Off Topic Posts
 

I'd like to make a request: when a thread that began as a medical question movies into social chat, please take the chat to another thread, and label it "Off Topic". I'm finding that as I try to find out what's happening with people in various state of diagnosis or treatment, the threads which began with their dilemmas now require me to read through many social notes to find only that the medical content is now gone, and I've wasted my time. This is happening on a number of threads which I'd found important, including one I'd started myself.

I think it's great that people form social connections here, but what has set this forum apart from others is the high quality of conversation about medical issues, and once we dilute those medical conversations with personal chat I fear we threaten our identity.

So please, let's keep "off topic" off topic.

You are right!
 

I am guilty of this too. We really need a place on line where we can chat, be silly or whatever. Like my plea for groceries and ways to cook, melody's long posts, etc.

I think that some of us, myself included are so starved for conversation that we will jump in anywhere and we lose a really important medical post and answer because we've posted about shoes, groceries, someone's boyfriends, etc. We all know we're guilty of this.:cool:

Before the gift of the laptop, I wanted to just read threads that I thought would give me medical answers and I skipped a lot of posts that might have helped me because there were things in them that I wasn't looking for. Strictly medical posts should be a post of it's own.

I'll try really hard to do this. Make another subject and label the thread off topic. Wonder if we could get Doc John to add a place where we could check each day for sillies and post about shoes, groceries, etc. We'd all just have to remember to check in there.

Thanks for reminding me Liza Jane.
Billye

Granted, ALL of us are guilty BUT
 

Is that not part of a healthy group dynamic? Where all feel comfortable enought to digress off a primary 'issue' and discuss peripheral yet related other issues?

We all do take turns tho, politely I hope. - j

Sometimes when a thread starts to wander too far from the original topic - it's ok to make a friendly reminder or you can re-quote the first post to help get it back on track.

I agree with everything,but shoe size is not out of line,when it comes to
PN and the medical aspects,other wise fine with me...Sue

Strictly Medical
 

Agree that we do wander at times and need to watch - but things like groceries and day to day survival is important to help us deal with our disabilities.... also issues like dealing with insurance, doctors, day to day living etc. from each others is very helpful.... as we all face "special challenges".... and the "normal" people in our lives most often do not understand.... and sometimes may intertwine with a medical thread.

Completely off topic yes - should be on their own.... :eek:

billye,

there are different ways to to have OT threads. daily or weekly check in's, today i, what's on your plate or wonder threads. nobody has to post to them or feel obligated, but it's a nice place to have those friendly off and on topics that can wander all around like a normal conversation does.

most of the active forums here have such threads.

what do ya'' think?

Personally,
 

I think it would be a good idea. We can check in and see what is happening with each other and maybe not wander too far off the track when we are posting medical posts. I like seeing Mrs. d's cat's latest tricks, Melody's latest story, Shiney Sue's latest about Bob and his girlfriends etc. and I sometimes miss them when they are scattered. And sometimes I don't have time to read thru them but feel I have to in order to see if I missed something medically important. I'd like to be able to go back and read them at my leisure. I think a separate thread where we can all "visit" is a great idea.

Billye

I'm sorry I do get off topic a lot. I don't have much info to offer I guess so I try to give back in a way I can. I do know though in many support groups a big part is coping mentally. I think it lifts my spirits and a healthy distraction to hear other stories. I always love reading for example Melody's stuff. I hope in some way we can have posts like that. If people think it is better in seperate threads that is fine with me.

Well if anything I don't think using names is polite are necessary..
Many have used husbands names or brought them up on posts.

So I will speak for myself,Bob is as important to my care as any one's
husband...Also i tried to use as a example,that my Boyfriend sent
me flowers with a vase...It was a simple way of saying,We must continue
to use what we can.

I'm not angry,but sometimes I get lost in some pretty darn,large and
at times far to technical mecial tearms,that make me feel,that we are thinking
out loud just a little to fast. But If a ya hoo PN forum is needed so be
it... Until then some people may shut down,other's may not. Ya hoo
Bob my friend and sometimes caretaker was taken by hospital last night,
I had to call 911...Is that sharing yes,am I worried you bet,just the stress upset my PN oh boy it does...

