This board is a mess, too much spam, not enough room to breath

[willows]

This will get me in much trouble, but this board has become unusable for me anyway, so I think a bit of truth as I see it is a good parting gift.

We have been flooded with spammers, it is a common tactic on any message board and especially effective on this board because if we try to question a post, we get rebuked for being unkind to a "newbie". Now there are some newbies here and I still recognize the old timers, but mixed in with them, are so many folks, masquerading as Hep C sufferers and spamming our board.

I wouldn't even venture a guess as to whether it is Vertex, wanting to stop the sharing of info or to folks in the investment community, wanting to stop the sharing of info, but it is still a fact that THIS BOARD IS UNREADABLE, and full of new people and posts that are sometimes ridiculous, they waste our time and then they are gone.

Man, I love jmjm for his "librarian" take and I love "bug" cuz I know she's gotta be that cute, and I admire nygirl for her warrior soul. Kalio, Grand oak, Forseegood, you all know who you are, you all are the greatest. But I hate spam, I'm not Hawaiian and we cannot have a conversation here without being dumped on, too much to sort out and too much stimuli. That is the way spammers work. I am so sad, beyond anything I could put in words, that all this has happened to us.

I am old, but not resistant to change, I will find another place to post. I have to give a bittersweet salute to whomever decided to trash this place, but that is what it is like now, a beautiful place, all littered up by fools, ruining it for the people who need it most. What a ****** up way to make a living.

Willow

[illo]

I haven't gotten any.????????
How would they find the addresses?  

[Upbeat]

News to me.   Are you sure you have the right board?

                                                                                              Ron

[BonnieRobin]

Im 3months new on this board....havent gotten one spam. When the going gets tough the tough get going. Dont let whoever they are win!! Stand up and fight! We want you and need you here.


There must be more here that meets the eye.

[BonnieRobin]

i will probably be blamed next for being panicked and scared last month. Im not blaming anyone..but this is too weird..and people are sick on this forum and dont want to fight about something we have no control  over anyway.

Be well everyone!!!

[Proactive]

what is odd to me is how quickly many can find their way here to ask a topic unrelated  question and yet appear to be incapable of doing any research
on their own, aside from coming here. It took me quite awhile to find this site, and I just happened to stumble on it while doing hep c research on the net..don't get me wrong, there are very knowledgeable posters here and I as well have asked them many questions(I do attempt to stay on topic though)...But that doesn't mean that here is where my research ends..I believe many are looking for friendship and comradery, as opposed to info, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion...Of course even my post here on the hep thread could be included in the mix (LOL)

[BonnieRobin]

I agree with youon that issue. The past month I see postings from people that arent able to spell at all asking a question and never returning...But who cares we are   here to support each other......the ones that are here......Lets not give the others (fakes) the satisfaction. What for??? Good Lord!!!

[Alady1620]

???

[BonnieRobin]

Going to enjoy my day!!



Be well and dont act like a bunch of pitbulls!!
We are all  in the same boat !!
Everybody apologize and lets get on with it.
You've all been wonderful to me!!
Come on...............lets start anew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GrandmaA]

I'm so sorry you are having the spamming problem. I'm not getting any here where the whales use to be (Sacto).  Please don't let them drive you away. Come back, it might improve with time. You have contributed a lot. We don't have to answer the people who ask totally unrelated questions like the one above about the pancreas. This is a liver forum.  

[orphanedhawk]

My sentiments exactly. "Hi, what are the side effects of doing treatment?' WHAT?  Where does one begin with questions like that? "Hello, let me introduce you to a giant named Google."
     I also found this site only after several months, while doing a search.
  BonnieRobin: I have an in-law who is severely dyslexic. She wouldn't write at all for years out of embarrasement. Those posters who can only write phonetically remind me of her.  I have learned through my experience with her to become more tolerant of such mangling of the written language.
   Have a good weekend, Bonnie  :)

[BonnieRobin]

I didnt mean to offend the people writing in that cant spell their question and then never hear from them again. I just thought that was what Willow was refeering to...people just coming on with un-related topics not asking their question in a proper manner and never hearing from them again. Im sorry about your dyslexic relative----No intention to hurt your feelings----
Hope you know that.

Im just and always have been " The Peacemaker"
I like Peace and under these circumstances I think we all should even be more tolerant that the so called avergage person we are all sick and need each other sometimes....sometimes on  a personal level..and most of the time on a medical level.

Feel Well Orphaned Hawk!!  :}
Peace

[Kujerry]

Well, i am also new here and have not been getting any spam, I have noticed a few names that post, that i really enjoy reading there post and am thankful if they help me, SteveNYer, NYgirl, Bug, JmJM to name a few and there are other out there that I can't remember just off hand.  So to let you all know, i am here to learn and ask question as i go throught the hep b process so we can help each other through this.   I really never talk on message boards but I enjoy talking to you all on this one


Going to Beat this
KU

[clhndluke]

I have posted to this board, and gotten pretty good info, and I appreciate it,
but I am not a good typist, and don't post often, but read new post's everyday,
I know there must be question's that seem dumb to people with good knowledge about hep c,and appreciate that I have not read any condescending answer's. I have other question's but don't want to be a pain in the posterior,
and have had no spam, well thats my 2 cen'ts worth, Thanks everybody..

