FORUM CATEGORIES - (Just hear me out…)

[Hawthorne]

I just wonder why they are on this forum!

[jnk]

I have mixed feelings.

I owe a lot to so many of the people who post here. So, whether such feelings are mentally healthy or not, I feel a certain emotional attachment to the board itself. And yet, it doesn't really matter to me THAT much if there is ever an "OT" section or not.

I think there have always been off-topic threads here, as I look back at old threads. Perhaps the larger problem is the lack of on-topic threads. That may be because machines have improved and science has advanced to the point that there are fewer controversies in the industry. Or maybe sleep medicine has advanced. I don't know.

As a public forum, it involves the public, with all the good and the bad that comes with that. The owners have chosen simplicity and ease of use and very light moderation. I applaud those choices.

That being said, I too get irritated at what seems to me of late to be too much social networking and political debate and attacks on personalities.

But I don't know if the best solution is to relegate all off-topic threads to their own section.

For example, I personally very much enjoy carbonman's mountain-ride threads and the like. Since they are (arguably) not directly PAP related, I would still have to check the OT section every day to see if he posted a thread there, which would mean I would STILL have to see all the OT threads that I don't so much enjoy. So for me, having two sections would just mean more mouse clicks per day.

BUT, if that is what it takes to make more people happy, I could live with that. At least I hope to.

jeff

[BlackSpinner]

I just wonder why they are on this forum!

Because they have sleep apnea, they read the other threads but don't feel they can contribute so they don't post on them.

The OT threads gets people used to posting and keeps many coming back for a little light relaxation. Chit chat creates bonds between people that heavy technical discussions don't. The bonds is what keeps people coming back and helping others. Newbies become seasoned members and will assist those they feel are part of their "community". Sleep apnea affects all parts of peoples lives including the off topic areas. Many times it affects self esteem, self image, so that all the rest of ones life is seen through the lens of the cpap machine and mask. Sometimes ones life has been so damaged by the side effects of un treated sleep apnea that much courage is needed to rebuild ones social life, the off topic threads help with that. Treating sleep apnea isn't just about slapping a mask on. I see the off topic threads as very important to some peoples healing.

Nobody makes you read stuff you don't want to. There is no need to separate them, there is not enough traffic on this board to warrant it.

[Hawthorne]

I hear you jnk and agree with you! Well said!

It is a struggle for me to consider having ANY categories but, like you, the social networking that has been prevalent lately and the political debates and personality attacks that keep appearing are irritating to me as well. That's what has me maybe thinking differently about categories lately.

Categories have drawbacks as well. I don't know the best solution either or if there is a solution.

[-SWS]

Some of our recent lengthy OT threads have been primarily social networking IMO. As a population, people with apnea and other sleep disorders tend to be more socially and interpersonally challenged than the normal population. We are MORE likely to incur Quality of Life challenges related to employment, friendship, love/sex, family, etc. So on that basis I was pleased to see more interpersonal and social-networking type conversations in some of our recent OT threads.

Would there be therapeutic value for at least SOME of our membership/readership if we established a fair and safe dedicated forum category for social networking? Would it be beneficial to have a dedicated social-networking forum where hoseheads could spiritually, politically, professionally, romantically connect?

If so, I think I would prefer that a dedicated Social Networking forum category be set off to the side---where it would not adversely impacting the usual topic lineup in our main forum. And yet I would like to see it flourish for the social and psychological health of our readership who would benefit.

[BlackSpinner]

Would there be therapeutic value for at least SOME of our membership/readership if we established a fair and safe dedicated forum category for social networking? Would it be beneficial to have a dedicated social-networking forum where hoseheads could spiritually, politically, professionally, romantically connect?

If so, I think I would prefer that a dedicated Social Networking forum category be set off to the side---where it would not adversely impacting the usual topic lineup in our main forum. And yet I would like to see it flourish for the social and psychological health of our readership who would benefit.

Many people may not make the extra effort for that because it also means admitting that you have those issues. It is safe here to do some social networking because you are not actually doing it.

Because it is not that kind of board so you aren't doing it. Not doing it at all, really we aren't, we don't have any of those issues.

[jnk]

extra effort . . . those issues . . . doing it. . . . that kind of board . . . you aren't . . . we aren't . . . those issues.

BlackSpinner, I always enjoy reading your point of view, but for some reason I had a hard time figuring out and following the meaning of the above phrases in your last post, if they are in response to -SWS' points. I may just be a little slow today. But do you mind clarifying? Just for my benefit?

[GumbyCT]

Would there be therapeutic value for at least SOME of our membership/readership if we established a fair and safe dedicated forum category for social networking? Would it be beneficial to have a dedicated social-networking forum where hoseheads could spiritually, politically, professionally, romantically connect?

If so, I think I would prefer that a dedicated Social Networking forum category be set off to the side---where it would not adversely impacting the usual topic lineup in our main forum. And yet I would like to see it flourish for the social and psychological health of our readership who would benefit.

Many people may not make the extra effort for that because it also means admitting that you have those issues. It is safe here to do some social networking because you are not actually doing it.

Because it is not that kind of board so you aren't doing it. Not doing it at all, really we aren't, we don't have any of those issues.

Just waaay to deep for me. I better go check my pressure(s).

But honest officer, it wasn't me - I wasn't doin it.

[Hawthorne]

Interesting suggestion SWS. I see some benefit, for all, in it. Something to consider, in my opinion.

[jules]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50375&p=462910&hili ... ns#p462910

[sleepymama]

I am a newbie as well and do find that sometimes posts get lost to the 2nd page. it's no bother to go and read into the 2nd page though for me. i'm sorry if my OT post about movies offended anyone. i just thought that (as i have seen other OT) it was okay.

[jnk]

Interesting suggestion SWS. I see some benefit, for all, in it. Something to consider, in my opinion.

I agree. A Social Networking category as a subtopic category makes much more sense to me than a catch-all Off Topic category.

[jnk]

I am a newbie as well and do find that sometimes posts get lost to the 2nd page. it's no bother to go and read into the 2nd page though for me. i'm sorry if my OT post about movies offended anyone. i just thought that (as i have seen other OT) it was okay.

It WAS OK and IS OK. In fact, I would have posted in that thread of yours if I had a life and had seen any movies lately. The wife and I haven't made it to the movies since the time we saw SleepingUgly star in that 3D science-fiction movie about avatars.

[Jaylee]

Lisa, you're fine, don't worry about it.

[Hawthorne]

I think OT posts are certainly acceptable to most on the mainstream of the forum. It's just when they run on for pages and last for months and fall into the categories mentioned that some of us have issues.