Marco - it's a myth that petitions have more power than a letter from one person.
MPs take much more notice of a hand-written or typed/printed letter from one person, that's really personal with their own story, or a surgery visit, than they do of a petition.
Especially if they get more than one of the same type of hand-written letter or request for a surgery.
Thank you Flex for all the hard work you have been doing.
I think we need to remember that everybody on this forum is very sick. We've got to encourage each other positively. Making people feel guilty because they are too tired or demotivated or in pain or not thinking straight enough to help the cause may turn people off.
Regarding threats of violence, I've seen people on this very forum - on more than one occasion - joking about the physical violence they would like to inflict on psychiatrists. I waggled a finger at the time when I saw it happening but didn't have the motivation to trawl through the whole boards. PM me for one - not particularly good - example.
I'm well aware of the torture and abuse that has been inflicted on M.E. patients but learn more about it every day so thanks Mithriel for adding to the advocacy arsenal. The more it gets pointed out, the better, as far as I'm concerned.
My hesitation is about how we respond to that. It seems to me from history that the best way to change the course of events is to
respond differently to the person inflicting violence.
The people who changed the world using violence and hatred tended to change it for the worse as far as I can see.
Rachel xx