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

Vader wrote:

adipasqu wrote: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!

Do I know you? I like you already : ) OT here, just wondering how I can get my avatar to open and close it's mouth : ))) Love your avatar.

OK, seriously, we are all adults and as such I trust we can self-monitor without the government's ah-hem I mean administrator's involvement. And I think we're all good about putting OT in front of our post. I treasure the friendships gained here over the years and if there weren't any OTs on the forum I'm snooze off to sleep and how therapeutic would that be LOL!

nanwilson wrote:Most Off topic posts are stated as OT, if you don't want to get involved then don't read it. I start my day with this forum, I turn on my computor, go get my coffee and sit town to see whats up with my friends. If theres an OT thread I will take a look at it but if its gone off on a tangent or not something I'm interested in I'll just ignore it. I consider all of the folks here a friend, and if its wasn't for friends here I would have never gotten to where I am today with my therapy. So, dear friends, don't stop what you are doing, sometimes we need to vent or just get something off of our chests.......keep it up, I for one will still be here to talk.
Cheers
Nan

Hi Nan: I loved the vision of you getting your coffee and getting on the forum. I used to do that when I first began. Now I just struggle to get on a couple times a week. Then again I went to drinking cold tea LOL Maybe I need to get the coffee pot out again so I can sip it while it's hot. LOL

ArizonaGUy wrote:Off topic posts should not be banned but put into their own forum topic.

Which brings up the point: Why isn't this forum organized into categorized subforums like most forums and internet message boards?

Perhaps - New CPAP/BiPAP/APAP Users, Masks, Machines, Software and Off-Topic Discussion? And sort this jumble of discussion threads? It's actually what keeps me from wanting to be an active participant. I know the software (phpBB) is quite robust, I'd like to see its functionality used to greater extent.

If that's the kind of fourm you want, then wander on over to apneasupport.org. It's a decent forum. With lots of good information. With plenty of subforums. Well moderated to keep out any OT subjects. Has lots of kind and knowledgeable posters willing to help folks in trouble. And it has a host of other rules to filter out (almost all) trolls and any kind of product advertising.

But it gets a lot less traffic than cpaptalk. Questions can stay on the front page of one of the subforums for weeks (or months) and not be answered thoroughly. Why? Well, because, quite frankly it's a lot more difficult to answer those newbie questions for the 235th time over at apneasupport than it is over here: You can't simply point to Janknitz's blog when a newbie badly needs information about how to deal with a DME that insists on giving them a brick, for example. And if you've managed to put together some really nice information about a common recurring topic (say CPAP&Insomnia, perhaps), you have to keep copying and pasting the whole dang thing in every time you think somebody might profit from reading it because you can't post a link to your own blog. And with all the different subforums, it's not always easy to remember where a thread you're following is located: Many of the folks desperately in need of help over there will post their question to two or three of the subforums because they don't really know which is the correct forum---particularly for a problem that is not clear cut as a mask/machine problem or a general apnea problem for example.

I still peruse the forums over there at least occasionally. But quite frankly, it's a lot more fun over here.

I think as long as we are polite and label OT posts as such, I'm good to go. I can choose to read them or not.

I’m a Christian with deeply held beliefs, and a conservative, which on here isn’t too popular. So, I’ve learned over time to not contribute my opinion on political or religious threads. Just contribute where I think I can actually help with cpap or another issue (except for this post, which I don’t know is that helpful…LOL!).

Give me good, factual information on the opposing side of what I think/believe and I’ll listen and on some things may change my mind (and have). On other things I’ll never change my mind or my beliefs. I like to think of it as something I read the other day…I’m not completely close-minded, but not so open minded that my brain falls out.

As for OT threads? I say never get rid of them. They add spice and a look into our personalities, and sometimes are a big laugh and a lot of fun—and who couldn’t use more laughter? In fact, I don’t even care if they’re not labeled OT because most of the time the fact that it’s OT can easily be discerned from the thread title.

