For the record - I never said I felt unsafe on the original BT, nor was I concerned about hackers and my IP address.

If I was concerned I would have stopped posting/participating in the original BT a long time ago when I discovered the L0pht Heavy connection with BT.

I was simply trying to point out 2 things.

1.) That BT and MGH parted ways quite a while ago when the server was moved to a new building.
2.) That it made no sense to feel unsafe here at BT2

I certainly was not trying to make anyone feel as if hackers were bad, or that hacker dens were a bad place for servers, or that BT1 is/was dangerous in any way.

Dorry is correct that the personal information we share in our posts is what we should be the most concerned about in regards to internet safety.

I was just sharing an opinion that I feel safer here at BT2.

I apologize if I caused any confusion.

holy cow...
 

what more paranoia can we introduce into these threads?

Hackers! OMG! hide your credit cards! They're all around!:D

Sounds like someone is still tweeked that they didn't get to be a "braintalk nerd". :mad:

Are we now suggesting that because the BT server resides in, more likely "nerd think tank", [than a hacker's den] that we are to be paranoid of JLester and/or his motives?

Gimme a break. Anyone who strives to acheive anything of significance on computers knows that size, speed and power are of utmost importance. If his online community was no longer a priority of MGH, then "banding" up with a group of computer gurus with equipment, resources and cables is a smart thing to do. Sharing a T1 line makes absolute sense. This would allow him to have retain control, with less expense.

That it [BT] isn't a "perfect" world should not be a surprise. Although being offline for over a month is not the ideal...it is quite possibly the reality of the need to keep expenses low [even with donations]. IMHO

Again, as I stated earlier...JLester doesn't "owe" anyone anything. Yes, there is great value to an online support community, no argument there. NO, no one should build expectations of that online community offer the same resources/support/uptime as those that collect user fees. It just isn't a fair expectation, IMHO.

We can all have our opinions on how BT should be run (and we definitely do), but the reality is: why do we "expect" this Mr. Lester to make us his number one priority? Simply because he started it...doesn't mean that he must in the usual analogy, be father to it.

Should WE feel at all "entitled"?

Why do we expect one person to serve us all? (storage for all time, 100% uptime, speed at displaying messages, unlimited access, as well as a supportive atmosphere and a tolerance to all personality types; and "helpers" that can do no wrong in mediating and technical support)

You now have another "support" avenue here, that I am assuming can do better. Enjoy. Hope you don't "muck" this one up as well (adds to overhead, depletes resources).

Again, this is just my POV.

Frankly our INPUT Can be ignored..
 

If it is, will we use the site any less? Think on it. What sources of discontent I've tried to summarize in a prior post. As for content, and security of same.. well any poster's name IS OUT THERE...just 'web' it up! How much you put into your profile or posts, and how easily accessable they are are different issues.

I for one, would LOOOVE to have docs read posts about how WE feel and interact with them..pros/cons.[as long as MY doc doesn't recognize ME?] On the other hand, I would HATE to have some 'research team' ANALYSE posts without history[out of overall context], permission and all the details we LEAVE OUT - ON PURPOSE. I DO NOT WANT TO BE A LAB RAT UNLESS IT IS SPECIFICALLY DETAILED IN THE SIGN-ON/UP AND SHOULD ANY QUOTES BE USED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE IN SOMEONE'S FUTURE RESEARCH PAPER WITHOUT MY EDITORIAL BLESSING!!! Lurking is one thing, research w/o remuneration & acknowledgement to the source provider and validation/permission from the poster is another. BT Could Die..-maintain status-quo...-or thrive. It is now up to the leadership and the board's leadership where to go. Should either site be exploited as long as for positive purposes, I mite buy it....or go quiet. 'Bout now, I'm betting some wish I would...go quiet, that is... hey, Let's go on, complete with holes in the road. Flat tires or not...we go on. - j
A quote comes to mind now: If nothing is said, you cannot be mis-quoted.

Good as med?
 

While everything you say makes sense, there is something else to be considered here and that is the mission and philosophy behind John Ls doing this.

Wasn't it called Patients as Partners? Who remembers? Anyway, my point is that John doesn't owe us anything, but he created something that is bordering on TREATMENT. One could argue that this forum and due to the success of it, has become a vital need for some or alot of, actually, people's mental health with all kinds of various conditions.

Abrupt withdrawal is not good; we should have been and still should be better informed.

two cents,
Paula

The original BrainTalk forums were located on Massachusetts General Hospital property and "validated" by the hospital because of that physical location and because a hospital employee had created and was maintaining the forums. Massachusetts General is one of the top teaching hospitals in the world -- its name speaks volumes.

To have the servers move from there to a hacker's space (http://tinyurl.com/ncnej) -- darn straight I'm concerned. I, personally, am not paranoid -- too much life experience for that.