I am waiting for a phone call another one,for early this moring,I was told he had a heart attack...Pm me if you would like me to hush,or anyone else...
I'm not angry but well mybe a bit,so I will get over it. Just say what you
wish to do,let me know. Sue

Sue , sorry to hear about Bob.:grouphug:

I don't think the original post here was requesting that no off topic posts should be made, I think it was asking that they not be mixed into a mostly medical or article thread discussion. At least that was how I read it...:)

I know when a thread gets very long with many replies it will tend stray off from the original, it just happens.

On some of the other forums if a discussion gives rise to another thought or idea one of the members usually will post a note saying
" I think we need a new thread for this topic - I'll start one"
and they just do that, it seems to work well.

Sometimes when there is a very informative medical or article thread members will ask me to place a link or copy into the sticky thread on that forum- so it's easier to find if needed.

I love curious's idea about threads for checking in and keeping up, and also like the idea that people re-post their original medical thread when they see the thread has moved off topic. Truly, I did not write this to stop anyone from pursuing the wonderful relationships we all have formed here; I write it simply because I could no longer find what was happening to people whose medical problems I was followings on specific threads.

Thank you all for taking this so well.

Then please let's do it,and get on with it...I'm very much ok with it.
Sue

Aww Sue,
 

I'm so sorry about Bob and know how scared you must be. I felt this way when my husband had the back injury and had to have surgery. I'm not angry about this post because I do understand that some are here only for medical language and others need support in other ways,...like sharing and telling of family, etc.

But I don't like looking at a thread that is entitled "IVIG Questions" or Can Anyone Tell Me About Causes of Neuropathy?" or something like that and then seeing the thread turn to discussions of fashions, or shoes, or oh...you all get the idea.

We all who are shut in's in this world because of neuropathy need some companionship. I live with a man who reads, puts on earphones and listen's to news shows, etc. He doesn't talk. It's nothing new, he's been that way as long as I've known him. We've always said, he's quiet because I never shut up. :p So I need some sympathy, funnies, attention, etc. There is no one else anymore to share with. I don't even have family that cares or inquires and my one friend doesn't come around anymore. I'm really alone.

So I think the idea of a thread that we can keep going like the one Curious just posted is wonderful. If people don't want to listen to me whine or boast, or whatever, they can just skip that post and go on to read all the medical ones. I do feel that if I have something personal to share on the medical thread that will help someone, I'll continue to do it.

Please let us know about Bob. I know he's important to you.:hug: I totally understand. I have a similar situation. I always look forward to your posts. You are so kind. Hope I didn't upset you. Didn't mean to. :o

Billye

Everyone
 

I had to call my son,he is here, from OK.. He is spending the night with
Bob. He has had what they thought a mild (odd word ) heart attack.
He has had a major heart attack, My husband and Bob are not anything like your husband,or my husband wasn't,I should say. But my Brother is,so i
understand.

They will decide what to do in the morning,he must rest...Bob will be 79
on Dec. 3rd. One of his Cardiologist is my friend,my friend I repeat,
will help decide if he stays here are goes to Barnes...Bob is a strong willed
man who truly believes in God...So I sit here by the phone,with some of his friends. I feel he will be ok...But i must insist my son go home,he must work,
and Bob will understand...I'm not upset at anyone,i have long felt this
would be a good thing.. My only suggestion,please choose your words
carefully,om the Med forum...J often saids look at the pictures if you want,
but don't let the pictures scare you... So I will get back to the girls..
I am checking the computer,but right now feel free to Pm or E-mai Thanks
for asking.... Sue

Hey Sue, i hope that everything works out well for Bob. Hearts are one thing the medical profession is very good at. Take care of yourself.

Oh My! Sue?
 

This is sounding like a crisis of a personal sort....a serious one? Am I close here? Heart Attack or 'cardiac event' to me, can never be categorized as lo priority. This is seems like one of those awful 'watch and wait' stretches of time. And having been thru it more than once, that time? It does STRETCH! This time, any way it goes, is NOT FUN. I'll contact you for extra insight? OK... - j

Guilty, as charged... I will try to do better.

Oops, hope Bob is OK.
Cathie