Caroline, I was wondering when/if you would weigh in on this situation that doesn't seem to be going away. During some of the last fights that erupted, I felt the same as you. I was going through so much in my own life, I didn't have time to keep up with the drama.
I was 28, I'm newly 29-celebrating my last year of the twenties but looking forward to a new decade. I stayed on here because I have a lot to learn, and I know that I'll most likely have another FeLV+ kitty someday. In fact, I want to open a sanctuary for them when we build our own place. Caroline, when you came on the site, I thought of myself when I joined in April and the same with Megan. I learned so much so fast, and I remember the whirlwind of days spent on the computer trying to find a place for Cassidy while also learning as much as I could about FeLV. My vet suggested I PTS Cassidy, but thank goodness I found this site and the resources I needed to educate myself and others. I would hate to see this list dissolve. Although you guys are not my friends, per se, I look forward to hearing your voices, listening to your stories, and comforting those who are sad. It's nice to come to a place where other cat lovers exist. I know there are probably other lists I could join, but I'm already "pot committed" as they'd say in poker. I've already spent so much time on here, I don't really want to join another list. Maybe I'll have to though if this all continues. I don't have much to offer people concerning FeLV, but I can give my support and my opinions (for what they're worth) and my prayers. I want to learn more, but if all the veterans of this site are leaving, how will we newbies learn? I think that those here have more to offer than vets and articles since you're the ones dealing with FeLV every day. Melissa _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 4:01 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: OT: turning the other cheek That's very well said Megan. It pretty much covers everything I thought about saying on this subject for a long time, but just never took the time because I had more pressing matters, like kitten care. I was here when you joined Megan and I read your Olive posts thinking that you sounded just like me back when I first joined in May/June due to Monkee's lymphosarcoma diagnosis. I think Melissa Lind and I thought were we the youngest (I think Melissa is 28, but don't quote me) and I am 30, until you came along! Now, all three of us no longer have FelV cats but we continue to come to this site to continue to learn more, help others with the knowledge we obtained through our brief battles with Felv, and get general advice for our non-Felv cats (because I have some now that Monkee is gone!). There were arguments and tiffs on this site before you joined Megan and most of the time, I just felt that I didn't care because I felt I had no time for that kind of stuff. I was desperately trying to save Monkee through shear force of will and I didn't have the psychic energy to get into, or really be affected by the arguments. Sometimes I read them, sometimes not. And then I got so immediately busy with fostering non-Felv cats that again I thought, I don't have the time for this! I just don't think people should take things so personally or react so dramatically. It's wasted energy that could be put to better uses. It really upsets me to think that people would leave because of these arguments...there is too much good to be done on this site. There could be someone out there right now who just got an Felv diagnosis and is freaking out about it. Furthermore, it could be an individual with a vet who gives the "option" of putting the cat to sleep. And picture this person really not knowing much of anything about Felv, other than what the vet told them- just the general, "oh it's highly contagious- kind of like getting an HIV Dx in a person, they don't live as long, they're more susceptible to cancers,...facing extremely high vet bills," (these are the exact things I was told when Monkee tested positive over 4 years ago...and that was it). Say this person thinks, "I need to research this so I can decide what to do" so they google "Feline Leukemia" and eventually come across this site (like I did) and think "wow, a list serve...oh my god, this is so helpful!" After they have read so many "educational" type articles online and scientific-based veterinary articles that are hard to understand, they see this as a possible god-send. So they quickly join without even thinking about it (like I did) and immediately start checking out the most recent posts... and this is what they find? Bickering and personal attacks and counter-attacks and mud-slinging??? And worse yet, news that people having decades of experience with FelV cats have "left the list" and are somewhere out there in cyberspace where their knowledge and information can not easily be tapped into? That's very distressing to think about. We need to all just