Re: Topics, O/T Off Topics, chit chat

[Guest guest]

Off topic within the topic? SSD and other diagnoses we have in common and

how they affect our PA (or not) are not off topic, IMHO... little anecdotes

about our relationships as they are affected by PA and our other diagnoses

are not off topic... Sorry, but many of us have multiple diagnoses that

trigger each other and assistance with Rx's, insurance and SSD, etc. are not

off topic, IMHO..I cannot post only about PA because it's only a part of who

I am and how the autoimmune spectrum has changed me.... are support posts

off topic? Could you be more specific please?

just asking...

Delane

[Editor's Note: Delane, I was away when this problem emerged. To the best of

my understanding, no one is complaining about posts that deal with other

autoimmune disorders and certainly if anyone were to complain about supportive

posts, I would encourage them to go elsewhere and be with people who are not

supportive. I don't think anyone intended to complain about any of your posts.

We have a few members who post " fun " things and for reasons I can't quite

fathom, there are two people that I know of who have complained about that. I'm

not sure why they can't determinine that a post is or isn't to there liking

within a nanosecond of starting to read it, but they asked these posts to stop.

I have asked the group to let me know if they enjoy these posts as pleasant

spots in the day, or if they want them to stop. So far, no one has responded.

Please let me know what you think, because I have enjoyed the posts immensely.

Kathy F.]

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

My feelings on the Off Topic topic is that there are days when we need a little

" pick me up " to go with the on topic business of PA and the pain and the brain

fog, etc. I find it interesting to read about your travels, Ian's taste in

music, and the fact that many of you live in the hurricane zone. We don't just

need information about our disease, we also need to know how to live in spite of

it with some humor and a joke here and there from and Barb. Some times

the best

medicine for those of us with chronic pain is to get our minds off of it for a

while. I don't see how it

can possibly hurt to know more of the human side of those who have these

diseases in common. How can a diviersity of knowledge be bad? Also, God Bless

Everyone on this Memorial Day.

Janet in Ca

[Editor's Note: Thank you, Janet. In addition to the post from , someone

wrote to the Moderators offlist to complain. I suspect that the majority of the

people feel as you do and welcome these lighthearted diversions. We come here

for advice but also for friendship, IMO. Kathy F.}

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " david " <dave@...>

>

> I want to say that this group has always been a wealth of knowledge and

> offers much sound advice from members about personal experience with PA

> and all of the medical, emotional, financial, etc concerns that members

> often encounter associated with PA. I also appreciate that while we are

> members here for a medical reason, we all also have lives that do not

> revolve around our diagnosis.

> That said, at one point this list was kept to these " pertinent " posts,

> with obviously great latitude. Recently, there sees to be a fair amout

> of off topic discussions that are posted. While I enjoy an random

> joke, or tidbits about members lives, I don't come to this list for

> that reason. Can we keep to PA related items? Or am I just being too

> critical?

>

>

>

> [Editor's Note: I know that many of you enjoy the " off topic " banter, while

> apparently some do not. I generally have allowed it under the theory that if

> you don't like something, you can tell it very quickly and delete it, however,

> that may not be how many of you feel. What would you prefer, everybody:

> off-topic posts allowed, or off-topic posts discouraged? Kathy F.]

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dave,

Personally, I too would prefer less off-topic debate. Knowing where

to draw the line would be tough.

There is one poster, in particular, that I have generally learned to

ignor, as I find opening his/her messages a waste of my time. That

said, I mean that poster no harm, but I will never be able to help

that person should I have info that he/she may be looking to find.

Further, I recognise that we (all of us) operate on different planes;

and, some of us may be receiving a benefit through believing that are

helping others by issuing surface replies and sending out streams of

drivel. That may be their reality.

The above may be true for me, but I also know that I have produced

some off topic commentary, and replies. Someone (an American) once

made a politically naive comment about Canada's health care system

being affordable because Canada depends on the US for its defence,

and it got my hackles up; so, I put together what I believed to be a

truthfully and carefully crafted article that showed that the writer

was sorely mistaken - the problem was with the US. It was deleted. I

have made no further political commentary since. I have not been

nearly as present to help others since.

Lately, through this site, I have become engaged in a good game of

correspondence chess (I am pleased to discover) with another member.