My concern is that a NON-PROFIT organization that's been receiving funds from some of its members/contributors is stashed in a hacker's space while the creator/overseer of the servers and overseer of the non-profit organization is continually not available and doesn't even work in the state anymore.

Before I retired, I worked in the computer support field for close to 14 years. I do not buy that a server can crash so badly that it's not recoverable in more than 6 weeks. I do not buy that it takes weeks to get new installation disks. I have gone through a similar experience. The server crashed badly because the air conditioning was not working -- something we did not know. The server crashed after my boss went on an extended vacation. I had no experience at all with the new server -- didn't even know how to login yet -- it was that new. I got in touch with peers and with the vendor and had the server back up and running within days -- not weeks. This was a server that was actually damaged by an overheated room.

I'm concerned with the images that I see on the root of the hasty-pastry server. They're not porno; they're just not appropriate for a non-profit organization. I'm concerned with the images on the virtual reality that is tied to hasty-pastry; again not porno -- but not appropriate.

I won't go back to BT1 (the original BrainTalk) unless it gets sold or the management changes. Because the level of commitment that should be demonstrated toward fragile human beings is not there.

An entity such as BrainTalk.org with the number of individuals who rely on it for research or for companionship or for support during horrendously difficult times ... an entity that has the reputation that BrainTalk.org has accrued over the years from medical professionals ALL OVER THE WORLD...deserves better than "I'll fix it when I come back from my trip".

A non-profit organization that has grown to be such a huge part of people's lives needs to have plans in place for emergencies:

- what do you do if the server crashes??
- what do you do if the one person in charge gets injured or dies??
- what do you do if the one person who is in charge is out of the country for a month when problems arise??

There should be back-up individuals in case any of the above circumstances happen (G-d forbid). Obviously, there is not.

That's my humble opinion.

Barb

Got that right ZS. Most make great computer techs ;)

Sums it up pretty well. I thought with the outpouring of financial support after the last major crash, John said he had so much extra $ donated that he was going to upgrade everything so in the future things like this would be a non-event. Guess I thought wrong.

The weeks for disks is a real hoot :cool:

Me too.

I think there's a disconnect between the community that went so far as to create a nonprofit org for itself, and the people who actually run that org (and through the org, the actual website). If one creates an org, one would think, it is to ensure the community -- first and foremost -- is up and running. And if it goes down, it gets back up in a timely manner (e.g., days, not months).

If the org can't minimally do that, I don't see the purpose of it. There's no great science or art to running a large online community. It just takes a leased server and some folks who want to help out.

John

OK
 

We're in a loop...

BT @ hacker's den = not appropriate;
but, we don't want moderators, and big brother running the show if BT is transferred to a "real" organization and wouldn't tolerate the crap that occurs on a daily basis; run perhaps like "healthboards" where I have never seen so much moderation and banning...

BT took donations and yet, servers crash = not believable, not good;
and yet, we want small town management that allows us to bicker, battle, denigrate other posters (as well as receive kindness, support, and offer same to others)...*

BT associates with virtual reality world = huh? (although it is noted that some of this virtual reality world allows those with disabilities another type of outlet, especially if they would rather distract themselves from their medical problems, than roll in their "issues")

Again, why hang around with all these negatives? I am just not following the logic.

Anyone who donates anything, to anyone via internet is doing it of free will. Donating does not grant "shares" in the direction of a vehicle, even though it may be desired.

Donating to a person, especially that is no longer associated with the hospital/organization that once gave it "validity" [in that person's eye] takes us back to: huh?

See? a loop. We ask and answer our own questions and concerns all at once.

It has been known for some time that this is a lone ranger organization. If we give, we give with the hopes that it will help. If it hasn't amounted to what we had hoped...time to move on.

If JLester isn't doing what you think is appropriate, whether it be in the location of its servers, or by the fact that he is no longer associated with MGH, then, my goodness, find another board that offers what you need.

*I have a feeling that this issue is more an inability to devote the time required to support/maintain BT, than it is a mere long, drawn out software/hardware crash (as I was sure MACs are supposed to be bitchin OSs w/hardware that never crashes).

The wonderful thing about this thread is that, by now, I am sure that this JLester "hack" will have been made fully aware of all the "issues" surrounding BT. Let's see if he responds.;)

Perfect!
 

exactly. why spend so much time trying to change something that appears to be immovable? move on. isn't this new site [BT2] doing exactly what everyone wanted BT to be?

Those that want BT, will remain, those that have paranoia, fear, concerns and some moral anger, should remain here (or somewhere else).

why continue to beat one's head against a brick wall? oh, I'm guilty of that in responding to these threads...gotta run.