OT--ISN'T THIS A CAT GROUP???

Sherry wrote in
:



Lori, it's not like I haven't written the same kind of stuff too --
everybody has
bad days and anyone with a chronic illness doubtless has *really* bad
days.
Only I keep a handwritten journal.
You seem to need feedback and I understand that. Have you ever thought
about
blogging? My DD, who has a specific health issue, started blogging in
a group
*with those same issues*. Sure, they were strangers at first. But she
developed
good friendships AND, unlike usenet, *no one* objects because
occasional
pity parties are "off topic". They support each other. And I"m sure
they learn
from each other. If there isn't a specific group for ileostomy
patients, couldn't
you try starting one? Or just use a regular blogging forum, and with
the right
keywords, I bet others would find your blog if you made it google-
searchable.
Even just *writing* in a blog I think would help you. And you wouldn't
risk throwing
ultra-personal details "out there" where they are subject to
criticism, or be
pushing somebody else's hot buttons as is always possible with OT
posts in
a usenet forum.
HTH
Sherry


Excellent idea. Lori has a gift for writing. It would be an outlet for her
and of interest to those with similar problems.

Bobble

"Sherry" wrote in message
...

On Aug 15, 3:18 pm, CatNipped wrote:
On 8/15/2011 2:31 PM, Sherry wrote:





On Aug 15, 1:53 pm, wrote:
On 8/15/2011 6:29 AM, ---MIKE--- wrote:

I am getting discouraged with this group. There are too many off
topic
posts and very few posts about our cats.

---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

I'm sorry, I know I'm the biggest offender. I'll try to make myself
more scarce from now on so others can enjoy the group and not be forced
to go to FaceBook. No hard feelings, I know where you're coming from.

--
Hugs,

CatNipped

I'm really sorry to hear you say that. It's not all about you. There
have been posts about
everything from bedtime stories to movies to books to riots to air
conditioning to
unclaimed property and everything else in between. And for the most
part, I've enjoyed
them all and participated in them.
However, and remember, you have my deepest sympathy for the illness
you're struggling with--
but the graphic descriptions in your last post turned me quite off. I
agree that, if venting makes
you feel better, you should by all means do it.
However again, I come to this group for entertainment and to get my
mind off *my* problems.
Your "rotting in the ground" descriptive was too much for me. It just
made me think of all the
cats I have "rotting in the ground". My next thought -- probably since
my mother's 80th
birthday would have been today -- about *her* "rotting in the ground."
So, no thanks. Call me selfish, but I will not read another post which
is that graphic.

Sherry

I'm very sorry I offended you.

--
Hugs,

CatNipped

Lori, it's not like I haven't written the same kind of stuff too --
everybody has
bad days and anyone with a chronic illness doubtless has *really* bad
days.
Only I keep a handwritten journal.
You seem to need feedback and I understand that. Have you ever thought
about
blogging? My DD, who has a specific health issue, started blogging in
a group
*with those same issues*. Sure, they were strangers at first. But she
developed
good friendships AND, unlike usenet, *no one* objects because
occasional
pity parties are "off topic". They support each other. And I"m sure
they learn
from each other. If there isn't a specific group for ileostomy
patients, couldn't
you try starting one? Or just use a regular blogging forum, and with
the right
keywords, I bet others would find your blog if you made it google-
searchable.
Even just *writing* in a blog I think would help you. And you wouldn't
risk throwing
ultra-personal details "out there" where they are subject to
criticism, or be
pushing somebody else's hot buttons as is always possible with OT
posts in
a usenet forum.
HTH
Sherry

- - - - - - - - - - -

That's a very good idea. I have a friend who started a blog when he was
first diagnosed with cancer. The blog enabled us to follow his progress,
and he also would frequently write about pets, friends, outings, etc.
Friends could easily add comments as the blog progressed.

MaryL

On Aug 15, 6:24*pm, "Yowie" wrote:
,
CatNipped typed:

On 8/15/2011 6:29 AM, ---MIKE--- wrote:
I am getting discouraged with this group. *There are too many off
topic posts and very few posts about our cats.

