Do you want BT2 to be kept running even after the original BT is back online??
 

Just curious as to how many people here want this place (braintalk2) to remain online and available even after the original braintalk is back online.

Votes are private - no one will know what you voted for, so be honest :)

That NO vote? That's probably DocJohn's. lolol :D

I'm sorry but it's just not right to have all the venting and the bashing of BT members because after all the mods ARE members there too...I am stunned by the depth of anger some people have shown and it makes me uncomfortable here because I have NEVER run into any of what they've described myself...I think DocJohn should close it up after the 5th of September and I hope that he will because the stuff being talked about in this forum, the feedback one is close to libel in many cases and IMO it's WRONG to lash out like that.

I can only assume it's those who were banned that have been so vocally mean in their postings here in the feedback forum. I don't think it's appropriate to have those kind of threads here and I wish they'd have been locked a long time ago because they have gotten out of hand. I like PEACE and quiet like we have on BT. I am on who's reported posts in the past and I don't care who doesn't like it...If I see bad posts (haven't bothered reporting things here) I do hit that report post button because I know people come to Brain Talk for support and those who are mean and vindictive taking pot shots and newer members NEED to be banned.

I am glad BT is so diligent about banning wrong doers. There is a reason they say to ignore those people who are mean...And that is so that THEY can handle it and I've seen them handle it returning threads back to a peaceful state and I for one appreciate it. I'm sorry but I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. I appreciate that DocJohn opened up this place but it had NOTHING to do with John Lester updating the main page...He was out of town and wasn't able to handle that 'remotely' so it didn't matter if he had internet access at hotels he was at, he was powerless to DO anything until he got back to Boston...

I think a lot of people are over the top in their posting here and that is why you won't see many of us posting here. The chat is up and I for one and delighted it's back, it was back within two days of JL getting home. I think he's shown his dedication to BT time after time and I pray he's too busy to read any of the crap that is in this particular forum. Go ahead and flame me people...I don't care because I said what I had to say and I don't appreciate the tone of this particular forum and I DOUBT DocJohn does either. It's full of mudd, hip high folks...

If you want to find me or many other people you are wondering where they are, come join us in the Brain Talk Flash chat I hope to see you there! :D

I'm with Pam...I went through a very difficult year last year and ended up having brain surgery. I tapped into the experience and wisdom of the people before me who went through the same thing as I did. Thank God I found BrainTalk.
I can't begin to tell you how I appreciate the people who keep BrainTalk (the original) going.
You have to remember this is the internet, and there are all kinds of personalities in the world. Not all mesh well together and there are always bad apples in every bunch, but overall, BrainTalk (the original) is beyond words for help and support. Most people are there to support and help each other through some very rough times.
When you are going though pain, or caring for someone in pain, or trying new meds, you can feel very alone. Only people who are going through or have gone though what you are experiencing can really understand.
I think many of you here are missing the bigger picture. You seem to be caught up in the politics of the people who are running the board instead of seeing how much help these forums contribute to people who are truly in need of what the forums have to offer.
Having these two BrainTalks running simutaniously can and will be confusing for many of these people who don't care about the politics, but really and truly need our help and experience in the various physical and emotional deseases. Please dont fight. Please work together to help us all.

bt2 will be a great place as long as those of us that like it are not harrassed by trolls and orginal bt memebers...that my dear folks is going to be the issue.

I do not see the purpose in this vote. :confused: I will not vote.

Curently there are 300 people regestered at this site. That is .006% of the number at the original BT if BT had a population of 50,000. (please check my math :rolleyes: ) I do not think the sample size is large enough be considered represestative of the BT community. I doubt that 300 people have even read this thread.

I believe DocJohn made it clear from the beginning that this only a temporary site until our original BT returns. I appreciate what DocJohn has done for us as we wait.
Anne

mod david h was in chatroom saying the name is illegal maybe and violates copyright

you better change the name to?

hospital underground

I thought DocJohn opened this site for BT members... now you are saying that the original BT members are Trolls?

I think there are certain aspects of BT which I have found unhelpful and even unfriendly. I have ran an ALS/MND board in the UK for several years now and have never banned anyone. That means we've attracted quite a few banned members from BT and I have to say some of them are the most valuable members of our community!

