Goes without saying..
 

NeuroTalk RULES.

I used to read other forums 'obsessively' at times (my F5 key is getting worn out!), until I found this place. Now I'm just ignoring the other places for the most part and F5'ing over here. ;)

You're all a part of the success and what makes this forum so enjoyable! :grouphug:

it is a godsend thats for sure

Yeah, I seem to be able to play by these rules (pm's, links, quoting information, etc.) best. :D

Besides of course, there are a great group of people here. :hug:

Glad you found your way here too, Laura.

Cherie

I agree Laura. This is a great place with great people!

There's rules here Cherie? Where? :confused:

They are all fair rules and easy to follow.....I follow them with ease...er...most of the time..:o :D

Yep, and I'm a no rules kinda gal. ;)

Just respect, kindness, support . . . I've seen places where that doesn't happen, even with a 1000 rules.

Cherie

I'm with Cherie on this one. It's ironic how the most 'moderated' (am I allowed to say **** here?!) boards also can turn into the most hostile and catty ones. :(

I couldn't be myself there. I feel like I can be myself here (which may be a bad, BAD thing :p ).

I've been on other forums, and I've been treated so nicely here. I'm not being constantly criticized by a forum member for the decisions that I've made about my medical care, or for my living situation.

I almost didnt start coming here because my last experience with an MS forum left a very bad taste in my mouth. I had to lurk here for quite awhile before I felt safe enough to say anything here.

I think it depends on what the true purpose of a forum is and also sometimes the agendas of the "moderators" in question, too. It's not always clear, especially at first. ;)

I agree that we're lucky to have found this place.

I love the fact that if I respond to something, no one picks out one tiny little word I typed and twists it around and uses it against me!

yeah its really nice to be able to be oneself, we all make decisions in life some good some bad, what people need is support and comfort, and there seems to be a lot of support here and from that comes comfort, and I might add when folks do offer advice its done politely here, good thread Laura

I think it's important that we can be people, not just text, here. Know what I mean? ;)

The really sad part about that is that I think some people (at other forums) are not getting the right information, or at least ENOUGH information to know when something might be wrong.

Cherie

Cherie, you know that I agree and find it a real concern. It bums me out when people are "punished" for ridiculous things, prevented from providing information that might help and yet completely allowed to be misleading and/or disseminate bad information. :(

Cherie I believe knows me from another forum with some uh, strict is a mild word, guidelines. I use a different username there.

Here I've come to find out that Cherie's a very thorough and knowledgeable individual, more so than I would have EVER known over there. Wanna know why? Because she can post references to what she is talking about. Not only that, but I feel I am getting to know her as a 'person', not just anonymous 'text'. :) That's huge!

My tone in my messages here is certainly VERY different than on the particular forum I'm thinking about. I can let loose and be myself, and not worry about treading on the fine line between 'accepted' and 'penalty box' :D Which I've found myself in before, just simply for having something that was apparently a 'no no' in my profile, my AIM screen name. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Besides, Cherie wouldn't have the freedom there to call me a newbie for just discovering Uggs teeheet! :hug:

I will always have Bearygood :hug: to thank for bringing me here. I stopped 'searching' for MS forums on the Internet, because for me it was Google search and wade through non-relevant hits for the next hour + reading sometimes depressing information in the process, or unrelated junk.

Yuh huh. Big time. What burns is when you can't just 'tell' the affected to come here, because the way it works it prevents you from doing so. :rolleyes:

I can respect that some people choose to remain anonymous on the Internet. The choice is there. The choice is also here! What I am in utter disbelief over is the censoring of those who wish to extend help to those with the questions, fear and suffering.

I've been on other boards but nothing compares to this one. :)

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...ilies/n030.gif

Other boards have clamped down on the social rules, and are working hard to push forward on information about/around/for the disease itself while cutting away at the social aspect of the place. Some did it for band with, and others did it regain control of run away things. I do find that on a couple of places I find great technical information, and can share quite a bit of medical type information. As for a social place to come over, pop your shoes off and have a cup of tea while just letting your hair down.

