Re: What to do about off-topic/inappropriate postings?

[Guest guest]

Well done, a! Thank you for tackling this difficult subject.

I agree that people need to use common sense and thoughtfulness when

deciding what to mark OT. There are too many gray areas to be able to

make hard and fast rules.

I'm not a big fan of E-mail hoaxes/chain letters either. Before posting

such an item, members should check a site such as http://www.snopes.com

to see if it is listed and whether it is true. In addition, some

factually accurate chain letters have no constructive purpose or may, in

fact, be quite destructive. Please don't post those. If in doubt, ask

a or me about it. We would rather that you run it by us first if you

are unsure whether it is appropriate for the group.

Personal attacks are not acceptable. This is a support group. Before

sending your mail, please ask yourself if your post will help the person

to whom you are writing and the group in general. Is there a kinder or

more level-headed way to express yourself? Is it possible to say what

needs to be said and just stick to the facts? Engaging in constructive

criticism and debate is quite acceptable but much different from

launching personal attacks.

I know there are situations that become emotionally charged, but,

remember, most often, a nasty post says much more about the author of

the E-mail than anyone else.

Please appeal to a or me privately if there is a policy, a trend, an

individual, or something about the group that is bothering you. We will

try to help you find a solution. Often, a problem can be resolved

behind-the-scenes and the group can be spared being thrown into turmoil.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] What to do about off-topic/inappropriate postings?

> Each newsgroup has a specific topic and anything not related to the

topic is

> considered off topic and technically should be labeled so. It has

always

> been a problem and always will be a problem on all newsgroups that

people

> will sometimes post OT articles. The problem with OT posts is that it

makes

> the group less useful to those only there for information on the

intended

> topic of the group.

>

> In the case of our group, it is not cut and dried. We're not talking

about

> 1957 engines and how they work. We're talking about a group of people

that

> share the same illness, but unfortunately that illness can have

impacts on

> every facet of our lives. It affects our families, our friends, our

> careers, our hobbies, our past, out future, and presents challenges to

> everything we do in life.

> So how do we distinguish between what is on and off topic when it

affects us

> in so many ways?

>

> Cooking cannot be considered off topic because we all need to cook and

may

> need special tools to help. Many suggestions have been made here to

make

> life easier in the kitchen which can benefit someone that needs help.

> Recipes are technically off topic, but if they help someone find a

better

> way to prepare food, is it really off topic?

>

> Our families and how they cope or don't cope cannot be considered off

topic

> because our families directly influence how we cope as an individual.

> Having a helpful partner makes a big difference. Having kids that

help

> rather than make life more difficult can mean a lot to an arthritic

that

> struggles to care for them the best way they can. Living in a

stressful

> situation will cause flares and many times coming here to vent is very

> helpful. So I guess we can't consider our family lives off topic

either.

>

> Poetry is sent in to help others feel better. We even have a poet in

our

> group that writes poetry specific to a member's crisis in attempts to

make

> them feel better. Even JOKES are meant to cheer us up, so how do we

> say they are off topic if they are meant to bring a smile to someone

dealing

> with pain?

>

> Our jobs are not off topic because arthritis affects how we continue

to work

> while disabled. Maybe someone needs help in deciding if permanent

> disability is the right option. Maybe someone feels a little better

and

> wants to try working part time.

>

> Death, divorce, disability, illness, financial difficulty,

homelessness, no

> access to meds, all these types of things will alter the course of

our

> disease and possibly our access to doctors and medicines.

>

> As you see, and I have our work cut out for us if we are going to

try

> to make decisions as to what is or isn't acceptable. There are some

things

> that are clear cut and can be labeled OT, making it easier for those

that

> want to create message rules to filter it out.

>

> I would appreciate if chain letters never were sent. I haven't seen

one yet

> that had any truth to it. After it is posted, or I will go to

> hoaxbusters or a similar site and post the information verifying it is

a

> hoax, which creates more junk mail. And then there are responses to

the

> chain letter which creates more junk mail. So please don't post them

at

> all. If you are really concerned about it, sent it to or myself

and we

> will find out if it's fact or fiction and post it if it's beneficial

to the

> group.

>

> If you see an inappropriate posting in our group, please refrain from

> following up with a posting complaining that such postings are

inappropriate

> or off topic. Consider that if a mere 1% of the members of this group

were

> to do so, it would generate 8 more complaint emails, each of which

would

> also be off topic. That is besides the hurt feeling the complaining

cause.

> If you are bothered by something going on in our group, please write

> privately to either or myself.

>

> Basic courtesy is all that we ask. Have respect for members that

don't have

> the time to read every post and is only looking for medically related

posts.

> Marking your subject as close to the topic as you can will help

readers

> filter the email. Put in the letters OT for jokes, poems, recipes or

> anything else obviously not related to rheumatic diseases or the life

we

> live with them.

>

> But most of all and more important than anything else, be kind and

> understanding to our fellow members. Forgive us if we forget. We're

> medicated, stressed, worried, depressed, hopeful, anxious,

fearful........

>

> This group has been in existence for around 7 years when it started on

> onelist, and rules are one thing I shy away from if I can help it. I

had

> to many of them as a kid and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!! I

know we

> can coexist in peace and harmony because we are a great bunch of

people

> brought together to find ways to deal with a life altering disease.

>

> a

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> > Perhaps and a can clarify. I consider jokes, poems and

> > recipes to be clearly OT. I previously thought posts about us and

> > our personal lives were on-topic. RA and other medical issues our

> > members have certainly affect our jobs, our families and every

> > aspect of our lives. ? a?