I think having bannings really does shift the power dynamic in an unhealthy way. If there are sanctions like banning then some people are going to act out or push their boundaries. If there are no boundaries then the childish people will be ignored and burn out after a while, and with a full space in which to eke out arguments, resolutions can be brought.

If you leave two people having a fight enough time, they might resolve it and make up. If you ban one of them, that can never happen.

When I've contacted mods or JL I've never got a reply, which as a fellow professional I found a little discourteous. I certainly reply to all enquiries I get. Finally, I'm a bit miffed that I donated my own personal money at the last crash to prevent things like that happening again, and there's been no accountability for where the excess funds went.

Anyway I think this BT2 is an interesting and dynamic place with some of the energy that's been missing off of BT for a while. Granted it's not got the full membership but a core of 300 members (who we know are stll alive and interested) is not to be sneezed at. If BT cared about its users it would link here on their "out of order" message.

And to those who think BT2 should shut down when BT1 is back up: you have a vote, cast it. But your view is no more important or valid than anyone else's.

Paul Wicks

Nope but there were trolls there

needed to add this as I can't figure out how to edit.....

back to the bt members only idea....since we can come here with different names than our former BT names...which is what I have done...then that means that new members can join too....mmmm....so with all that said....this is not a former BT member exclusive only board.

DocJohn said to vote!


DocJohn, I don't know you but I like what I have seen so far here. I'm not into virtual bullies, or strong arm tactics by members or mods, so you really are a breath of fresh air. Most disabled people are facing far worse in their real lives, and the last thing we want is to be treated like children.

Thanks for the respect! Appreciate your efforts.

I have my own opinions on what has happened to braintalk but there seems to be a million differing ideas of what has happened over the years there.

Banning had to be instituted as there was no other recourse left open but to ban.

The site could be in the most neutral of areas and there would suddenly be a post of outrageous phornography appear by a simple click. There would be pictures that would even by todays standards shock us all again.

You had to start banning them and follow through to the people who were their servers. There was no other way. Me...I would have said to hell with this and let the site go but John stayed through it all and took the most hellish flak you could imagine.

As to being at MGH. Officially the site was not connected to the hospital but to the Neurology department thru his boss. They gave him a room and I think his first computer to use for the site. Some monies to be sure but never enough to suffice as the site grew and grew.

His former boss at MGH is on his board at Braintalk.org right now. His Doctor friend from MGH is as well who was a person that tried his hardest to raise the profile of the site with John to be recognized as more than just a chat room.

As for all those trying now to tell him how to change the site and being so vocal on their problems with it I suspect they would not be so vocal nor need to be if they had of just taken the opportunity he put out over and over requesting people to offer their help.

He needed moderators. Who came to his help. Not me. I too never volunteered and so he took what was there. Now I could tell you exactly who they were and who they are now but that is beside the point of my intention in writing this .

John I think, was desperate for help and the one masquerading as 'the four horsemen' came forward to offer his help. His operandi was a beauty to watch and see happening. He haunted all of the posts John put in and would have supported anything and everything John would say.

He complimented and graciated his every posting with sanctimonious flattery.

Soon he learned John was going to San Francisco and there was his opening. He called the hotel and invited John for dinner. I don't know if it came about but that tidbit told me he had his foot in the door.

Soon we had Mr Hosobuchi being pitched to one and all. No one was told he was a member but then all of the moderators were members as well so nothing unusual there. Except the hillarious postings of Moderator 4 and Firehorse talking to each other in chat and on the site was too funny for words. Around that time I was emailed and told to watch out for the action being played out. Seems the fourth horseman had joined the threesome as the chat moderator. Yep now it was 3 in 1 we had to deal with.

So I read a lot and time after time watched them all appear as if they were talking to strangers and not it being just one person talking to himself.

He complimented himself and thanked himself for the compliment and I laughed my head off.

But the problems then began to appear. It seemd none of the three in one could take any jokes or comments against one personality without all three bringing the one person to bear taking them all on.

Weird.....................you better believe it. And he fooled so many people the different forums and in particular the chats.

