I feel compelled to comment about the simultaneous defensiveness and
aggressiveness that seems to be arising again on our list.  All professions
and disciplines disagree within themselves and between themselves and
"rival" systems of beliefs.  It is impossible for this not to be the case,
given the nature of thought, debate, scientific discovery, and human nature.
Everyone on this list has a right to be opinionated, and it is our different
perceptions that keep opening up the new perspecitves that move us forward.
However, we must abandon the illusion that just because we feel strongly
about something, others must think as we do.  That's called having control
problems.

 What I find rude is to use people's names and ideas against them, throwing
their remarks back in their faces, disrespecting their right to their
opinion, bashing their degree or profession (whether it be MD, PhD, or LLL)
and to escalate debate into the equivalent of a pissing contest.

I disagree with many of the remarks I hear on this list, but as best I can,
try to restrain myself from name calling or taking some position of high
umbrage just because my dogma and your dogma don't jive.  I would urge
everyone to simultaneously toughen up (in terms of not taking remarks so
personally) and to cultivate the virture of polite discourse.



Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

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