Posted by Lorraine on June 20, 2001, at 0:31:17
In reply to Re: anti-drug comments, posted by Dr. Bob on June 18, 2001, at 14:44:33
> > > On the one hand, I agree, it's not very supportive in a community like this to be anti-drug -- for whatever reason. OTOH, I do like a diversity of viewpoints. Maybe if it includes anti-drug ones, it helps people who are still kind of "on the fence" to think it through?
> >
> > Bob: I don't think it helps people who are on the fence think it through. I think it scares them to death.
>
> Maybe, but maybe that's part of the process?Bob, my point was that people have enough fear already without getting a dose of it in a support group.
> > Also, the pro-medication/anti-drug comments are not open minded discussions. This topic is as polarized as the abortion/pro-choice issue is. Look at it this way, suppose this was a support group for women who have abortions. Would you invite comments from the pro-life contingency into that arena? Would you see them as extending the field of discussion or as pouring salt on raw wounds?
>
> If it weren't just women who had already had abortions, and if the pro-lifers were civil...Well, if we were talking about free speech I might agree with you, but we are talking about a support group. And support groups do not need to and should not make room at the table for all viewpoints when that means inviting those who are not supportive of the very people the group was set up to support. By the way, it's not the people who post about various supplements that are the problem (I'm one of those on occassion). It's the people who use headings likes "YOU'RE ALL DRUG ADDICTS" that I am talking about. By-and-large, it's not a discussion these posters are after, but a confrontation.
>
> > it brings me back to the issue of charging a price of admission to be on this board. Although a lot of people have strong views on it, even a small price of admission would tend to keep out people who are just interested in stirring up controversy.
>
> How small? :-)I was really just thinking of a small amount as a barrier to entry. Even filling out a form will deter people who aren't really interested. I was thinking about $25 for a year's membership. You could even allow people to read posts (and thereby get the flavor of the site), but not post until they have registered and paid their membership.
poster:Lorraine
thread:1192
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20010315/msgs/1464.html