What is support?

Support sometimes is being made uncomfortable for your own good.

Truer words were never spoken!

But support isn't always being made uncomfortable for your own good.  Sometimes it includes basic courtesy and human kindness. 

Obviously everything I post irritates you. Why don't you go ahead and block me, and save both of us the annoyance?

I hadn't noticed you specifically until you said that. 

Well, since MsBatt was quoting from my post above, by all means, please read it so you can get the gist of this convo..

As you can read I did say "sometimes" not always, so I'm not sure what the point of your post was? There's a place and time for all types of support, and yes, sometimes folks need a good "wake the F up" slap to bring them to their senses.

Kindness and courtesy have a place as well, but they are not always the most effective way to pull someone out of the way of danger or warn others away from it. I have seen all variety of support doled out here, as I also said, I take what I need and leave the rest. Just like any other sentient adult here should do.

If you seriously just want fluff and white noise, please either ignore or block those that give real and useful support.. there's plenty of people that need it and appreciate it. 

One type of support isn't right for everyone. While I don't want or need people to be deliberately mean to me, I do appreciate direct and honest feedback. I've read boards where there seems to be an overly nice-y saccharine sweetness. I'm sure that is great for a lot of people, and I'm glad that is there for them. It puts me off, though. Here, a lot of the most prolific posters are willing to tell it like it is (or how they view it), and sometimes a swift kick in the ass IS support.  

 It baffles me everytime someone comes on here and tries to tells others how to post. It's the internet, there is going to be a hodgepodge of personalities and needs. If you expect any board to conform to what you think it should be, you are going to be dissappointed.

Edited because I can't spell.

You all have given a beautiful description of support in that what "good support" is is basically what the supportee needs.

For me, I am single so had to enlist the personal support system from my circle of friends.  I chose two in particular that were identified to my surgeon as "support people".  One was a friend who would walk on broken glass for me and baby me til the cows came home.  The other was a 25+ year sober person who I am guessing was a mean drunk, is blunt, and forced me to work the 12 steps if I wanted to be under her care.  BOTH were instrumental to my success.  And I am grateful for their continued love.

Janice

Janice- I like your siggy, where did you get that?

Hi Des,

It is actually attributed to "Anonymous" in a book I was reading.

Love your screenname ... yesterday a friend and I were talking about John Travolta's origins.  It was a hysterical convo!

Janice

Support is like an underwire bra, often needed, but occasionally uncomfortable.