Cpaptalk.com vs Apneaboard.com

[fog.apnea]

I probably like most have joined both forums when beginning my hose therapy. Very quickly learnt the filtering of cpaptalk.com keyword from their site. It's a good site too and respect whatever policy is theirs to filter out cpaptalk.com but I feel and IMHO what you can't find there you can here and not vice versa. Google search results searching for cpap related queries should speak for that fact. Ability to share feedback with no restrictions for me is a no brainer and find this site more helpful. Except the initial few days (it's been 7 months now) I haven't really needed to go to that site.

[ShinRyoku]

Google search results searching for cpap related queries should speak for that fact.

I did notice that Google ranks CPAPTalk as a much greater authority than Apnea Board.

[palerider]

Google search results searching for cpap related queries should speak for that fact.

I did notice that Google ranks CPAPTalk as a much greater authority than Apnea Board.

That may partially be as a side effect of some of how google does their page ranking stuff, and the fact that we over here are free to post urls to products and sites, whereas over there, they play the 'secret agent game' with 'supplier 15, go look it up' stuff.

Google doesn't care about 'supplier 23 having a good deal', but does care about hotlinks to and from other sites.

That's all just a guess though, since google likes to keep their exact method secret, so it doesn't get gamed as much by miscreants.

[ShinRyoku]

Google search results searching for cpap related queries should speak for that fact.

I did notice that Google ranks CPAPTalk as a much greater authority than Apnea Board.

...whereas over there, they play the 'secret agent game' with 'supplier 15, go look it up' stuff.

The funny thing is, they say they do all that odd stuff because linking to commercial sites affects their educational status and therefore impacts their "fair use" argument for distributing manuals, copyrighted articles, etc. But that doesn't pass muster.

For one thing, they are a commercial site themselves, covered in Google ads, asking for donations, etc, without nonprofit status.

Second, even a nonprofit educational institution has very limited fair use rights.

See:
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr280b.shtml
https://teaching.berkeley.edu/resources ... -classroom
https://www.theedublogger.com/2017/01/2 ... e-commons/

[jnk...]

I don't directly criticize any of those aspects of that board. They may be in a more complicated position and may be doing their best to tiptoe through the legal landmines while appeasing financial supporters. Bottom line is that people are being helped over there too. And if the legal advisors and financial backers are still allowing patients to get help, good on 'em all, I say.

If they feel they have to be more careful about the public face they present, they may tend to put on lipstick and wear ties and hold a harder line on topics and links. That's fine. Many of us over here tend to horseplay in our sandals and bathrobes without combing our hair or shaving, which can look pretty scary at first until you figure out that the dynamic here often allows for quicker and more direct help.

Personally I admire what they do there, and I like the fact that their existence gives us a place to send people who get freaked out about what goes on here. As has been pointed out in various ways by others, it may be best to consider it a sister-board of sorts, or at least a cousin-board, to this one, since many of us frequent both places (not me, I'm too lazy to walk over there). It's nice that if a newcomer can't deal with the smorgas-board served here, they have a place to go for a formal sit-down meal over there where they may be more comfortable, even if they have to wait for the server to take their order and get it to them. The important thing is that they get something nutritious somewhere to survive their PAP experience. Food here is sometimes a little spicier and tastier, but then again, the silverware over there may be a little cleaner than our open basket of plastic forks. It's all good.

Sometimes the most helpful person in any family is the very one that the rest of the family in the neighborhood won't admit in public to being related to. Or, um, so I hear.

[chunkyfrog]

In the past 8 years, I have never been tempted to join apneaboard,
but last fall, I found freecpapadvice to be welcoming to souls needing respite.
Good to have a backup if the Korean spam returns.
Or that other thing.

[Squirrel]

You can sell new or used cap and supplies here, but not at apneaboard.com.

This post caught my attention. I am not of fan of or have found a good medical equipment supplier and welcome the ability to find equipment and supplies at a fair and reasonable price.

Sorry for the side comment but I will blame it on being new here. Have read a few things on apneaboard.com but did not get the answers I was looking for. This place sounds good to me

[palerider]

Google search results searching for cpap related queries should speak for that fact.

I did notice that Google ranks CPAPTalk as a much greater authority than Apnea Board.

...whereas over there, they play the 'secret agent game' with 'supplier 15, go look it up' stuff.

The funny thing is, they say they do all that odd stuff because linking to commercial sites affects their educational status and therefore impacts their "fair use" argument for distributing manuals, copyrighted articles, etc. But that doesn't pass muster.

For one thing, they are a commercial site themselves, covered in Google ads, asking for donations, etc, without nonprofit status.

