Re: Requesting opinions on business announcements

[Guest guest]

I think this would be appropriate for the list. The service mentioned is related to Celiac and I would appreciate knowing about it. It is definitely something that I would consider for further diligence on my own. Let's face it, there are a lot of emotional and social issues associated with Celiac that others will not be able to understand.

No more than one message per year, though. And, obviously, just posting on the list does not imply any endorsement.

Thanks, Pam, for bringing up the issue.

From: Pam Newbury <pknewbury@...> Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:11:17 PMSubject: [ ] Requesting opinions on business announcements

Recently list members expressed concern when a list member listed a notice about her business, which she considered to be celiac-related; however, others did not feel there was a clear connection. Generally, if a local business serves celiacs in a specific or special way, we have welcomed news of this on the list. In finding out where to draw the line, as a moderator I would like to solicit your opinions. I am considering the following as a “test case†for you all to let me know what you think.

One of our list members is a psychotherapist in SF who was diagnosed with celiac disease at a young age and wishes to let celiacs know about her practice. Sensitive to past issues, she has asked me to check with members before she announces her practice. This is how she describes her practice with regard to celiacs:

“I understand the issues that come up for people as they adjust to new lifestyles (diets, habits, etc) and am interested in being available to folks who want therapy for their health issues -- or any other issues that they are dealing with in their lives.â€

If I don’t hear back from people, I will assume this type of announcement isn’t a problem. If you have thoughts or concerns or feel this kind if information is particularly valuable, let me know what they are. One specific question I would have is if this should be a one-time post or an occasional post (once a month? once a year?) specifically mentioning the practice. What about reference to her practice in response to another’s post, perhaps saying to ask for more info off the list?

Also know that I do not vet such businesses or verify any claims.

I appreciate hearing what you all think. This is your list and my goal is to make it what you want and need.

Pam Newbury

Moderator

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam,I've seen several things in here and in other forums that I don't feel have to do with Celiac (or apply to my case of Celiac), but I just ignore it. Maybe depression and Celiac coincide, doesn't pertain to me, but will help others. What I am saying is, this group barely gets that many advertisements - so is it worth going through all this trouble? If it is a prevention measure, to avoid multiple solicitations, I guess a list would be appropriate.

You have a great group here and compared to other groups, I really don't see a need for change. My ignore and delete functions work perfectly! Thank you for consulting the group!Crystal PS. Just be careful about going overboard with censorship

On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 11:11 PM, Pam Newbury <pknewbury@...> wrote:

Recently list members expressed concern when a list member listed

a notice about her business, which she considered to be celiac-related;

however, others did not feel there was a clear connection.  Generally, if

a local business serves celiacs in a specific or special way, we have welcomed

news of this on the list.  In finding out where to draw the line, as a

moderator I would like to solicit your opinions.  I am considering the

following as a “test case” for you all to let me know what you

think. 

 

One of our list members is a psychotherapist in SF who was

diagnosed with celiac disease at a young age and wishes to let celiacs know

about her practice.  Sensitive to past issues, she has asked me to check

with members before she announces her practice.  This is how she describes

her practice with regard to celiacs:

“I understand the issues that come up for people as

they adjust to new lifestyles (diets, habits, etc) and am interested in being

available to folks who want therapy for their health issues -- or any other

issues that they are dealing with in their lives.”

 

If I don’t hear back from people, I will assume this type

of announcement isn’t a problem.  If you have thoughts or concerns

or feel this kind if information is particularly valuable, let me know what

they are.  One specific question I would have is if this should be a

one-time post or an occasional post (once a month? once a year?) specifically

mentioning the practice.  What about reference to her practice in response

to another’s post, perhaps saying to ask for more info off the list?

 

Also know that I do not vet such businesses or verify any claims. 

 

I appreciate hearing what you all think.  This is your list

and my goal is to make it what you want and need.

 

Pam Newbury

Moderator

 

[Guest guest]

Unless the topic were to come up in a natural way- as in, " I'm experiencing

depression related to Celiac, anyone know of any resources for me? " - I would

much rather not have non-clearly Celiac related business announcements like the

example. I'm not worried about liability but think that these kinds of business

announcements that don't directly relate to the topic distract from the real

conversation and make it less interesting and valuable to me, personally. I

really don't like advertisements. We Celiacs are a diverse and interesting group

with lots of talent in various areas- but this is not an advertising forum for

those (non-Celiac) related talents, in my opinion... And I'd hate for it to turn

into one.

