Thanks so much Mimi for your post, you are of course completely right and it
is quite likely that we are in in little glass houses of our own. I
personally feel that we are a big part of the problem in that in the
lactation world we have, to a large degree, kept to ourselves, done too much
"preaching to the choir." Earlier this year I attended a non breastfeeding
specific conference. There were some excellent speakers from people who were
very knowledgeable in their areas of speciality but I was startled by how
little some of these people seemed to know about aspects of normal infant
behaviour (which was what they were talking about). It helped me to
understand why some organisations might operate in the way they do. It also
made me realise how important it is for there to be cross fertilisation of
ideas. Lactation specialists could learn a lot from these people but they
could also learn a lot from lactation specialists. BTW, I realise how
di8fficult this can be...I'd submitted a breastfeeding specific abstract to
this conference, it was not accepted however, a nonbf specific abstract I
submitted was...of course it contained breastfeeding content!

The consideration of how doctors are spoken about here and treated on
Lactnet is worth considering...I'm not sure I understand it well...it is not
unusual for people to vent their frustrations about particular cases they
have experience with in relation to doctors (and we certainly do not seem to
get as many slings at other lactation specific professionals...I'm sure that
plenty could have a go if they were inclined) and we also have non-MD
posters who do not refer to MD Lactnet posters without putting the "Dr" in
front....which I find a bit odd (well maybe I'm jealous because no one does
it to me!)...there is an interesting dynamic!

Karleen Gribble
Australia

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "PERETTE PERETTE" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 1:45 AM
Subject: Another thought


> When I read the dialogue about "stupid, ignorant doctors" and then read
the disclaimer about "we really don't mean you highly evolved docs on
Lactnet" it reminds me vividly of another context.
>
>   Often I am the only person of color or Black professional at meetings or
in my work place.  When it comes to a time when people are discussing MY
people, I hear "how could those people be so stupid, so ignorant, not
understanding how to take care of themselves."  Then the person turns to me
and says, "of course we don't mean you, you really understand what is
needed."  So I am accepted for being the "honorary smart Black person."  The
underlying lack of understanding remains ( a euphemism for racism,
provincial thought).
>
>

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