Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group FASTING

I have stayed out of this thread largely because I am not feeling well for a number of reasons and just don't have the energy to say or do much right now. However, I did feel I needed to add something to this thread, some of which has been uplifting and enlightening, some of which has been depressing and disheartening.

And, contrary to my usual tomes, this will be very short. All I want to say is this: Everyone, please realize that, as always, Kick AS is many things to many people. In fact, I dare say that no two members view it the same way. So, whether you are here because you are looking for information on the newest pharmaceutical treatments and related topics, or here because you prefer alternative treatment methods, including diet, the most important thing you can do while you are here is this: Always respect the opinions of every person here at KA, even if those opinions are at a complete 180 to your own. Or, if you simply have too big a problem with a particular opinion to respect it, then stop, take a deep breath, and at least respect the person behind the opinion. No matter what we all believe, we all have the one huge thing in common that brings us together--AS, of course--and because of that, we have all suffered enough already. The last thing we need is to take any actions here that cause another member to feel hurt or unwanted, or to make them feel worse than they already do. I think we can all agree that we've all had enough bad stuff in our life thanks to this disease--do we really want, or need, more crud? I think not.

Along these lines, there's another important thing to realize: No matter what topic is at the center of any current firestorm, you can rest assured it has been at the center of another firestorm long before the current one. In other words, what goes around, comes around, and trust me folks, every heated debate I've ever read here comes around and around and around. Before you jump into any "hot topic," or make an inflammatory post of your own, take a little time to search back through the archives. I think you'll be surprised to find that, instead of being the first person to post the controversial idea you had just typed up, you are in fact the fifth, or the tenth, or even the hundredth. And, you'll also see that, every time one of those controversial topics arose, no matter how heated it became, things always settled down and peace always returned to the valley--I mean, we're still here, right?

I'd like to think that statement will ALWAYS be true, that we'll always be here, and most days, I do believe that. Sometimes, like this past week, I wonder if that can happen, or if I'm just looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Well, call me crazy, and maybe the lenses in my specs are dark red, but I really do believe that KA will be here as long as there is a need for it. In my fondest dreams, the site eventually dies off because AS no longer exists--a dream we all share, I'm sure. Until that glorious day, however, we all need to find a way to get along well enough to make sure the main purpose of KA never falls by the wayside: That we maintain this site for ALL who have AS, know someone with AS, or simply have had AS affect their lives in some way, and, by doing so, we agree to shine a light on every possible treatment, every possible source of information, and every possible means of making our lives better. In doing so, we will agree to disagree at times, but when we do, we will never do so at the expense of one group or another.

I think some of these basic truths were lost in these last few days, and that saddens me greatly. Some of the things I read hurt me deeply, but at the same time they made me realize we can always do a better job of running KA, can always find ways to make things better for EVERYONE. I do want to echo posts that mig has already made and assure everyone that no one "faction" controls KA, or has editorial control over what gets posted--it has never been that way, and, as long as I am one of the admins, it never WILL be that way. Yes, some voices here are stronger than others--can you think of any online forum, or heck, any group, where that is not true? Even so, even those strong voices become blended into the general cacophony of voices that rise up from KA every day, blended in such a way that, when all is said and done, the one voice that we all hear every time we come here says the same thing every day:

"I am more than my AS--I am a person with hopes and dreams like any other person, and I will be d***** if I will let this disease stop me, or get the best of me. And as I rage against this AS machine each and every day, I will rest easier knowing that I am part of a brother- and sisterhood of kindred souls who fight the same good fight I do, each and every day. And, like real brothers and sisters, we might disagree, we might fight like cats and dogs, but when all is said and done, we share this common bond that will always keep us together."

Brad

Brad, hope you get to feeling better. Your little short note is about like me writing a book. I have to make a little confession, I usually read your posts, but sometimes when you are feeling good I kind of skim and speed read over the long ones.
J.R.

I am gonna get destroyed for this but oh well...

I actually don't recall John ever being rude and/or talking down.

I always see John post some information- then he and the post gets attacked for it, then he defends himself in his way. Then the defense gets attacked on its manner. Its like slap somebody then handcuff them cause they reacted.

I actually can't recall seeing someone else post information then John coming in and attacking their post or them.

Not to say this hasn't happened, I just haven't seen it.

I don't know what that means... digging up the dead? Raking flowers around tombstones? I only deserve pictionary responses these days?
How many syllables?

buy a vowel, buy a vowel. i dont think digging with a rake.

By the looks of it I hope I'm not supposed to be buying a plot! I've got Allan sending 'guys' to see me then someone else readying the aftermath!

WAIT: "Digging my own grave"?

I await a yes or no...

Surely digging needs a shovel, not a rake. I was thinking muck-raking? But why graves.... hmmm. If you keep muck-raking, you will die????????