The sharp increase in posts has a direct relationship to the lack of work being done here on this side of the pond.

Maybe in order to deflect people from thinking it's a competition to post as many messages as possible irrespective of content we could instead instigate a "forum member of the month" competition based on numerous different factors (which we could decide amongst ourselves first of all) - eg "most consistently helpful" or "interesting" or "funniest" for example

Just an idea....

I think we all know in our own minds who we have appreciated, would a contest add to this or detract? It's just nice to be here.

Hear hear Dave!!!

It's such a pleasure to be able to meet and talk to such a diverse group from all over world. The pleasure of all your company is award enough for me.

They tell me other groups and forums are not like this, but then I wouldn't know.

I would probably post a lot less if I could get in the chatroom at work. And no, Dave, my other forum is nothing like this!

'If I told you ---' well no-one would believe ME either, but i've said it (mind you I think everyone knows now). 'Reformed paediatrician', eh? Does that mean over there what it means over here?

Mind boggles about other forum.

Depends what it means over there! (I meant I've given up seeing patients.)

And, yes, undies salesman is pretty outrageous.

So Joshua's condition would be familiar to you, but you have given up talking about the subject? OK if so, just establishing what it makes sense to talk about in future.

Dave, we can talk about anything you want, including Joshua (who sounds like an absolute sweetie). I know a little neurology, but my specialty is infectious diseases (if that helps with anything).

*** Runs away in fear! ***

Lol!

Just didn't want to tread on any painful bits or 'never agains'.

Did they make you do the 100+ hours a week that junior doctors had to over here?

You may be the only person on the Fforum who understands when I say I had osteo myaelitis aged 8, and it nearly killed me as it was diagnosed very late. I remembered the pain for about six years. Cut my leg, then went swimming. I blame the swimming baths. Never completed the lessons as I was in hospital three months with my leg in plaster, and still can't swim (with or without my leg in plaster).

Actually, there weren't any painful bits. I just found a career path I liked better.

There were 100+ hour weeks, including 30+ hour days. Hard to believe anyone can work that long in a job where sharp instruments and potentially toxic medications are involved.

That infection sounds pretty awful--you're lucky you didn't lose the leg. I love swimming, though. Swam an hour this morning.

I did tell mother I understood that I would have to have the leg off, before they decided to take me hospital. Poor mum.

A friend was on 100+ hour weeks as a Junior and she collapsed from tiredness when left alone with a patient giving birth. The mother lost half the blood in her body before anyone came. This was about 15 years ago; they say it has got better but I'll believe it when the streets are full of beaming young medics idling the hours away.

Dave, that's a terrible story. I can safely say that I never did much more than loads of paperwork and dicatation when I was too tired to function. One of the reasons I chose my specialty is that there aren't too many night emergencies that can't be handled over the phone.

Ptolly, Simon, you're both lovely!

As for a Fforumite of the Month, the only truly impartial person to choose that would be Jasper, and I'm sure he has more important things to do with his time (such as writing TN4...). Unless you were to get the Whatever Next committee to do it of course. But I don't think it's nesercary (sp), I agree with Dave. The company around here is the real prize!



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There's a hole in my creativity bucket and it's all leaked out.

Well, you could get the WN comittee to do it. But we'd only vote for ourselves.



- - -
I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

Jon Brierley and
AAC and PSD ---
Ah, Whatever Next!

Well, at least it'd be predictable who was going to win each month...



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There's a hole in my creativity bucket and it's all leaked out.

I dunno. Give the fforum a miss for a while and *still* in fifth place.

Though there are a few people coming up the rear, best get some frivolous posting in...

*g*

(I blame livejournal, and my new camera. It's been taking up too much time by half.

proof? [dakegra.fotopic.net]

:-)

Well I did say it was only an idea - Fforumite of the Month I mean. I just think it's much better to encourage people than to slip into the culture whereby miscreants are "yellow carded" or whatever - I know it hasn't happened here, and you probably can't even imagine it happening either - but sadly I've experienced it (having to sin-bin someone I previously thought could be totally trusted and who I even considered a friend who had acted totally out of character on the forum and genuinely upset someone) - and I'd REALLY hate for any sourness to creep into this extraordinary and very special place of ours.

Oh and incidentally I'd just like to refute any possible misinterpretation regarding myself and the above statement about "coming up the rear" if that's OK. Thanks ;)