Reminder

[CGTMHI]

Dear Friends,

We've tried for a week or more to gently remind everyone that we have rules that we will enforce, if we have to.  We HATE having to do this all the time and we really hate having to constantly remove inappropriate messages that are insulting or demeaning to others.  

Our forums are great because of the people who visit and share their information and support.  Our forums are NOT great when people bicker and post derrogatory remarks about others or drag fights from other websites over to Med Help's website, leaving the vast majority of our visitors clueless as to what is going on.

We will enforce our rules in order to insure the quality of our forum because we owe that to the millions of people who visit this forum each year.  Please remember that while only a few people are regular posters, there are millions who are readers!

Cindy Thompson
Med Help International

[ladybug52]

I never knew when I first started visiting this website that so many of the same questions are asked over and over. I guess that's part of this forum, repetitive questions and answers for new people. I get a kick out of seeing questions about alcohol, I know what kind of uproar that will start. My pet peeve is people who ask 3, 4, 5 or 6 questions about themselves and their symptoms. It takes 'it's all about me' to a new level. Others are much more patient than I am and continue to offer support and advice to each question asked. I hate to even ask a question anymore, I just jump on others threads. I guess the bottom line is we just come to get what we need, whether that's info, support, helping others, or a good debate.
Bug

[mikesimon]

The real issue is: what do you want from this place? I am always harping on the fact that I think we have too many threads available. We used to have only 6 per day. There were precious few and we cherished each and every one of them. There also wasn't as much hep c information readily available and we came here primarily to learn and secondarily to get support and compassion. The point is there wasn't as much room for the types of comments we are now inundated with. You would never see a thread asking about what a ring in the toilet said about HCV. One person wouldn't dream of asking 2 or 3 questions in a row and questions that could be answered with Google in 20 seconds if the person just took some time...or read some of the previous threads before asking the same question yet again. Now it seems more like a social circle and I think this petty stuff goes along with that perfectly. I certainly don't agree with Myown's advice to start pushing the "abuse" button. That's all Cindy needs and the mere suggestion of that troubles me - but it's a social thing I guess. My wish is that we police ourselves a bit more. When someone wastes threads with really infantile questions or comments we should discourage it but we don't because we all just want to get along - until we don't and then what should do what again? Oh yeah, the abuse button. There is a tolerance here about almost anything except if someone gets mad or mean and then it's the end of the world. I see so much more that is objectionable than just meanness. I think this forum is still the best place available for information and support it's just a lot harder to find than it used to be because we have to sift through so much irrelevant nonsense. But, that gets back to the question of what do you want from this place. Mike

[sfbaygirl]

What's the saying? Everything I need to know I learned the first day of kindergarten?

[chcnme]

Thanks Chevy :) I appreciate that hug and those kinds words.  And I do completely understand that the friendships form and that with that comes the joy and the pain. I am not treating right now, (I did try once - lol), but currently I can't attribute anything on my end to treatment.  I still have a very difficult time just living with Hep C, though  (as anyone does.)  

I am glad Foresee said what she said.  Yeah - WHO CARES?  For me, I don't even like the soaps.  I'm not a drama kind of person.  I try to get as far away from it as possible.  The biggest drama in my day right now is sitting at the evening fireside with my dogs and watching the day come to an end, and my biggest "thrills" right now are waking up each day and seeing that my mom and dad are still here and that neither has made a turn for the worst and that I'm not having to make funeral arrangements for one of them.  I am a fulltime caregiver to both of them, doing this job on my own.  It's a tough-a** job but one I am so glad I can do  (although it is extremely tiring and depressing and takes a toll on me).  My life just isn't very "exciting" anymore compared to what it used to be or compared to some,  but I don't care.  My focus isn't to be exciting to someone else.  It's to make it through another day and to try to help someone else if I can.  And....

to try to deal with this DA** Hep C :)

[cuteus]

move, read more carefully please, I did not tell MH to get rid of anyone. My statement was to the person/s that can not refrain from becoming angry on a continuos basis, day in and  day out and thus unable to at least keep a little civility in his/her comments to others, then perhaps they should ignore them, and if they can't do that, perhaps resigning is an option.  That constantly attacking members is not an option, and if you read Cindy's comments, she said the same.

Rev, I don't think moderators are the solution either, so we have to relay on the 'honors system' and a person's sense of social responsibility.  i do think that everyone has the ability to keep things civil, even if there is a flare here and there, it can be let go and continue on.  

sfbgirl, I agree completely.  It explains things but not excuse them.

It starts and ends with the members and their willingness to keep MH the best site online.  I know flares will happen, it is only natural, but we can get them to undetectable levels again, most of the time.

[chcnme]

I just want to say that I don't get involved with the private lives of others on Hep C forums other than what we share in common regarding Hep C and "the little things".  I think this is a great place with great information, but with some things I've read over here lately it makes me wonder if we have to get involved with the private lives of others to give and get "support".  I hope we don't.