Like many others there are some posters I usually do not read
(including today), but whether you read everyone or not DO be careful
to not fall prey to the pointless and misplaced guilt that can be
caused by on-list bullying. If you are making good choices in everyday
things like the ferrets' amount of exercise, accident prevention and
ferret proofing, quality food of any type or your own choosing, regular
veterinary care, etc. and your ferret-knowledgeable veterinarian agrees
that you are making good choices plus your ferrets have historically
thrived and lived long and happy lives then DO NOT FEEL INTIMIDATED OR
GUILTY if some other person insists that you instead need to be doing
things her or his way only and tries to instill guilt in you, or
purposely misquotes or twists people's words (including twisting
mine... LOL!). You will know if you fit the description above for
falling prey despite doing things well, but if you do then you are
worth much better camaraderie than being treated that way and you are
making better choices than such online bullying would imply. Remember,
all that someone who is bullying at a distance is for you is just words
on a screen so let the people who are not peripheral like your ferret
knowledgeable veterinarian who knows your ferrets be the main ones to
help you with choices and look at your own track record for ferret
happiness, longevity and health. Do not embrace misplaced guilt. Do not
take it to heart. This does not happen only at a distance. Even locally
to you physically there are a great many people who really are only
peripheral to your life. Ultimately they mean so much less in your life
than the ones who matter like your chosen experts with relevant
degrees, your trusted family members, your friends, your loved ones,
people who are proven good examples in whichever way and therefore are
inspirations, and others who have earned your trust. Relegate the ones
who should not be allowed to influence you to your mental Peripheral
Pile! If the ones who actually do know you and your ferrets say that
you are making good choices and your results also show that then be
kind to yourself. Should you be feeling bullied -- as several people
here said they had previously felt felt in their thank you notes to me
after my last post on this topic -- then when feeling that way just say
to yourself, "That person is only peripheral to my life." and continue
doing what you know works perfectly well. Eventually, when you get
notes from that person you will only need to say "peripheral" to know
whom you personally choose to ignore. Let that, too, be your own
choice, in whichever way you personally decide to make it because we
are all different and our choices will vary greatly. Just know that you
can and should treat yourself with that degree of respect when you have
done your homework and checked with actual experts like your ferret
knowledgeable veterinarian -- because you are worth respecting your own
careful and confirmed choices and ignoring others who try to instill
misplaced guilt into you.

Sukie (not a vet) Ferrets make the world a game.

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html

"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)

A nation is as free as the least within it.

[Posted in FML 7812]