* * * * * * * * * *---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
* *(44 15' *N - Elevation 1580')

I'm sorry, I know I'm the biggest offender. *I'll try to make myself
more scarce from now on so others can enjoy the group and not be
forced to go to FaceBook. *No hard feelings, I know where you're
coming from.

Anyone with half a brain could figure out that a post with 'OT' in the
subject that is from 'Catnipped' is most likely to be about the progression
/ symptoms of your illness. Its easy enough to simply skip over those posts,
or even killfile entirely. Your netiquette is exemplary, and thankyou for
allowing people an easy way to make the choice as to read such posts or not.
If it helps you cope, I cannot begrudge you that relief.

If they were posts that looked liek they were about cats, but had graphic
descriptions as a sort of 'easter egg' in the middle, *then* I'd be annoyed
at you. But they aren't. In my book, you are free to carry on, with the
understanding that not everyone (including myself) will read all your OT
posts.

Yowie

Duly noted. I'll try to locate the missing half brain. Perhaps that is
the half
which isn't so easily offended.

Sherry

In ,
Sherry typed:
On Aug 15, 6:24 pm, "Yowie" wrote:
,
CatNipped typed:

On 8/15/2011 6:29 AM, ---MIKE--- wrote:
I am getting discouraged with this group. There are too many off
topic posts and very few posts about our cats.

---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44 15' N - Elevation 1580')

I'm sorry, I know I'm the biggest offender. I'll try to make myself
more scarce from now on so others can enjoy the group and not be
forced to go to FaceBook. No hard feelings, I know where you're
coming from.

Anyone with half a brain could figure out that a post with 'OT' in
the subject that is from 'Catnipped' is most likely to be about the
progression / symptoms of your illness. Its easy enough to simply
skip over those posts, or even killfile entirely. Your netiquette is
exemplary, and thankyou for allowing people an easy way to make the
choice as to read such posts or not. If it helps you cope, I cannot
begrudge you that relief.

If they were posts that looked liek they were about cats, but had
graphic descriptions as a sort of 'easter egg' in the middle, *then*
I'd be annoyed at you. But they aren't. In my book, you are free to
carry on, with the understanding that not everyone (including
myself) will read all your OT posts.

Yowie

Duly noted. I'll try to locate the missing half brain. Perhaps that is
the half
which isn't so easily offended.

That wasn't a response with regard to your response!

My response is a response to Lori responding to people who were complaining
about OT posts, not a response to you saying that it was too graphic.

*sigh*. Will remove foot from mouth soon.

Yowie

In ,
Yowie typed:
In
,
Sherry typed:
On Aug 15, 6:24 pm, "Yowie"
wrote:
,
CatNipped typed:

On 8/15/2011 6:29 AM, ---MIKE--- wrote:
I am getting discouraged with this group. There are too many off
topic posts and very few posts about our cats.

---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44 15' N - Elevation 1580')

I'm sorry, I know I'm the biggest offender. I'll try to make myself
more scarce from now on so others can enjoy the group and not be
forced to go to FaceBook. No hard feelings, I know where you're
coming from.

Anyone with half a brain could figure out that a post with 'OT' in
the subject that is from 'Catnipped' is most likely to be about the
progression / symptoms of your illness. Its easy enough to simply
skip over those posts, or even killfile entirely. Your netiquette is
exemplary, and thankyou for allowing people an easy way to make the
choice as to read such posts or not. If it helps you cope, I cannot
begrudge you that relief.

If they were posts that looked liek they were about cats, but had
graphic descriptions as a sort of 'easter egg' in the middle, *then*
I'd be annoyed at you. But they aren't. In my book, you are free to
carry on, with the understanding that not everyone (including
myself) will read all your OT posts.

Yowie

Duly noted. I'll try to locate the missing half brain. Perhaps that
is the half
which isn't so easily offended.

That wasn't a response with regard to your response!

My response is a response to Lori responding to people who were
complaining about OT posts, not a response to you saying that it was
too graphic.
*sigh*. Will remove foot from mouth soon.

