Time To Move On

Hello People,

I truly appreciate all of the messages of support. I am sorry that you spent your valuable time in such way.

But as I look back on this after a somewhat sleepless night, I can see where not everyone in the world would appreciate the joke I posted. However, I’m at a loss to understand why anyone would give me such tongue lashing for the posting. I found that offensive. I think telling me you didn’t think it was funny and leave it there would have been sufficient.

Be all that as it may, I am going to leave the forum for some amount of time. To continue now I feel will simply continue to fuel the firestorm I inadvertently started. I may come back but that will depend on how I find life without the Pacemaker Club.

While thinking about all this I now realize that I have spent several hours each day for some months in my attempts to help someone looking for answers to questions or comments I see posted here. While I don’t post messages each day, I was still looking to see if I could add anything to a reply someone has made. Or when my reply may be only a few lines long I may have spent several hours researching and double checking my information to be sure I’m not leading someone astray.

To be honest my efforts have not always been a one way trip. When I came here my knowledge of pacemakers consisted of the information in the little brochure I was given by the EP and what I had learned from the one person I had met that had a PM. While I certainly do not consider myself very knowledgeable about a PM, in looking for answers for others I have come to understand better the how, why and what my PM is supposed to do for me. I’ve also learned that not everything we are told about our PM is the entire story; not all doctors are created equal when it comes to implanting a PM; sometimes those people doing my checkups may know less about the actual PM operation than I do; to name just a few areas in which I have become better educated about a PM.

So again people, my thanks to many of you. In the meantime, my e-mail address is bssr1929@embarqmail.com. Feel free to drop me a note anytime the spirit moves you. Who knows I may have a good Maxine joke (only those that have been sanitized) I can send you.

Adios good people, see you down the road,

Smitty
(Aka Bob Smith Sr.)

16 Comments

Thank You Smitty....

by Pacing13 - 2008-02-27 01:02:01

Smitty - I thank you for all your honesty and all your research you have done on this site. You have helped more people than you know. For what it is worth, being a female... I laughed out loud at your joke.
Take care and hope to hear from you soon!


I'm offended...

by heckboy - 2008-02-27 01:02:03

.. that you're not offended that you offended me.

Ouch, my head hurts.

See there

by hotform - 2008-02-27 01:02:52

See there heckboy is offended, and to say the least it really doesn't matter to me. Rick

Sorry to see you leave

by TKS - 2008-02-27 02:02:20

but totally understand why.

Smitty,

You are one of the most informed, intelligent posters that has come down the pike in a long time. I learned a lot from you and appreciate all the time and effort you put into answering questions. Your input will be missed by many.

It's a sad day when the dictates of a small minority drives off one of the nicest, intelligent persons on this site.

My best wishes to you, and I hope you will find a site where your input and sense of humor will be truly appreciated.

Theresa

Let It Roll off your back, please....

by NH - 2008-02-27 05:02:07

I have always considered myself a sensitive person and I have had my share of being offended. In saying that, I think I know how you feel.

You tell one little funny and you get not only your hand slapped but your whole arm.

All the time you have put in is appreciated and no longer than I have been here, I have learned to look for you and Electric Frank to comment on something.

But I will say again that I was not offended by the funny. That was all it was, a cute joke. It was not a dirty joke, it was just sort of a "dumb blonde" joke.

We don't need people to leave, please stay and keep posting. PLEASE AND PRETTY PLEASE............

Take care,
NH

Smitty wait a minute..

by axg9504 - 2008-02-27 05:02:23

Perhaps jokes, whether they stay clear of slightly risque subjects such as nipple manipulation are probably not meant for a site that seeks to spread information, but I think you are taking whatever people said, and I haven't bothered to read them, too seriously. You certainly appear to have a fund of knowledge and you should stay and monitor the posts and provide valuable info. when appropriate. So reconsider, man!

The ability to offend

by stillshocked - 2008-02-27 07:02:23

I believe that you simply must offend sometime. Otherwise everyone is the same and nothing new is gained.

