Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 39451

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Re: possible 2nd board » Dr. Bob

Posted by KarenB on July 9, 2000, at 2:18:28

In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board, posted by Dr. Bob on July 7, 2000, at 2:52:25

Dr. Bob,

Take a look at www.drlaura.com/forum and see how she has her site set up. It's one forum with several different sub-forums, categorized by topic. Possibilities for Psychobabble may be something like... Alternative Methods, Medications, ADD/ADHD, Bipolar, Depression, Juvenile Philosophical Diatribes...

Thanks for being here and for all that you do to make this board available for our use.

Karen

 

Re: The short ones go to the 2nd board? » shar

Posted by Sara T on July 9, 2000, at 8:47:31

In reply to The short ones go to the 2nd board? , posted by shar on July 8, 2000, at 23:42:37

> > > Many bulletin boards have separate folders for different topics
>
> I think that is a good idea. I think micro/macro is a good idea (it's usually obvious when a debate about societal influences or something is taking place)to me.
>
> I wouldn't want an oldies board, because I think new people bring a lot of energy and reminders to this board. We get a chance to help someone (perhaps), and we may get reminded of something we've forgotten or learn something new that someone else knows.
>
> IMHO of course.
>
> s

Shar,

I agree. And I think of those people who have come here when they really needed someone to help pull them through a rough time. The people here are very bright, well informed, and empathetic. It's those very qualities in the "oldies" that helps the "newbies", I wouldn't want to lose that.

The idea of a grad student or other person to moderate this site could be very useful. Check out Compuserve's forums. The moderators there are very knowledgeable people and for the most part, the posters are also. The moderators can often help steer people asking for advice on how to find it either on this site or through other internat resources.

Sara T.

 

Re: The short ones go to the 2nd board?

Posted by Cindy W on July 9, 2000, at 11:18:25

In reply to Re: The short ones go to the 2nd board? » shar, posted by Sara T on July 9, 2000, at 8:47:31

> > > > Many bulletin boards have separate folders for different topics
> >
> > I think that is a good idea. I think micro/macro is a good idea (it's usually obvious when a debate about societal influences or something is taking place)to me.
> >
> > I wouldn't want an oldies board, because I think new people bring a lot of energy and reminders to this board. We get a chance to help someone (perhaps), and we may get reminded of something we've forgotten or learn something new that someone else knows.
> >
> > IMHO of course.
> >
> > s
>
> Shar,
>
> I agree. And I think of those people who have come here when they really needed someone to help pull them through a rough time. The people here are very bright, well informed, and empathetic. It's those very qualities in the "oldies" that helps the "newbies", I wouldn't want to lose that.
>
> The idea of a grad student or other person to moderate this site could be very useful. Check out Compuserve's forums. The moderators there are very knowledgeable people and for the most part, the posters are also. The moderators can often help steer people asking for advice on how to find it either on this site or through other internat resources.
>
> Sara T.

Dr. Bob, I appreciate all the work you do putting this board together, and frankly, I'm happy with it just as it is! It has helped me a lot. Having things in folders wouldn't get me to read some posts I read now and learn from.--Cindy W

 

Re: possible 2nd board and links experiment

Posted by Dr. Bob on July 9, 2000, at 14:10:26

In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board » Dr. Bob, posted by Oddzilla on July 8, 2000, at 11:48:06

Oddzilla:

> this Odd being doesn't even have a credit card! At the risk of being dense do you mean people have to pay or just have a credit card?

Well, maybe the first step would be just to have a credit card. But some of you may remember that I've considered a payment system, too...

> What about a separate limited list for people who've been her the longest... There could be a separate unlimited list for new people... The unlimited list would also be open to people on the other list. People on the limited list who were uncivil could also be sent back to the unlimited list for a first warning and have to get back on the waiting list.
>
> If the second list was not accessible (to read) to the public it might be possible to attract people willing to pay for a safe place to post.

Right, part of the idea of a separate board for "veterans" would be to reward those who stick around and participate. I'd expect it to be less cluttered and "safer" than the main board.

The idea would *not* be to restrict veterans to that board -- I agree, they have a lot to contribute (or else they wouldn't be veterans!) -- but just to give them access to a second board they could use if they wished.

Yes, I guess it would be exclusionary, but think of it as like a frequent flier program...

