This isn't exactly a medical post, but it is in regards to what I saw happen on a thread here in the medical section a few days ago.
I know most people here are Americans, and they are of a Christian or a secular western background, or they are atheists, or practice their own eclectic spiritual belief system.
That is the background of what we are used to seeing here generally, but ticks don't just bite people of one background only.
Ticks don't say "Oh, this is a doctor, this is some Middle Eastern person, I will pass him up." This illness is a global illness, and it strikes people of all sorts of different backgrounds.
Intolerance for another's belief system or disbelief of a person's claims to be who they say
they are may alienate them from the only community that may have the capacity to understand what they are experiencing right now, their main source of strength and support.
I was saddened by the intolerance I saw in some people's posts here towards Dr. Islam.
If people felt uncomfortable with his quotes and his talking about Allah( which is just the Arabic word for the same God as the Christian God for Muslims), they could have just suggested sticking to the topic of health, instead of bashing on his belief system, and the person who he respects as the founder of his religion.
I did not hear him say anything disrespectful towards other groups, even though he is obviously religious. He seems like a gentle healer and not a hurter in personality type, whatever his background was.
He is not the only Muslim person that posts here. Everyone has the right to say what they want and has free speech, but free speech is ultimately also about openmindedness and tolerance towards people who have different views from ourselves.
I think it would be very sad if we scared away someone who needs help, because we disrespect where they come from and their approach to life.
I don't think that is very spiritual whatever belief system you approach your spirituality from, and it is far from the golden rule of "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Everyone here has been persecuted by the system and by society because of this horrible illness. Let's not pass that intolerance along.
We all know what it feels like here to be rejected, to be ridiculed, to be treated like a second class citizen, so let's not engage in actions that hurt each other, especially towards people who have a really different cultural background or way of understanding the world from what is perhaps our comfort zone.
This needs to be a safe space for everyone with Lyme Disease.
I know a lot of people here were very accepting and stuck up for him, too, and I was glad to see that.
Anyway, I hope he continues to post here, as he did contribute a lot of medical information and support to other Lymenetters.
If his presence totally disappears from this board, I know the reason why.
Farah Khan
Posts: 208 | From New Mexico | Registered: Dec 2005
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
My dear ms Khan,
This post most certainly does not belong in Medical.
You have totally missed the point of why Islam was here.
I suggest you read what our monitor has provided.
zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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dontlikeliver
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4749
posted
Farah,
I agree with you. Although I was suspicious of the Dr. Islam character, I was willing to 'play along' as long as he wasn't bashing ILADS or 'our' LLMDS.
Zman,
Does your statement mean that when the next openly (and genuine) Muslim Lymenet member arrives that you will be more respectful towards their choice of religion?
I know I don't have to say this because it's obvious; but mixing religion with just about anything else usually does not work when there's a bunch of people from different backgrounds together. Look at the bigger picture of what's going on in the world.
So, maybe we can keep this a Lyme disease forum, which is what I thought it was for.
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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I couldn't agree more. I did read all the posts including the ones where the Dr. was identified as a troll.
I often read posts that start out on a medical topic only to be swayed by someone's religious or political views. Some turn into an all out shouting match. Shouldn't we all be working together?
For the most part, I find the folks here kind and very caring and that comes through for the most part. But more tolerance and empathy would be welcome.
Posts: 460 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2005
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
Look Liverlips(and I mean that in a funny way)
My Daddy never raised me with bigotry or prejudice of ANY kind.
He taught me the golden rule of treating others as I would like to be treated.
I never called this guy anything....I never bashed him or his religion...
I merely brought up some FACTS about some in his faith...
Ya know...there were many red flags he was throwing up...
I was a little fooled at first also...because I AM here to help others.
So don't for a minute think I paint everyone with such a broad brush my friend...
You're advice of checking out the "BIG PICTURE" should first be checked out by yourself in any handy mirror.
zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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tabbytamer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3159
posted
Personally, I would rather be guilty of kindness than of cruelty.
Posts: 2098 | From San Diego, CA, USA | Registered: Sep 2002
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tabbytamer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3159
posted
sorry zman, I didn't see your new post.
With all due respect, would you, or anyone, please list for me all the red flags in Dr. Islam's posts?
I just don't seem them. And I've read all those posts over and over.
I am a Lyme brain at times, and I could just be missing them. But please, in all sincereity, I ask that someone point them out one by one.
And as far as his mentioning Allah in many of his threads: I see an LLMD that is highly respected across this nation. Huge waiting list to get in (took me a couple of years). Extremely knowledgeable regarding Dr. B's guidelines, etc.
And every visit or e-mail from this LLMD ends with a "God Bless you in your healing" or "I'll keep you in my prayers" or something along those lines.
I don't belong to the same religion this LLMD belongs to. But I see no harm in my doc wanting help from all sources.
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
I think we made a mistake in rejecting a person who needs help.
This has happened before, three times recently. Yes, there was a problem in each case, I admit.
I guess I will stop advising that people who have Lyme symptoms come here to find more information.
This is depressing for me. Most of the people with Lyme symptoms reject the idea of doing the work to look further into Lyme. The ones who do make it over here will be confused by the infighting.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
Thank you farah for starting this thread.
I too would like to know exactly where the red flags are.
The posts by Dr Islam and his behavior since coming to lymenet do not fit any of the profiles of trolls that I read on the links that lou provided.
Why wasn't he given a warning as many trolls or troublemakers are before they are booted? (although I am still unclear what this warning would be about, since his posts are neither baiting or inflamitory)
Why werent the posts that are very inflamitory deleted or those posters warned of their rude behavior?
Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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tabbytamer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3159
posted
Well, I've decided that until member "Dr. Islam" is either proven, without any doubt, to be a troll, or until he is reinstated as a member with full priveledges and respect, I also will postpone any further recommendations for new ones to seek info here.
hardynaka
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8099
posted
Not only he lost the forum's help, the forum lost the chance to have a valuable medical member. It's very regretable.
Agree with Farah that we can't deny help for a lyme sufferer. Help is already denied everywhere else!
If not for forums, many of us wouldn't be on the way to recover. I'm sure, I wouldn't.
Selma
Posts: 1086 | From Switzerland | Registered: Oct 2005
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
OK OK... Do you think any of you could go over to General and click on cav76 post headed thanks louB?
Go all the way to the end of the thread and you should be enlightened.
If you're not then I can't help you...
and again this thread does not belong here....
I shall not reply here again.......nitey nite....
zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
I dont see anything that is specific about the the reasons for banning dr islam in the post that lou b made that you are referring to. It simply says do not keep speculating as to whether this person is a troll or not. He is. It gives us no information as to why this person would be considered a troll.
On the original thread there are links to help us understand what trolls are and what they do. If you go to those links you will be hard pressed to find a connection between the actions of Dr Islam on this board and the actions of trolls as discussed on those links.
I agree this thread should be moved to general.
Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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minumus
Unregistered
posted
would u let someone to keep posting who defends that lyme bacteria is good and should be injected into the body every week ? u just didnt want someone to make advertisment for something he calls " the only truth" which u know very well that caused hundreds of millions of people suffer .. middle east was one of the most intellectual places in the world before " his only truth " and now i really feel the danger of getting killed here just because of this post .. should democrasy let every kind of things to be advertised ? so lets begin with heroin ..
IP: Logged |
posted
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but the post by minumus right above mine should settle the question as to whether Dr Islam was a troll.
The red flags I saw were that whatever anyone suggested the doc basically said " That is a good idea, thanks for sharing, but my treatment is still the best one -- I'm right and you are wrong -- very very politely stated of course.
Don't you think it is quite a coincidence that the post showed up around the same time as the release of the new IDSA guidelines!!!
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I read all the posts on that thread . I felt that something smelled and it wasn't falafel. The moniker he, she, used was a garauntee of eventual upset and provocation. That was the first red flag.
Posts: 160 | From texas | Registered: Oct 2005
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
well if the guy was a troll he obviously attained his objective...even after being banned....
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I don't know whether Dr. Islam was a troll or not, but I do agree with the generally applicable reminders to just have more caring and consideration towards *everybody* on here Posts: 89 | From UT | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
Stop the silliness and let's help one another battle these horrible diseases - OK? The distractions you're focusing on aren't appropriate.
Definitely way out of bounds ...
UserName = minumus is accessing LymeNet from TurkTelekom in Instanbul ... so he/she really is in Turkey ... is THAT a problem?
As I said a few days ago: LymeNet Users,
... the speculation needs to stop, NOW!
Let's all move on to helping the victims of Lyme and other TBD's ... isn't that the intent of LymeNet and the LymeNet Flash?
Now, get back to what we all do best ... Lyme/TBD victims helping other Lyme/TBD victims deal with these horrible diseases. Isn't that what we're all about?
Thank you,
-------------------- Lou B Posts: 2200 | From Mount Hope, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Oct 2000
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minumus
Unregistered
posted
ok i dont really know the exact meaing of troll but i got that much that it is not a good thing to be .. m i a troll ? u ll decide it .. if the thing which made someone to think that i m a troll is my objections about some issues some r politic i just dont do them and the problem can be solved .. but i ll be really upset to read a political idea which is very very dirty (for me )just in the middle of a medical subject and not be able to make a defence against it .. anyway i m here for help cause there is no lyme doctors i can reach in my land , i m using medicines with the help of what i have read here and there and i still couldnt reach some important information about these drugs and herbs ..if i m a troll i m definetly a troll who needs help and this is the last time i m typing the word " help" in this site ..
IP: Logged |
posted
I am disgusted by the bigotry that seems to abound here. How can we hope to get well ourselves if we are so judgmental and holding toxic negative beliefs and ASSUMPTIONS about others.
Sadie
Posts: 115 | From new york | Registered: May 2006
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geniveve
Unregistered
posted
ah, crap, this ole gal is so disappointed....
being not the brightest lightbulb in the box, i missed whatever was happening. went right over my head....
i just saw a person with various statements and opinions and thought, well, ok, don't understand but i'll learn something.
this little island represents humanity and, frankly, in my very unlearned opinion, we're a poor example.......
i'm not focusing on anyone just saying, here we go again......
IP: Logged |
posted
I have greatly appreciated the information that I have gained on this board.
However I must agree with some of the previous posters about the intimidating and sometimes nasty tone of the board.
I was dismayed by the support of a board member requesting donations of money, supplements, prescription drugs. (How does this belong in forum devoted to medical questions?) She angrily stated that a well known Canadian LLMD was "a crook". Well, that LLMD is one of the 2 LLMDs in Canada and is desperately needed by many people (including children) who are very sick. If there are any perfect doctors out there who can cure everybody..please send me their number.
Gee, if anybody called a revered U.S. LLMD the same kind of names...don't think they would be around for long. So slamming people is ok, as long as it is the right people I guess.
Posts: 18 | From canada | Registered: Feb 2006
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