> >

> > Jennie

[Guest guest]

Well done, a! Thank you for tackling this difficult subject.

I agree that people need to use common sense and thoughtfulness when

deciding what to mark OT. There are too many gray areas to be able to

make hard and fast rules.

I'm not a big fan of E-mail hoaxes/chain letters either. Before posting

such an item, members should check a site such as http://www.snopes.com

to see if it is listed and whether it is true. In addition, some

factually accurate chain letters have no constructive purpose or may, in

fact, be quite destructive. Please don't post those. If in doubt, ask

a or me about it. We would rather that you run it by us first if you

are unsure whether it is appropriate for the group.

Personal attacks are not acceptable. This is a support group. Before

sending your mail, please ask yourself if your post will help the person

to whom you are writing and the group in general. Is there a kinder or

more level-headed way to express yourself? Is it possible to say what

needs to be said and just stick to the facts? Engaging in constructive

criticism and debate is quite acceptable but much different from

launching personal attacks.

I know there are situations that become emotionally charged, but,

remember, most often, a nasty post says much more about the author of

the E-mail than anyone else.

Please appeal to a or me privately if there is a policy, a trend, an

individual, or something about the group that is bothering you. We will

try to help you find a solution. Often, a problem can be resolved

behind-the-scenes and the group can be spared being thrown into turmoil.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] What to do about off-topic/inappropriate postings?

> Each newsgroup has a specific topic and anything not related to the

topic is

> considered off topic and technically should be labeled so. It has

always

> been a problem and always will be a problem on all newsgroups that

people

> will sometimes post OT articles. The problem with OT posts is that it

makes

> the group less useful to those only there for information on the

intended

> topic of the group.

>

> In the case of our group, it is not cut and dried. We're not talking

about

> 1957 engines and how they work. We're talking about a group of people

that

> share the same illness, but unfortunately that illness can have

impacts on

> every facet of our lives. It affects our families, our friends, our

> careers, our hobbies, our past, out future, and presents challenges to

> everything we do in life.

> So how do we distinguish between what is on and off topic when it

affects us

> in so many ways?

>

> Cooking cannot be considered off topic because we all need to cook and

may

> need special tools to help. Many suggestions have been made here to

make

> life easier in the kitchen which can benefit someone that needs help.

> Recipes are technically off topic, but if they help someone find a

better

> way to prepare food, is it really off topic?

>

> Our families and how they cope or don't cope cannot be considered off

topic

> because our families directly influence how we cope as an individual.

> Having a helpful partner makes a big difference. Having kids that

help

> rather than make life more difficult can mean a lot to an arthritic

that

> struggles to care for them the best way they can. Living in a

stressful

> situation will cause flares and many times coming here to vent is very

> helpful. So I guess we can't consider our family lives off topic

either.

>

> Poetry is sent in to help others feel better. We even have a poet in

our

> group that writes poetry specific to a member's crisis in attempts to

make

> them feel better. Even JOKES are meant to cheer us up, so how do we

> say they are off topic if they are meant to bring a smile to someone

dealing

> with pain?

>

> Our jobs are not off topic because arthritis affects how we continue

to work

> while disabled. Maybe someone needs help in deciding if permanent

> disability is the right option. Maybe someone feels a little better

and

> wants to try working part time.

>

> Death, divorce, disability, illness, financial difficulty,

homelessness, no

> access to meds, all these types of things will alter the course of

our

> disease and possibly our access to doctors and medicines.

>

> As you see, and I have our work cut out for us if we are going to

try

> to make decisions as to what is or isn't acceptable. There are some

things

> that are clear cut and can be labeled OT, making it easier for those

that

> want to create message rules to filter it out.

>

> I would appreciate if chain letters never were sent. I haven't seen

one yet

> that had any truth to it. After it is posted, or I will go to

> hoaxbusters or a similar site and post the information verifying it is

a

> hoax, which creates more junk mail. And then there are responses to

the

> chain letter which creates more junk mail. So please don't post them

at

> all. If you are really concerned about it, sent it to or myself

and we

> will find out if it's fact or fiction and post it if it's beneficial

to the

> group.

>

> If you see an inappropriate posting in our group, please refrain from

> following up with a posting complaining that such postings are

inappropriate

> or off topic. Consider that if a mere 1% of the members of this group

were

> to do so, it would generate 8 more complaint emails, each of which

would

> also be off topic. That is besides the hurt feeling the complaining

cause.

> If you are bothered by something going on in our group, please write

> privately to either or myself.

>

> Basic courtesy is all that we ask. Have respect for members that

don't have

> the time to read every post and is only looking for medically related

posts.

> Marking your subject as close to the topic as you can will help

readers

> filter the email. Put in the letters OT for jokes, poems, recipes or

> anything else obviously not related to rheumatic diseases or the life

we

> live with them.

>

> But most of all and more important than anything else, be kind and

> understanding to our fellow members. Forgive us if we forget. We're

> medicated, stressed, worried, depressed, hopeful, anxious,

fearful........

>

> This group has been in existence for around 7 years when it started on

> onelist, and rules are one thing I shy away from if I can help it. I

had

> to many of them as a kid and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!! I

know we

> can coexist in peace and harmony because we are a great bunch of

people

> brought together to find ways to deal with a life altering disease.

>

> a

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> > Perhaps and a can clarify. I consider jokes, poems and

> > recipes to be clearly OT. I previously thought posts about us and

> > our personal lives were on-topic. RA and other medical issues our

> > members have certainly affect our jobs, our families and every

> > aspect of our lives. ? a?

> >

> > Jennie