Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.

Would you like to see OT posts not related to xPAP banned from cpaptalk.com?

Yes
109
39%
No
174
61%
 
Total votes: 283

User avatar
adipasqu
Posts: 128
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:24 am
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by adipasqu » Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:41 am

Most of us come here to discuss xPAP and directly related issues with our therapy because there are few forums out there to do so. Recently, off-topic (specifically, political) posts, not related to xPAP in any way, shape or form have cropped up and have created a distraction to this wonderful resource. These sorts of discussions, in my opinion, belong on other websites/forums as to not pollute the open exchange of therapy assistance to those users that need it.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ F10 Full Face Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Now using a ResMed S9 VPAP Adapt (36037) with H5i...SleepyHead software
I am a doctor...just not that kind of doctor.

User avatar
deerhound
Posts: 386
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:15 am
Location: Corrales, NM

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by deerhound » Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:53 am

Even though very few of us have met personally, I consider every member of this group as one of my friends. Friends talk about everything, including politics. Most of the OT political discussions stay quite civil, just like with friends in person. I would hate to see all off topic posts banned. If you don't want to read them, don't read them.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Home made ceiling mounted hose hanger, Backup machine: AirCurve 10 VAuto. settings EPAP 8 IPAP max 20
AHI:
Untreated 156
Treated 1.1

User avatar
Vader
Posts: 1223
Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:35 pm
Location: Land Of The Free

Liberal Poll

Post by Vader » Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:55 am

adipasqu wrote:Most of us come here to discuss xPAP and directly related issues with our therapy because there are few forums out there to do so. Recently, off-topic (specifically, political) posts, not related to xPAP in any way, shape or form have cropped up and have created a distraction to this wonderful resource. These sorts of discussions, in my opinion, belong on other websites/forums as to not pollute the open exchange of therapy assistance to those users that need it.
[sarcasm]
I think anyone who is not a liberal needs to be banned from making any non cpap comments, for now anyways, they can always be totally banned later on!
[/sarcasm]

But ACTUALLY, most folks like the OT category. It keeps the forum alive. Freedom of expression!
That's why we LOVE America, The Beautiful!

_________________
Mask
.









Vader

User avatar
ameriken
Posts: 1294
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:20 am
Location: Colorado

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by ameriken » Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:58 am

I don't spend much time on other forums, I spend most of my time here. I like the people here and I love the CPAP discussions. I dislike political forums because they tend to be downright nasty and I have no intention of joining one full time. Again, I spend most of my forum time here.

I see many non-political OT posts here that I have absolutely no interest in. They have never bothered me because I follow a simple rule: I ignore them so they do not become a distraction.

As for the political discussions, I don't mind a few (and it's really only a few) because I am usually thinking about certain political subjects that I wouldn't mind talking about with the people here. For the most part, the folks here have kept from getting personal in the discussions.

For good reasons, the forums owners do not wish to break this down into subforums where there would be a political or OT subforum. (And virtually every forum usually has some kind of OT subforum). So, the only way to do it is to label a topic as OT, that way others can avoid reading them lin the same way that I do.
Last edited by ameriken on Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thinking of quitting CPAP?

No problem, here's the first thing to do when you quit:


Advanced funeral planning. When you give up CPAP, you'll probably need it.

User avatar
mrnetwurm
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:56 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by mrnetwurm » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:06 pm

ameriken wrote:I don't spend much time on other forums, I spend most of my time here. I like the people here and I love the CPAP discussions. I dislike political forums because they tend to be downright nasty and I have no intention of joining one full time. Again, I spend most of my forum time here.

I see many non-political OT posts here that I have absolutely no interest in. They have never bothered me because I follow a simple rule: I ignore them so they do not become a distraction.

As for the political discussions, I don't mind a few (and it's really only a few) because I am usually thinking about certain political subjects that I wouldn't mind talking about with the people here. For the most part, the folks here have kept from getting personal in the discussions.

For good reasons, the forums owners do not wish to break this forum down into subforums where there would be say, a political or OT forum. And virtually every forum usually has some kind of OT subforum). So, the only way to do it is to label a topic as OT, that way others can avoid reading them lin the same way that I do.

Well said. Although I prefer to not read political discussions or political jokes, I would have to side with the "no restrictions" argument.

User avatar
jabman
Posts: 549
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:14 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by jabman » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:15 pm

I think that all OT posts should be marked as OT and a short discription of the topic and i beleave that most are. that way if you run across one and read the discription then you will know what it si about and then have A CHOICE weather to enter that thread or not

_________________
Mask: Mirage Micro™ Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Machine is set on CPAP mode/ Pressure is set at 12.
Psalm 150: 6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.


"If God does not exist, one will lose nothing by believing in him, while if he does exist, one will lose everything by not believing. " - Blaise Pascal.