I tried to contact John and no answer. Till one day I watched a performance that had me amazed at the audacity or indeed the stupidity of the man.

He was in the chat room as one personality and telling a man there he was going to report him to the chat moderator [another of his own personalitys] as being rude and obnoxious.

Well low and behold the 'chat moderator' comes in and tells the man he is going to report him to moderator 4 and have him banned.

I go to the Als forum just in time to see moderator 4 ban the man.

He set him up as one..........reorted him to two and banned him by three

And all these personalitys were under the guise of David Hosobuchi

And there we have the four horsemen

That is why I say all of the problems that are really wrong with the Braintalk site fall on the shoulders of him.

He is a deceitfull, lying, human being who is using John Lester and if John knows it now or not he will if he ever reads these forums.

So should this forum remain..............................no

It is only a forum that reflects all of the hurts and humiliations the banned members have felt over being banned at braintalk or suffering from the mods incapacity to understand human emotions. But the medications for some of our ailments are reflected in our mental capacity to feel our own pain let alone the pain of others.

This can only be solved at Braintalk.

I hope I can see you there after this but I assure you I have said this all to John at least four times and to David Hosobuchi many times and I was still there at the closing last month as well as the chatroom today.

Braintalk was the best thing to happen for the communication of thousands in all of the time I have been involved with disabilities.

It can be again. I have an idea of what to do and I will look into and post back if it is feasable.

But we need to try because Braintalk was and is the best there is. All of these other sites have no way near the feelings of friendship and caring that John has brought forth in this myriad of differing and different human beings.

And you all still don;t care less you would not be here talking about it.

You have a good site Paul and you too 'doc' but they are nothing comparable to what we will have again once Braintalk is up and running.

There I said it and I can now have a coffee...........................

Sincerly Thelma

your right Thelma, this place rocks when people are allowed to speak their minds in a thoughtful, courteous manner without fear of being retaliated against by a stinkin prejudicial moderator. I think I like this place, alot~!

I honestly think John is aware now of what is going on as the first announcement that was put up about the site being down was put on my DH and he signed it John and David.

I thought to myself that's cuts it man and this will be gone fast and indeed it was.

The one that remained for so long was in it's place.

So if David could put up the first one why didn't he put up updates and why has he 'endorsed' a chat room other than the one at Braintalk.Again why is he not speaking on here himself.

Does he not endorse this site.

What would 'Doc' have to do to be 'endorsed' as a temporary site.

omg Thelma if all that is true (and I have no reason to doubt it - I remember the not so subtle **** kissing) that is one spooky dude!

I saw that David H guy in ZS's chat yesterday. He just lurked and then he split.

Hey come on guys use ZS's BT2 chat. It's nice a quiet in there ;)


http://www.thunder65.com/bt_temp_chat/chat/

whats the harm
 

if BT2 continues on with this type forums? there are many such sites on the web. BrainTalk is not the only one. I have read much here in the last few days. I am not a rude person and if I have a problem with someone I try to work it out without having to report someone.

Dorry, I think you can believe most of the things posted here. If it is true that John, the Mods and "the David" are taking time to read here it does give me reason to wonder exactly why. They miss BT too?:)

I am not banned, I haven't been banned from the forums and I am still a member, but had already started looking for another source of support as well as give support if I could help someone.

Thelma, my hat is off to you for saying what you did and I believe every word you said. I often wondered why John was so blind he could not see what David H was doing and what he had done over the years.

Thelma, we haven't always seen eye to eye, but you spoke your mind when you felt you were right. I could not have spoken what you posted here in the manner that you did, but you brought back even more bad memories of David.

If David were right here I would say the same thing. He has hurt more people, sick people, caused many to leave BT and created as much hate and discontent it was very sad to watch, knowing I could not do a thing about it.

I have noticed when these "FYI's" were posted I could tell if John or David wrote them. Sometimes very subtle, sometimes not. If I keep going I will get around to telling you how I really feel about him.:o

DocJohn, you have opened your arms so to speak to those that had no other way or means to find other sites to visit while BT was down . I thank you for that. I spent a little time on your own site yesterday and I intend to go back and visit it again.

