The culture of AN

[Lev]

Singing in my Heart is taking a break from All Nurses. This is not the first time one of our esteemed posters has felt the need to do this. I would like to suggest to the moderators the option to flag a post "against the culture of All Nurses." This way the moderator could be on alert to which threads/posts/posters are driving members away from the site. If members keep flagging posts that are appropriate for this site, they will lose this privilege.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

We always try to allow the threads to "settle down" on their own. Sometimes what you think you say via computer isn't always taken the way it was meant.

This can lead to misunderstandings. As adults, we should try to clarify our point and sometimes we may have to apologize if it was taken out of context.

We are a very large site - now with 850,000 members so chances are you will find people who you agree with and those that you don't.

As others have mentioned, there is the yellow triangle "report" button as well as the "ignore" feature. And, staff is always willing to answer questions via PM or the "admin help desk."

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I was once given excellent advice by one of the ADMINS here (NRSKaren )

Put the keyboard down and back away slowly.

Use the report button do not engage....you will end up in trouble too.

The ignore feature is a nice tool that may be needed for your piece of mind.

Nurses are educated, opinionated, strong willed, VOCAL individuals with very firm beliefs. Just like everywhere in life there are those who love to argue. There are those who like to provoke a response. There are those who easily have their feelings hurt and others tough as nails. It is what makes the world tick in technicolor.

We as nurses deal with very real LIFE dilemmas. We have passion for what we believe and we aren't afraid to express it. I know I've been a manager and it is as real in person as it is here.

The thing to remember is...it is not the message but how it is deliverd that matters.

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

I was once given excellent advice by one of the ADMINS here (NRSKaren )

Put the keyboard down and back away slowly.

Use the report button do not engage....you will end up in trouble too.

The ignore feature is a nice tool that may be needed for your piece of mind.

Right! If needed, at least change threads or log off and come back to it - I know every once in a while I may read something one way - and if I get some perspective and go back to it later I may feel another way completely.

Maybe after singing takes a little time, maybe he'll decide to stay with us - I know I know I have gotten so much insight reading his posts.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Singing in my Heart is taking a break from All Nurses.

In the name of veracity, this is not the first time he's taken a self-imposed break from Allnurses. As previously mentioned, members take breaks. Some eventually return to post actively and others disappear with more permanency. In the meantime, new members join and find a virtual home here.

The character and activity of these forums have changed over the years. The character and activity of society has changed over the generations. Change is one of the only certainties of life, other than death and taxes.

By the way, I thoroughly enjoyed the member who is taking a break.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Thanks everyone! Wow I did not expect such an informed response. Thanks for pointing out the resources that are already available. I am aware of the yellow report button. I wasn't sure if people were using it like they should or were fully aware of when to use it. Thanks for clarifying, Commuter. I think I have used that maybe once or twice. I guess the idea of extra moderation is not the best. Extra moderation can drive people away too. Duskyjewel, with the proposed button, I thought that if the moderators felt a poster was abusing it and reporting things they didn't like that weren't necessarily wrong, the privilege of reporting could be taken away. But I guess that what we have moderators for. To make sure things don't get out of hand. While I do feel Singing may have been acting too strongly in that particular instant, I only used him as example because it is recent news (I had just read his post about leaving the site). I'm thinking of other posters such as Grntea who no longer post, (but may still lurk). Singing may have not been as offended as we think and may have been overreacting to get a point across.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I believe his screen name is "Song In My Heart." I could be wrong.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Thanks everyone! Wow I did not expect such an informed response. Thanks for pointing out the resources that are already available. I am aware of the yellow report button. I wasn't sure if people were using it like they should or were fully aware of when to use it. Thanks for clarifying Commuter. I think I have used that maybe once or twice. I guess the idea of extra moderation is not the best. Extra moderation can drive people away too. Duskyjewel, with the proposed button, I thought that if the moderators felt a poster was abusing it and reporting things they didn't like that weren't necessarily wrong, the privilege of reporting could be taken away. But I guess that what we have moderators for. To make sure things don't get out of hand. While I do feel Singing may have been acting too strongly in that particular instant, I only used him as example because it is recent news (I had just read his post about leaving the site). I'm thinking of other posters such as Grntea who no longer post, (but may still lurk). Singing may have not been as offended as we think and may have been overreacting to get a point across.[/quote']

GrnTea is around....we won't take the report feature away ...you can always PM one of us too.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

There is a membership lifecycle to every member involved in an internet site. Members come and go: some return after a break and others never return. Thankfully, we have their thoughts and advice permanently stored here as reminder of their footprint.

