Ever notice this about allnurses?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

It regulary happens that someone posts a question or brings up a topic, and is immediately told "This has been discussed before. Do a search."

Then-

When someone does a search and posts in the threads they find, someone will tell them "Did you notice how old this thread is?"

:uhoh3:

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

This thread has been a blast. I'm really enjoying it. There are a lot of neat people at this site!!!

That's why I never post about anything except sugar and spice and everything nice.

That's how I am with pts. But thank goodness we have a place like allnurses where we can let the "bad" stuff out.

I know that being able to vent, comisserate, discuss controversial topics, and know that I'm not alone in my experiences helps me to be able to remain in nursing.

Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.
Look at all the users who liked the opening post!!!

The Following 30 Users Say Thank You to Hellllllo Nurse For This Useful Post: 58flyer (10-26-2007), AdrienneRN2b (Yesterday), anazhe (10-26-2007), BORI-BSNRN (10-26-2007), Cherybaby (10-26-2007), dar15 (10-26-2007), DeLana_RN (Yesterday), Emmanuel Goldstein (10-26-2007), Evangeline2000 (Yesterday), grace90 (10-26-2007), HM2Viking (10-26-2007), Hopefull2009 (10-26-2007), Ivanna_Nurse (Yesterday), jlsRN (10-26-2007), kizzykatlove (10-26-2007), krazy_coconuts (10-26-2007), leslymill (Yesterday), Marie_LPN (10-26-2007), motorcycle mama (10-26-2007), MustangSallie1997 (10-26-2007), obynna (10-26-2007), pagandeva2000 (10-26-2007), RN4NICU (10-26-2007), RNSC (10-26-2007), SaderNurse05 (10-26-2007), SarasotaRN2b (10-26-2007), splinter (10-26-2007), suanna (Yesterday), TurtleSoup (10-26-2007), tvccrn (10-26-2007)

That is a lot of "thanks," but putting it into perspective there are over 240,000 members and 2,000 - 3,000 members on at any given time. We also have members that get upset when they respond to a post not realizing that it is an OLD thread.

Just a note, at the bottom of the Page there is a Box that states Similar threads.... alot of them are old.... and yes I have posted to those not realizing that the thread was old.... most of the time I just Lurk.... But if I do have to Vent about my day I go to my journal.... There I can vent.... It just feels good to Type it out...sometimes.

We are aware of this and actually tried to make it so only recent similar threads could show up. However, we had to go back at least two years. Again, we also have members that do not like responding to old threads by mistake.

The people who don't like to see repeat posts/questions don't have to read them. No one is twisting arms or forcing anyone to answer, right? As long as the posters are following the rules of the board, then who cares how many times a question has been asked.

As a nursing student, we are often intimidated by the nurses who don't want to be bothered with us in a hospital setting....we should not have to be intimidated here, where we are just seeking help or opinions.

Don't want to read the posts, then move along to something the sparks your interest.

Actually, as staff, we do have to read all post to insure that they follow the terms of service. This is why I stand by my previous post. If you are not staff and are not just trying to help, then it is better to move on than to tell someone to "do a search." Also, there are some threads that, as staff, we are happy to see go away. Yes, we can make threads go away, but we prefer that people just follow TOS so that we do not have to close/move threads. Sometimes, we grit are teeth and watch as "dangerous" threads move ever so close to that thin line between right and wrong. After a few days of no post, we are happy to see a thread "die down" so that we do not have to be the "meanies" that we are thought to be, and then out of nowhere someone decides to post! This time it sends the thread in a downward spiral and is closed. Believe me when I say, not me, but many of the other staff with more experience can call it when a post is going to "go bad" before even one person responds. So, yes, there are certain threads that no staff member wants to see. We take NO joy in shutting down threads or pm'ing members about TOS violations. We want to enjoy allnurses just like everyone else here. In fact we started out as members!!! I can not tell you how many times/hours I've spent googleing something (which the member could have done) to get an answer to their question. I do it because I enjoy helping people, but when I see two threads up that someone is asking the same question, it does get a little old.

Specializes in NICU.

I think a lot of us can tell when a thread is going to go bad before anyone responds ..... it's the same threads that have been posted before, then closed down, and posted again .....

over and over and over and over .........

Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.
I understand there are new people but the only thing I find a little bit annoying is when students come on here asking for "help" with an assignment as a way to get out of doing their homework, too.

But with the redundant subjects, maybe the problem could be remedied by making a whole new newbies only section.

Actually this place is a great reference book.

I would do it too if I were in nursing school.

We should GET copyrights .....maybe.:studyowl:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I thought non-nice things were against the TOS?

Gee if that were the case, there would be precious few "vents" and responses.:lol2:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I think it shows that many people have noticed the same thing and maybe felt the sting of critisism over this. It happened to me at another forum, and It made me felt like an outsider and unwelcomed. I think it was just a highly accurate statement that resonated with many.