I do not believe what I have said here is mud slinging. David knows who and what he has done. I could say more, but I won't. I do not know who the mods. are, but I feel many of them have been under Davids thumb and had their hands tied.

Many times you would see where a mod had spoken to a poster, pointed out what they had done and asked them to not do things in that manner again. Later I would see that David had posted after the Mod, and metted out a harsher sentence.. I saw this happen many many times.

One point that John or whoever had put into the TOS. He said we HAD to respect the Mods, no matter what. Well I was taught that respect was earned, not come on demand! I felt strongly the TOS was tampered with more than once, but I don't think John did this.

I'm not afraid somebody is watching, taking names. you know, like kids do. It is a sad day BT has come to this. Thelma, I know John worked very hard to keep things going and the members as a whole helped. We had good chat rooms, the forums were the tops, but I'm afraid BT has fallen off the top of the mountian.

Someday I am going to write what MGH/Chats did for a group of about a doz members. It would certainly do BT proud. We'll save that one until later. The end hasn't come yet.

Thank you DocJohn, I think there is room for you as well as many more and still have BT. take care, Abby

We have no need of BT's "endorsement," just a group of people who want to give and receive support like yourselves.

If people want an alternative and more open forum to discuss their health and neurological issues, then so be it, we will make a new home here for folks who want to stay (and yes, we will change the name so we don't ruffle any BT feathers).

That's not to say there won't be any rules here -- every community needs some minimal guidelines. But if you spend a few minutes over at Psych Central's forums, you'll find we have very few problems with members because our team takes the time to understand issues before taking *any* action. And more often than not, it's just a simple PM to a member. It's amazing how, when you treat people with dignity and respect and spend a few moments with them, you can often help people better understand one another.

Best,
DocJohn

This is really needed. A site that at least keeps a couple of strands open for the type of discussion that could lead to improvements is not a bad thing. I think the problem comes when names are named. One can get their point across by discussing the problem without getting the personalities involved, especially when they are not around to defend themselves, although some really could care less about defending themselves because they are immune to being questioned.

As long as the discussion is limited to a place in forum feedback and the discussion doesn't out a person then open dicussion is a good thing. The forums where help is really needed need to be monitored. How that is done and how it is kept under control is not an easy task, but one that I am sure could be accomplished without banning unless what is going on is out of control. The concept of something out of control is not just accomplised in one post.

The problem always rears its ugly head when one poster doesn't agree and then works their way into making the other posters uneasy without really doing anything to be banned. Some people are extremely gifted when it comes to getting under other people's skin. That doesn't mean they should be banned just asked to back off with the threat of banning if they continue to pursue their agenda. I have worked with a website for the past 5 years that deals with helping others cope with a very difficult subject and there has never been a banning and there are around 20,000 people registered.

No I really don't see the need for this site to be kept. You said it was a temporary thing to help out John and would be temporary till Braintalk came back,

What has happened in such a short time for you now to decide you have the answer for which he has worked years to get to.

Is Braintalk perfect...........................no......... not by a long shot.

But it can be fixed.

And it is worth fixing.

I don't find your reasoning to be altogether factual as to your previous statements.

You have a good site so others tell me. Why is that not enough for you. Do you know something that you are not saying. I know the numbers look enticing to you but there won't be many more to make it worth your while to compete with John.

His personality and his true concept of caring and concern for all that are afflicted with neurological diseases and conditions is a rare commodity in this world.

He is still in there pitching his best and while he has been fooled by some he has never lost the concern for others.

Give him some slack and he will find his way clear to being the person we all cared about and respected for nigh on ten years or more now.

Sincerely

Thelma

John got to where he is by plain work and dedication and there is no respect to try and upsurp all that he has worked for.

I don't think it is being threatened by another site coming on line. It is just that this site said it was one thing and now it is heading in another direction.

If you read what 'doc' has said about the rules and regulations that will have to be implemented you can see that the volatile members [and we do have some] are not going to be welcome there for long.

As to the following

If you don't like it, don't join. But, don't deny others the right to do so, or make insulting insinuations because of the choices they make

Of course if I don't like it I will not join nor could I for one moment make anyone not join and neither would I like to influence them.

