~patches~ > writes:
>Damsel in dis Dress wrote:

>> Please see a psychiatrist,

I've always wondered, do people who say this kind of thing really
think they're qualified to make statements about someone's mental health
based solely on some Usenet posts?
Because people can be putting on a persona, they could be horrible at
communicating at writing, maybe they're not familiar with the English
language, maybe they tend to fly off the handle online but keep it
together in real life, etc. There's so many factors. Even if someone
had a PhD or MD in the field they couldn't determine mental health based
on Usenet posts. I mean, I may call someone (ahem) a kook if they
threaten legal action often, or chastize people for doing the EXACT
things they do, but it is ridiculous for me to suppose that means they
have mental problems.

>I don't care if you see this or not. The *rant* post is and still is
>about this ng and what I don't like. Period. The *lurk* post and the
>followup is about why I went into lurk mode. Two very different things.

FWIW, on all the other forums I go to (political blogs, journals,
web discussion groups, and other Usenet groups) people post just like
you did. As long as it's labelled a rant or you say you're lurking and
might be back, no one bats an eye.
Anyway, you know people on rfc defend Sheldon. Racist, homophobic,
sexist Sheldon, the guy who makes threats regularly. It's because he's
a regular. Did you not think they'd defend Lyn? She's a regular.
They don't care if Lyn threatens you or flies off the handle or tells
someone they don't count or claims to call the cops on someone for a
Usenet post, as long as they can ignore it. Once you call attention to
it, they flip. THAT'S what they're upset about. Their little community
getting stirred up and they feel like they're being asked to take sides.

Stacia