NeuroTalk Support Groups - 2nd Anniversary for NT coming up, and a little history

There may be some of you that aren't aware of the history on these forums, or how far they've come in being recognized as a reliable and valuable resource for people all around the world, in less then 2 short years.

(I hope I get this right, but my memory isn't quite what it used to be :D)

I joined within a few days of DocJohn establishing this forum publically, and he did so originally because he was aware there was a huge group of "abandoned" (especially MS) patients trying to locate their lost online friends. Another forum had had some technical difficulties, that went on far too long, and in the meantime people had no way to communicate with most of their online comrades.

DocJohn established a link on the internet, so that people who googled occasionally for the other forum, would find this one and their friends. It was like a huge family reunion when we all found each other again.

There was a comfy feel about this place from the get-go, and the growth of the forum was slow, but steady. SallyC, Chris, Ewizabeth, Judy, doydie, Nancy T, Snoopy, Cherie, Cricket (sorry if I missed anyone) and of course a few of the original moderators, including Curious, Chemar, Jo55 and Kimmydawn, kept this place afloat in those early days. The members slowly posted valuable disease-specific information and sometimes shamelessly promoted this “safe” new place to come, in order to build a reliable resource for PwMS.

About a year into it, a small group of :stirthepot: from another MS forum came over, adding liveliness and humor to the early quiet days. Who were those trouble-makers anyway? :cool:

Late last year/early this year, we saw an influx of many, many people, who came here to find a new (or another) home. I think a lot of people were pleasantly surprised to see many of their friends here, and appreciated the special dynamics of this forum. Not only did they get quality information and support, they were allowed to play, communicate privately, respectfully debate openly, but they also had many resources to draw from, like the Weight Loss and Healthy Living, Medications, Social Chat, and symptom specific forums.

In the March/April/07 edition of “Neurology Now”, Neurotalk was acknowledged as a credible source of support and information for PwMS:

Quote:

REALIZE THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE
“It had been an excruciating and lonely experience,” a NeuroTalk (neurotalk.org) member told Neurology Now. The member, who has trigeminal neuralgia, says she “was desperate to speak with one person like me…the thought of talking to many was almost beyond my comprehension.”

For people whose isolation is compounded by geographic seclusion, discussion boards are a godsend. Richardson lives in a small Canadian town in Ontario. It takes five hours to drive to the nearest MRI center or the closest neurologist. “The forums make the world feel smaller and a bit safer,” she says.

“On the forums, I can find people who walk in my shoes,” says Carolyn Stephenson, who has Parkinson’s disease.

“Doctors have clinical knowledge, but can’t make the connection with a patient that another patient can.” A
member of the NeuroTalk forum, Stephenson is also the Web master of the Northeast Tennessee Parkinson’s Support Group (tennesseepd.net).

DISCOVER THE LATEST TREATMENTS
Members are often up-to-date on the latest studies, and frequently post links to journal articles and breaking news. “It’s wonderful to be able to access the latest research and anecdotes at one site,” says Ted’s mother, Cormac-Jones. Richardson notes that the MS forum is chock full of informative links—to clinical trials, scientific abstracts, other MS web sites, journals, and press releases about research advances. “Theories are discussed, snake oil cures are debunked, and support is given to all,” she says, emphasizing that no question is “stupid.”

The overwhelming majority of moderators are not physicians, but because members are hungry for credible research and advice, online communities are surprisingly effective at catching faulty information.

http://www.neurologynow.com/pt/re/ne...d=3&nav=search

NT has come a long way in two short years, and especially the MS forum, THANKS to DocJohn, the moderators, the "originals" and especially the large group of newer people who came here to find their niche.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, NEUROTALK

Cherie