Hi Harley,

Since I'm the one who pulled your post listing the other community, and PMed you about it (where I expect administrative discussions to be held, again, according to the guidelines), maybe you can explain how what you posted *wasn't* against the community guidelines here?

Are we supposed to enforce the community guidelines only for certain members, but not for others?

I don't know when someone posts a link to another online community what their intention is if they give no explanation with the link (like you did), so we have to act according to the guidelines to be fair to *all* members.

John

why are you afraid of losing members? Surely this isn't a competition. II know harley, and am sure she was not "soliciting."

I started out in the "unmentioned" group around 1998 - it was my salvation. This site was also a salvation for many when it took over when said site went down for an extended period. It took me a while, but I finally visited here, am still here, and remain a member of the other site, also.

I saw when harley's thread was shut down. I think somebody needs to reevaluate their motives (unless you can explain otherwise).

Peggy

this is NOT a competition!!
our goal should be matching the person to the best support for them.

I refer people to other groups all the time from my group.(including here)

John;

I think you need to re-examine your motives in doing this. Laura(Harley) is a dear friend of mine and I can tell you that her motives are altruistic.

Charlie Black , group founder and administrator, of 1097 member DBS Surgery at YAhoo
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DBSsurgery/

I don't know each of you personally, but I'm glad you know one another.

I perceived someone was perhaps unintentionally hijacking someone else's thread. The thread asked about setting up some chat times *here* to chat. Harley then suggested chatting in another community, but why? In the original comment and link to the other chat site, no reason was given (although one was later added after the fact). How can we continue building our community here if members go some place else?? I'm afraid I don't understand.

Without someone giving more explanation when they post a link to another community, we have to abide by the guidelines (unless you can help me understand why I shouldn't?).

If you don't understand the purpose of not allowing people to post their links to their own communities here, I'm happy to go into more of an explanation for this particular guideline. We're trying to build our community here, so yes, there's a self-interest factor at work here.

You're right -- it's not a competition. So help me understand how we can build a larger, stronger community here while still keeping some order and keeping out those who just join our community to pilfer members (because we've already had some who've attempted to do that!). I'm open to suggestions.

DocJohn

PS - Yes, and if you noticed, I'm a NeuroTalk fanatic -- that's my job. I'm here to help the community grow, thrive and build upon itself.

laura dean.. 49 years old. diagnosed parkinsons age 26. dbs 2003. christian, mother of 3 daughters, grandmother, wife, musician, poet, published auther, graphic artist, website owner, gardener, former biker, unemployed from boeing as expiditor on b2 bomber program,

personal preferences.. hamburgers instead of hotdogs, silver instead of gold, jeans and tshirts instead of dresses, wild hair instead of relaxed hair, led zepplin instead of kenny g, audio chat instead of typing chat.

next...

.. with ANYBODY linking ANYTHING to this site. WE are all grown ups and can make the decision to go to any site we please on the net, so what's the big deal?
Now i think it's time to define to our moderators exactly WHAT WE DON'T LIKE, and I think that I can speak definitively for most members on this one. WE don't like fraud, we don't like Bullcrud, we don't like false hope, and we don't like direct advertising of anything or anyone. If the "questionable links" contain any of the above, then we don't like that either (except maybe some advertising that keeps the site in business, we can choose to ignore it).
I thought that the moderators here were more "hands off" than what eventually ruined the "last" forum, but it appears that human nature being what it is, makes such "hands off" policies difficult to maintain, as some people tend to get a bit more involved than they should and then seek to impose their ideals on others. This may be completely non-intentional or completely ego-intentional. To give everybody a break here is what should be done.
Harley, we all know and love you , and know that you have never tried to be overbearing or say things of a proselatizing (sp?) manner (although you do fling the odd cookie )
So what's the big deal. Live and let live. Chill out moderators, you can "wreck havoc" here with us PWP. We often are a bit too sensitive about being censored, and we should be , because we're all subject to the right of free speach, and as I said, Dagnamit, we're all big boys and girls here

Thank you for your prompt answer.

I reread your guidelines:
You agree that the Webmaster, administrator and moderators of this forum have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should they see fit.
(No questions here)

Please refrain from posting links to other communities solely in order to solicit other members to that community.

For links to other websites, the following guidelines apply:
Links in your profile are fine. Link to almost anything you want in your profile page, as long as it doesn't violate our sexual, illegal activities, or profanity guidelines.

Links on a post to anything online are okay, as long as it's your personal site, photos, a research article, a helpful tip, etc. We don't want to see people abusing this by saying, "Hey, I just updated my site" and posting about it every week (which we've seen done elsewhere).
Links in your signature are okay, as long as they are your personal site, a charity, a project or non-profit effort (no commercial links allowed in one's signature, ever).
When in doubt about appropriate content, contact any moderator before posting questionable material.
(Pretty clear)

But you then post a personal thread under these guidelines which says:

Changes from 9/25/06 version:

- Clarified linking to other sites -- making it clear we're most interested in people not using our community to solicit others to join their community. Links to anything are okay as long as you're not doing it to solicit members to another online community.


As I said, I am certain harley is not "soliciting" for the other site, just giving an option.

I amm not trying to stir up an argument, just looking for the right thing to be done.

Peg

A few thoughts John.

1. it is ok for others to have CHOICES in their support. No one is "pilfering" members.
2. all of us "old-timers" are here because of draconian administrator decisions made at Braintalk.
3. Neurotalk will do well if left alone. We will see to that.
i would embrace other sites, this is all about helping sick people, NOT keeping score.
4. Neurotalk with sink or swim on its own merits. Giving other options is a good thing
5. according to others who have visited your chat room, no one is ever there. you are competeing with other organizations and people for a limited market. Just let things occur in their own time. It will all work out.

Charlie

PS yes all of us "old-timers" talk regularly and know each other well.

That wasn't clear because Harley's post was only a link to the other site for chat (when the original poster to that thread was asking for times to chat on *this* site).

I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.

sighhhhhhhhhh