HEDIR, for Health Educators

Thick Skinned Posters versus Thin Skinned Posters

Throughout the time that the HEDIR list service has been operated, there have been posters of controversial topics or those posting one or more statements that some readers find offensive. During points in time a small number of readers, including me, have flamed those posting the statements that we found objectionable. This often causes some subscribers to post an unsubscribe message to all subscribers to the list service. Some of us interpret the public request to unsubscribe as a protest against either the initial posted message or the heated dialog between those posting messages for and against the initial post or some viewpoints it has stimulated.

More than 10 years ago, I learned that a colleague who had posted a controversial message was offended by my response to him and had unsubscribed from HEDIR. This was highly disappointing to me. I would have been much more pleased had he continued to subscribe and post messages that were contrary to my points of view. I saw it as healthy dialog, but he saw it as him receiving a public flogging.

Obviously, there are some of us who have thick skins and do not take messages that criticize our posted messages as getting publicly flogged. We enjoy the give and take of debating controversial topics.

There are lots of blogs that have posters of comments who love to flame the initial posters or those who have criticized the initial message posted. It is great fun to flame back and forth to see who can find the most clever ways to make key points to support a view or to dispute the points of those with opposing views.

To this point, the HEDIR Blog has been a very civil venue. It will be interesting to see if some thick skinned posters begin to add heat to the dialog.

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