Should CPAPtalk Filter Or Allow The Dental Device PR Spam?

[freepostg]

Block it!

[Songbird]

Every once in a while, you pose a question about your forum to us, and it amazes me every single time. Do you have any idea how many business and forum owners wouldn't do such a thing, Johnny? Most of them... maybe the rest of them. And then you actually listen to us. I'm sure I also speak for others when I say how much I appreciate the WAY you're involved in this forum and how valued and respected you make us feel. Thank you. Now, on with the question...

While using CPAPtalk.com, you will not:
* * *
distribute or post, email or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, junk mail, spam, chain letters, or pyramid schemes;
* * *
(from the cpaptalk.com User Agreement)

My opinion: (1) It's spam. (2) That violates the user agreement. (3) Block 'em.

Every week there is a new one of these that says the same thing. I suppose it can be helpful to the newbie looking for alternatives or supplements to CPAP, but for me, its reached the point of spam. * * * Please let me know, do we set our filters to allow this through? (my emphasis added...marsha)

I really think the following two rules should decide the issue for you:
Rule #1: If the boss thinks it's spam, and the boss owns the place, it's spam, and the spammer should be blocked.
Rule #2: When in doubt, refer to Rule #1.


Marsha

[boston]

I say block it, if a newbie comes in they may jump on it being desperate, when they really need the help of people here. If for whatever reason they dont find help here, they can find the snake oil through google or somewhere else.

[RosemaryB]

Coincidentally, I just posted about my new dental device. I'm in the process of trying the TAP3. I hope that the dental device will be used to supplement my cpap for electrical outages and camping trips if it works out for me. I do have great hopes that it will work. So, I think that we need to be able to get information about dental devices and if they work or not. I do appreciate the discussions I have seen on this forum of these devices, pro and con, pro from people like Snork1 and Socknitster. Snork1 appears to have had a real success with it. I believe most people will have much more success with cpap machines and they will remain the standard. But dental devices may be beneficial, too.

At the same time, I think this type of spam is really rude. For someone to post an "Ihatecpap" website here is just weird. I see no problem with you banning it. The discussion by members is much more likely to be valuable than spam to newcomers. If the poster of the spam wants to join and dialogue with forum members we'd be a lot more likely to take his/her product seriously. The spam hurts his/her case by doing a phony news release. It just makes their product look bad.

[SleepyNoMore]

Hi Johnny,

My VOTE is "BLOCK the Spammer's", they have had way over their "fair share" of spamming on your forum and frankly, I think everyone is sick of it, I say if you don't want to "register" and become a member then you shouldn't be allowed to comment to a post or make a new post, this is a pleasant forum, well most of the time... and i'd like to see it stay that way!

As far as i'm concerned, it would basically be the same thing if they went to cpap.com and started adding comments and listing their web addresses trying to sell your customers something that might even loose you a sale somewhere along the line!

I vote "For the Block"

Sleepy NoMore, ha-ha

[goose]

Hey Johnny,
I think that blatant spam should be blocked -- whatever the subject!!!
There is no real evidence that dental devices can eliminate xPAP in the treatment of OSA, however, there is always hope. I think discussions here about alternatives is a very healthy thing. I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that someday, someway, I can put my "little buddy" in the closet. It certainly isn't now, and I can't imagine sleeping without my "little buddy" blowing air in my face.....

I find the link you posted to be what I would consider blatant spam.
Along with Marsha, I too appreciate the effort you make to let us, the community, know that we matter and have a say in how "our" forum is run. The final decision must be yours, but the allowed participation is greatly appreciated.

cheers
goose

[dsm]

From my perspective, I like to read all that kind of gumph. I have seen many times where people ask about such devices here & get a good pounding in the ears from the long time users. This is one of the things that makes cpaptalk unique.

The lack of censorship here has been an oft debated point & as more time passes, I believe the policy of very limited censorship has been an excellent one.

Let em come - esp the one with the name ihatecpap (what an idiot name). That name says it all as far as their intent

DSM

[DreamStalker]

To the chopping block! ... off with his head!!

Oh .... wrong forum

I agree with Doug, idiot spammers (and alt-cpap advocates) usually get thoroughly chewed up and spit out when they come post their stupidity on the forum.

But I also agree that the same idiots that keep coming back for more may just be spam-bots and they prolly should be blocked.

[dieselgal]

Block them is my opinion. If people search online for CPAP alternatives they will turn this type of thing up anyway.

[jnk]

Johnny,

I have to admit I'm slightly confused by the question. Maybe because I'm still new to this.

Are you asking about blocking the press release from showing up in the "CPAP and Sleep Apnea News" section? Or blocking links to such press releases from posts? Or other?

Some may want to link to those kinds of press releases just to make fun of them, oops, I mean, point out where they are wrong. If you mean blocking them from being in the "CPAP and Sleep Apnea News" section, I agree they serve no purpose.

But, either way, if I had to choose one person on the planet to make that kind of judgment call, it would be you. So I trust you completely on it whether I understand the question or not!

jeff

[johnnygoodman]

Howdy JNK,

Good question and a chance for clarification.

We are talking about quietly blocking press releases from the ihatecpap.com people from showing up in the CPAP and Sleep Apnea News section for these reasons:

1. They aren't adding value. They send one once a week that says the same thing as the last one. How many do we have to read before we get it and their news wastes our time?

2. They aren't discussing the options a complete way. A newbie reading this stuff isn't as wise as one who discussed the topics with CPAPtalkers on an open thread.

3. They aren't participating in our community in a positive way, but they are getting the benefits of doing so in visibility. Anyone ever gained knowledge from registered CPAPtalker ihatecpap?

4. They are taking a slot up that could be used for "real" CPAP and Sleep Apnea news.

That being said, we are NOT talking about a ban or censor on discussion their business, dental devices, pillars, or anything like that. All of those topics are absolutely allowed and far "in bounds" for any newbie or CPAPtalker. If you are an active community member who believes in their stuff and you want to link to, suggest or debate the merits of their stuff - go for it.

On a related note, people ask me from time to time why Pad A Cheek and Pursleep get to promote their stuff on the forum. I think its GREAT that we've got CPAPers thinking outside the box, making CPAP more comfortable, lowering the barrier to newbie entry and building small businesses along the way. So long as they are promoting by engaging with users who are interested and being upstanding CPAPtalkers, why wouldn't I be thrilled to have them choose CPAPtalk as the place to put down roots? Karen and Bret definitely pass the active and positive CPAPtalker test. They don't push stuff on people, but its known that they offer products because other users rave about them. Bret and Karen are clever, they use CPAPtalk as a feedback engine and if you take a look at their products over time, its working! We're all better off for their efforts. I'm glad they're here and wish there were 100 like them, although if the next 98 would offer CPAP.com better margins, that'd be great.

I think people are well served to receive all their options - ideally from those who have first hand experience. Once they have the options, they'll make decisions that best impact their health. If someone uses a non-CPAP device effectively and has the O2 sats to prove it, they and their findings are welcome here.

Johnny

[Sleepy Boy]

Hi Johnny: Thanks for asking for our opinion. This site is called CPAP TALK, thats what brought me to this site. I love this forum and the great people on it. If it would have been called Dental Device Talk--I would never have looked at it. I'm kind of a newbie, been on cpap since July, and only on here since Nov. If I wanted advice an dental stuff I would go to a dental stuff site-new or not. I hate spam, and have Spamblocker on my computer. I dont need dental advice, I need cpap advice.Thanks for asking, Larry....