A gentle reminder to be vigilant

As a caring member of this Club, I would like to gently remind everyone to perhaps be careful when answering new posts.  A few isolated messages that find their way on to the Pacemaker Club “Most Recent Messages” page, may not always be what they might first appear to be.  From my own observation and from messages received from well respected members, evidence of troll like activity is still occasionally occurring and a few posts that appear may be of questionable authenticity.

I believe such posts are from the same person or persons, using a different user name, email address and location each time they post a new message.  They pose as genuine members of this Club seeking advice on a range of worsening health conditions and symptoms, sometimes totally unrelated to their condition requiring pacemaker support.   They often report a questionable history of medical procedures and/or medical negligence.  On the other hand, they may post seemingly senseless messages to gain attention.

Some of these messages clearly will be from genuine members seeking attention and needing reassurance, attention and reassurance perhaps that is difficult or impossible to satisfy.  These members often need professional help and understanding, help that cannot be provided by the Pacemaker Club.  We continue to patiently encourage these members to seek this specialist help outside of the Club for their own well being and safety.

If you decide to answer a new message which you are uncertain about, it may be helpful to question the member first, especially if the member has no convincing history to support their post, but let us always try to be polite when responding.  Kindness, patience and understanding is what we do best here, even when dealing with those who might prefer to cause deception and disharmony.  

Of course it has to be said that the vast majority of Pacemaker Club members, particularly new members seeking advice for the first time about their new pacemaker, or trying to come to terms with their new medical diagnosis, are most definitely not trying to disrupt or deceive members of this Club and need all the help they can get.  Genuine members are always welcome to post.

As you will know, we do have a Terms of Use policy for this Club, see under Club "Your Conduct” and also under (c) “Submission of Content”.  There are a few rules that I can see most genuine members always follow, rules that we all agreed to when joining the Pacemaker Club.  If a member is found to have a deleterious/disruptive influence on this very caring community and consistently break their Terms of Use, their posts can be removed and their accounts may be deactivated without notice. 

Many vulnerable members of the Pacemaker Club battle daily with their chronic health conditions and come here looking for support, encouragement and reassurance and most of them are clearly helped by our caring community.  However a few members have written to me over recent months about the occasional, disturbing posts/comments they have seen on the Pacemaker Club and which has caused them a great deal of distress.

I hope like me you will all wish to remain watchful to help keep this Club a safe place where we can all come to ask questions and receive genuine support.  

Gemita

10 Comments

thanks

by new to pace.... - 2021-05-12 08:28:49

Thanks for putting into the right words, which i as a new person to this site.  Have wondered about some of those asking for help.  Was all ways told that if someone copies what i do or say.  Should take as  a compliment.  But here not so..

new to pace 

Thank you

by Aberdeen - 2021-05-12 12:51:23

Gemita, I would like to thank you for all your hard work for the benefit of club members!

I have chosen not to reply to any posts that I think are not genuine. 

Thank you (2)

by Aberdeen - 2021-05-12 14:42:06

I didn’t make the last part of my previous comment clear! Obviously I would not reply to all posts as I don’t have enough knowledge about their particular condition.

thank you

by athena123 - 2021-05-12 17:32:19

Thank you Gemita for your sound advise you have giving me. I still reflect upon medical issue but now i have great support and people who really care and want to help. Never change Gemita.

Thank you

by Tulp - 2021-05-12 18:16:52

Like the other replies aboie, thank you for your advice and wise answers.

 

It is good to have your support

by Gemita - 2021-05-13 04:31:25

new to pace, Aberdeen, Athena123, Tulp, ar_vin, thank you all for your support and helpful kind words.  

It has been my pleasure to be in touch with you all and to hear how well you have coped with your individual health conditions.  I continue to learn a great deal from members like yourselves which is what makes this Club so valuable.  Despite all your considerable difficulties you are still making positive, reassuring comments, focussing on what is good in your life.  It is not always easy to do this as I well know. but the benefits of trying to stay positive are well known and may just tip the balance in our favour.   

ar_vin, I will private message you on your suggestion..

Gemita

Thank you

by Lovesthesun41 - 2021-05-13 18:58:28

Thank you Gemita. I have learned a lot from this group and appreciate the admin's vigilance. 

Thank you.

by Rosenberger5 - 2021-05-13 23:05:48

I appreciate all the posts and comments from each one of you. Gemita your advice along with agent X brings me comfort and encouragement during these trying times. Even my husband will tell me to ask questions bc he is worried and confused as much as I am.  We are on this journey together. So thank you for your dedication and committed. I for one appreciate it. 

Lovesthesun41 and Rosenberger5

by Gemita - 2021-05-14 05:49:37

Yes we learn a lot from each other on this forum not only about our devices and health conditions but also about how to interact with each other.  This is perhaps the hardest part to get right.  We are a large family and sometimes we are bound to fall out.  But healthy debate, with lots of opposing views are always welcome here. It is a learning curve for me too to try to keep the peace and I have not always got it right but it is work in progress.  Thank you both for your kind words.

Gemita

Keeping the peace

by AgentX86 - 2021-05-15 20:41:17

I don't see it as "keeping the peace" as much as "keeping the club".  If trolls or spammers are allowed to dilute the forum and turn off members, the club is over.  The mild moderation done here shouldn't affect the club negatively at all and just might save it.

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