Absolutely. I definately recognize this.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
i have to agree with this.

when there are that many thanks/responses, it has indeed struck a chord.

not all mods/admins do this however.

but rather than provide a link and close down the thread, why not provide the link, and leave the thread open?

this way, if the op still has more questions/concerns, they have a place to do this.

otherwise, it does come across as abrupt, abrasive and absolute.

i'm glad this was brought up.

leslie

Good suggestion.

We recognize this and have improved over time in my opinion. More often we do a reminder "this post is five years old now", which is important to say so people don't cross-talk with members long gone, even if it adds to the conversation, the point is moot. What I've noticed more often than not, it's the general membership who are saying "do a search" or "this thread is three years old"(obviously they can't close it).

I think it depends on the topic and the forum. Topics such as "I have a DUI, can I be a nurse?" are closed and the poster asked to contact their BON. Sometimes the more hot topics that are years old and brought up again are closed such as "why are there so many obese nurses?" because after 50 pages and 3 years what else is there to say? Or if it's a potential hot topic like "why do old battleaxe nurses eat their young", we ask for a search and a closure (actually I got this particular topic on one thread as a sticky). We acknowledge this policy might sting a little bit for the brand new poster, but hopefully if they follow the advice to search, they will understand a bit more.

Your post above could have been me when I first started moderating and when they were automatically closing down the "I heard BSN's make better nurses" or "Which is better BSN or ADN" threads with a curt closure. So to compromise we allow all threads of this topic to stay open, but move to the ADN vs. BSN forum, where conicidentally such common posts are now fewer and far between because people can see on the forum the answers to their questions.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Gee if that were the case, there would be precious few "vents" and responses.:lol2:

I meant the BB itself.

Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.

I was offended when both those happened on my first day visiting this site. However I was emailed nicely and I got over it. We get passionate sometimes and post on the internet without thinking about TOS and not even looking at the dates on a post.

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.
that is a lot of "thanks," but putting it into perspective there are over 240,000 members and 2,000 - 3,000 members on at any given time. we also have members that get upset when they respond to a post not realizing that it is an old thread.

we are aware of this and actually tried to make it so only recent similar threads could show up. however, we had to go back at least two years. again, we also have members that do not like responding to old threads by mistake.

actually, as staff, we do have to read all post to insure that they follow the terms of service. this is why i stand by my previous post. if you are not staff and are not just trying to help, then it is better to move on than to tell someone to "do a search." also, there are some threads that, as staff, we are happy to see go away. yes, we can make threads go away, but we prefer that people just follow tos so that we do not have to close/move threads. sometimes, we grit are teeth and watch as "dangerous" threads move ever so close to that thin line between right and wrong. after a few days of no post, we are happy to see a thread "die down" so that we do not have to be the "meanies" that we are thought to be, and then out of nowhere someone decides to post! this time it sends the thread in a downward spiral and is closed. believe me when i say, not me, but many of the other staff with more experience can call it when a post is going to "go bad" before even one person responds. so, yes, there are certain threads that no staff member wants to see. we take no joy in shutting down threads or pm'ing members about tos violations. we want to enjoy allnurses just like everyone else here. in fact we started out as members!!! i can not tell you how many times/hours i've spent googleing something (which the member could have done) to get an answer to their question. i do it because i enjoy helping people, but when i see two threads up that someone is asking the same question, it does get a little old.

to disagree. while the same 'ole same 'old pop up.... if it is a while later there may be more value to add, insight to be gained or a vent that cures the blues for a member because that issue is pressing. why deny a member that simply because you've been there done that, it 's been exhausted... well to that member, its real time and happening and they can gain insight from past posts as well as new postings. perhaps the bordom is the issue, not the poster??? if the same issues are popping up, they obviously warrant a discussion with the newbies, no matter how boring for the mods, who've been there and done that!

just my humble op. let people speak, you signed up to mod, not to censure due to boredum. this should be a discussion for the members who follow the rules:trout:

Look at all the users who liked the opening post!!!

The Following 30 Users Say Thank You to Hellllllo Nurse For This Useful Post: 58flyer (10-26-2007), AdrienneRN2b (Yesterday), anazhe (10-26-2007), BORI-BSNRN (10-26-2007), Cherybaby (10-26-2007), dar15 (10-26-2007), DeLana_RN (Yesterday), Emmanuel Goldstein (10-26-2007), Evangeline2000 (Yesterday), grace90 (10-26-2007), HM2Viking (10-26-2007), Hopefull2009 (10-26-2007), Ivanna_Nurse (Yesterday), jlsRN (10-26-2007), kizzykatlove (10-26-2007), krazy_coconuts (10-26-2007), leslymill (Yesterday), Marie_LPN (10-26-2007), motorcycle mama (10-26-2007), MustangSallie1997 (10-26-2007), obynna (10-26-2007), pagandeva2000 (10-26-2007), RN4NICU (10-26-2007), RNSC (10-26-2007), SaderNurse05 (10-26-2007), SarasotaRN2b (10-26-2007), splinter (10-26-2007), suanna (Yesterday), TurtleSoup (10-26-2007), tvccrn (10-26-2007)

I've been lurking. ;)

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