learn to "turn the other cheek" for the greater good right now and forget about past insults, etc. that have occurred between members who have been here a long time and remember that we aren't just here for ourselves...we are here for The Newbies too....and we need to stop scaring new people away. -Caroline > Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:01:45 -0400 > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: RE: offlist > > Most people have left? That's pathetic. Everyone has their opinions, they can > be rude, they can get upset, blah blah blah. But aren't we all adults here? > Hell, I'm probably the youngest person here, at twenty, and I'm finding this > all rather ridiculous. > > Everyone here was really supportive when I was dealing with Olive's sickness, > but it kind of upsets me that even more people could have helped, that there > were people who used to be on here who might have had even better suggestions > than the great ones that I received. Yeah, there probably wasn't much more I > could've done for Olive, regardless of what people could tell me. But the > thing is, it's SCARY that people have left over stupid bickering, when we NEED > those people to help us with our sick babies. The more people there are, the > more experience there is, and therefore more information is available. This > list has made a difference for many people, but it could make a difference for > so many more. Honestly, the fact that people have left simply because they > couldn't get along with a couple of other people disgusts me. I guess if > someone REALLY needs to leave, that's one thing. But over some petty > bickering? Come on. > > I'm sure someone will find something to bitch at me for, but you know what? I > don't care. I'm mature enough to just ignore it. And it's funny, because I > don't even have a FeLV+ kitty anymore, yet I'm still on here. Really, the > arguing doesn't bother me too much, aside from filling up my inbox. What > bothers me is that people are leaving because of it. THIS IS FOR OUR CATS. > THIS IS TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. I'm just thankful that this list exists, and it > would sadden me to see it dwindle away. > > -Megan > > >===== Original Message From Kelley Saveika <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ===== > >Nobody leave? Most people have already left. > > > >It is really sad. > > > >On 9/26/07, Caroline Kaufmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >> Nobody leave! This getting stupid! Glenda, don't leave... > >> -Caroline > >> > >> > Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:50:53 -0700 > >> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > Subject: Fwd: Re: offlist > >> > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > >> > >> > > >> > > >> > --- glenda Goodman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > > >> > > Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:48:39 -0700 (PDT) > >> > > From: glenda Goodman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> > > Subject: Re: offlist > >> > > To: catatonya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> > > > >> > > Well, Tonya, > >> > > I guess I have been put in my place? ( I have been > >> > > judged by the best.) I humbly apologize to all here > >> > > and elsewhere, whom I have upset with my opinions, > >> > > and > >> > > infuriated with my stupidity. Having been so > >> > > enlightened by your revelations here, think it > >> > > best, > >> > > I exit this list. I certainly, being of "grade 1" > >> > > like > >> > > Susan, could not possible contribute anything to > >> > > this > >> > > list anyway. Between you and I Tonya, that is the > >> > > best compliment I have had for a long time, > >> > > classified > >> > > in Susan's league...whew! > >> > > Eventually, this list will be of one opinion and > >> > > all > >> > > will be able to get along ,because more than likely, > >> > > there will only be one or two left to share > >> > > information, give support, and so on. > >> > > Peace, love and joy to all, > >> > > Glenda in Nebraska > >> > > --- catatonya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > > > >> > > > Susan is in grade 1 with you. You are both new to > >> > > > the list and posting your ideas as gospel when > >> > > > others of us have been dealing with felv for > >> > > YEARS. > >> > > > It is very disruptive to the list. And I hate to > >> > > > say this because I see how what happened with your > >> > > > trapped cat being killed happened. But a lot of > >> > > > people left the list because of you taking that > >> > > cat > >> > > > to animal control where it was put down. People > >> > > who > >> > > > have been doing this for YEARS know you do NOT > >> > > take > >> > > > cats to animal shelters unless you WANT them put > >> > > > down. I defended you as a newbie to people who > >> > > have > >> > > > left the list, but many of them are still upset > >> > > > about what