As to your 'insinuation' that I would follow up and insult them because of what they decide to do in their personal lives is too silly to respond to.


Now that is a good example of how these open chats can go wrong. I often wonder how we can change our methods of commnication but the fear I have is that in the normal context of what is written the true meanilng is lost. In this case it is because i was talking to another person. When it is taken into your life it changes content and results in the wrong impression being taken.

Hope you have an answer for this as i sure don't

Missed you around BT. I was in the hospital for a month and it took me awhile before I got back on my feet. So the last month there I am not aware of what went on.

Nice talking

Hi everyone,

I've been reading along forum feedback with interest, refraining from comment mostly because I haven't been able to formulate what my thoughts actually are. But, I'll attempt, at least in part~ and this response addresses a few things I've read on other threads as well.

I'm not placing a vote one way or the other on this particular vote because I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other. I have only minor concerns about BT that I'm hoping will improve, and that is in regard to the banning policy....which I think needs to be reconsidered. I'm not aware of most bannings, and there was just one that affected the forum I'm on that I felt was unfair. I think that overall communication needs to improve as well particularly in regard to this downtime. While the downtime has been difficult, I think the much greater difficulty was the lack of any updates. Hold tight? Move on? Getting word out is not that difficult, even without access to the front page of the forum. Look how quickly word of BT2 got out.

There was a time where BT moderators seemed almost too patient, letting things spin way out of control, and then more recently was a shift to banning sometimes without any warning at all.

I like what Doc John said~ "It's amazing how, when you treat people with dignity and respect and spend a few moments with them, you can often help people better understand one another." BINGO. This takes an investment of time, and it also takes a person gifted at doing so, but I believe Doc John is so right about this. Conflict isn't about winning or losing, but learning to understand and accept one another/ other points of view. Of course, some people are out just to cause trouble...and they may need to be banned.

We did have one member of the Gluten Sensitivity board banned without warning for a minor offense, by mentioning her newly opened gluten free bakery offered a discount to support groups with large orders (violation:selling). She had been a member of BrainTalk for a year or so, and we all eagerly anticipated the opening of her bakery. Nobody on the GS/CD forum had a problem with her post~ someone from another forum stumbled upon it and complained. A simple request asking her not to post about sales, discounts, etc, would have been all that was required, and I'm certain she would have complied with that request in the future. Instead, she was banned without warning, end of story, with no recourse. Many of us wrote emails of support, but again...we all must worry about ourselves being banned for doing so, and there really isn't any mechanism for appeal. Otherwise, our particular forum has been a happy place. I am not aware of most bannings or the circumstances thereof. I do believe if someone repeatedly and purposefully disrupts the forums, after several warnings...they should be banned.

I personally have no problem with this new board remaining open to meet the needs of some of the displaced (banned) or disgruntled BrainTalk members, and others who just think it seems like a great new place to be. I think it would be a great place, too, but I do have a certain loyalty to BrainTalk. Afterall, it is where I found answers to my family's many health problems. We all form our own opinions based on our individual experiences, and so far, mine have been mostly good at Braintalk. I understand that others may not be able to say the same.

Doc John originally opened this forum to fill a short term need until BT got back on its feet. Now a new need is showing itself from those previously banned at BT or unhappy with the management of BrainTalk. Again, he is stepping up to the plate and giving it consideration, and I don't see anything wrong with that. It's a big world...and there is room for many forums. It isn't a competition or stealing members or any of those things, IMO.

People are right when the say people want different things out of forums.

There are those who are there for one reason and one reason only...emotional support.

There are some who come in search of possible answers to their medical problems when they have dead ended in the doctor's office. That is where I was when I entered BrainTalk in Fall of 1999, and I did find answers for myself and my girl's thanks specifically to 4 or 5 BrainTalk members who gave me good leads and helped me put my family's puzzle together.