Peripheral (Lurker) – Observing the community and viewing content. Does not add to the community content or discussion. The user occasionally goes onto YouTube.com to check out a video that someone has directed them to.

Inbound (Novice) – Just beginning to engage the community. Starts to provide content. Tentatively interacts in a few discussions. The user comments on other user’s videos. Potentially posts a video of his or her own.

Insider (Regular) – Consistently adds to the community discussion and content. Interacts with other users. Regularly posts videos. Either videos they have found or made themselves. Makes a concerted effort to comment and rate other users' videos.

Boundary (Leader) – Recognized as a veteran participant. Connects with regulars to make higher concepts ideas. Community grants their opinion greater consideration. The user has become recognized as a contributor to watch. Possibly their videos are podcasts commenting on the state of YouTube and its community. The user would not consider watching another user’s videos without commenting on them. Will often correct a user in behavior the community considers inappropriate. Will reference other user’s videos in their comments as a way to cross link content.

Outbound (Elders) – Leave the community. Their interests may have changed, the community may have moved in a direction that they don’t agree with or they may no longer have time to maintain a constant presence in the community.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_community

At Times, Admin will reach out to our veteran members when we've seen their participation wane to see if there's an issue/concern we can address.

Brian leaves the light on and we welcome all who can follow the Terms of Service to return.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

With no offense to any of the moderators in particular, half the time it IS the culture of extreme moderation at Allnurses that makes me want to take a break- ie, editing out any word deemed even mildly offense, even when symbols are used, closing threads where controversial topics are discussed, and inability to delete posts if you regret something you've said the next day.

[klone, MSN, RN]

What bothers me most is the shutdown of any type of metadiscussion. Even if the side-discussion is not at all offensive, it still gets shut down. I think the meta discussions are often interesting, and spring up some lively conversation. I know from experience that "starting a new thread" often shuts down the discussion entirely.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

With no offense to any of the moderators in particular, half the time it IS the culture of extreme moderation at Allnurses that makes me want to take a break- ie, editing out any word deemed even mildly offense, even when symbols are used, closing threads where controversial topics are discussed, and inability to delete posts if you regret something you've said the next day.

What bothers me most is the shutdown of any type of metadiscussion. Even if the side-discussion is not at all offensive, it still gets shut down. I think the meta discussions are often interesting, and spring up some lively conversation. I know from experience that "starting a new thread" often shuts down the discussion entirely.

Allnurses.com is a professional nursing peer to peer network; therefore, the administration team has decided to uphold an image of professionalism on these forums. This means no swearing or cursing like a sailor, racial or religious villification, name-calling, or other actions that are unbecoming of professional registered and practical nurses.

Any post can be deleted. It's always been that way. Premium members can delete their posts at any time, whereas registered members have five minutes to delete posts. After the five minutes has elapsed, you send a PM to a moderator or administrator with a request to delete the post that you wish to see gone.

Moreover, Allnurses.com is not the US Congress, so we do not uphold anyone's rights to free speech. This is a censored network. It always has been and always will be. For instance, if a personal houseguest calls me a racial slur while sitting on my sofa, I'll demand that (s)he get out of my house promptly.

People cannot say whatever they want in my private home. It's a similar concept with Allnurses: this is a privately owned entity and members must abide by the terms of service. The terms of service exist for a specific reason. The owner, Brian, has worked tirelessly for 20 years to build this virtual community, and the terms of service are intended to promote a certain atmosphere.

This is a reminder that the Help Desk is available to those who wish to engage in private dialogue with the seven site administrators. However, the rules and terms that govern Allnurses.com were enacted for specific reasons.

[ponymom]

Its an internet forum board. Not the end of the world.