I think some people here should read up about statins...

anthony shipley

Run away with me; I can make you unhappy.

I think we're seeing human limitations.  If a doc sees a different patient
every 10-15 minutes, then goes on rounds, how much time do they have for
independent research?  The drug companies spoon feed the favorable studies
and minimize the unfavorable ones.  I've personally seen twice a doctor
telling me a drug is "absolutely safe with no side effects" only to find the
statement wrong and dangerously so.

The worst problem I see is when they won't admit they don't know.

Karen

Okay, I will grant you this:  I know there are places in this country where
people have lived a rather insular existence.   Places where either their
religion or other factors keep them close to home, or within certain
familial boundaries.

I am not going to tell you that people are always the same everywhere, or
that there is no room for individual circumstances, but I will tell you that
for the most part there are few people who don't respond to genuine kindness
and openheartedness.

In the town where I lived for 20 years I made only a few really good
friends, and I was active in local community organizations and an open
friendly sort who worked right in town.   Since I moved to my present
location, I have made many friends, and I can attribute that to little
different than what I did for the previous twenty years.    Maybe it is the
small town friendliness here, maybe it is that I am different.  I don't
know.    But I like my community and I like my life, and I have great
friends here.

You know, I lived in California (which is most definitely "West")  for a
while once upon a time, and I found people very money conscious, to the
point of it being almost ridiculous.   People there were very rigidly class
conscious and did not socialize with people they considered "lower" than
they perceived themselves to be.   So the connections were not familial per
se, but they were governed more by money and position.   It was an error of
another kind.

I don't see that here on the East Coast.   I have friends of many different
religious pursuasions and of all economic strata.   Here, the diversity is
the design, and it is beautiful.   I think that is the key, acceptance of
differences of all kinds.

What I absolutely can tell you for sure is that you are a free person.  If
you want to move to another place and see if life treats you different and
you find more friendships, then please do so.

But don't blame the entire south for kinfolkville's flaws.  It just isn't
necessarily so.

Okay, I cannot continue to keep out of this. Evelyn has a point. I have
lived in a big town in the South where I was born, in LosAngeles area, and
in a small town in the south (now). I have more friends here than any other
time in my life **guess why**.... I Changed. When I came here I did some
growing up. I went places (to church, joined clubs, took some classes, etc)
I was friendly. I developed a positive attitude and showed an interest in
other people as opposed to going on about myself and my problems. Voila, I
have several good friends. It took several years of work to make them, but
by golly I didn't make even ONE in California in twelve years. Why? Because
I was negative, self-centered and found fault with people. Does any of this
ring a bell?

I have some friends I made online, just talking to people in various groups
with similar interests. Some of these friends and I have met in person. I
don't generally feel drawn to people who show a tendency to bigotry, whether
it is against people from the South, the North, or the freaking middle.
There are people everywhere who are bigoted. Check the mirror for one. There
are people in Washington who truly espouse the view that people from out of
state should Not be moving to Washington. They are the loud ones. Look for
reasons that you would make a good friend for someone, what can you offer?
What about you makes them want to spend time with you? There are nice people
all Over the place, the south included. Any sort of *hater* is going to have
a problem finding them, they stay away from people like that.

As one who was born and raised on a farm, lived in two different small towns
in Georgia and have lived in Savannah, Tampa, and Montgomery, I am still the
same no matter where I lived.  And I don't doubt that other people who live
in small towns are the same.  Wherever I have lived, I have made friends
first at church, and then in other places.
Though moving around a lot keeps you from having very close friends, it
doesn't keep you from having friends that you can call on at any time you
need them and they will be there for you.  I'm sorry that has not been the
case in your life.
Gwen

and my small town is not typical of most, since it's the capital
city of alaska, with a per capita education level that rivals
palo alto or cambridge, in a state with a very mobile population.

but in smaller towns in alaska that don't have a lot of new folks
moving in, societies are quite closed.  this is particularly true
in native villages where the adults whose opinions count with
everyone speak their own language most of the time.  it's really
tough on teachers from urban areas.

my sister taught music in several villages like that.
fortunately, people everywhere love to sing.  ;^)