For Whatever It's Worth

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:05 pm

Darth Vader Look wrote:I think Johnny's site sets the benchmark and he definitely has a winner.

I agree. I liked this site the very first time I found it.

Too bad it doesn't pop to the top of the list on a Google search for apnea forums. Checked just this evening and cpaptalk.com was about 60 on the top 100 list.

Regards,
Bill

th · Post by th » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:08 pm

[quote="Darth Vader Look"]
I know about and the 3 I post to. The fact that it has a CPAPopedia and no other site does clearly makes it top notch.

I agree 100% I do not post on the other sleep forums as much as I do on this one. To me if I wanted to get the run around (ASKING ADVICE)like some of the other sleep forums. I would just as well pick up the phone and call my DME. To me cpaptalk is the best of them all.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:41 pm

NightHawkeye wrote:Too bad it doesn't pop to the top of the list on a Google search for apnea forums. Checked just this evening and cpaptalk.com was about 60 on the top 100 list.

I realize this is probably a stupid question, but what determines the order placement on the list when you google sleep apnea forums? Is there anything that can be done to move this place to the top of the list?

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 7:53 pm

I realize this is probably a stupid question, but what determines the order placement on the list when you google sleep apnea forums? Is there anything that can be done to move this place to the top of the list?

Google's secret formula, of course. It changes from time to time, but is generally regarded as the best in the business at sorting out stuff to put the items most likely of use to you near the top of the list.

Things which will help get it to the top of Google's list would be links from other sites. My guess is that cpaptalk.com is never gonna get lots of links from physician's websites though. .

Regards,
Bill

Brent Hutto · Post by **Brent Hutto** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:03 pm

NightHawkeye wrote: Actually, Brent, I'd be surprised if that mattered to anybody here. Links get posted to articles on other sites and forums frequently here.

Bill,

I think he was proposing periodically posting a "warning" in the other forum that people there are being mislead and that they should come over here for The Truth (as in "The Truth? You can't handle The Truth!"). IMO that sort of thing isn't cool there, here or anywhere else that grownups are trying to engage is serious, good-faith discussion. Links are one thing, proselytizing is another.

Then again, maybe I failed to misunderstand his meaning...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:14 pm

Darth Vader Look wrote:I tried to help earlier on with links to this site and another but the links were removed and citied as storefront posts.

Johnny here at cpaptalk never removes links to other sleep apnea forums. Are you saying the ASAA forum removes links to other sleep apnea forums under the guise that they are all trying to sell something?

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:23 pm

Brent Hutto wrote:Bill,

I think he was proposing periodically posting a "warning" in the other forum that people there are being mislead and that they should come over here for The Truth (as in "The Truth? You can't handle The Truth!"). IMO that sort of thing isn't cool there, here or anywhere else that grownups are trying to engage is serious, good-faith discussion. Links are one thing, proselytizing is another.

Normally, I wouldn't begin to ascribe motivation to another poster, but in this case I know the poster who suggested this. (It was me!)

Sorry I wasn't entirely clear in my suggestion. My thinking went along the lines of . . ., when reading a post at the other forum, if it seemed clear that an individual might benefit from APAP therapy, then one could simply provide a link to a relevant thread on the subject at this forum. I wasn't thinking it would be in the least offensive to the forum participants (although it very well might be offensive to the forum cops, er, moderators there). In fact, being offensive would be quite counterproductive when one is actually trying to help.

Hope that clarifies a little. I meant well. I presume that Amigo has enjoyed participating in the other forum but was simply frustrated with the inability to provide counsel which he thought might be helpful. I thought I was offering an approach which would allow him to continue to participate there.

Regards,
Bill

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:29 pm

Guest posts - Are you saying the ASAA forum removes links to other sleep apnea forums under the guise that they are all trying to sell something?

You bet I have seen some that have either been missed or just allowed because of the poster but yes if a link to this site or TAS is in you can bet it will be eliminated. We are not salespeople for these internet stores but we really feel that by sharing information we can provide a service to the people that want it. For example when telling someone about a certain mask, a picture is worth a thousand words. How about the headrest and the stuff you have to go through to modify it so that it works right. Try linking that topic from here to there and see how long the link lasts. I guess when you have competition like cpaptalk.com you want to limit it as much as you can.

