[blparent] Troubling Exchanges

[Deborah Kent Stein]

I've been at the NFB Washington Seminar since Sunday afternoon, and was away 
from my email until this evening.  I returned to find the troubling series 
of exchanges that have led one member to unsubscribe.  It goes without 
saying, but I'll say it regardless, that this list is not a place to 
question or challenge anyone's religious beliefs, no matter how passionately 
one may disagree!  Religion and spirituality are deeply personal, and it is 
not appropriate to discuss, debate, or critique anyone's belief system on 
this listserv!

 In order for this list to work, listers need to feel safe from judgmental 
comments.  What the sender may intend as constructive criticism can feel 
like a personal attack to the lister on the receiving end.  As I've said 
before, when in any doubt, try the 24-hour treatment.  Put your post in your 
drafts folder and take a look at it in 24 hours before you decide whether to 
send it.  It really makes a difference, and may save us all a lot of grief.

 From time to time heated exchanges tend to flair up on this list, and it's 
nearly always when the thread wanders away from issues that are specific to 
being a blind parent.  Blind parenting issues are very broad, including the 
ways blindness plays into family relationships, school connections, 
discipline, choices of baby equipment, handling homework, getting kids to 
sports practices, and much much more. Because we take this very broad 
approach, it's easy for threads to go astray.  Please try to keep the 
purpose of this list in focus and stay with blindness-related issues as much 
as possible.

Debbie