Experts ??

By AGSerra1 Thursday, July 31, 2008

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Hello - I was wondering, as usual, about the bantering about of the word "expert" ???

Quite a few of my shareposts discuss this .. and my question is always the same , when it came to doctors who claim to be "experts" in the field of MS or Fibro ...

Now I see we have experts popping up all over the place here ? Expert bloggers, expert moderators, expert in what ???

What I am trying to say is , there is no such thing as an expert .. especially when it comes to the medical field .. no such animal .. the real experts are the patients who have to live with this crap everyday .. and their opinions or feelings describe the expertise with which they live ..

Sometimes I have accused some open "forum" writers of "hijacking" posts .. this can be said for some of the writing I see here .. seems when people write in their journals and shareposts , boom, an "expert" comes along and writes something so contrived as if they alone thought of these "feelings" ..

This is why I only subscribe to a few shareposts .. Dr. Gross and Kristen ... a mother of two who shared her experiences as a newly diagnosed patient , and find their writings to be the most "honest" should I dare say ...

I don't need another "expert" telling me what I feel or think ... so what is the deal ? Why should I feel like a pat on the back is needed , when some of these "experts" should know that MS is different for all of us .. and what makes their "opines" better ?

We don't get paid to do this, we aren't given any credible proof that they are "experts" , and you are probably wonderig why I am on this particular subject ...

A friend pointed out that while it is always good to share our thoughts and feelings and to have respect for others , it is a two way street ... so why is one persons "blogging" considered "expert" , over another ?

And who really is to say what is true and not true .. and why do people insist on giving accolades to those who get paid to be an "expert" ... I am confused ?

I believed this place to be a place where all can express freely, and that the "hiring" of "experts" to tell us what we think or feel is too wierd for me .. just my opinion ...

Letting go of these emotions are my choice, letting go of these is my job .. and i often turn here to just write about "my experiences" and they are real .. when I hear or see the words "expert" or "paid" , I get nervous ... let the experts go to congress and get us all the help we deserve , but I won't allow myself to "taken" by "experts" ever again ... I don't trust them ....

People should write the truth about themselves, their experiences and not come here and try to "sell" us all on "sharing" .. it should be voluntary, and honest and real ... again, just my opinion, but life isn't all roses , even for the "normal" people ... it stinks, it is polluted, it is sad, it is hurtful and shameful ...

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Comments (6) | Add comment

Sofia, Editor

8/ 1/08 4:38pm

Hi AGSerra1,

Thanks for your post, albeit a frustrated one. I just wanted to address some of the points you brought up because I think we are in total agreement on some of them. For example, I agree that the term "expert" might be fairly arbitrary and that the real "experts" are the ones who live with it every day. I would argue, however, that Mandy, Jake, and Gina all deserve the word because they are dealing with MS every day. I do not think their objective is to be preachy, but instead to share their experiences with the day to day struggles in hopes of both connecting with others who are similar and engaging in a therapeutic exercise. Another major goal of this site is to create open and respectful conversation, which could not be possible without differing opinions. In that light, I thank you for your thoughts and hope you keep them coming.

Best,

Sofia

Stuart Schlossman

9/ 5/08 11:04am

Dear Sofia and all else,

I deal with MS each and every day too and I would not give myself a title of an EXPERT.

Albeit I know a great deal about MS and much more than most Physicians in General and maybe even more than many general neurologists.. However still, I have no medical degree and therefore can never carry the label of being an expert.

I have been sharing MS related Info for several years. Have my e-newsletter "Stu's Views and MS Related News", have my MS website. library of over 1200 ms articles and my MS Blog.

And yet, each carry my disclaimer that I am not an expert in the field of MS nor a medical practitioner.

To do anything less, would imply the wrong message.

Regards,

Stuart

Lisa Emrich, Health Guide

8/ 9/08 8:15pm

Hi AG,

I'm new around here. Well, not completely new since I've been reading Mandy's posts and commenting on hers alone. But I am newly registered and newly an "expert".

I hope that you will continue reading this. I started blogging a year ago and at first didn't discuss MS at all. I focused on health policy and frustrations with health insurance, etc. When I started writing about MS last winter, it was a strange thing to do, but the response from other bloggers was encouraging. Mandy was one of those.

I have a personal blog and I definitely am a person living with MS. Here are some recent posts I wrote while dealing with a Relapse I had this spring. The most recent one shows up at the top, so you can scan down to the bottom and read upwards.

Life with MS isn't always hunky-dory. I know that personally.