Brent Hutto · Post by **Brent Hutto** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:35 pm

Anonymous wrote:Johnny here at cpaptalk never removes links to other sleep apnea forums. Are you saying the ASAA forum removes links to other sleep apnea forums under the guise that they are all trying to sell something?

Yes the ASAA remove links to "storefront" or "commerical" sites. Since this forum is owned by an equipment vendor then, rightly or wrongly, the moderators there include links to this forum under that restriction.

They appear to be very, very concerned about any potential threat to the tax status and legal hygeine of their non-profit organization. I'd say the go beyond what is necessary to preserve their status but then again I'm not a lawyer and, most importantly it's not my forum. So when I'm there I abide by their wishes.

None of which is any skin off the nose of cpaptalk.com so perhaps we should not continue hashing over it here. With that I'll bow out since this is none of my business anyway.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:35 pm

Anonymous wrote:
Johnny here at cpaptalk never removes links to other sleep apnea forums. Are you saying the ASAA forum removes links to other sleep apnea forums under the guise that they are all trying to sell something?

YES, THEY (the ASAA moderators) DO!!!!!

Links to cpaptalk are referred to as "blatant promotion of a commercial entity" LOL! Suprizingly if you were to link to say... the Respironics site, that would be OK. LOL! again

I guess it depends on from which commercial sites the money and influence flows toward the ASAA.

The fact is, that the Traditional Apnea Industry heavily supports the ASAA. Online providers like cpap.com are seen as a threat to the big fat money tree. The fact is, the American Sleep Apnea Association is not the organization that supports people with apnea, but one that advances the agenda of the Apnea Industry. This can not be demonstrated more poignantly than by how they moderate their forum

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:37 pm

At ASAA anyone who posts in any of the forums but the help one has to register so any other registered member can pm them.

Personally, I have pmed several there links on how to find encore pro information here as well as machine settings. I have also posted here as a guest primarily to try to help others with encore pro issues as I can.

I understand the philosophy behind ASAA stance on their posts. They are nonprofit and have guidelines to follow. I understand this forum is basically no-rules except that porn gets busted at times. This forum is run by a for profit online DME.

I understand some ppl here will trash my post because I am posting as a guest.

Each forum has a different purpose and perhaps a different but overlapping in part audience. Why can't we just let ASAA have their rules, let those of us who post both places continue to pm people how to find information here, and find something else to talk about.

This thread isn't getting anywhere.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:42 pm

Brent Hutto wrote: ..so perhaps we should not continue hashing over it here. With that I'll bow out since this is none of my business anyway.

I was waiting for this comment.

Brent, "hashing it over" is what we do here... and any time folks are looking for complete info on how to deal with their apnea, we have the "business" of trying to help.

The ASAA forum is deserving of any and all commentary they receive and lord knows it can't be discussed over there... so I guess that leaves "good 'ol" cpaptalk... where you can always tell the WHOLE story.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:46 pm

This thread isn't getting anywhere.

Au contraire.

I think it has been very enlightening. Individually, we have bits and pieces of the total picture. This thread is putting those pieces into a fairly complete mosaic which, unfortunately, doesn't reflect well on ASAA, but just knowing the slant of ASAA, nevertheless, could eventually be important to some in this forum.

Regards,
Bill

Another Guest · Post by **Another Guest** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:01 pm

Here is an excerpt from a post by the ASAA moderator known as Vicki from Mon Feb 27, 2006:

"Links to other forums are not prohibited nor frowned upon. In fact we (the moderators) have posted the links to other forums in this forum as a means of dissemination information to apnea patients. Links to talkaboutsleep, CPAPtalk.com and other forums are posted all the time. Please review the links to commercial storefronts in this section so that you don't post or PM incorrect and misleading information."

As to whether or not this thread is getting anywhere; it has certainly been an education. I understand some ppl here will trash my post because I am also posting as a guest, but I definitely learned something. That must count for something.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:07 pm

Another Guest wrote:"Links to other forums are not prohibited nor frowned upon. In fact we (the moderators) have posted the links to other forums in this forum as a means of dissemination information to apnea patients. Links to talkaboutsleep, CPAPtalk.com and other forums are posted all the time. Please review the links to commercial storefronts in this section so that you don't post or PM incorrect and misleading information."

Now I am totally confused. Is personal bias of some of the moderators interfering with the operation of that forum, or is there a "de facto" policy in place prohibiting links to specific "taboo" subjects, such as APAP?

Regards,
Bill