And although poor netiquette to reply to oneself - If I didn't make myself
clear above, I am sorry that you thought my words were directed at you -
they weren't and I apologise for so poorly phrasing them and for not
stopping to think about how they might be received by yourself, given your
response to Lori's post. Its clear that you were upset and feeling
traumatised and it was very insensitive of me. Mea Culpa. Hope you can
forgive me.

Yowie

"Yowie" wrote in message
...
In ,
Christina Websell typed:
wrote in message
...
"CatNipped" wrote:

The problem with that is that you don't know how graphic it's
going to be until you've already read it. Maybe we need a "graphic
description warning"? That seems fair to me. What do you think, CN?

It really doesn't matter any more, I was wrong to post that - knew
that when I did it but didn't have the self-restraint to not hit
the send key.
I'm going to wean off of the newsgroup as much as I can so I won't
be even tempted to do that again.

It sounds like you haven't even read what the majority of us are
saying to you. This frustrates me. People are always doing this kind
of thing. Not just you, I see it everywhere. Drives me nuts:

- It's fine, go ahead.
- Oh, I couldn't. It would be so wrong of me to do that.
- No, really, it's fine. I meant it.
- I swear I'll never do that again. I'm so embarrassed.
- It's no trouble. I wouldn't offer if it were.
- I'm just going to go off into the corner and be quiet now...

It's like a contest to see who can be the most accomodating. Why are
people so afraid to accept each other's generosity and willingness to
help? Why are we so insistent on "doing it all for ourselves"? Are
people afraid that they might owe something to someone? If so, why?
What's so terrible about that?

So jeez, CN. People are telling you it's fine to vent your stuff
here. If it's super-graphic, a warning in the subject line is
probably called for, but that doesn't mean don't post it. One person
complained about OT posts, so what? We're all grownups here. If a
subject doesn't appeal to someone, they don't have to read it.
Nobody's forcing them. Joyce

What you said. You are so near to my beliefs in most things you
could be my twin.

I'll 3rd that sentiment. Well done Joyce for expressing it so well!

Yowie

I'll chime in here too. Thanks, Joyce.

Joy

On 8/15/2011 5:11 PM, wrote:
wrote:

The problem with that is that you don't know how graphic it's going to
be until you've already read it. Maybe we need a "graphic description
warning"? That seems fair to me. What do you think, CN?

It really doesn't matter any more, I was wrong to post that - knew that
when I did it but didn't have the self-restraint to not hit the send key.
I'm going to wean off of the newsgroup as much as I can so I won't be
even tempted to do that again.

It sounds like you haven't even read what the majority of us are saying
to you. This frustrates me. People are always doing this kind of thing.
Not just you, I see it everywhere. Drives me nuts:

- It's fine, go ahead.
- Oh, I couldn't. It would be so wrong of me to do that.
- No, really, it's fine. I meant it.
- I swear I'll never do that again. I'm so embarrassed.
- It's no trouble. I wouldn't offer if it were.
- I'm just going to go off into the corner and be quiet now...

It's like a contest to see who can be the most accomodating. Why are
people so afraid to accept each other's generosity and willingness to
help? Why are we so insistent on "doing it all for ourselves"? Are
people afraid that they might owe something to someone? If so, why?
What's so terrible about that?

So jeez, CN. People are telling you it's fine to vent your stuff here.
If it's super-graphic, a warning in the subject line is probably called
for, but that doesn't mean don't post it. One person complained about
OT posts, so what? We're all grownups here. If a subject doesn't appeal
to someone, they don't have to read it. Nobody's forcing them.

Joyce


I'm sorry Joyce. It's just that I know what I did was uncalled for, so
all it took was one or two people saying so that made me feel really,
really bad to have done so. I allowed all the nasty, horrible feeling
to burst out onto my keyboard and instead of just setting it aside until
I was less emotional I just let fly. I know better and was called on it
so, yes, I'm apologetic and I feel really bad to have done so.

The problem with depression and low self esteem is that it takes only
one bad or misinterpreted as bad remark to erase a thousand good
reaction. It's almost that I'm incapable of seeing that and acting to
change it. And the real problem is that when you're at the bottom you
have *NO* motivation to even try.

