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

[DoriC]

Sometimes, I find the political OT threads give insight as to the other views of members.
I feel I know them better, even if I think they are wrong.

I know you were part joking, but you are absolutely right! That's what makes this a family!
And as someone else suggested, sometimes even families disagree.

I tend to go along with Vader and Chunky, I've gotten to know so many members here and I feel like I "know" them, but we mostly interact on sleep apnea related topics, so it's interesting and enlightening to get to know their views on different subjects whether I always agree or not. I love the diffferent "personalities" that emerge on OT topics!

[Bluecat]

Isn't this thread OT?

[Vader]

OT posts should not be banned. They shoud be ingored.

They, and the people who start them over and over and over should be ignored, since those posts are are simply another way of crowing for personal attention.

When you respond to an OT post, you push a valid, cpap related post down from page 1 to page 2, or 3 or 4. Think of it next time one of the chronic OT'ers attempts to yank you chain yet again.

So, if you were “in charge” here, you would have us *ignore* ALL OT , such as humor?
… Anecdotes about peoples life experiences? Warnings of asteroids potentially wiping out the planet? Christian thinking?

Or JUST political views that YOU disagree with, and the members who post them who are ( in your words) the “chronic OT’ers, who are “crowing for personal attention”?

[Vader]

"If the subject line says OT..then don't read it..just ignore it." ...."but, if its not intereszting to you just move on to the next thread."

Sound advice, Nan. It's the kind of logic that says... the post office should send out more junk-mail cause... we might find some of it interesting. One persons junk, is another persons gold.

Thanks for the advice.

Red Herring!


but speaking of Herring , I have really enjoyed SlartybartFast's "healthy lifestyle" posts that were of course posted as "OFF TOPIC". These posts were a very postive influence on me in trying Low Carb eating. I've already lost 18lbs!



....NEXT!

[nanwilson]

"If the subject line says OT..then don't read it..just ignore it." ...."but, if its not intereszting to you just move on to the next thread."

Sound advice, Nan. It's the kind of logic that says... the post office should send out more junk-mail cause... we might find some of it interesting. One persons junk, is another persons gold.

Thanks for the advice.

Bettersleeper........ If you don't care for my advice...why did you read it and then comment on it??? The message was if you don't want OT subjects, just skip them...but you keep on reading and commenting.
Cheers
Nan

[chunkyfrog]

Even 'rants' can be entertaining--the nice thing is you can switch it off a whole lot quicker than face to face.

[Cuda]

I run into this a lot, people like discussing topics with people they feel connected to and being on a CPAP sure fits that bill. I am against OT on the main forum because like others said most of the time people are coming her to discuss pap. I think the simple solution is to have an off topic forum so if you feel like just talking about anything you simply click over to the OT forum and the pap forum stays clean. This is how the Corvette forum I use to use a lot was done, if you went to the tech forum to discuss a faulty fuel pump you did not have all that OT stuff but they had a separate area for that if that was your thing. Again, the easy fix is a separate OT forum in my opinion.

[avi123]

I voted NO b/c if you ban OT then those nonsensical posts would be posted regardless and fill the list on the window. I am for having only one central OT and all other OTs would go there.

[webguy]

I would rather the board be split into sub-forums. It would also make finding answers a lot easier.

[sha_pirotess]

I agree with webguy for separate sections on the forum. It's the middle-ground on the idea and a fair compromise.
People who have problems, their posts won't be 'pushed down' and anyone wanting to 'ignore' OT discussions can easily do so.
I think that an important part of a support group is friendship and trust. We all share our xPAP histories with each other but sometimes you need a friend with similar problems to listen about something else. Also, as they say, laughter is the best medicine. I think it's important for people to be able to bond and get to know each other if we are to trust one another for medical advice and experiences.
To be honest, I have been to lots of forums. I met my husband via an online forum six and a half years ago. I was actually a little surprised when I joined that there wasn't separate sections as many forums have. It can make topics easier to find. You could have sections for newbie intros, hose problems, humidifier problems, compliance issues, software, OT discussions, and whatever else anyone can think of. This is how most forums are set up. I don't dislike this forum but it might be a solution since people seem pretty divided on this topic.

