Dentaltown December 2017 - 14

howard speaks
column

we feature in this issue (see p. 32). So far that message board
has racked up a whopping 665 posts in its first seven weeks.
I want to say a couple of things about that. First, off, it was Dr.
Rella Christensen who told me to allow people to post anonymously
on Dentaltown. It was a big-time debate in our early years-and a
debate that continues, but I'm confident in the decision we've made.
When Christiansen explained why she thought Dentaltown needed
to be a nameless forum, she said, "There's got to be an anonymous

See Howard Live!
Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, is an international speaker who
has written books and dozens of articles. To schedule Howard
to speak at your next national, state or local dental meeting,
email rebecca@farranmedia.com.

2018
JAN.
7

American Student
Dental Association
Tempe, Arizona

place where a dentist can ask
a stupid question." Imagine
In our next
you're an endodontist, she
issue: Why
said, and you want to post a
exercise is
failed root canal and ask for
important
help ... but all your referrals
Dr. Jason Luchtefeld,
are looking at it. Plus, some
Dentaltown's live
events CE director,
devious competing dentist
discusses the benefits
could email that thread to
of exercise and
fitness in an article
everybody. A failed case is
that will appear in our
one thing; imagine if the
January 2018 issue.
same happened involving a
post about suicide and mental health.
I am so proud that we stuck to our values, that the profession of
dentistry was more important to Dentaltown. Oscar Wilde nailed
it when he said, "Man is least himself when he talks in his own
person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth." Nearly
everywhere else on the internet, anonymity can mean intense hate
speak and criticism. But on Dentaltown, it has become a tool that
docs are using in the most constructive and helpful ways possible.
Let's keep at it.

Whether you find help by reading about a new
JAN.
26

Benco Dental
Tempe, Arizona

exercise and diet a doc is trying out,
by sharing some of the dark thoughts in your
mind, or by answering someone in need,

FEB.
21

14

Irvine, California Study Group
Irvine, California

MARCH
7

Brace Place Orthodontics

APRIL
13

Townie Meeting

APRIL
20

Oklahoma Dental Association

New Jersey

Orlando, Florida

Oklahoma City

DECEMBER 2017 // dentaltown.com

us looking after each other is what will make
the biggest difference in our profession.
It's impossible to know how many difficult conversations would
not have been possible without an opportunity to post anonymously.
Not just troubling cases that so many docs have received advice
on throughout the years, but the topics that truly matter: health,
sanity, stress and, yes, suicide.
If you're having thoughts about suicide or mental health issues,
and you need a place to go and talk about it, a place where you can
post anonymously if you want, without any fear or scrutiny, do it
here on Dentaltown. You're not alone out there! Whether you find
help by reading about a new exercise and diet a doc is trying out, by
sharing some of the dark thoughts in your mind, or by answering
someone in need, us looking after each other is what will make the
biggest difference in our profession.
Be good to yourself, take care of yourself and be there for the
doc next door, too. ■
http://www.dentaltown.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown December 2017