[jmjm530]

Like most discussion groups, there's the usual trols, double-monikers, etc, etc, but also I think a lot of legitimate new people due to the expansion of this discussion group who may seem not in sync, but perhaps they just don't know very much about Hep C, as many of us when we first learn about it. There's always the problem of scaring these people off -- the ones who really need help the most -- by labeling them just on suspicion. I again bring up the name of one of our members "Niceguy" who was called a Trol among many other names when he first came here, but later was accepted -- and made some very important contributions --  when we all understood he was quite genuine, and as his name suggests a very nice guy. My take is that as long as someone isn't hostile, abusive, or engaging in personal attacks, then give them the benefit of the doubt, no matter how "stupid" we think there question may be. I think we all were pretty stupid about HCV when we first heard about it. I know I was.  Hope everyone is enjoying the summer weekend.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Nothing I said was directed at you or anyone in particular, just more or less of a boilerplate response as threads like this appear from time to time, so apologies if I added stuff that may not have pertained to whatever specifically is going on which I probably haven't been following as closely as others. I'm sure "Willows" knows I'm a big supporter of hers as I am of you and practically everyone here. And yes, Willows has been going through a lot (as you have) and certainly both of you have every right to tell it like you see it.

Be well and enjoy your weekend,

-- Jim

[orphanedhawk]

No bad feelings between us. I mentioned the spelling thing only because it was something I recently learned.  I think of you as a basically upbeat person.
   Think Peace :)         OH

[EspritLibre1]

Sorry... didn't realize until now we were suppose to respond in both sides of the forum....but saw you duplicate your post here... I sure hope you decide to return from time-to-time to let us know how you are...

Below is my post from the 'other side'... and also FullOfHope.  She was a first responder for me when I came in... funny as helpful as she was ... thought she was an oldtimer... but really appreciates her compassion and wisdome....

EspritLibre1
6/2/2007
C16Don't know where to start but to plunge... ha ha! Look, it is good to speak our minds and sometimes it doesn't make us popular and/or opens us up for attack... Willow is giving her opinion and the way she sees it. Yep, she is a 'she' ... one of her posts said after a bx, "I was weepy...Hey, I'm a girl!" ... which I thought was cute... I digress... But hope she's not referring to the bulk of the newer members as spammers... I'm sure she's not. Been watching from a distance, being new here... but I have just as much right to speak as someone here for only one day or 10 yrs.... there's no pecking order that I see, and if I did, wouldn't conform to it (because it ain't mention in the rules) but that's just me....but there seems to be some underlying attacks here that seems to stem from past history.... THIS IS A SUPPORT FORUM... do we, that are new, have to sit in and watch these snide remarks regarding the PAST, can't they be taken off the forum??? Please... with sugar, honey or whatever your pleasure might be? I may be attacked for posting this but someone's gotta. We don't want to watch an old feud, or I don't (I don't have **** in my pocket so better stop saying 'we' hee hee)... It is just my take may we might want to

[cathi1]

Let me take a line from my favorite Geico Insurance TV commercial:

"Yes,  I have a response; WHAT????"

[DayLyn]

I just have to add my two pennies here.

This, I think has taken up far too much time.  

If we all dedicated this much time and effort to world hunger - what fuller bellies everyone would have!

Geesh.

In my humble opinion, for what it's worth......

If someone is doing or saying something inappropriate, shouldn't we just address that issue specifically, and from the onset, without nastiness, without being unkind?  Are we not all capable of that.

For example:

(name of poster):  please do not post on this side of the forum - it is for medical questions only.

(name of poster):  please only post one question, and repost additional comments or questions under the original post.

I may be taking a giant leap here, but I think that perhaps some posters are not malicious -  just unsure of how the forum works, or how we would like it to work - harmless, really, and maybe these posters just need some friendly guidance.

I myself, I'm sure, have stepped on a toe or two in my life - but rarely is that intentional.  I have been offended by comments made on this forum, but take it the same way - as unintentional.

We ALL need to have a little compassion, and not concern ourselves with things that are just NOT IMPORTANT.

I have heard mentioned here plently of times that we all want advice from the "experts" - those who have done this personally.  Why in the world would you tell someone to use "Google" this information.  Google is good, yes, however, we (newbies) are looking for the "real deal" not all the shite you'll find on the net.

Not to say that there are not malicious people that come onto this forum, however........I personally find this board invaluable, despite all the ****, and would hate to see someone leave, because they've come for support and knowledge, and been treated badly.

Just my humble opinion.

[spcecst2]

I think "willows" is trying to say there is a lot of wacky posting going on not "Spam" in your mail! And there are some strange ones being posted, but me being a reformed poster just read and laugh, keeps me from getting kicked to the curb! Much Luv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dmhrdh]

Since I was diagnosed in Jan. 2005 I have been to many sites...including this one.  Janis' site was where I spent most of my time, although I did post here a couple times that first year.  I felt more comfortable with Janis' format.  Once I got into the Prove trial I started spending more time here as there seem to be more people in the Prove trials here and I wanted to go where I could share and learn from others in the trials.  I think on Janis' site there is only 1 other person that is in Prove 3 and she isn't starting until next week.  There was one other person who was screened and the last I heard was still waiting to hear. I have noticed on Janis that every 6 mos. or so the boards seem to be taken over by new batch of people who have been recently diagnosed or recently started treatment.  I think it is just the natural flow of things. Evenutally I get to know the new people that stay and they become regulars.
The reason I like the other format is that I can easily read only the things I'm interested in and skip the threads I'm not interested in.  But, it's all what you're used to.  In my opinion, it's the new people who keep a site going.  Many people stay after treating but many more move on.  

[honey11]

As far as spams,,,,I don't have that either and if its wacky posts,,,there is always that,,,isn't there lol

Hey Space,,,, I doubt very seriously if you would be kicked to the curb lol   Hope you are doing well these days!

[mauilady]

What?  You have something against Hawaiians???

Your SPAM comes from your friends who can't resist hitting the FWD button everytime some stupid joke comes along...

[FlGuy]

Been wondering how the tx is going for you.  You're probably about 8-10 weeks in now.  How's the 'experiment' going.  PCR results?  Will be looking in your direction next Friday.