and very caring users. Every day when I go to work, I am reminded how wonderful humanity is.
Hello Miss Lene
So right. There are definitely flamers and trolls who just start trouble for the thrill of it. But the problem is...sometimes you don't know that at first what their deal might be. I like to give people a chance and then see. It is rare on our sites...absolutely. I think what helps to prevent it is to have a strong community and this includes members who aren't going to put up with that sort of thing. Sometimes ignoring is good but other times...it invites a free for all of obnoxious or harmful behavior. You just never know.
I personally hope that we never stray from the community model. So many of our posts make sense because they are written from the context of being within a community...we can get a feel for our audience and what their needs are and over time they get to know us as well...and this prevents gross misunderstandings.
Thank you so much Lene for popping on over. Lene has some great things going on over on the RA site. She has just done an interview with Karen Ager, who is a noted author of the book, Enemy Within. This is a not to be missed interview...so I do hope you all visit the RA site to read it.
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And we feel safe here because of YOU, Merely Me. I just got this image of Tinkerbell, who was the one who kept Peter Pan in line and warned him of impending danger - and even drank the poison intended for him! You've always set a good example here of what support and compassion should look like and I, for one, greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much!
Thanks so much Judy!
We all owe you a ton of thanks for assisting with this site and doing all that you do. I really do hope that we make it feel safe here for people. Depression is hard enough to deal with...people don't need the extra stressor of battling other people over...usually nothing. I have never understood such things myself. I just don't get it and probably never will.
If everyone was just respectful on-line it would make a huge difference. But if you look at our society and even all these TV shows promoting rude behavior...I guess it is no surprise things are as they are sometimes. I plan to do my small part to bring civility and kindness back. It is not cool to be rude.
Thanks again for your comment.