Discussion: The curse of the Web

But isn't that the downside of our IT age? Most of us now think we must become semi-expert in most subjects before attempting them...such as our taxes, our health care, and our sport. After all, if you read A/P as you begin orienteering, aren't you likely to be a much better orienteer than the newbies who showed up at a meet 20 years ago with only a Silva brochure?

I'm not sure about tax prep, but in the medical fields, and prostate health specifically, there's been an explosion in information, opinion, survivor stories, advice, and even real-time operations put up on the internet in the past 4-6 years. Not to mention a treasure-trove of medical reseach papers previously only available in a select few medical libraries in the entire country.

No wonder a few months, or years, of reading these tracts provokes us to ask more questions, and question more "expert" advice we receive from our increasingly-harried medical professionals.

I'd love to go back to the kindly family doctor I grew up with...the chatty guy with the wonderful bedside manner. He always seemed to know what to do. My parents practically genuflected as they entered his office to receive "the Word."

But I don't think he exists any more. All this information, pro and con, may result in indecision and delay. And I'm sure docs don't particularly like to have their every word questioned...it probably does drive them nuts. But isn't the outcome better? Aren't we improving our success rates in treating the prostate, as well as most other diseases? Won't an educated, pro-active patient ultimately receive the best care we can provide in the 21st century?

And I certainly ought to double my price if they walk in the door with a lap-top. I have about 3 clients that do that, and it invariably adds time to the job

Why didn't you just say so? I'll won't bring it next time.

Clark, thanks for all the links. I'm learning, have a lot more to learn.

JJ, you ain't anywhere close to being in her league. Such as, I ask her what she paid for snowplowing last year as she is claiming a home office, and all I want is a number and I don't really care if it's real accurate because when it all flows to the bottom line it's a matter of whether she will save, say, $5 vs $10. And she must have spent 5 minutes looking things up on the laptop before she could give me an answer.

You can bring your laptop, though it would be cool if we didn't actually have to fire it up. :-)

When are you coming, anyway? Waiting for the snow/ice to be gone so we can get a run in?

I'll call you for an appointment very soon. Hope for improved running conditions has been one factor, and the other is that I just got my last form pretty recently.

I've seen that 10 Years Younger show a couple times; I've even seen the age estimates from before & after range into the low teens. Exceptional!
I'm not a big fan of that one, but in general I like the transformational shows (e.g., What Not To Wear -- how can anyone not like it??), where at the end the person has really gained a bunch of self-esteem along with a new look. Of course, if I had 4 people fawning over me for a week, I might have higher self-esteem, too.