Qualifications, re Rich

[Guest guest]

Rich, Steven, Jason et. al,

 

I have been observing this forum for a couple of months now.. it is normal

that there would be tension at various points in time. I hoped to add a

couple of thoughts on qualifications here..

 

Rich,

 

I applaud you for maintaining your health in such a way that you feel

fantastic at 53. What disturbs me about your posts is comments like this

one...

 

> > One of the things I

> > have learned is that in life everyone is equal. We are all here to

> > learn lessons - and no one is any further along than anyone else. We

 

Although in a cosmic sense, you may be right, your statement in context is

illogical. Would you say then that a lawyer is no further along in his

knowledge of the law than your average grocery store clerk? Maybe they both

are students of life, but to ignore the skill of the lawyer in his own

chosen arena is not only absurd but insulting to that lawyer who spent years

in school and then years outside of school in practice honing his skills.

 

I think this is why certain people on this forum sometimes become so

inflamed when you post. Everyone here has varying depths of knowledge in the

field in question.. TCM. I think most feel it is only right to give respect

where respect is due.. and be honest about your qualifications.. to

disagree, you build an argument - an argument is a main point (maybe the

point at disagreement) and then this main point must be supported with

relevant premises, facts and so on. To evaluate your argument, others must

know from where your facts come - your formal education? Your experience as

patient? The classics? A well-engineered study? If your premises are weak,

ie. based on solely personal experience or a flawed study, then your

argument is weakened.

 

Even the most skilled and learned among us are still students of this

complex and sophisticated medicine.. but that does not mean that we are all

at an equal level in our studies. I am sure you will agree that there is a

difference between a first year student and a third year student. Or a first

year practitioner and one who has practiced for 50 years.

 

I, myself, am still a student - in my last year, close to graduation. I also

am an award winning instructor for the Princeton Review in LSAT.. so I feel

I have some qualifications in the realm of forming and evaluating arguments

- spending 20-30 hours a week teaching this to prospective law students for

the past five years.

 

I can understand the passions inflamed by this discussion. I sense that it

was never Steven or Jason's intention to shut people up or hound them, only

to discuss in a reasonable and logical way this vast topic that is of such

interest to all of us. And to argue and converse, one must have reasonable

and well-established grounds to do so. Voicing an opinion is perfectly

acceptable! I hope I am not overstepping my bounds to say that I think it is

welcomed on this forum.. but to have a productive argument there must be

respect in all directions.. respect for the knowledge and education

hard-earned by many on this site in their respective fields, and humbleness

for what we as individuals know to be our limits and weaknessess.

 

If we do not have an agreed upon common language, then we cannot discuss. We

will be hopelessly mired in arguments over semantics.

 

One cannot argue someone else's opinion. One cannot argue personal

experience. So very little productive discussions can be had if one's only

support for their arguments is this. That does not mean there is no place

for opinions or personal experience, only that it is important to be clear

when what one is presenting is this.

 

I am, as always, honored to be a part of this group.. to learn from all of

you with varied experience and insight. But I too would like to see reasoned

discussions. I am glad there are people on this forum who are willing to

take up the torch and argue for what they believe.. including the integrity

of this forum as a professional place of discourse.

 

Best,

Nadia

 

_______________

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[Guest guest]

Dear Nadia,

 

I do not want to beleaguer this point nor do I want to disrespect any

personal individual on this forum. I am also in the position to

" judge " believe it or not. But I choose to observe. :-) My last word -

and I do mean my last word is this is this:

 

In my life experiences I have been involved with all sorts of

professions, including the legal and medical profession. When

" professionals " gave me specific " medical advice " , it was my own due

diligence and " brain power " that allowed me to make the correct

decisions and avoid substantial medical damage to all members of my

family including myself. When I was in very difficult legal situations

and had very " high powered attorneys " , I again " took the lead " (which

the attornies graciously acknowledged), and avoided an enormous amount

of problems. I have been an expert witness several times and I know

what I am talking about.

 

I am way to much along in my life to be impressed by initials at the

end of the name (sorry, this is true) nor am I impressed by the names

of schools. I am however, impressed by lucid arguments, clear ideas,

new thoughts that open up new directions - and results. That is what

has served me best in my life. Professionals may wish to talk among

themselves all they want and " protect " their profession and livlihood,

but I am here to talk about things in life that promote better health

with others who have the same goal - within the context and rules of

this forum. I believe that it is the patient, who ultimately makes the

determination of what is good or bad in his/her life. At least that is

what I " fought for " for the last 25 years as other professions sought

to " suppress " the ideas of " quacks " such as myself and the early

pioneers in my state.

 

I am now moving on to hopefully very enjoyable discussions with others

on this forum who have interesting ideas to share with me and who I

can share my own experiences and knowledge. For those who do not want

to " listen " - well you never know what you might have missed.

 

Thanks, and I hope this thread has ended. It does nothing for my day.

:-) Thanks Ray, Dr. Kiekobad, Phil, and others for keeping my day

moving along. :-)

 

Regards,

Rich