From: kali@powder.keg   
      
   In , Peter nospam.a.extend762   
   @spamgourmet.com said:   
   : In message <1c6cbf53224ca13cf62d10823ac8b891@remailer.metacolo.com>,   
   : Anonymous Sender  writes   
   : >Linda wrote:   
   : >> It sure is what the public record says.   
   : >   
   : >Nope.   You're too deluded to have a correct interpretation of the   
   : >public record.   
   :   
   : If you encourage her she will flood the group with her twaddle, bogus   
   : science, false allegations, harassment.. ...the full spectrum of her   
   : stupidity. This group will return to normal at some point. How long it   
   : takes depends on the frequency, duration and intensity of interactions   
   : with her.   
      
   You have more positive outlook for spp than I do, Peter. I think   
   there will always be at least a few kooks in spp to disrupt the   
   group and make threats against posters.   
      
   Usenet is the court of last resort for kooks, who, because of   
   their inappropriate behavior, are often banned from web forums   
   and email lists. Further, spp is the only place on the net where   
   there is perceived easy access to psychologists.   
      
   We've both seen the number of people who have posted over the   
   years who expect free psychotherapy, or who expect psychologists   
   to behave with professional demeanor toward them, regardless of   
   the lack of contract, or the topic under discussion, or the   
   extremes of their obnoxious behavior.   
      
   I think that easy accessability and anonymity make spp selective   
   for people who have had bad experiences with psychotherapy and   
   see this group as a good place to act out. It is selective for   
   anti-intellectuals (e.g. Frank and nav most recently). It is   
   selective for trolls.   
      
   Psychology has to be one of the least understood of the sciences   
   in terms of public knowledge and acceptance. Most people don't   
   know the difference between psychiatry and psychology, don't   
   understand the scientific method, and don't know that only a   
   portion of psychologists are psychotherapists. Some come to   
   learn, others to fight and remain willfully ignorant in order to   
   further an emotionally charged agenda.   
      
   For spp to become functional again there would have to be a   
   requirement that all posters maintain their anonymity, and that   
   trolls and kooks be conscientiously ignored by all. You and I do   
   not enjoy anonymity, thanks to having been stalked by kooks in   
   the past. Topical posters would have to outnumber kooks. An spp   
   FAQ would have to be posted frequently (you and I could develop   
   a FAQ, after posting here for 10+ years and being familiar with   
   the questions of newcomers).   
      
   Until then - and gosh, it's great to read you again - the kooks   
   and trolls, while the post count is way down, still inhabit spp.   
      
   --   
   Kali   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)