Then there are those standing by who have already found answers to their medical problems, and remain to spread the word so that others may find answers, too. This is where I am now. I'm happy and healthy, and want to spread the word about what I have learned that our doctor's aren't telling us. I believe those of us in this group are the ones accused of being egotistical or practicing medicine without a license, and I think that is a gross and unfair misrepresentation. I, and others, have explained a million times over that new posters post every day, and new lurkers are reading every day...and some important information that our doctor's are missing bears repeating over and over again for NEW READERS. Still, I have for the most part backed out of other forums except for very occasional visits, leaving a few posts in the Stickys, hoping that people will find them and stumble on over to the GS/CD if they want to know more. For every general gripe I hear about repetitive posting (not always targeted at me, but might as well be), I receive several thank you's. I guess that keeps me going because I am helping some people find answers to their health problems. I am sure not in this information business for the money I'm making :rolleyes: , and I promise you it is not to pump my ego. You'll have to take my word on that. People who have found answers to serious medical problems that were stumping the doctors, especially simple answers like diet and nutrition in some cases, become passionate about sharing this information...in hope it may be the answer for others as well. For those who are annoyed by repetitive posts (and I can understand that), there is the IGNORE function that may be used to block them.

Lastly, I suppose there are some who participate in forums mostly to entertain themselves by causing trouble, but they are miniscule in number.

In any case, I can appreciate we all land in these forums for related, yet still different or evolving needs. I can appreciate that our needs are even conflicting at times, for some. So, as far as I'm concerned... yet another forum is fine by me.

Thanks for listening. I guess this was my vent in the safety zone. I am heading off on vacation tomorrow night, and hope when I return a week later that the original BT might be up~ and that productive discussion may continue to evolve both here and there. People do need an opportunity to be heard or the resentment festers and lingers which is evidenced by the fact that some of bannings represented here occured years ago.

Cara (jcc)
(Who is in the awkward place of being one of the top posters at BrainTalk, and thus accused of ridiculous motives. I would vote to have the number of posts count eliminated, and let a join date, or BT member since year such and such, suffice. I do think it is nice to know whether someone has been around a long time, or is new to the community.)

thelma, you have been missed. in general i agree with you, and think you are showing a great deal of common sense.

one place i disagree with you, and that is about david. firehorse has been a member of the epilepsy forum thru a great many battles, and has show kindness thruout all of them. i don't always agree with him, well i don't always agree with anyone including my own self, but in general i definitely think he is one of the good guys.

he has been instrumental in getting the forum set up so that people with seizures are able to use it safely.

he is one of us in ways that no non disabled person can ever be.

i vote yes.

many of us know that the "powers that be" at bt1 join other forums to scout out the posts. admins and owners of boards and been threatened for mentioning ANYTHING about bt.

one of the big problems with having these hidden mods. they posted and befriended us. joined other boards we post on only to report back what we post. sick people imo. ( the mods )

bump, bump bump......

For me....it's much too soon to form my opinion. I'd like to see both boards played out for awhile and see who does what.

There has been very good feedback expressed here and I'm glad that this has been available. My trust levels are a bit shakey right now. The last thing I want to see is total freedom of speech with no rules. My emotions can't handle all the discord allowed here. It's been fine for awhile, but enough already!

I hope John Lester will read, absorb and act on the issues brought up here. Much of my decision will depend on both John Lester and Doc John as to what direction they intend to go.

My loyalty has always been to BT1 and John L. It will continue to be if he steps up to the plate and does what is right. I may wind up hanging with no home and that terrifies me, but so does opening every thread to an argument.

Sigh.......

I haven't been as active in BT1 as I used to be.

I've spent the majority of my time hanging out in the Child Neuro forum. Doing research. And praying. They don't really fight there.

I've seen the fights. And the stalkers. And the hackers. I don't like any of that. You have no idea who's reading your words on the other side of the computer monitor. And you have no idea what kind of shape they're in -- emotionally, physically, psychiatricly. I shudder to think of what kind of damage can be done because someone doesn't watch their words.

I have ONE reason why I don't want BT1 to continue with JL in any position: he doesn't have the time. AND, he doesn't seem to understand that BrainTalk CAN'T be at the bottom of the list -- after the "real job" and after the traveling and after the sleeping and after the flu. There are so many fragile people that got involved with BrainTalk originally. We **ALL** have to watch out for and take care of those that aren't as strong as us.

I like the idea of a mental health professional being in some capacity with the forums.

But, overall, I think this 'thing' has gotten so huge, that there needs to be professionals -- mental health professional(s), non-profit organization administrators, and perhaps physical health professional(s).