THIS PLACE ROCKS!

There are 3 or 4 places that I hang out, and use the same name at all. I try hard to appreciate them all for what they have to offer. one place is soooooo dry with its information, it makes me crazy! another has great information and loads of fun people to play with. another is really great for providing links on how to get to the CAM side of MS and exploring more than just standard treatments. I think all offer some good things. I try to appreciate them for who and what they are.

Actually, it took me quite some time to realize that you were "her" from "over there" ;), and even then I had to be told. :p

I might be easier to recognize, even if I have to act somewhat differently, since I've always prided myself by being transparent by using the same handle at every forum (it's a personal thing :rolleyes:). Well, at least I used to do that . . . there is one place that suddenly won't let me use my handle (lady_express_44), or anything even remotely close to that, so I refuse to go there any more. :mad:

I really don't "know" a lot about this disease, Laura . . . no one does, it seems :p... I have just researched a lot and managed to put some of the pieces together. Sometimes I'm out in left field, but I still put things out there because I want people to clarify for me if I am wrong too.

But I know what you mean about being able to be ourselves here, and I definitely like that we can post information that others can benefit from. Why have 100 people running off to research the same topic, when we can share the knowledge we have dug up, and others who are really interested can question it. Everyone gets the advantage of that approach!

Cherie

I visit other forums for different reasons too, Dejibo, and I agree they all have their good points.

There are many people on the net though, that find their little niche somewhere (usually one of the first forums they "google"), and then they stay there because they get comfortable/feel accepted. I understand why they would do that, but those people can unknowingly be at a major disadvantage with this disease . . . which ultimatley serves little purpose for those who have yet to find the answers they might need.

For instance, some forums (not confined to MS forums either!!) want people to understand things according to their agenda, with no room for discussion or dispute. When initimidation, belittling, and banning hasn't worked to stifle people from open communication, the next course of action is to just DELETE any "contrary" (but NOT necessarily inaccurate!) postings BEFORE they even hit the forum.:eek:

Top that off with not permitting private communication, and/or to disallowing people to use their usual handle on a forum . . . those people are sitting ducks.

I understand why a newbie would be none the wiser to these tactics, but I do wonder why people who've been around don't see that's what's happening at some places? :confused: What other reason would there be, really?

(I've seen these occurences on cancer, family law, and even baseball forums too . . . so I really don't mean to limit this pet peeve to the MS forums specifically.)

Cherie

I agree - NT rocks! This is the forum where I feel the most comfy, complete with bunny slippers ;)

DocJohn has done an awesome job here, and I'm so thankful for my online buddies who pointed me this way. :)

:grouphug:

I used the other username before MS was ever in the picture on the other boards. I had originally registered to discuss on the TMJ forums, because that was an condition I had been diagnosed with.

"dmplaura" I use everywhere else. Outside of the world of MS forums, I am actually a 'Team Lead' for an MMORPG. The 'dmp' part of the username is related to that.

I had originally gone to discuss health matters wanting to remain 'anonymous', but when I found out I had MS, I knew I couldn't handle this anonymously. Nor have I hidden my condition from anyone, in my immediate life or on the Internet. Sharing is good!

Cherie, don't underestimate yourself! :p Of course none of us can claim we know everything about MS, but I admit that I'm learning more from communicating with others about the disease than I ever could trying to research it myself.

I was first reading this thinking "we have rules?" lol I absolutely LOVE this place!!!!!!!!!

NT= No Troubles

So there's no rules? :D

(does the happy dance)

Oh geez, I always thought rules were made to be broken. Now what will I break?? :p
Seriously, this place is truly awesome!! :D

The lock on Gazelle's fridge to get to her brownie stash when you run out of your's :D

*stepping into thread*


Just glad you all are here!
http://dl7.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...l2m9fdqrp7.gif

http://smileys.smilchat.net/smileys/...updebrique.gif

I gotta be meeeeee...