Johnny and Carolyn have lost control

[The Texan]

I can't believe that the owners of this board have let it deteriorate to the level it has. There are several on here, like gvz and his little troop of followers that have apparently taken control of what happens here and in the chat room. I for one will no longer recommend this forum to anyone, until it is cleaned up and controls in place that stop anyone from attacking others.

[Julie]

Nothing like a vote of confidence first thing in the a.m., especially from someone who's undoubtedly been helped (for free) by the board. Good one.

[BlackSpinner]

I can't believe that the owners of this board have let it deteriorate to the level it has.

They never wanted to babysit the members of this board.
They provided some adults a place to share - that is it.
If you need a minder/censor go to one of the Yahoo boards where it takes 48 hours to get your edited post up.

[snuginarug]

To be fair, Johnny and Carolyn ARE doing something about all of this... it will just take a while to enact those changes. They are being worked on.

Until then, the forum itself is quite functional. I am getting a lot of help with my new swift FX. I would definitely still recommend this site for those struggling with problems. Chat, I agree, is sort of insane right now. But the meat of this site, the boards themselves, are functioning just fine. There are some heated exchanges going on about the chat problem that are spilling over onto the boards. But Johnny and Carolyn favor freedom of expression, and one can just ignore the posts sparked by the chat problems. And at times the chat works just fine. This morning I had a nice talk with a couple of people and we were unmolested. It is not ideal to have the chat hijacked periodically, I agree, it is pretty outrageous in fact. But what can be done is being done, just more slowly than we wish.

I understand your feelings entirely and empathize. But we just have to be patient.

[Madalot]

To be fair, Johnny and Carolyn ARE doing something about all of this... it will just take a while to enact those changes. They are being worked on.

Until then, the forum itself is quite functional. I am getting a lot of help with my new swift FX. I would definitely still recommend this site for those struggling with problems. Chat, I agree, is sort of insane right now. But the meat of this site, the boards themselves, are functioning just fine. There are some heated exchanges going on about the chat problem that are spilling over onto the boards. But Johnny and Carolyn favor freedom of expression, and one can just ignore the posts sparked by the chat problems. And at times the chat works just fine. This morning I had a nice talk with a couple of people and we were unmolested. It is not ideal to have the chat hijacked periodically, I agree, it is pretty outrageous in fact. But what can be done is being done, just more slowly than we wish.

I understand your feelings entirely and empathize. But we just have to be patient.

Very well put, snug. And coming from one of the victims, especially in chat, I am 100% supporting what you have said here. We just have to be patient.

[jnk]

Re: Johnny and Carolyn have lost control

I am unaware of their ever attempting to assert control. Their approach has been clearly stated a number of times. For example:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20895&p=179739#p179739

My approach to moderating cpaptalk is well known. Here's the basic rational:

Beware the person who wishes to legislate the morality and the behavior of his neighbor. Respect the person who accepts as responsibility, duty and sacred privilege the task of successfully moderating his own behavior. People who can do this are rare beacons of light. It is easy to point the finger "elsewhere" and imagine a utopia will result. It is hard to do the work and take responsibility to make your first utopia internal. Paraphrasing Ghandi - be the change you wish to see in the world.

There are no rules, no distant moderator, no respected member of the community that can legislate or moderate away our own foul dispositions. If this were not true, one of the many forms of government our forefathers have tried would have worked. For another example of the rhetoric used by people who advocate such a position, read literature from those favoring prohibition before its enactment. These people believed sincerely in their cause, they had good intentions and were good people but their actions were doomed to failure from the start.

How does all of that lofty philosophy play out in real life? In the most basic terms,
I'm trading value for value. I provide the domain, the hosting, the software and the moderation of CPAPtalk in accordance with my set of beliefs regarding human nature and business. You may use it free of charge, you may find a better board or you may start your own.

There will be no additional moderators on CPAPtalk. The core values of this board will continue to govern it. Love your neighbor and be a neighbor others can love.

Johnny

[jules]

Chat, I agree, is sort of insane right now. But the meat of this site, the boards themselves, are functioning just fine. There are some heated exchanges going on about the chat problem that are spilling over onto the boards. But Johnny and Carolyn favor freedom of expression, and one can just ignore the posts sparked by the chat problems. And at times the chat works just fine. This morning I had a nice talk with a couple of people and we were unmolested. It is not ideal to have the chat hijacked periodically, I agree, it is pretty outrageous in fact. But what can be done is being done, just more slowly than we wish.

