by Tawanda » October 3rd, 2008, 9:46 am
Hi Little 'bette and Pam! I'm here, I've been a bit busy but reading most days and write a little bit on occasion........
I will admit to being less comfortable here since the nastiness months ago. I felt that there were too many who jumped into it just so they could be a part of beating up someone who admitted to having mental health issues.
I do admit that the person could be abrasive at times, but they also offered a lot of encouragement and assistance to others daily.
I was able to look past the occasional abrasiveness, out of compassion for what the individual goes through each day of their life, I couldn't imagine having to deal with such complex mental illness/problems ---I figured the abrasiveness was happening at times when the medication wasn't keeping up with the disease.
I was disappointed in the lack of compassion shown by many. Portions of what this person had done or said in the past were brought forward as jokes, pictures and ridicule. I was amazed and dismayed at how many people jumped in with their own jabs at this ill person.
I was also disappointed that anyone sticking up for this person became the subject of ridicule and nasty pictures/jokes.
This site was no longer a safe, enjoyable or welcoming place during this time, so I withdrew as I had no intention of joining in with those who were cruel and not compassionate.
I have no problem with those who did not want to interact with this person any longer, but I did and do have a problem with people who purposefully went out of their way to ridicule and be nasty. Those who encouraged them by laughing along with them -- well, I lost a lot of respect for them.
I do know of a few others who stopped posting or who left the site because of this time. I am not certain how many of those people still come and read, but no longer feel safe in sharing themselves and their feelings here.
So.......that is something that has been, on occasion, weighing heavy on my mind/heart whenever I read about people saying how quiet the site is and how things have changed.
I don't know what it will take for things to pick up here.......maybe time and maybe just waiting until an new influx of members arrive.
Began MediFast 2/10/07 212#
Reached Goal 3/15/08 147#
Renewed commitment 9/20/09-after regaining 38# (185#)
Reached Goal 1/25/10 147# Maintaining