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Thank You to Tall Allen

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Posted 5/21/2013 10:07 AM (GMT -5)
I just wanted to thank Tall Allen publically for the important contributions that he is making to this forum, and in particular for the admirable dignity and restraint with which he has handled repeated, and totally unjustifiable, personal attacks on him by one or two individuals.  

Tall Allen:  I trust you realize that the few who take pot-shots at you do not represent the majority, and that there are many of us who find the information you provide to be among the most valuable and well-informed contributions to this forum.  This forum would be less useful without your contributions.  So thank you for what you contribute here and PLEASE do not be dissuaded.  Respectfully, Medved 

Posted 5/21/2013 10:10 AM (GMT -5)
I second Medved's comments
Posted 5/21/2013 10:12 AM (GMT -5)
are you kidding me?

You need more drama in your life?

I'd like to thank Allen for being a little more considerate of those around him who have treated a G6, who don't know for sure their cancer is indolent, Who were not hysterical at the time of treatment, who did not think AS was the best and only option for their cancer, who don't think they were over treated.
Posted 5/21/2013 10:30 AM (GMT -5)
Davidg, old buddy:

Ya know  we luv ya.

I really enjoy your posts and respect your knowledge.

I think your point is well-taken.

However, you have made this point, most stridently, again and again and again and again.

I was going to say this yesterday after reading a multitude of virtually the same posts from you. I know I will also repeat myself at times.

When I was a young teacher, I got this advice from a veteran teacher who I greatly respected. I don't even remember the point I kept hammering on at a faculty meeting. He finally took me aside and told me: "Caress an idea; don't strangle it."

That little bit of advice has helped me throughout life. Every so often, I have to step back.

I think you get my point.

Mel

Posted 5/21/2013 10:33 AM (GMT -5)
Medved, I agree and thank you for saying this.  TA was subjected to numerous personal derogatory comments (including one by a moderator) on his recent-now-locked thread and I think he demonstrated admirable restraint and stuck to the subject.  While I don't always agree with his positions, I do appreciate that he presents them in a thoughtful fashion and behaves in an adult manner.

Thanks TA...in my opinion you are a very valuable member of this forum and I appreciate your contributions.

Jim

Posted 5/21/2013 10:39 AM (GMT -5)
I Think We're All Bozos on This Bus.... Firesign Theater 1971
Posted 5/21/2013 10:41 AM (GMT -5)
Ziggy:

Sadly, I know the reference.

Old Mel

Posted 5/21/2013 10:43 AM (GMT -5)
I know, Mel, which is why I emailed John just now. I've said what I think.

Just imagine this board if all the pro surgery guys posted day in and day out, over and over again links/videos with famous docs stating surgery is the gold standard, AS is dangerous etc etc. Is there a reason why not a single surgery or radiation guy does this the way some other folks do with their beliefs?
Posted 5/21/2013 10:46 AM (GMT -5)

compiler said...
Ziggy:

Sadly, I know the reference.

Old Mel

For those who don't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWFrMq3qNY

Posted 5/21/2013 10:49 AM (GMT -5)
I was actually raised on that and the Cheech & Chong album (which I still own with rolling paper and all)
Posted 5/21/2013 10:53 AM (GMT -5)
Davidg, tried to send an e-mail your way but it came back undeliverable - is the e-mail in your profile outdated?
Posted 5/21/2013 10:56 AM (GMT -5)
"Ah Clem" "Hey! He broke the president."
I remember it well.... I think.
Posted 5/21/2013 11:00 AM (GMT -5)

davidg said...
I was actually raised on that and the Cheech & Chong album (which I still own with rolling paper and all)

Big Bambu still have that somewhere . All the old LPS are stored somewhere since cds/mp3 took over. A dated favorite comedy album I still have is "A child's garden of grass" See if your parents remember that one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uKYfNijNhM

 

Sorry All just not in a serious mood today.

Posted 5/21/2013 11:22 AM (GMT -5)
I vaguely recall they had something called "Waiting for the Electrician"

Mel
Posted 5/21/2013 11:22 AM (GMT -5)
I find TA's posts to be well reasoned and respectful. Thank you for posting.

On the other hand, davidg's posts are just ad hominem attacks, raise no thought provoking points and demonstrate a dearth of knowledge.