happened. They are upset that you > >> > > didn't > >> > > > know better. When you sound off so harshly to > >> > > > Sherry and others acting as an 'expert' it doesn't > >> > > > help. > >> > > > tonya > >> > > > t > >> > > > > >> > > > glenda Goodman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > > > So many of the people here put their heart and > >> > > > soul > >> > > > and every spare minute possible into helping and > >> > > > learning about cats/animals. > >> > > > There are certain basic rules of common sense that > >> > > > even I have learned in the last few months when it > >> > > > comes to dealing with these two diseases: FeLV and > >> > > > FIV. > >> > > > There are people here that have taught me a lot > >> > > and > >> > > > who I depend on to answer questions that I might > >> > > > have > >> > > > or that might come up. There are people here with > >> > > > wonderful hearts that are just here learning the > >> > > > basics. I sincerely care for them all. We should > >> > > > NEVER > >> > > > attack each other. WE ARE ALL ONE. > >> > > > If I were to tell you what grade I am in, as in, > >> > > > elementary school, as compared to Susan, for > >> > > > example, > >> > > > I'd say I'm a mere first grader and I'd imagine > >> > > > Susan > >> > > > might be in high school... light years ahead of > >> > > me, > >> > > > but here, we shall call it high school compared to > >> > > > first grade... high school for knowledge in the > >> > > > diseases we are dealing with and high school for > >> > > > experience dealing with animal rescues and > >> > > shelters > >> > > > and the different ways of how they do what they > >> > > do. > >> > > > I > >> > > > completely respect Susan's take on things and I > >> > > > trust > >> > > > her experience, admire her spirit...she says it > >> > > like > >> > > > it is. I flower things up , but it is all the > >> > > > same...no matter how it is said. > >> > > > It is important to remember, IT IS ALL FOR THE > >> > > > ANIMALS. WE ARE SECONDARY. > >> > > > If we could sit, as like on a Board of Directors > >> > > > meeting, we could discuss what would be best for > >> > > the > >> > > > animals and maybe compromise somehow and attempt > >> > > to > >> > > > see each other's points. > >> > > > I have tried to keep myself in check, but it has > >> > > > been > >> > > > difficult when I am seeing everything I have so > >> > > far > >> > > > learned here, being turned upside down by this > >> > > > rescue/shelter or that? I have so far dealt with a > >> > > > shelter that sent me a FeLV+ cat and butted heads > >> > > > with > >> > > > a shelter in Wisconsin with the everyone must be > >> > > > declawed thing going on... Right now the shelter > >> > > of > >> > > > discussion is where Sherry gives her heart and > >> > > soul. > >> > > > I > >> > > > try so hard to see all sides, but there are times > >> > > I > >> > > > just cannot and if you were to ask me, if after I > >> > > > had > >> > > > just won $300 million in the lottery, who I would > >> > > > want to organize and run my, big fancy shelter. IT > >> > > > WOULD HAVE TO BE SUSAN. > >> > > > That is all folks! > >> > > > Glenda > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > ____________________________________________________________________________ __ > ______ > >> > > > Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - > >> > > > their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at > >> > > Yahoo! > >> > > > Games. > >> > > > http://sims.yahoo.com/ > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > ____________________________________________________________________________ __ > ______ > >> > > Catch up on fall's hot new shows on Yahoo! TV. Watch > >> > > previews, get listings, and more! > >> > > http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/3658 > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > ____________________________________________________________________________ __ > ______ > >> > Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated > >> for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games. > >> > > >> http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow > >> > > >> > >> > >> ________________________________ > >> Connect to the next generation of MSN Messenger Get it now! > > > > > >-- > >Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time. > > > >http://www.rescuties.org > > > >Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! > > > >http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 > > > >Please help George! > > > >http://rescuties.chipin.com/george > > > >I GoodSearch for Rescuties. > > > >Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the > >Internet with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo! > > > _____ Discover the new Windows Vista Learn more! <http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=windows+vista&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE>
