Well designed surveys are a pleasure.

Good topic here. Regarding surveys, they can be very constructive or very detrimental and they take time and one's patience to fill out. I remember the hospital sent me a survey on their Emergency Dept. services. I guess when they see the same patient frequenting that dept. , they figure that patient could provide some valuable input. The first time I received it, I let it lay dormant on my buffet as I was not feeling up to the task. A couple of weeks later, the same survey arrived in my mail box so I proceeded to fill it out. Now, I had duplicates of the same survey. Here's the story. The first time I filled it out, I checked many 'unhappy' boxes as I was reduced to tears at the emergency. My daughter was with me on one occasion. At that time, we as patients sat or lay for hours….not knowing why we weren't being attended to while the staff seemed to carry on with trivial conversation and jokes. Also, after waiting for hours of not being able to eat or have some caffeine, one gets migraines. After I finished the survey , I decided to leave it for a night or two and re-read what I had written and checked. When I went back to it, I had a different mind set: I decided to re-do it and to give constructive comments about how they should give all patients that arrive in the night time or early morning……breakfast (like a tray) with coffee or tea. People get too low in their energy and get headaches. I also wrote a comment that "Yes, I would refer people to this hospital, if they listened to some of the constructive criticisms, and made some changes for those waiting for many many hours in the ER."

As it turned out, I had to use the ER again, (5th time last in 2009) for the flu and fever while I was receiving chemo. They treated me like Royalty. They fast tracked me bec. I was a chemo patient, they brought the x-ray people to me with the machine bec. I could hardly sit up, and they brought me a tray of breakfast with tea…..(toast, jam, cereal, some eggs, juice.)

Therefore, I conclude surveys can be helpful if you take the time to be honest . Why else would they mail out 2….with twice postage….etc.?

If I recall correctly, the conclusions of this study tied into something about how it is (or was?) important for humans to be able to form quick opinions about other humans.

I find it all fascinating. I was interested by your bad-driving, good-business conducting point. I'd agree that, generally, we are not 'supposed' to cast negative judgments, but positive ones are 'allowed'. Of course, both judgments are wildly general and should be equally dismissed as so, no matter their positive or negative slants.

There is so much to say about your posts, as always! I think you are right about those who are comfortable in their own skin–you can see it right away. And in my experience, being comfortable in one's own skin has very little relation to how one's body aligns with what our society deems beautiful or sexy.

Finally, and most importantly, much love and I hope to see you soon!