When I was getting opinions about my situation, a very prominent urologist told me that many in the medical community question whether someone with low volume of G6 cells should be classified as having cancer. As I see it, the question is not wether a G6 cell is a cancer cell, but whether a particular patient, given the number of cells (size of tumor) and their location, has reached a point that he should be clinically considered as having cancer.
Posted 5/21/2013 12:04 PM (GMT -5)
I also greatly appreciate Tall Allen's meaningfull contributions. Hope he continues as I have learned a lot from him.
Posted 5/21/2013 12:10 PM (GMT -5)
Tall:
Your expertise and curiosity are recognized. Your patience and civility are exemplary.
Also tip o' the hat to Medved for the post to start this thread
Posted 5/21/2013 12:21 PM (GMT -5)
I've always admired detailed oriented people who take the time to validate what they say. Allen strikes me as that guy. Casey as well is very analytical thus why some have made the comparison between the two (Which by the way I know they are not one and the same).

I have already learned a lot from Allen and it's due to that willingness to share what he possesses.

Sometimes it's tough medicine to swallow to see evidence against what you believe in but a good advocate will always be willing to see the other side of the coin.

In my two year long ministry training (I graduated last Sunday and not proselytizing) one of the top ideas that I think touched me dearest was being taught the Both/And approach when encountering people and ideals versus the either/or approach to theology and in life. Being taught the Both/And approach was a life changer for me and I think it has been reflected in some of my advocacy changes over the last couple years. Two people with disparately differing views can both be right and by their own perception they are. Avoiding the Either/Or line in the sand and trying to build the Both/And will almost always result in admiration and respect.

Just my opinion that I think Allen does this very well. And if anyone noticed, Allen's post in one of the locked threads about being "Gang Fingered" just might be the funniest posts I have seen here at Healingwell.

I'm with you medved. Thank you for the post.

Tony
Posted 5/21/2013 12:30 PM (GMT -5)
When I was researching PCa prior to my Dx, Tall Allen was one of the guys who was helping me learn about PCa on a different website. I was so happy to see him joined us here again recently.

TA thanks for helping people like me, you made a difference in my fight with PCa, and I hope that you will continue to help me and others.

AKAI

Posted 5/21/2013 12:34 PM (GMT -5)
I, too, appreciate Tall Allen's intelligent contributions to the forum and his polite restraint. We have a lot of smart, thoughtful posters here, and I'm glad so many are willing to question, learn and think together.

Juliet
Posted 5/21/2013 12:39 PM (GMT -5)
Tall Allen:  I followed your posts on a different forum for sometime and although I don't post here very often I couldn't be happier to see you posting here.  Your insight is rivaled by very few.

Watching this thread grow and who is posting is in my opinion a who's who of the really knowledgeable people on this forum.  Tarhoosier, John T, medved, Tony and JNF give insightful and up to date info. that we all can use at some time or other in our fight with this pain in the a#%.   

Good Luck

David

 

Posted 5/21/2013 1:23 PM (GMT -5)
Since it seems to be open season for moderators to wade in I will venture an opinion here, too. I am going to attempt to straddle the Tall Allen divide. On the one hand he is one of our best informed, smartest and most literate posters. On the other hand I can sympathize with those who also find him to be an occasional pain in the tookas.

Tony hinted that there were some people who suspected that Tall and Casey were in fact the same person with two sign ins. I've never bought it. Casey was very smart and detail-oriented (characteristics, by the way, that Tony sometimes finds more endearing than I do) and was probably a pretty good guy but if you got on the wrong side of an argument with him he could be abrasive as the devil. I mostly got on OK with him because I quickly learned that he simply was who he was and there was no point telling him when he was being annoying, because he either wouldn't understand or didn't care. He was possibly the worlds worst practitioner of Tony's "both/and" philosophy. Tall Allen, on the other hand shows every sign of being able to master it although he has room still for improvement.

So, yes, Tall Allen is an asset to the forum. So are the members who took "pot shots" at him. I understand both their points of view.
Posted 5/21/2013 1:38 PM (GMT -5)
Tall Allen,
I have always viewed your informed posts and appreciate the knowledge and information provided.
I guess that I tend to listen to John T the most since he has the most experience and I like his writing style--he is #1 and I hope that he doesn't leave this forum..Many other members and moderators keep us informed and I find this forum the best "news" source for up to date info..Keep it up!
Bill
Posted 5/21/2013 1:51 PM (GMT -5)
Tony - great insight on the whole "Both/And" approach when encountering people and ideals versus the Either/Or approach! Very, very difficult for our physche's to handle by nature, but I absolutely buy in to that and although I have not yet perfected my approach, I'm cognizant of it and working on it.

Thanks for bringing this very important look at life's approaches. . . .
Posted 5/21/2013 2:27 PM (GMT -5)
I stand by my belief that certain members have been carefully crafting posts such that they create unneeded controversy. Hence my comment "malicious".

That is my personal opinion, moderator or not.

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