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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 12:50:18
And the Babbloscar for best female Babbler, in a sincere and heartfelt and touching presentation, goes to Deneb* !!!!!!
Seriously folks, you really oughta have been there. Words do not do justice to it.
You have my respect, J.
Lar
Posted by llrrrpp on May 22, 2006, at 14:00:45
In reply to Deneb Star!!!!!, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 12:50:18
Right on!
Go Deneb!You know what the most amazing thing is, reading the Toronto posts? It is the the contrast between Deneb's self deprecations (which seem completely unwarranted) and her award-winning performance.
Also, I am frankly amazed that someone who is so scared to speak in public is able to go up to a relative stranger (the enigmatic Dr. Bob) and get a hug (repeatedly) and get some lovin' for meow-meow. I know how important it was to Deneb, and I think it's awesome that she got what she wanted. I wouldn't even have the courage to ask. Rock on!
Lar, I have obtained a promise from my Canadian friend that next time she travels to the Republic of Canadia she will procure the elusive butterTart. I will make it a personal goal to abolish all buttertart-associated anhedonia in anticipation of that glorious event.
Good bye!
(That's Canadian for "Good bye!")Canadians, I only tease Canada because I'm secretly jealous of your seemingly harmonious and buttery social structure. I don't intend to offend. but I am offensive.
Posted by vwoolf on May 22, 2006, at 14:17:49
In reply to Deneb Star!!!!!, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 12:50:18
I wish you'd say more. I really would like to know what happened.
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 16:42:19
In reply to Re: Deneb Star!!!!!, posted by llrrrpp on May 22, 2006, at 14:00:45
> Right on!
> Go Deneb!
>
> You know what the most amazing thing is, reading the Toronto posts? It is the the contrast between Deneb's self deprecations (which seem completely unwarranted) and her award-winning performance.I assure you, I didn't just say that, either. I was very moved.
> Also, I am frankly amazed that someone who is so scared to speak in public is able to go up to a relative stranger (the enigmatic Dr. Bob) and get a hug (repeatedly) and get some lovin' for meow-meow. I know how important it was to Deneb, and I think it's awesome that she got what she wanted. I wouldn't even have the courage to ask. Rock on!
I hope Deneb hears your heart.
> Lar, I have obtained a promise from my Canadian friend that next time she travels to the Republic of Canadia she will procure the elusive butterTart.One caution: do not accept factory-made versions. There is no comparison. I am dead serious, people freeze these tarts, and overnight them all over the world. I kid you not. They are that good. And, I was serious, that I would do so for you. If you trust me with your shipping address, (babblemail), I'll look after it for you. I would need to ask a few more questions of the shop owner, though, as I wasn't really listening to everything she said.
> I will make it a personal goal to abolish all buttertart-associated anhedonia in anticipation of that glorious event.
She also averred that some people prefer them frozen! I think that's just an excuse for not waiting 20 minutes for one to thaw out, myself. But, once again, you come up against the idea that these are *that* good. Ask pseudoname. I clearly saw numerous tarts disappearing somewhere in the pseudovicinity.
> Good bye!
> (That's Canadian for "Good bye!")<grinnage> You left off the silent "eh", eh?
> Canadians, I only tease Canada because I'm secretly jealous of your seemingly harmonious and buttery social structure. I don't intend to offend. but I am offensive.We Canadians know we've got it good. Living right next to Uncle Sam, but distinct enough...... almost..... Just don't get me started on the Mark Emery extradition thing....extra-territorial jurisdiction ragga fragga rugga frugga grumble groan moan.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 16:43:49
In reply to Re: Deneb Star!!!!!, posted by vwoolf on May 22, 2006, at 14:17:49
> I wish you'd say more. I really would like to know what happened.
I'm actually overwhelmed by trying to think about everything that happened....you mean everything, or just the APA thing? I think I may need to sleep again before I can get my memory working in a serious way.
Lar
Posted by gardenergirl on May 22, 2006, at 17:09:27
In reply to Re: Deneb Star!!!!! » vwoolf, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 16:43:49
Posted by crazy teresa on May 22, 2006, at 17:10:57
In reply to Deneb Star!!!!!, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 12:50:18
Posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2006, at 22:21:08
In reply to Re: Deneb Star!!!!! » vwoolf, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 16:43:49
Deneb and your updates were fabulous!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by vwoolf on May 23, 2006, at 9:30:44
In reply to Re: Deneb Star!!!!! » vwoolf, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 16:43:49
I'd like to know about the APA thing - in as much detail as all of you can remember. I don't know why, but it feels really important.
Thanks.
vwoolf
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 10:05:46
In reply to Re: Deneb Star!!!!!, posted by vwoolf on May 23, 2006, at 9:30:44
> I'd like to know about the APA thing - in as much detail as all of you can remember. I don't know why, but it feels really important.
>
> Thanks.
> vwoolfWell, they had us tucked away into the furthest corner of this huge immense conference centre. Way down in the furthest corner.
I did not do a head count. Let me see. I can't remember posting names! I remember the people. Eight of us, the babblers?
At first, it looked like it would only be us. One lone psychiatrist showed up. But right at the beginning of the presentation, maybe eight other professionals showed up. Equal in numbers, I believe.
Kali Munro went first. She spoke about managing a private board, with something like 22 members? You have to ask to be admitted to it, and there are some guidelines about conduct, etc. Just as with Babble, there are internal boards for different discussions. But because the group is private, it is also very intimate. No one else can read messages, unless they're a member. Most of her handout dealt with interpersonal skills, conflict resolution. However, her talk seemed to focus on the individual experiences of members. As with Babblers, some members have met, in real life.