[Mike6977]

And if this forum was organised into subject sections

... you could simply ignore the OT section

SECTIONS CAN KILL A GOOD BOARD


I belong to a private computer forum that's been in existence for 30 years.

The OT subjects were often funny, provocative and fascinating.

Even the dangerous waters of political posts were a good read because sharp minds based their opinions on evidence, seriously considered the other posters point of view, and were generally polite.

And when it came to swordsmanship, their gentle put-downs were usually well-worded and . . . witty.



Then the admins at the board decided to move all OT posts to dozens of sub-forum ghettos.

Over the years, the board became less interesting. Many of our better writers left. The place is now a shell of what it once was.

Just my experience.

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GLANCE AND MOVE ON

OT posts should not be banned. They shoud be ingored.

Ozij, mostly, I agree. But what about, say, a post on Cardiovascular Disease, one with valuable, possibly life-saving advice in it . . . like how CHD relates to SDB?

Or a very funny post? One that will make you laugh?

I'd say read the topic header, consider the source and then, move on if you like.

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IGNORE THE POST, NOT THE POSTER

They, and the people who start them over and over and over should be ignored

Even posters with serious SDB problems, who post about some SDB issue they're having?

Surely you're not suggest that medical advice be withheld, simply because you don't like the poster's online personality?

That would be unconscionable, wouldn't it?

Mike

[ozij]

OT posts should not be banned. They shoud be ingored.

Ozij, mostly, I agree. But what about, say, a post on Cardiovascular Disease, one with valuable, possibly life-saving advice in it . . . like how CHD relates to SDB?

Or a very funny post? One that will make you laugh?

I'd say read the topic header, consider the source and then, move on if you like.

Well said. Sometime "ignore" means "read and don't respond".

They, and the people who start them over and over and over should be ignored

Even posters with serious SDB problems, who post about some SDB issue they're having?

You are right, that is not what I am proposing.

Surely you're not suggest that medical advice be withheld, simply because you don't like the poster's online personality?

Of course not. I am all for advice being given to any poster in trouble.

That would be unconscionable, wouldn't it?

Yes, it would.

[Mike6977]

ozij, I'm glad we can agree to agree.




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Thus, I hope Vader changes his mind about BlackSpinner:

Aug 23rd, 2:44 pm:

If you are on a bus do you feel the need to jump into every conversation?

ROFL!!!
BlackSpinner, Even though we've disagreed sometimes, I gotta give you credit, sometimes you have some incredible one liners!

One day later, on Aug 24, 3:15:

anyways, case closed, "big girl" (to BlackSpinner). You're invisible. I can no longer see you....

Making someone invisible is too much like being the "Soup Nazi" on the TV show Seinfeld, and loudly declaring when a customer doesn't have the the right change in hand:

"No soup for you! . . . NEXT!"

[Vader]

Thus, I hope Vader changes his mind about BlackSpinner:

Aug 23rd, 2:44 pm:

If you are on a bus do you feel the need to jump into every conversation?

ROFL!!!
BlackSpinner, Even though we've disagreed sometimes, I gotta give you credit, sometimes you have some incredible one liners!

One day later, on Aug 24, 3:15:

anyways, case closed, "big girl" (to BlackSpinner). You're invisible. I can no longer see you....

Making someone invisible is too much like being the "Soup Nazi" on the TV show Seinfeld, and loudly declaring when a customer doesn't have the the right change in hand:

"No soup for you! . . . NEXT!"

it wouldn't be be a good debate without someone finding a way to throw in the word "Nazi".

Charming, Mike. Super detective work!

oh, and by the way, those comments that I made weren't directed at Blackspinner,( you intentionally altered the name for great "Nazi" effect) so do try again, and try to "get me" on some other "crime against humanity"

[BlackSpinner]

I would rather the board be split into sub-forums. It would also make finding answers a lot easier.

You probably won't find your answer on the first page anyway.
There is a search box. Try it. You will like it. You can also click on "View your posts".