[NurseCherlove]

Originally Posted by nyapa

Actually prior to becoming a paid member (I like the word 'premium' - sounds like a 'premium' cut of meat LOL) I have had the same experience happen. That is very upsetting. You start a post, then suddenly you can't contribute to it. Its almost like a form of exclusion.

I love AN enough to become a paid member, perhaps this issue should be looked at for those colleagues who are not.

Maybe the person who started the thread, can remain in the thread, while other nonpaying members are no longer able to access it?

What an excellent suggestion. Thank you.

[caroladybelle]

Originally Posted by epiphany

You made some valid points. But your last comment above seems countergrain- your views and opinions are strong and rightfully so, but if this is not a democracy, your views shouldn't matter either. What I'm trying to say is views do matter and this not a complete democracy. It is in fact probably the existence of such a lot of opinionated people with a lot of things to say in a single forum that makes this forum so popular.

I just brought this up partly to know who's running the show here, and what waters we are swimming in.

I think that you miss my point.

The site belongs/was started/is a business of Brian's. This means ultimately he is the arbitor of the rules, and probably to a certain extent he does pick the mods that enforce what he considers proper decorum on this site.

My views are strong and have been duly censured on a number of occasions. I do not necessarily consider those decisions always fair. But this is not my site. And if I wish to participate here, I either accept the rules and obey them or I am free to go elsewhere.

Brian dould change the rules, and yes a forum might temporarily be more "popular", but it would not be the environment that he wishes to provide or view he wishes to present of Nursing. For example, there is med student forum on the internet that is less moderated....but often what is posted there, makes the posters juvenile and is not very appropriate to be making medical decisions.

My views matter only as they are permitted to be seen. If I post something here, that does not fit the owner's views and it gets censored, I can either leave or deal. The same as it is with all the other posters.

[Tracylvn]

Originally Posted by student1000

I agree that I also wish the site was open only to registered users and more of something like a list-serve but the format is better than nothing. Another option might be to let people view certain threads/forums before they decide to join just to "test the waters" to see if it is something they want to join. I, myself, have to be careful to be aware that whatever I post might be recognized as being posted by me in the real world.

If you ever do an internet search for a specific topic you often get referred to an allnurses thread-interesting to me.

How many AN members would there be if it was a user only website tho.I found this site doing a google search for info on an inserive I was doing for work. I would have never found it had it not been an open site. I think that the moderators use thier best judgement. I'm sure if a moderator was abusing his or her status there would be reprocussions for them as well. I think polite reminders or editing threats are within reason.I have seen some threads that are open and pretty heated that moderators have not touched.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Tracylvn

I have seen some threads that are open and pretty heated that moderators have not touched.

Contrary to popular belief moderators really allow most threads and posts to remain open. Count the open threads in all the forums right now and there are literally thousands. Count the number of closed ones and it's a few. 99% of the threads and posts are left alone. However that 1% out of the hundreds of posts a day can really stand out sometimes and make us look heavy handed at times. Especially if you're the one being moderated. I have to stay that during my time here, I've felt the sting of a moderator a time or two myself.

[Suesquatch]

I haven't been posting much here lately. While I certainly understand the need to bar us from dispensing advice for which we are not qualified by licensure or education, there are many other instances in which I do think this board is over-moderated.

I also, as a platinum member, wish that all users had access to all areas of the site. There are many posters here I value who have not chosen to pay for membership and there are instances in which I would like input on personal matters from them because they aren't permitted to post there or in Current Events, etc.

It's Brian's board. I own and operate a site and understand that. However, I can choose my level of participation and I've gotten tired of having to be wary of every single electronic statement I utter here and of the exclusion of some members from certain fora.

Again, it's up to them to join or not. I joined because I had the money and financially support the things I use. But there are others here on extrememly stringent budgets who simply can't afford to become paying members and I like to have friends from all "classes."

That's just me, but it's how I feel and what I believe.

As you were.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Suesquatch

..... there are many other instances in which I do think this board is over-moderated............ and I've gotten tired of having to be wary of every single electronic statement I utter here......

You're opinions are welcome and appreciated.

Again, I'd like to point out that statistically speaking this board is very loosely moderated considering there are sometimes over 3,000 people reading and posting at any given time. Very few posts are not allowed to go through out of the hundreds posted daily.

Is it really that difficult to be friendly, non-inflammatory, respectful, and to discuss topics not individuals without personal attacks and profanity? Granted we all have to watch every word we say, but it for some of us it's easy and natural. Although sometimes I confess to having to sit on my hands for a while in order to not shoot from the hip.

[Suesquatch]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Is it really that difficult to be friendly, non-inflammatory, respectful, and to discuss topics not individuals without personal attacks and profanity? Granted we all have to watch every word we say, but it for some of us it's easy and natural. Although sometimes I confess to having to sit on my hands for a while in order to not shoot from the hip.

I don't find it difficult at all. However, one is often required, here, to be mealy-mouthed rather than "friendly, non-inflammatory, respectful." I also have no problem refraining from profanity. But I have had my wrist slapped for words used in PG television programming.

[unitek1963]

Originally Posted by MLOS

I respectfully disagree that the mods are too swift to close a thread in which a poster either directly solicits medical advice or wishes to rehash a health care experience.

I do not want this site to be at all at risk of becoming the Ask-A-Nurse line. I frankly wish that it was only open to registered users and not viewable by the vast internet public.

JMHO

I agree, but we both know that isn't going to happen. AllNurses is a business, no one is paying Brian a salary but Brian, and as such, he has to cater to what the advertisers want, and that is numbers...many, many very large numbers of possible consumers!

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Suesquatch

I don't find it difficult at all. However, one is often required, here, to be mealy-mouthed rather than "friendly, non-inflammatory, respectful." I also have no problem refraining from profanity. But I have had my wrist slapped for words used in PG television programming.

We've actually been having a lot of discussions about that this past few months and have relaxed a bit on some words we were quick to ban in the past. We haven't kept up with TV however, because even I'm shocked sometimes what I hear on TV.

Sometimes however, it's not the word itself but the context and tone in which one uses it, or if you're being personal to another person. So what might work in one post might be edited in another, especially if other members are reporting the post.

We're a big wide message board and what's o.k. for a native New Yorker might not be o.k. for a conservative somewhere else who is complaining about your language. However, it's not the expectation of the mods that anyone be "mealy mouthed".

Again, you're opinions and interpretations, and definitions of what is and isn't appropriate is welcome.

[Valerie Salva]

Recently, I was the recipient of a "personal attack" and was insulted in a thread. The statements made towards me were allowed to stand.

On another recent thread, the OP asked if anyone knew of a web forum that was dedicated to a specific type of nursing only. The mod reply was "You found it: allnurses. Thread closed."