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PeopleWithMS Newsletter 08-19-07
OUR MISSION
Our objective is to
provide an informal,
supportive site for
people seeking on-line information about Multiple
Sclerosis. We
aren't doctors, we aren't experts. We just live it
everyday. We
formed this site to share what we have learned, provide a focal point
for
exchange of information, and give back to the
community.
Support is a very big
word when it comes to
MS. Doctors
can only tell you so much during an office visit. Leaving
unanswered
questions, concerns and issues. People with any disease can
often
learn
best from each other. To this end we provide a chat forum to
share
information and suggestions, posting of the latest news, and links to
authoritative sources of information.
There are many
informative sites out
there. Visit them
all! You can never have enough information. We
do not intend to compete with any other sites.
Like coffee
shops,
each has it's own unique atmosphere and clientele. There can
never be
enough of them.
Our
chat is open for
anything that
has to do with MS. Some topics are not pleasant. But need to be talked
about. If
you have a problem, no matter what it is, chances are there is someone
in chat
that can help you. The one thing that PWMS will not accept is being
laughed at
for any MS problem. We expect all chatters to be considerate of
others.
We
have appointed Linda-NV & Aileen as the RA Coordinators.
Our current list of room
administrators is: Aileen, Bette42,
Debby, Linda-NV, Norma, Soporific, Lady Di, JenJen74, BobbyGene, and JackIL. All host at scheduled times
and frequently chat off-hosting hours as
well. They can
help you if you need help.
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Chat Etiquette
Reminder
Please make a
point to welcome any new chatter that comes in our room.
Introduce yourself. Don't just be a bump on a log!
Ask if there is anything special they
want to ask
about, know about. Don't ignore the new chatter.
Offer them coffee
and a muffin. Make them feel at home. Don't keep
chattering about
peripheral MS stuff, or off-topic stuff, and ignore a newcomer.
Also
keep in mind that Laws and
Health Care options also vary widely both within countries and across
the
globe. So be sensitive to the personal situations and
tribulations
chatters face. Don't rub in how great things are for
you.
Between
the laughs, a serious
note:
We are a support
chat. With that said, we can only help by listening; none of us are
professionals.
In our years of chatting with MSers online, one of the most common
problems is
depression. This is a very serious problem. We do feel
sometimes
just being a
good friend, listening, and kidding around can help. And
sometimes
is just the right thing to turn
the a bad mood around. But when things just don't appear to
be
getting any better in
a reasonable amount of time, and chat is just a temporary fix, it is
time to get professional help. Many times it's as simple as a
medication change. Or something else.
So,
About Our Chat: We
try to maintain a positive, upbeat attitude. We may have MS,
but
MS doesn't have us. It's not the focal point of our existence,
it's just one part. So if there's a problem, no need
to moan
and groan - it just needs solving. Go over it,
around
it, blow it up, or joke about it. We won't ignore
somebody's
problem because it's gross, unseemly, or offends somebody else's
sensibilities. We'll help figure out a solution. If
somebody want's to wallow in their problem, we're not going to be too
sympathetic.
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