I chuckled at Mary Kay Smith's remark "most of us have better things to do
than other people's research."  Thanks, Mary Kay.  As much as I like to be
helpful, and as generous as many try to be sharing info on Lactnet, it
strikes me that that we may sometimes be doing for others what they ought to
be learning how to do and investing in for themselves.

 Dr. Hale's book is case in point.  Tom is so generous that he comes on
Lactnet all the time to answer questions people could just look up if they
got hold of the book.  And a lot of Lactnetters go to the trouble of typing
entries from his books to answer queries from people who could themselves go
to the archives, Tom's website, or buy the book.  Perhaps we should take the
stance that we only ask Tom to work (for free) if it's a drug that ISN'T in
the book, or we need an interpretation on a complicated situation.  That
might prevent burning out a resouce I, for one, have really come to value
and depend on.  I have not discussed this with Dr. Hale and maybe I'm
speaking out of turn, but I'd like to encourage Lactnet listmates to insist
of one another that we appropriately learn how to utilize our professional
resources.

Many times people email me wanting me to send them copies of articles I've
mentioned in posts.  The articles were acquired thru some degree of effort
and copying and mailing them are work.  Consequently, I really appreciate it
when people offer to TRADE articles, or send a stamped, self-addressed
envelope if they are -- as some legitimately are -- unable to access these
resources. The connections we make on Lactnet should be to share expertise
not to get others to do our work for us.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates, Austin, Texas
http://www.jump.net/~bwc/lactnews.html

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