Second, even a nonprofit educational institution has very limited fair use rights.

See:
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr280b.shtml
https://teaching.berkeley.edu/resources ... -classroom
https://www.theedublogger.com/2017/01/2 ... e-commons/

Yeah, well, don't try to tell THEM that, cuz they'll ban your butt for not agreeing with 'em.

That's one of the reasons I like Jason's forum, (freecpapadvice.com/forum) he's not ban happy.

I got banned over on apneaboard originally because I said "I'm surprised the mods have let this thread drift as much as it has, they're usually in here with there swagger sticks keeping everybody in line". *banned* ironic, I thought, make a little joke about moderation severity, and get banned for it. Hell, one of the moderators has (or had) a big hammer as their avatar.

Conversely, on freecpapadvice.com, I make a post teasing Jason, alleging he's got a pervy shoe fetish (because his board gets weird shoe spam) and he just throws it back at me laughing all the time: http://freecpapadvice.com/forum/viewtop ... 298#p21298

I'd much rather be around someone that doesn't take themselves so damn seriously.

[palerider]

Personally I admire what they do there, and I like the fact that their existence gives us a place to send people who get freaked out about what goes on here.

That, and the providing manuals... they do serve a very useful purpose.

Sometimes the most helpful person in any family is the very one that the rest of the family in the neighborhood won't admit in public to being related to. Or, um, so I hear.

*side eye* Oh, you're not talking about pugsy, are you...

[palerider]

You can sell new or used cap and supplies here, but not at apneaboard.com.

This post caught my attention. I am not of fan of or have found a good medical equipment supplier and welcome the ability to find equipment and supplies at a fair and reasonable price.

There's a few folks that come across used machines and offer them to the folks here, or have a spare one they want to get rid of, extra mask cushions (there's a thread for that) etc.

Jason's board too... just not apneaboard.

[jnk...]

. . . one that the rest of the family in the neighborhood won't admit in public to being related to. . . .

*side eye* Oh, you're not talking about pugsy, are you...

If that describes Pugsy, I should ask her if she has the other half of this amulet.

[Cubbiebear]

I peeked at the other forum and hate it! I tried to edit/remove my information and see no where to do so. I emailed them asking my info to be deleted along with my joining/membership. Does anyone know how I can do it myself?

[greatunclebill]

Any apnea forum that talks about apnea is a good forum. I don't think it does any good to go on one forum and speak ill of another forum. The fact that one forum does things differently than another forum is neither good nor bad. The differences in the forums are good or bad in the eyes of the beholder only.

[palerider]

Any apnea forum that talks about apnea is a good forum.

I disagree. Any forum that doesn't allow people to help each other, and strongly encourage *GOOD* information is not a good forum. The old ASAA forum wasn't very good, because it banned anybody trying to actually help people, like kaiasgram, and jedimark.

I don't think it does any good to go on one forum and speak ill of another forum.

Just ranting about it, yeah, I'd agree, explaining why someone doesn't like the forum, that's valid discussion, it could help other people understand the situation, like to say that apneaboard is *strictly* moderated, by people that have dubious knowledge of the subject and often post debatable 'advice'... that's an honest fact. Saying that they're condescending and stifle free exchange of information is also an honest fact.

Saying that freecpapadvice.com/forum is much more loosely moderated and the owner has a great sense of humor, and isn't afraid of laughing at himself is also an honest fact.

The fact that one forum does things differently than another forum is neither good nor bad. The differences in the forums are good or bad in the eyes of the beholder only.

Absolutely. I dislike the way apneaboard is run, I find the atmosphere oppressive, I dislike how people are free to spout misleading, and wrong views and how it's more important to respect the feelings of the fountains of garbage than it is to get correct information... HOWEVER, it's their board, their rules, their way of doing things, and there are people that *prefer* that... And more power to 'em.

What's reprehensible is dumbasses that come in and then try to tell a board that they should change how they are to fit the dumbasses way of wanting to do things. Like the idiots that move into a house next to the airport then start complaining about the noise, or buy a house by the railroad tracks and start bitching that their house shakes when trains go by... those tracks have been there a hundred years.

Find a forum that suits you, don't go trying to remake the neighborhood. If you like living in the country and having freedom, settle here, if you prefer a gated neighborhood with a HOA that tells you how to decorate for Xmas, and how to mow your grass, and what kind of lawn chairs you can put on your porch... *go to apneaboard*....

[bombayone]

The Apnea Board and Cpaptalk.com both impose censorship. The Apnea Board moderators enforce their rules which can limit the freedom of discussion. Cpaptalk.com allows forum members to bully others which can have the effect of limiting discussion.