And maybe some sort of a "data miner". There is such a vast amount of information that's used by joe-six-pack, health professionals, and others. It's all been lost at least twice already. We can't afford to have that happen again.

This newest version of BrainTalk would be a wonderful time to get away from all our negative history -- all the bannings, the stalking, the fights, the typing-without-thinking, This can be a NEW BEGINNING.

I wish -- I truly wish -- that we could all see this and do this: take care of the fragile ones.

Barbara

Vertical split vs Horizontal
 

I would like to see just one BT. One of the things that makes BT so helpful is the number of posters. Some forums I have checked out have only one or two posts a week, if even that many. Not enough people to share experiences or to advise. If there were to be two BT's, we might just end up with neither one having the critical mass to make things really move along.

If there were a split, perhaps it should be vertical: each of the two boards would focus on different classes of neurological conditions, and work in partnership?

I have not seen the moderators in action much at all, banning or otherwise. I have seen fights going on for far too long, until I wish that the moderators did take some action. But as others have said, the action should begin with a private admonition, not instant ban-for-life.

I agree with what a number of different posters have said:
Moose53: Absolutely, JL doesn't have the time. But I can sympathise with him, not wanting to let go of a project that he put so much voluntary time into, not to mention money. [Someone wanted an accounting of the leftover money after the new server was bought last year - let's not forget that the appeal for money came after his own resources were tapped out.]
[ ] (on another thread that I can't find right now). Your idea for a private thread for discussion and discipline of those being banned - private meaning that you are admitted only if you establish yourself as having a legitimate interest or are invited by one of the parties - is a good one, and worth a seriious look.
Thelma: I share your loyalty to BT1. And I remember some of those early spammers. With the changes to the moderators and their ability to ban, and provision of an appeal process, I think it would be a superb site.
jccglutenfree: I agree with much that you say, except the Ignore function doesn't work for someone that keeps changing their identity. Now if Ignore would also work by looking at features like type-face, and not just name, then we'd have a solution! :)

That's all for tonight, my wife wants the computer.

leave it open!
 

The lack of a BT since July has actually been somewhat refreshing, as I was forced to "turn away" from the car wrecks that could be found throughout the forums. In a sense it forced me to actually get some work done on helping myself (what a concept).:D

What once was a place to find a wealth of information, experience, and the chance to help others, had become...well, with all due respect, a mere source of distraction.

After nearly seven years, BT was now a bit of soap opera of sorts: the fights, the tedious arguments, the bannings, the quiet PMs, back and forth amongst friends, enemies...friends quickly, quietly, surprisingly, becoming enemies, due in part, to the paranoia floating through the forums.

The "interest" of sharing support, friendship, experience, medical info, etc. with those with common fates [at BT1] blah, blah, blah, was gone.:(

Is it anyone's responsibility to return BT1 to a state that used to be valuable to me? Of course not. Perhaps it is a signal that BT1 [or any "support" forum] isn't for me.

Perhaps it is the nature of a site with such large numbers, that conflict is the inevitable outcome.

Perhaps, it is unreasonable to expect our members to behave honorably, kindly, with empathy and compassion, without the threat of banning. No need for mods if we behave...

Perhaps not...

This site [BT2] appears to be a new home for those that have moved on, for those that need to set the record straight (can't let go) and let's hope, for those that can behave and actually derive some medical benefit without injuring others...

Sometimes, letting go of past hurts, sets us free. Sometimes, perhaps, it is better to let go...

Me thinks voting for anything is an empty motion, as what once was, won't re-appear with a "checkmark". It takes comitted members who can flex and bend, and, at times, agree to disagree with grace and understanding to make anything of value live and grow.

"hope springs eternal"...

BT1 for me
 

I'd want to go back to BT1, and not to split the users between two forums. (plus there seems to be a ongoing forum for people who felt rejected at BT1)

First, I found the moderators did an excellent job of banning people as soon as they did things/said things, which were unkind, ungracious, and/or possibly hurtful. I thought the pleasantness on the pn board was partly the wonderful members, but also the fact that disruptive, very difficult people, were erased quickly. This does not happen everywhere, and I approved of the benefit of the doubt tilting in the direction of maintaining decorum and forbidding the trashing of anyone.