I was surprised, though, at the number of votes FOR banning OT threads.

robysue wrote:I still peruse the forums over there at least occasionally. But quite frankly, it's a lot more fun over here.

I used to go over to the "other" board but I quit a long time ago. Just way too restrictive and all that did was frustrate me.

On the subject of having different sub forums for different problems..... People would still post willy nilly in whichever sub forum they landed in. Besides often a person doesn't know which of their many problems might be the main problem.

I do agree the search function here sucks. One has to be extremely specific often and if I could be that specific I wouldn't need the search.

Pugsy wrote: I used to go over to the "other" board but I quit a long time ago. Just way too restrictive and all that did was frustrate me.

I think that was the first forum I signed up in, and one other. They were nicely laid out and had nice subforums and such, but as a newbie, it was more difficult navigating it and when you finally posted a question, hardly anyone responded.

It was when I arrived here that I found a ton of activity. So this forum, despite the flaws in it's layout, has the most help. Maybe it's simplicity is not a deterrant and is actually why there are so many users.

I learn so much more on this forum. For example, I may be reading a thread about pressure settings and find a post there that gives a good tip about fixing mask leaks that I would have missed otherwise. I LOVE this forum just the way it is! Thank you!

WearyOne wrote:I’m a Christian with deeply held beliefs, and a conservative, which on here isn’t too popular.

You're popular with me : )))

gasp wrote:

WearyOne wrote:I’m a Christian with deeply held beliefs, and a conservative, which on here isn’t too popular.

You're popular with me : )))

Yeah, we sure aren't popular here. But at least we have each other!

Seems like most folks are indifferent to the few Christians here, but there are a few haters here who just can't resist the impulse to denigrate and insult those who have faith. I feel sorry for them and I do pray for them.

But STILL, this is the best forum around, and I'm glad that the hosts have kept it this way!

Pugsy wrote:I do agree the search function here sucks. One has to be extremely specific often and if I could be that specific I wouldn't need the search.

I think it works better than when I first joined. Are you using the "Advanced Search" function found on the top of each forum page under the "Home" icon?

There are two "Search" and "Advanced Search". I always use Advanced.

Did you know that you could search your search results (again & again) to drill down further?

Or use Google: ex. "search term here" cpaptalk.com

GumbyCT wrote:
Or use Google: ex. "search term here" cpaptalk.com

Slight correction there Gumby.... "search term here" site:www.cpaptalk.com

I think OT topics make the site fun. I appreciate those who put OT in the subject though so we can tell ahead of time.

I also was on that other site and to tell you the truth, the people here are a lot more friendly and helpful. I had one person jump all over me on the other site for posting a simple question that I could not find an answer to on their site.

- John

ameriken wrote:I think that was the first forum I signed up in

I also Have visited that other board and think It was the first one I signed up in. And even though I do not post here alot I love this forum both for the help it gives each and every one of us and also for the OT posts. Though the latter can be angering at times, but if that happens then I just don't particepate in it.

WearyOne wrote:I’m a Christian with deeply held beliefs, and a conservative, which on here isn’t too popular. So, I’ve learned over time to not contribute my opinion on political or religious threads.

I to am a Christian, I will post my beleafs or a statment or evan a bible virse in a thread at times but I never push it. As a Christian I beleave I am to spread the word and will try to do so but I also do not want to come off as being over bearing.

Perrybucsdad wrote:

GumbyCT wrote:
Or use Google: ex. "search term here" cpaptalk.com

Slight correction there Gumby.... "search term here" site:www.cpaptalk.com

Either way it will work. Try it

btw - www hasn't been necessary for a few years now. It now knows it will access the Wild, Wild, West

To help clarify the post why not use

POT : Polically Off Topic
HOT : Humour Off Topic
ROT : Religious Off Topic
WOT : Well Off Topic
OOT : Other Off Topic
NOT : Not Sure Off Topic