-

PS I do appreciate anyone that is considerate enough to ask before posting a

questionable " ad " - much better than someone just doing it without concern for

how the group might feel about it.

>

> Recently list members expressed concern when a list member listed a notice

> about her business, which she considered to be celiac-related; however,

> others did not feel there was a clear connection. Generally, if a local

> business serves celiacs in a specific or special way, we have welcomed news

> of this on the list. In finding out where to draw the line, as a moderator

> I would like to solicit your opinions. I am considering the following as a

> " test case " for you all to let me know what you think.

>

>

>

> One of our list members is a psychotherapist in SF who was diagnosed with

> celiac disease at a young age and wishes to let celiacs know about her

> practice. Sensitive to past issues, she has asked me to check with members

> before she announces her practice. This is how she describes her practice

> with regard to celiacs:

[Guest guest]

Remember when we just couldn't get enough information on this disease when we

were first diagnosed? I even remember giving all the info I collected and

shared it with the dietician because she had no clue of what to tell me. My

point being I had to glean out what was good and bad and make my own decisions.

What ever is put on these posts I still do my own research. I have no problem

with this request. It will just add to the variety we already read hear and I

don't think anyone will get hurt in the process. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

There is a difference, though, between valid information that is relevant to

Celiac and the diet and information that is not. With all of the information

available online and through these groups that IS relevant to the disease and

diet, I don't see why we should have to be marketed to for non-related products

and services. I'd rather have a little screening and not have to wade through

posts about psychological counseling services and other unrelated businesses. I

get enough marketing thrown at me from web pages and advertising services- I

don't need to get it through my social forum that is supposed to be about

sharing personal experiences and tips on the gluten-free lifestyle. A business

listing service in the links might be a decent compromise where those who have

the time and interest can wade through promotional listings and those who have

negative interest (like myself) can avoid it.

-

--- In , " lavendersequoia " <lavendersequoia@...>

wrote:

>

> Remember when we just couldn't get enough information on this disease when we

were first diagnosed? I even remember giving all the info I collected and

shared it with the dietician because she had no clue of what to tell me. My

point being I had to glean out what was good and bad and make my own decisions.

What ever is put on these posts I still do my own research. I have no problem

with this request. It will just add to the variety we already read hear and I

don't think anyone will get hurt in the process. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

The difference I see is that most of the information that we tend to pass on

here is not an advertisement where the poster gets direct financial compensation

for free by busting out with an ad at a targeted market. I'm also feeling sorry

for the therapist, whoever they are, and like I said I can really respect their

sensitivity in asking. I just don't really feel it is appropriate for drug

companies, doctors, or psychiatrists to self promote in a non-commercial public

forum unless it is relevant to the conversation at hand, and even then it

doesn't seem very professional. I still think that a listing of service links is

a good compromise. Maybe if people forget that there are links in the forum we

could set up a monthly reminder?

I can appreciate that some members might not drink coffee and so would not care

about what drinks are gluten free, any more than I would care what meat based

menu items are gluten-free since I happen to be vegetarian. Nevertheless it is

clearly applicable to the gluten-free lifestyle in a way that a therapist (sorry

therapist) who counsels people about a wide variety of issues unrelated to

Celiac is not. I might feel differently if it was solely a service FOR dealing

with the psychological impact of Celiac or something, but it isn't.

For some reason this conversation is getting pretty heated- let's remember we're

all friends here and on each others' side in dealing with the Celiac lifestyle,

even if we disagree. And, this thread has definitely gotten out of hand- I'll

drop it now for good and hope that Pam isn't terribly sorry she asked.

Best wishes, peace, etc,

>

> And in this case, the posting contained valid information related to Celiac.  

The key is that the counselor is a member of the community and has Celiac

herself and can help those adjusting to the lifestyle.   This was not a spam

from an outside group trying to sell mortgages or phones.

>

> This list is not just about food but also about living with Celiac and coping

with the changes in lifestyle.  I would appreciate this information.  And as one

previous poster said, if you are not interested you can delete it.  Just as I

delete all these messages about Starbucks!  Personally I do not drink coffer or

go to Starbucks, so all these posts are irrelevant to me.  I just delete them. 

>

>