Well, there once was a day when this board--in between the fantastic threads filled with enlightening technological discussions, practical suggestions, and loving help--always had a few other threads going with new people coming here saying "I'm not sure I really want to do this CPAP thing" and then ten pages of angry replies saying "YOU"RE PROBABLY GONNA DIE, THEN!!!!" and then ten pages of "PLEASE STOP TELLING NEWBIES TO UPDATE THEIR INSURANCE POLICIES" then ten more pages of "WELL, THEN, YOU CAN JUST DIE WITH THE BLANKETY-BLANK NEWBIES YOURSELF, SO THERE!!!!"RocketGirl wrote: Seriously I have wondered the same thing as Gaz. Throw a bunch of chronically sleep-deprived people in a forum and I'd expect Mutually Assured Destruction. (Now there's a definition of "MAD" for us!)
It was entertaining sometimes, I guess, but it didn't get anyone anywhere much.
These days there seems to be a good mix of mature people with varying opinions who actually enjoy exchanging information and talking about their differing takes. But there are fewer threads on deeper technological matters, it seems to me. I think part of that is that the technology of the CPAP machines and of the masks has improved so much recently.
This board is a valuable help to people who need answers to their questions on serious medical matters. Many of the people here are, uh, of a certain age, so that tends to keep things saner than some boards filled with teenaged angst, in my opinion.
It is a very public board with room for all types, ages, policical beliefs, religious beliefs, and backgrounds, since anyone can be affected by bad sleep or bad breathing or both. I think the "OT" idea has worked well, for the most part. And I think a lot of good occurs here every single day.
Personally, I just miss some of my favorite posters who used to post around here a lot more. I recommend that new ones search for and read older posts by the likes of Rested Gal and -SWS and Ozij and Slinky. The old threads of this board contain a lot of wisdom, experience, and knowledge that is there for the taking if you go back and read it. Oh, and all of Uncle Dave's stuff too, though with all his name changes over the years it is harder to search for it.
To answer the OP directly, I think many come here angry as an expression of their grief, anxiety, and depression over their condition. I think it important that it be allowed to be expressed by them. But coming back at them with madness rarely helps them, in my opinion. Letting new ones vent gives more experienced ones an opportunity to try to figure out what might help them. That's my take.