I was about to try to answer your question regarding Marinol or Sativex. And I thought I'd look at your profile before answering and that's how I came across your shareposts. Personally, I think it's cool that you took the opportunity to vent a little frustration. I've done that many times, but usually go back and edit myself.

So I don't really know what it is that I'm trying to say, but that you have been heard and you have been understood. I hope you stay real and continue to tell it like it is.

Thanks,

Lisa

AGSerra1

8/ 9/08 8:41pm

Hi - I read your blogs , and am happy you find writing as an outlet .. since writing my last sharepost , most must think I have something aginst Mandy , and I don't, in fact I have nothing against anyone ..

Just venting at the fact that I believe we are (MS Patients) all experts , each as different in effects as night and day .. and I was venting ..

Do go to therapist every week , to get over myself ... and it is helping .. I am just frustrated sometimes , especially when I see others being attacked who have MS just for expressing the good sides that they have come away with here ..

I enjoy reading ALL the posts , and that includes the ones that people may see as "rosy" , hey, if that is how that person copes, that is their business .. and I sometimes enjoy hearing the "positive" stories, since I myself can most times be a pessimist about things ...

But that is mine , and you write yours and I respect that, and Mandy hers ... not all works for everyone , right ?

So we carry on, this doesn't mean I walk around "angry" , quite the opposite .. sure , days come when I feel so tired , I hide away ... as to not scare anyone .. lol .. but then I also have my choice to speak out .. as a person with mild RRMS , it certianly doesn't feel like it to me .. and that is mine also ..

When I say "mine" , to claim ... and eventually I snap out of it, but it is still mine ... thanks for the "keeping it "real" " part, as a mini-hippie I was always taught to keep it real, and try to .. I appreciated your comment a lot ... agserra

Merely Me, Health Guide

9/ 4/08 8:11pm

I applaud you!

You go girl!

Seriously....I agree with what I think you are saying. It seems hypocritical for me to agree with you. I am one of those with an "expert" sign on my name. From the very beginning I have expressed my extreme discomfort with this title. In defense of Health Central, however, they do define this term as someone who is passionate and dedicated to the topic. But aren't we all? Anyone with a chronic illness is going to be passionate about learning, researching, and knowing about this disease which affects most every aspect of their life.

I can tell you right now...I am no expert in perhaps the traditional sense of the word nor do I want to be. I can tell you about my personal experience. But...I am no doctor. I am not a neurologist. I had my first symptom of MS, over ten years ago, optical neuritis. But I was not officially diagnosed until last October. I am relatively new to all of this.

While I am not an expert, I am mother, a writer, and an MS patient. I will never make any pretense of being anything but what I am.

There are too many "experts" in this world, people who are quick to embrace this title and tell you what to do and how to do it. And in my opinion, we have abdicated our own personal power and responsibility to people we deem as experts.

I have been blogging for more several years now and there is this weird competition which goes on for links and being on the "best" lists. I have resisted this sort of thing because this isn't why I write. I write because I would drown if I didn't. I write because maybe someone out there will listen to my stories and be helped by them. But mostly...selfishly perhaps...I write because it helps me.

It is my opinion that polar opposites are usually always transparent. The ability to write and share with genuineness is going to be readily apparent to the reader. Those who are not genuine will also be transparent. I think perhaps your anger is related to your global experiences of trying to find voices in all the chaos who reflect your reality.

I hear you as I have felt this anger as well.

This is a difficult disease to cope with and people need the truth about what it is like. It is my opinion that you are going to find that here. It is my opinion that there are some really good writers here, each delving into their own personal well of experience. Everyone's MS is different. We all experience this disease in our unique way. Some folk will focus upon a different facet. My personal niche, if I have one here, is to share what it is like to just be diagnosed. I am going through it, it is fresh in my mind, and I can relay that to you.

I apologize for the length of my comment but I so appreciate your honesty. Please do keep writing and sharing whatever you feel comfortable to share.

I am listening and reading.

Stuart Schlossman

9/ 5/08 10:51am

I agree. What is this, with this title that I am seeing on so many blogs these days?

For those that are writing for Health Central, what determines that these writers are experts? Do each have a degree behind their name? Is advice being given that someone reading might think that they are receiving the advice of an expert in whatever it is, that is being discussed and then, is Health Central (in this case) backing this up? -- I have written similar messages on other websites that I have seen the word Expert.. I am concerned for those who are mislead by this title.

Maybe instead, the word/title of "Advisor" should be used??????

Regards,

Stuart

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