Heather identified some of the issues that make Lactnet so valuable - and at
times a source of misunderstanding and anger.

We often think that those on Lactnet have a lot in common with us - but the
ONLY thing we have in common is our desire to learn from others about
breastfeeding promotion, education and support...AND as opposed to many
Lactation Consultants, La Leche League Leaders, Nurses and ______(fill in
the blank for your own "title"), we who are on Lactnet are willing to take
some of our very limited time to read messages, ruminate about them and
(some of us) respond.

That already makes us slightly "different" from the rest of _____ (fill in
the blank).

Then you add that we are from many countries, and even within our countries,
we are from many geographic, socio-economic and cultural areas.  We are
affected by our own milieu a lot more than we are able to change it.

We also have varied experiences, jobs, bosses, and responsibilities (to our
own ethics, yes, but also to our own families that we are supporting as well
as to the MANY other agencies with whom we interact).

One of the values of Lactnet for me is that at times I read a message that
makes me think: "oh my gosh, I never knew that, never thought that, never
even considered that!"  I value that a lot more than the "me too" feelings I
get when I read a comment from someone with whom I totally agree.

Those of us who have been on Lactnet a LONG time also know the many
misunderstandings and errors that have cropped up - enough to know that when
we read a message that seems totally in "left field" from the lactation
support we expect, we (when we cool off) write DIRECTLY to the author,
dialogue the topic "off-line" and often learn that due to the requirement
and desire to keep messages short a LOT has been left out that brings us
back much closer to having a common thought - OR we learn, well - "that's a
really different way of looking at it!"

This same respect needs to be shared with the families we visit.  

Lactnet is a good place to "practice what we preach" and, as I say in the La
Leche League Groups: Pick what you find useful and leave the rest!

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC

California, USA (also:  San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Louis, MO; Evansville,
IN; Ridgewood, NJ; Gurnee, IL)

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET email list is powered by LISTSERV (R).
There is only one LISTSERV. To learn more, visit:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html