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I was entirely prepared for his over-the-top use of "turnip" (though, assuming he's not under another handle already, he probably finally understands what's it like being unable to communicate for a change ... to hear, read, know but only vegetate -- or stew, as the case may be.)

It was this line in particular that got me:

As for repetition? Nobody is more repetitious than you obsessives - lots of "yeah, me too-isms" on these threads.

That's about what this forum's been reduced to ... and largely because of Palpitate and his ilk who've mastered the art of flaming and -- worst of all -- fear-mongering.

When first I started reading FR about 6 years ago, all I ever read were the articles. Rarely were there a whole lot of comments on threads and most of those were way over my head at first.

I've reverted to that. It's depressing anymore to spend a great deal of time navigating through a gazillion substanceless posts which amount to little more than a mellerdrammer chorus of "BOO!!!" "HISS!!!!" "HOORAY, WE'RE SAVED!!!!" or "I THINK ANN's A HOTTIE -- MORE PICS!!" as the case may be.

BTTT

OK, so skip past the Trolls and join a discussion where you have expertise and clear vision to offer. I think this thread and all the efforts for Terri are a remarkable exercise in pooling minds as well as lifting hearts. We are, together, a legal-medical-research team devoted not only to save one helpless woman but to fight for the "inalienable rights" of America's founding. I hope you'll appreciate this one especially because it's akin to your good work in the Tainted Blood story.

Sure, there's repetition and small talk. Those are purely human fare and fill a need for all of us. The more so when events are troubling and we need reassurance. Anyway, we can't be heavy every minute. Comedy today, tragedy tomorrow.

It has been my experience that half the posts in anything -- from the simplest subjects to the techiest and most intellectual -- are small talk. "Stick to the subject" has always been the despair of sysops and moderators. That's just the way people are, and I like it :-) We should all have a chance to relax with each other just a bit, even if it does stray from the main discussion.

Now a somewhat related question. Does your own experience in hospice work shed some light for us?