What a week!

I just returned from a business trip and read about the flare-up over a member’s joke, which offended some other members. The sequence of events went something like this: joke posted, harsh words spoken, apology posted, more harsh words spoken, members leave site and then a number of “off topic” jokes were posted to try to ease the tension.

I’m sad to see a couple valuable and well liked members leave because of this. Written communication, especially jokes, can easily be misinterpreted and found offensive by others. Everyone, including myself, needs to carefully choose the wording and content of their postings. We also need to use private messaging for topics of a private nature.

I just spent the last hour deleting dozens of postings that did not apply to our purpose of helping cardiac pacemaker ICD recipients meet, share information and support each other. I deleted these postings because they were making new and existing members feel unwelcome.

Let’s get on with the business of helping others.

Thanks,

Blake

11 Comments

Thanks, Blake

by ted - 2008-03-01 02:03:43

Where would we be without Blake? Thank you for conceiving this group and for holding it together. Ted

Jokes

by gsue55 - 2008-03-01 02:03:49

Hi Blake,

I thought that jokes were supposed to be posted in the "Jokes" section of this site. That way if people are in the mood to read them...thats where they can be found.I personally do not have anything against jokes but...My computer does not always load so fast when I come to this site'

That being said...I really don't want to read jokes...I would rather get right down to business and see what others have posted as far as their Pm;s are concerned.

Thanks
Gloria

Blake

by cottontop - 2008-03-01 05:03:50

Thank you for taking the time to do what you did.

God bless you,
Amy

ditto blake

by jessie - 2008-03-01 09:03:14

marty was not the only one involved in the name calling. i wish to apology as well and hope i am never part of this scenario again. no excuses bad behavior on my part. i hope that we can go on from here. it is a good and informative site. jessie

Hmmmn...

by dward - 2008-03-01 10:03:10

So, what are we allowed to and not allowed to post?

I totally understand wanting to avoid using this website as a forum to post jokes, but what I myself ha ve posted humorous stories of "me and my pacemaker" since I joined. Do I no longer share that?

Are we JUST about talking about how our PMs are making us feel better (or worse)?

Not trying to be annoying, this site was a God-send to me when I got my PM, but it appears to be getting somewhat... political.

Perhaps we need to provide instuctions about posting jokes (i.e. allowed in joke area only, not in regular posting area.)

Any thoughts???

Jokes

by admin - 2008-03-01 11:03:40

The joke section was created for members to share funny stories about their device and/or medical condition. I see no reason for this to change.

I will look into the possibility of automatically omitting joke postings from the home and recent messages pages. I first need to see if this is possible. This would mean members would need to enter the Joke forum to find and read them. It may eliminate cases in which some members are offended.

Thanks for your feedback.

Blake

Amen Chrissie!

by dward - 2008-03-02 12:03:14

It appears to me that we all share "similar" opinions, but even more importantly - I get the "sense" that a lot of us REALLY value this site (the good, the bad and the ugly.)

So, you've likely heard this more than a few times, but - way to go Blake!

Hope Smitty is back soon

by Rewiredaussiegirl - 2008-03-02 12:03:36

Hi Blake
Hope you had a good week away.
Im glad you are sorting things out .I do hope that Smitty is back with us soon.He has had a rough time lately with his health and all the stress he has had.He has been such a help to many on this site and I for one really miss him.
I think all he wanted was a bit of a laugh which we all know is good for the heart!!!!Us Aussies are very open minded but I appreciate that some people get offended..
We have all been very naughty while you were away and promise we will all try to behave(if we can)LOL
Thanks for trying to keep us in order!!!
Keep happy everyone
Kay

I was bad

by gmnordy - 2008-03-03 02:03:01

I admit it. I should have just stayed out of it. I was reacting to something else going on with me, and I lashed out and I was wrong. Sorry to pacergirl.
Hope you all come back. Smitty, miss you.

Debbi

Huge number of reads

by ted - 2008-03-03 06:03:29

When I looked at this post again on 3/3/08 at 2:46 pm PST, there had been 348 "reads" It goes to show that controversy generates much more interest than reading about cardiology.

lol

by jessie - 2008-03-05 07:03:40

you are too funny but i don't want to repeat this. have resurfaced in fllorida my husband and me. it is warm and we are enjoying the weather. also watching american politics, lol much like ours a lot of egocentric people. take care jessie

You know you're wired when...

Your license plate reads “Pacer4Life”.

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