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

[adipasqu]

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.

[deerhound]

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.

[Vader]

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!

[ameriken]

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.

[mrnetwurm]

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.

[jabman]

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

[Mary Z]

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

[Mary Z]

could not delete duplicate post.

[Resister]

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 )

[ems]

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.

[Vader]

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!

[jabman]

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.

[ems]

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.

[jabman]

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

[xyz]

> 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.