I found myself briefly "stalked" there. There was a time when someone would clearly wait until I posted, and then post immediately after, provocative posts which shook me when I realized what was happening. That seemed to end rather quickly, through no action of my own. It was seen and labelled for what it was.

I think the forum which garnered the most complaints, ADHD, had its own issue. ADHD produces impulsiveness, and people acting quickly and without too much thought to consequences when something taps into their emotionality. That's just part of ADHD. Given that, you could expect that board to have the biggest problem with people posting things which could hurt. Perhaps thata explains the higher ban rate there.

My biggest concern is protection of the database. I'd like to see BT1 back up, but with the database protected, duplicated, and with more transparency about what is happening and how it is run. I'd love to see a board of directors/advisors and a legitimate grant funding some part-time staff and computer mavens.

LizaJane
www.lizajane.org

The man with the key isn't there...
 

Yes, perhaps the entire archive (if there is one) could be placed on a couple of mirror sites and updated regularly. Does anyone know if the old Harvard MGH(?) database still exists?

But that way, at least if the actual site is down, people would be able to search on the mirror site; I've been with BT1 long enough to know that most times people can find answers to their queries or problems just by searching.

The main problem at present regarding the database is what's called in the Far East, "The man with the key isn't there" syndrome. I.E., everything depends on just one person who's never there - the phrase comes from visits to, predominantly, mainland China, where anytime you need to do something, (amost anything, actually) it's somehow locked up and the man with the key isn't there.

As far as I can see, the software/human resources setup at BT1 is: a Chief and several Indians, hardware setup is: one part-time wandering Chief.
And the database which, as you imply is priceless, resides in a hacker's garage. (I hope someone will tell me I'm wrong about that).

All a bit of a worry.
All the best

First of, forgive me if I've stated this in this thread already (I know I've said it a few times at these forums).

The database that was used when the site was at MGH is gone. Corrupted or damaged beyond repair (to the best of my knowledge and memory).

The database that is used now that the forums are using vBulletin software is in fact intact. It HAS to be in order for the chats to be working as they are. HOWEVER this doesn't mean that it's in order still. There is a chance that the crash jumbled up the information, fixing that will take some time.

I can state with 98.6% certainy the database is intact and restorable to either the day before (maybe the week before) the crash. Since I don't have access to the database I can't say I'm 100% certain.

The mirror server idea is something I think should be implemented asap for 2 reasons.

#1 if the main server crashes the data won't be lost. There may be a day (or a week...it depends on a number of things) of missing posts...but not a complete loss

#2 the mirror server can be used to archive old posts which will help keep the main server quick and stable.

The problem arises as to wether or not Mr. Lester wants to trust the information to a "server farm" or to another person (or group of people) with a single dedicated server.

zombieslayer...
 

...a question. Under JL's own TOS, did we give up copyright to our own posted works beyond fair use and if so to whom?

A hearty amen to that barbara!

That's exactly what I find here at BT2, ANM. People are actually talking about what matters to them, without strife or fear of the mighty ban hammer or trolls. It is very refreshing.

I also agree, that pushing yourself away from the table when your hunger is satisfied, is the best way to live our lives. I find gleaning what interests me and moving on, is much more healthy than feeling obligated to partake in all the garbage of a bloated forum.

edited

just kidding

Thank you, Mr. Slayer :)
So re:
"The problem arises as to whether or not Mr. Lester wants to trust the information to a "server farm" or to another person (or group of people) with a single dedicated server" - your post..

Hmmm. I begin to see your interesting position within this group.

I have a suspicion that JL sees this as his "PhD" thesis. He's not likely to give it up, is he?

Yet, if the MGH stuff is really gone, (tears hair out, foams at mouth, eats carpet!!!!) wouldn't you think he'd want to preserve what is there? Perhaps, for him, giving the database to someone else is just plain giving it all away..I begin to understand his terror at the idea of "giving it away".

I don't think he'll do it guys.

Well, a late night for me, a middle-of-theday for most of you. (But he must know SOMEONE he trusts...)

all the best