The chess invite and acceptance was off-topic, but playing chess

helps me with my PA! And, I secretly hope my opponent can feal less

pain in his joints, but gobs of pain in his head! LOL

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry, Brent, that you feel this site should have been used for a

political debate and that my decision to halt the debate resulted in your

refusal

to assist people who could have benefited from your experience, wisdom,

guidance and support. Clearly my judgment is impaired, so I have no choice but

to

resign as moderator. I wish you all well. It has been my privilege to have

served this list and the many wonderful people on it.

Kathy F.

In a message dated 5/29/2007 8:38:38 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

brentherman@... writes:

Hi Dave,

Personally, I too would prefer less off-topic debate. Knowing where

to draw the line would be tough.

There is one poster, in particular, that I have generally learned to

ignor, as I find opening his/her messages a waste of my time. That

said, I mean that poster no harm, but I will never be able to help

that person should I have info that he/she may be looking to find.

Further, I recognise that we (all of us) operate on different planes;

and, some of us may be receiving a benefit through believing that are

helping others by issuing surface replies and sending out streams of

drivel. That may be their reality.

The above may be true for me, but I also know that I have produced

some off topic commentary, and replies. Someone (an American) once

made a politically naive comment about Canada's health care system

being affordable because Canada depends on the US for its defence,

and it got my hackles up; so, I put together what I believed to be a

truthfully and carefully crafted article that showed that the writer

was sorely mistaken - the problem was with the US. It was deleted. I

have made no further political commentary since. I have not been

nearly as present to help others since.

Lately, through this site, I have become engaged in a good game of

correspondence chess (I am pleased to discover) with another member.

The chess invite and acceptance was off-topic, but playing chess

helps me with my PA! And, I secretly hope my opponent can feal less

pain in his joints, but gobs of pain in his head! LOL

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Allowed, may be at Kathy F's discretion when there are too many.

david <dave@...> wrote:

I want to say that this group has always been a wealth of knowledge and

offers much sound advice from members about personal experience with PA

and all of the medical, emotional, financial, etc concerns that members

often encounter associated with PA. I also appreciate that while we are

members here for a medical reason, we all also have lives that do not

revolve around our diagnosis.

That said, at one point this list was kept to these " pertinent " posts,

with obviously great latitude. Recently, there sees to be a fair amout

of off topic discussions that are posted. While I enjoy an random

joke, or tidbits about members lives, I don't come to this list for

that reason. Can we keep to PA related items? Or am I just being too

critical?

[Editor's Note: I know that many of you enjoy the " off topic " banter, while

apparently some do not. I generally have allowed it under the theory that if you

don't like something, you can tell it very quickly and delete it, however, that

may not be how many of you feel. What would you prefer, everybody: off-topic

posts allowed, or off-topic posts discouraged? Kathy F.]

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

I agree...and there is always the 'Delete' button on emails (I receive

individual ones), multiple email account availability not like the old days,

and people can change their preferences with ...online we can choose

what to read... It IS important to remember those subject lines, however..I

have not seen a deluge of OT posts on this group and have not seen a problem

at all. If we had no choices about what to read or how we received posts,

it might be a problem...but I see no problem now.

Delane

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11:40 AM

[Guest guest]

My " vote " is off-topic posts discouraged. *If* they are posted, they

should be marked " OT " in the subject line so those of us who don't want

to read them can skip over them or not open them.

I'm on plenty of " chatty " boards. I come to this board specifically

for PA support.

C.

[Guest guest]

TO ALL.

My most sincere apologies. I had no idea I was creating such a furor.

I only wanted to express my personal desire for this site to more

related to our disease(s) and diagnosis. Please re-read what I posted.

I am thankful to all the wonderful work, time and effort that the

moderators put in, and I completely leave it to their discretion what

should get posted and what should not. I also believe that the

moderators should be given wide latitude in that respect. In Fact, I

left it to the moderators to decide if my post should even get posted

for all to read, by noting that at the top.

Yes, I have in the past and can certainly continue to skip over posts

that I do not care to read. I believe I was just expressing my own

opinion to have less completely off topic discussions. Had I known

that bringing up this topic would cause such turmoil I never would have

posted.

Again my deepest apologies to all, I hope that we can get back to all

the wonderful insight, knowledge and experience that members of this

list have shared.

Stay Well,