One of the forum members is determining who can and can't not be in chat. It is not open to all as it should be.

[snuginarug]

Chat, I agree, is sort of insane right now. But the meat of this site, the boards themselves, are functioning just fine. There are some heated exchanges going on about the chat problem that are spilling over onto the boards. But Johnny and Carolyn favor freedom of expression, and one can just ignore the posts sparked by the chat problems. And at times the chat works just fine. This morning I had a nice talk with a couple of people and we were unmolested. It is not ideal to have the chat hijacked periodically, I agree, it is pretty outrageous in fact. But what can be done is being done, just more slowly than we wish.

One of the forum members is determining who can and can't not be in chat. It is not open to all as it should be.

You are completely right Jules. It definitely runs counter to the spirit of this site. NO ONE should be determining who should and should not be in chat. And certainly not by a self appointed person via nasty hacker-type stuff. I am not sure exactly what is being done to address the chat issues (I am no great shakes at computer things), but the problem is not being ignored.

[Gerald]

The key to understanding "what is right" in this issue....can be found in the first line The Texan wrote in his post. The word is "owners".......and ownership determines "what is right" in this case.

As I see it, cpaptalk.com was built by Johnny and his crew to help build his business at cpap.com. For over four years, I have benefitted from the effort Johnny has expended......and I favor cpap.com with nearly all of my cpap related purchases.

If anyone disagrees with the way Johnny and crew manages their property (this site), voting with "the mouse" and "the credit card" is certainly in order.

Johnny will direct his site in such a way that will increase his happiness.....and those who disagree are free to go and come as they please.

[chunkyfrog]

I have been helped immensely by the people on this forum.
In perusing the active topics, I see that many more are being helped as I write.
--Mostly by those much wiser than myself.
I can only add that as we use this forum, some topics, having been hijacked by trolls,
are no longer worth reading, and we need to ignore them.
As for the forum as a whole:
Thank you Johnny and Carolyn; and all those other angels out there; I am grateful.

[DHC]

Re: Johnny and Carolyn have lost control

I am unaware of their ever attempting to assert control. Their approach has been clearly stated a number of times. For example:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20895&p=179739#p179739

My approach to moderating cpaptalk is well known. Here's the basic rational:

Beware the person who wishes to legislate the morality and the behavior of his neighbor. Respect the person who accepts as responsibility, duty and sacred privilege the task of successfully moderating his own behavior. People who can do this are rare beacons of light. It is easy to point the finger "elsewhere" and imagine a utopia will result. It is hard to do the work and take responsibility to make your first utopia internal. Paraphrasing Ghandi - be the change you wish to see in the world.

There are no rules, no distant moderator, no respected member of the community that can legislate or moderate away our own foul dispositions. If this were not true, one of the many forms of government our forefathers have tried would have worked. For another example of the rhetoric used by people who advocate such a position, read literature from those favoring prohibition before its enactment. These people believed sincerely in their cause, they had good intentions and were good people but their actions were doomed to failure from the start.

How does all of that lofty philosophy play out in real life? In the most basic terms,
I'm trading value for value. I provide the domain, the hosting, the software and the moderation of CPAPtalk in accordance with my set of beliefs regarding human nature and business. You may use it free of charge, you may find a better board or you may start your own.

There will be no additional moderators on CPAPtalk. The core values of this board will continue to govern it. Love your neighbor and be a neighbor others can love.

Johnny

Laudable ideals (though built on foundational assumptions not proved) - and false economy.

Many/most of the problems experienced at CPAPTALK are resolved through making software configuration changes that limit almost nothing.

The amount of time needed to clean-up the incursions is FAR greater than making those configuration changes.

FWIW

[Slinky]

Oh, goshes. I don't go in chat much any more. Its too addicting and I don't know enough to shut her down and go to bed if there's still anyone left to chat with. Frankly, the FEW times I've ever been in chat w/a PITA trying to hog the room I just happily chat right on over them or go to a private chat room w/those I enjoy chatting with.

[chunkyfrog]

I'm too slow for the chat room.
just can't keep up. Oh, well.

[larry63]

So Johnny and Carolyn have lost control.
Some might say that they're a troll.

I for one do not know who they are.
I'm just reading this from afar.

If this is the most important thing on this forum,
I have to state with all decorum,

That I could care less 'cuz I haven't read,
The posts the others obviously dread.

[snuginarug]

Hooray Larry!