You can not please all the people all of the time. It would kill you to be a pleaser the stress alone is outragious. Trust me I have tried.

Smitty, I would think a gentleman of your age and experience would have delt with this in the past. Not that you are old but hey, I don't mean to offend you either. LOL.

Please reconsider when you please everyone you are not true to yourself. If you read this please remember, You can't please everyone all the time, but you sure can have fun pi+sing them off.
Live Love Learn Laugh,
For tomorrow you may win the lottery and forget everyone you ever met.

Lori

You Have to Stay

by ted - 2008-02-27 08:02:35

Smitty: You can tell from the many pleas for you not to leave us that you are a rich and valuable asset to this group. I would not miss some of our "contributors" who seem happier talking about their recent trip, or their grand children, or fishing, cooking recipes etc, than devote their posts to the topic of this group. But you are a really helpful individual who is both knowledgeable and wise. We really need you here. Don't let a few newcomers, who don't have a clue as to what you have done for this group, run you off.
Ted

Please don't leave

by bini - 2008-02-27 09:02:39

I am a young woman in her 30's and cracked up when I heard this joke! I just got back from seeing my EP in Ohio and was stressed and tired...reading your joke put a smile to my face and for a while made me not stress out anymore.
I think everyone needs a good laugh every now and then especially in stressful times.
You are a wonderful person, and if you have to leave..please know that so many people will be missing you.

Christine

Smitty!!

by Vicki - 2008-02-27 12:02:27

I am surprised that you would let the comments of just two members (as far as I can tell) drive you to leave this site. That being said, I respect your decision. When I got my PM in July, your postings and comments to me as well as to others, helped me more than you can know. You are a real asset to this forum and will be sorely missed. I do hope you will reconsider. My best to you.

Vicki

Too Long

by hotform - 2008-02-27 12:02:27

Smitty,
Don't stay away too long, you give a lot of support to new people over here when they need it.
You should let this one slide off your back. The thought and morality police are always going to be around to tell everyone else how they should act and think. Do what I do, ignore them.
It is exactly those types of people who have run the last two US elections and split the country in two between Red a Blue states and voted in the village idiot not once, but twice. Now we are truly worse off then we were 8 years ago and the thought and morality police took us there.
Thanks but not thanks. I'll take someone with a little off color humor any day.
Keep in touch, you may not want to post for the police to see, but you can always send me a private message to talk. Rick

Hotform...

by heckboy - 2008-02-27 12:02:39

I am a republican and offended by your remark!!!

Ok, I kid, I am not really offended, but I am a republican and don't agree the the right is responsible for the thought police.

OK, but sorry...

by heckboy - 2008-02-27 12:02:54

... to see you go. I've appreciated your thoughtful posts. I look forward to your return someday.

Best,

Chris

Please reconsider

by cottontop - 2008-02-28 12:02:12

Dear Smitty, I understand if you don't want to listen to all this but it seems to have died down already tonight. I would really hate to see you leave this site. I love to read your post. I really learn a lot.I need you to read a post of mine called (Need help with some research) if you can. If not don't worry about it. I have reseach myself to a dead end. I will miss you if you decide to leave. But I understand you need to do what you think is best for you. God bless you and Dottie.

Take care,Amy

Sorry to hear this

by bionic_laura - 2008-03-02 03:03:10

I think it's a real pity you are leaving the site as you are always on hand to answer questions here.
I think recently there has been a divide on this website. Some people want an information website where they get an answer to their question quickly and without any off topic posting.
Then there are other people who want a community where you can get questions answered, get support, vent their feelings to people who understand and yes even read a joke.
I hope the pacemakerclub will come out of this recent divide to become a community.
I hope you will be back Smitty and ignore the people who don't get you. A lot of people here do get you! Remember that.

come back

by mandogrl - 2008-03-05 10:03:42

Smitty, hopefully you are still reading this site and will see all the positive responses.
You are one of the more valued members, who has helped many people. The good to the many far outweighs the offense to the few.
Come back.

You know you're wired when...

Your license plate reads “Pacer4Life”.

Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.