Buddy Lists and Support Groups

Hi all, This forum might not need lots of exchange, who knows. Just wanted a comment to be able to go out to all, without going to every forum and blog to do it. I figure to start it here and let it ride with everyone posting to other forums and blogs. Something to consider is the email ok checkbox in our profiles. At first I did not read it completely or properly. Email addresses are hidden. Messages are sent through the system. If you do not have it checked you miight want to consider it unless you simply do not want to receive extra emails. Just don't be concerned about people getting your info. If you want yourself added to someone's buddy list, why not have them able to contact you??? What is the buddy list for anyway??? Can't quite figure that one out, other than moral support, knowing you have friends. If you want those friends, how about having them able to speak to you directly?? In 1988 I finally gave in to going to a support group. I had resisted for years. I was too proud and felt it minimized my value. I was ashamed enough with the epilepsy as it was after almost 20 yrs with it and did not want to go talk about it with people. That was face to face, circles of chairs, and open people sharing while we looked at each other. Now we have the Internet and things have upgraded to a higher technical level. We are doing this online but we do not get to meet and see and feel each other in quite the same way. Close, but it is distant. Available (hidden) email exchange might make some of it more personal. I don't know. Just some thoughts. When I began with the support group in 1988 it was the start of my advocacy work. I realized how much better off I was doing than many of the others in the group and felt a need to give back to the community. I am presently writing a book about my life with epilepsy and the trail of advocacy that finally began. It has been a wonderful journey, working with many different org's. peace, jesse