Mary Z
Posts: 1493
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:55 am

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by Mary Z » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:22 pm

OT posts that are labeled as such should not be a problem.

_________________
Mask: Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack
Additional Comments: PR System One Remstar BiPap Auto AS Advanced.
Dog is my copilot

Mary Z
Posts: 1493
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:55 am

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by Mary Z » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:27 pm

could not delete duplicate post.

_________________
Mask: Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack
Additional Comments: PR System One Remstar BiPap Auto AS Advanced.
Last edited by Mary Z on Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Dog is my copilot

User avatar
Resister
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:55 pm

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by Resister » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:28 pm

I like the OT posts, and I like the way that when a C-Pap question comes up people with opposing viewpoints still jump in and offer help (at least as far as I've seen, but I'm a newbie )
~Mama is happy when she sleeps with Pap-py~

ems
Posts: 2757
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:46 am

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by ems » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:46 pm

I came here because I needed support when I was diagnosed with SOSA. There are many politically based forums on the internet, as well as anything else one might be interested in. I think people who want to be involved in discussions other than cpaptalk... should go to those forums.
If only the folks with sawdust for brains were as sweet and obliging and innocent as The Scarecrow! ~a friend~

User avatar
Vader
Posts: 1223
Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:35 pm
Location: Land Of The Free

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by Vader » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:48 pm

As typically shown in the past, MOST members are AGAINST banning OT posts.
Besides, as any long time member knows, there are SEVERAL (veteran) posters here, who like to post under multiple identities.(you'll never get a list of their names from me )
While I don't condone their use of multiple identities, to deprive them of their chance to troll on OT subjects would be just plain cruel!

_________________
Mask
.









Vader

User avatar
jabman
Posts: 549
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:14 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by jabman » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:51 pm

ems wrote:I came here because I needed support when I was diagnosed with SOSA. There are many politically based forums on the internet, as well as anything else one might be interested in. I think people who want to be involved in discussions other than cpaptalk... should go to those forums.
I love thios forum, because I can come here and get cpap help and advice. but all work and no play makes a forum dull. so I like the off topics as well. it makes the forum more interesting.
You are not being negelected of help here and you have the choice to be involved in a topic or not. if you don't like the off topic's then don't go into them.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Micro™ Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Machine is set on CPAP mode/ Pressure is set at 12.
Psalm 150: 6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.


"If God does not exist, one will lose nothing by believing in him, while if he does exist, one will lose everything by not believing. " - Blaise Pascal.

ems
Posts: 2757
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:46 am

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by ems » Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:03 pm

jabman wrote: You are not being negelected of help here and you have the choice to be involved in a topic or not. if you don't like the off topic's then don't go into them.
Thank you for telling me that. I had absolutely no idea that if I don't like the OT threads, that I didn't have to go into them. Without your expert advice, I don't know what I would have done.
If only the folks with sawdust for brains were as sweet and obliging and innocent as The Scarecrow! ~a friend~

User avatar
jabman
Posts: 549
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:14 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by jabman » Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:05 pm

ems wrote: Thank you for telling me that. I had absolutely no idea that if I don't like the OT threads, that I didn't have to go into them. Without your expert advice, I don't know what I would have done.
You are welcome any time

_________________
Mask: Mirage Micro™ Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Machine is set on CPAP mode/ Pressure is set at 12.
Psalm 150: 6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.


"If God does not exist, one will lose nothing by believing in him, while if he does exist, one will lose everything by not believing. " - Blaise Pascal.

xyz
Posts: 407
Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:38 pm

Re: Poll: Should OT posts be banned from cpaptalk.com?

Post by xyz » Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:16 pm

> There are many politically based forums on the internet ...
> I think people who want to be involved in discussions other than cpaptalk should go to those forums.

Absolutely.

This is a _medical-related_ forum.

What is wrong with people that they feel a need to yap about _non_ medical related issues on a medical-related forum?

That's just nonsense. It's not like they don't have _many_ other choices. OTOH, there are _not_ many other choices for OSA discussions. (And none better.)

The issue is not that they don't have a right to their verbal diarrhea.

The only issue is whether there are more appropriate forums for it, so that a medical related forum can focus on important medical issues.

> Freedom of expression!

The verbal spewing crowd always waves the flag of freedom of expression.
You rarely hear them talk about responsibility.

> to deprive them of their chance to troll on OT subjects would be just plain cruel!

Only a fool would condone trolling. On any forum. Especially a medical forum.

> You are not being negelected of help here and you have the choice to be involved in a topic or not. if you don't like the off topic's then don't go into them.

The kindest things to be said about that post is that it is naive. Experienced computer users (forum participants) understand the issue of "signal to noise ratio". OT posts _dilute_ the useful, informative information. At some point people get turned off and don't return.