--
Hugs,

CatNipped
See all our masters at: http://www.PossiblePlaces.com/CatNipped

See the RPCA FAQ site, created by "Yowie", maintained by Mark Edwards, at:
http://www.professional-geek.net/rpcablog/

Email: L(dot)T(dot)Crews(at)comcast(dot)net

On 8/15/2011 5:46 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
wrote in message
...
On 8/15/2011 4:22 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
wrote in message
...
On 8/15/2011 2:57 PM, wrote:
Sherry wrote:

However again, I come to this group for entertainment and to get
my
mind off *my* problems.
Your "rotting in the ground" descriptive was too much for me. It
just
made me think of all the
cats I have "rotting in the ground". My next thought -- probably
since
my mother's 80th
birthday would have been today -- about *her* "rotting in the
ground."
So, no thanks. Call me selfish, but I will not read another post
which
is that graphic.

The problem with that is that you don't know how graphic it's going to
be until you've already read it. Maybe we need a "graphic description
warning"? That seems fair to me. What do you think, CN?

Joyce

It really doesn't matter any more, I was wrong to post that - knew that
when I did it but didn't have the self-restraint to not hit the send
key.
I'm going to wean off of the newsgroup as much as I can so I won't be
even
tempted to do that again. I'll still be around whenever I have a cat
story or pictures to share - I just put some on FB and am going to add
them to my web site to post here.


FFS, Lori. *One* person is objecting to OT posts (not necessarily yours)
and does that really matter? Your situation is very difficult and you've
been told by most it's quite OK to vent, but with a graphic warning if
necessary.

You have forgotten what I emailed you last week already.
Remember what I said.
Also remember "this, too, will pass.."

Tweed
(still with mega shoulder probs)

Are you pain pills not working any more? The biggest problems with pain
therapy is that the body so soon becomes accustomed to the drugs that they
are no long effective. Some times I'll even get off of them a while - and
put up with the awful withdrawals - just to get back their original
effectiveness.


I wanted an appt with my brilliant doc to get the other drug but not until
26th august. I think I can manage with the pain until then.
She did improve it, though, with the meds she gave but it is not enough yet.

Oh, I wish you didn't have to wait so long - it's hard for even (or
maybe especially) doctors to understand that every single second of your
life can be consumed with pain, so every second you have to wait is an
eternity. Also, as I mentioned, the body gets used to the medication
seemingly quickly and it loses effectiveness. I hope you and your
doctor can find a combination of medicines that will normalize your life
and let you enjoy life to the fullest.


--
Hugs,

CatNipped
See all our masters at: http://www.PossiblePlaces.com/CatNipped

See the RPCA FAQ site, created by "Yowie", maintained by Mark Edwards, at:
http://www.professional-geek.net/rpcablog/

Email: L(dot)T(dot)Crews(at)comcast(dot)net

On Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:49:36 -0500, "Pat"
wrote:

"---MIKE---" wrote
I am getting discouraged with this group. There are too many off topic
posts and very few posts about our cats.

A word of advice: Skip the OT posts. They're marked "OT", to make it easy to
skip them.


This. People are pretty good about marking OT post with OT in the
subject line.

"---MIKE---" wrote in message
...
I am getting discouraged with this group. There are too many off topic
posts and very few posts about our cats.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')



Mike, get over it. Skip over posts you don't want to read. There's a
reason they are marked 'OT'. Most of us posting here have "known" each
other for years so we tend to think of ourselves as a big family. We vent,
we whine. We do talk about our cats.

My cat Persia hasn't done anything particularly interesting lately. I could
rehash some old posts about how she knows Sunday is Fancy Feast day, or how
she stole a hamburger off my plate once leaving me with only the bun Or
how she taps me on my nose to wake me up in the morning ("feed me!"). But
these are old stories. Persia is probably 14. What she likes most these
days is to sleep in a patch of sunshine until she lets me know it's going on
6PM (I feed her twice daily, per her vet's instructions). I promise, if she
does something new and exciting this group will be the first to know.

Jill