Bob then presented how different his board is from Kali's. He showed how easy it is to find Babble through its Google-ability. Just entering "Effexor XR" would bring Babble up, right near the top of the first page returned by Google. And if you click on that link, you would find the longest thread in Babbledom, now nearing 10,000 posts. Perhaps by the time you read this post, it will have passed that threshold.
Then he showed that Babble also comes up with much more specific Google search terms, and brings you to the various boards here. You can get into Babble from anywhere, and seemingly, for any reason.
He showed stats about hits, and pages viewed, and active posters' posting rates. Far more lurkers than posters. I forget.....1 in 500 readers goes on to post? He didn't present that stat, but that's what my brain analyzed the data to mean.
He also demonstrated something about his administrative role, but he wisely stayed clear of blocking. We mostly looked at civility warnings. ;-)
Actual posts and board snapshots helped to reveal how it all fits together. Although his actual slides were prepared in advance, his simulation of actual Google searches was perfect. We really only knew he didn't do it live, because the picture at the top of the page wasn't of us.
We had planned to break into small groups, and talk about things, but the chairs were all fastened together in rows. We couldn't make circles. So, we just started talking. Everyone introduced themselves, and said a little bit about what brought them to this meeting. (The real star was Deneb, as we've said. She really broke the ice.)
And then we just got into questions and answers, back and forth. I really believe that these psychiatrists from around the world will go away as Babble converts.
One of the things that arose from this whole Babblefest weekend, and something we had started to talk about at the Shoe Museum, was how we had become expert at keyboard communication.
When you're talking to people in real life, probably 90% of what is communicated is non-verbal. Here, online, all we have is text strings. Keyboard symbols. Somehow, over time, we have pushed that envelope to levels never before achieved by human beings. Somehow, we have become expert at communicating the depth of human experience, despite the keyboard limitations of it all.
We are at the threshold of human experience. We, all Babblers, are pushing the human envelope.
Gotta love Babblefest.
And through it all, I really want everyone to know this, we felt the presence of all of you. There were more people in that room than there were bodies.
We closed the meeting with more butter tarts, and Decadent chocolate chip cookies. I am sorry, my fellow attendees, but calories were not counted on this weekend. It just wasn't meant to be that way.
We impressed the hell out of those pdocs. I would not be surprised to see one of them become an active member here. Maybe more than one.
Lar
Posted by fallsfall on May 23, 2006, at 15:51:08
In reply to Re: the APA workshop ? vwoolf, posted by Larry Hoover on May 23, 2006, at 10:05:46
Thanks for the excellent write-up, Larry!
Posted by 10derHeart on May 23, 2006, at 16:09:13
In reply to Deneb Star!!!!!, posted by Larry Hoover on May 22, 2006, at 12:50:18
...and I told her so. Told here she's my new hero, and I meant it.
She was very scared and nervous. She didn't think she could do it (say anything at all). I tried to reassure her whatever happened or didn't, either way would be okay with us, and with DB. But the time just before the workshop started must have felt like total h*ll to her....
****And she did it anyway!!**** It's really difficult to explain how important I think that is. She went through her experiences from beginning on Babble up to now - the good, bad and the ugly with honesty and courage....and she transfixed those attendees. Everyone applauded. I myself was close to tears and smiling all at once as she spoke. I felt proud and sad (at what dark places Debeb's been to in the past) impressed...and more. It was a moment I won't forget.
I don't want to get any more specific, and maybe I've already gone too far (sorry, Deneb) because I'm guessing she'll post about it hereslf, and that's where you all should get the nitty-gritty details from, if she wants to explain....so I'll refrain right now.
What matters is a roomful of vastly different people were clearly touched by her words.
What matters is (or at least I pray this to be true) Deneb climbed a huge mountain of anxiety and self-doubt (and God knows what other powerful emotions I can't imagine) over a matter of *minutes* and achieved a HUGE triumph right there in that conference room in Toronto. Gives me chills, still.
That is one brave young woman. wow.
Posted by Deneb on May 25, 2006, at 22:43:59
In reply to Lar's right, she was amazing.... » Larry Hoover, posted by 10derHeart on May 23, 2006, at 16:09:13
Thanks everyone, for making me feel better about it. I can't believe I did such a thing. I must have been out of my mind. I think I lost my mind the whole long weekend.
I just feel bad about reading my thing during introductions. I don't know what came over me. And then it was way too long. It took time away from others.
Bob must have been thinking, "What the hell is Deneb doing? This is only supposed to be introductions. When is she going to stop reading for goodness sake? Hurry up already, time's a wasting!"
Dr. Bob must have thought, "Deneb is ruining my presentation. She's supposed to interact with the audience, not read a speech to them! Wow, Deneb sure is making a fool out of herself. She's talking about loving me and everything. She's quite insane."
:-(
Deneb
Posted by Deneb on May 26, 2006, at 0:33:31
In reply to Re: workshop, posted by Deneb on May 25, 2006, at 22:43:59
I just realized that by assuming Dr. Bob thinks all those bad things about the presentation, I might be jumping to conclusions about what he thinks.
This is what I mean about the civility rules forcing me to think differently.
Anyways, whatever is done is done. I'm just going to have to get over things.
Deneb*
Posted by AuntieMel on May 26, 2006, at 9:22:01
In reply to Re: workshop, posted by Deneb on May 25, 2006, at 22:43:59
You were so busy looking at your book you didn't see the smile on his face.
He didn't look upset to me.
Posted by Deneb on May 26, 2006, at 13:30:06
In reply to Re: workshop » Deneb, posted by AuntieMel on May 26, 2006, at 9:22:01
> You were so busy looking at your book you didn't see the smile on his face.
>
> He didn't look upset to me.Are you serious? Dr. Bob was smiling? You're not pulling my leg or remembering things incorrectly are you?
I will be much relieved if I know that Dr. Bob didn't mind my essay.
Deneb*
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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