> I think trying to separate the political from the personal from the religous from the medical from the psychological would probably not work and just lead to more bickering about what board people should post on. Like which board would you post the movie reviews and recipes on? Part of the charm of PB for me was how wide ranging it could be.

Yes, my concern with a new board is overlap with this one. Maybe if a new one had to do with children the boundaries would be relatively clear?

----------------

Cass:

> > > > What if I got picked for the board that I didn't want to use?
> >
> > Then you could just not use it! :-)
> >
> You mean we could use either board?

Right, if there were a separate board for veterans, they would be free to use it *or* the main board. The veteran board would just be an extra option for them.

> > > > What if there are certain people I would like to be on the same board with?
> >
> > Um, well, maybe start your own eGroup?
> >
> It sounds to me like you're sort of saying, "Get lost." Are you? Am I being overly sensitive? I think I'm always supportive here. Are you trying to get rid of me? Are you just trying to get rid of people?

Snowie:

> I'm also getting very distinct "get lost" vibes from Dr. Bob.

Oops, sorry about that! No, I'm not trying to get rid of anyone, I'm trying to make room for everyone. It would just be too much for me to create separate boards for every group that wanted their own. Whereas eGroups is set up specifically to do that.

----------------

Adam:

> a LOT of useful information has been posted in the past, and there have been some very, very knowledgeable 'babblers who have contributed reams of great stuff that seems more or less lost to the ether now. I must admit I find it difficult to dig up old posts or find those particular nuggets of advice or lists of facts because the size of the archived information is becoming intimidating, and the question:answer ratio is growing at an accelerating pace.

This was the problem that gave birth to Psychopharmacology Tips. Something like that is a lot of work, though. Maybe the next best thing would be just to keep track of the most helpful posts on various topics?

> Running this place has got to be a ton of work. Bringing out its full potential would be an enormous time sink for one person, I'm sure. Could turning a few smart and savvy grad. students onto the task every year full-time ... be a win-win situation for everyone?

Hmm, what about turning you smart and savvy psycho-babblers onto it? :-)

Let's try an experiment. I've created a new eGroup called "psycho-babble-tips" (the name might be a little ambiguous, but "psycho-babble" was already taken!). eGroups lets members of a group create "folders" of links. Maybe we can use that feature to highlight particular posts on topics.

The psycho-babble-tips main page is at:

http://www.egroups.com/links/psycho-babble-tips

To see the folders of links that have been created, just click on "Links". I've created a sample folder on the topic of a possible 2nd board. Maybe each topic could have its own folder, and that would help keep things organized?

If you just want to see the links, you don't have to do anything else, they're public. If, however, you want to try your hand at creating a folder of links, subscribe to psycho-babble-tips from the main page (and register with eGroups if you haven't already).

Subscriptions to psycho-babble-tips will need to approved by me. I'm going to limit this to registered Psycho-Babble members, so please use the same email address that you used to register here. Make sure you create a folder for yourself so the top level of Links doesn't get too cluttered. In your folder, list only Psycho-Babble posts (those posts, of course, can list any page). Finally, URLs should include the archive, like in the Thread section of a post. If they don't, like in the Current Period section on the main Psycho-Babble page, they'll only work for the current period.

Whew! Any questions?

Bob

 

Re: possible 2nd board and links experiment » Dr. Bob

Posted by medlib on July 9, 2000, at 18:59:41

In reply to Re: possible 2nd board and links experiment, posted by Dr. Bob on July 9, 2000, at 14:10:26

> Hmm, what about turning you smart and savvy psycho-babblers onto it? :-)

***I'd be glad to volunteer if I were savvy enough to figure out what you have in mind.

> Let's try an experiment. I've created a new eGroup called "psycho-babble-tips" (the name might be a little ambiguous, but "psycho-babble" was already taken!). eGroups lets members of a group create "folders" of links. Maybe we can use that feature to highlight particular posts on topics.
>
> To see the folders of links that have been created, just click on "Links". I've created a sample folder on the topic of a possible 2nd board. Maybe each topic could have its own folder, and that would help keep things organized?
>
> If you just want to see the links, you don't have to do anything else, they're public. If, however, you want to try your hand at creating a folder of links, subscribe to psycho-babble-tips from the main page (and register with eGroups if you haven't already).
>
> Subscriptions to psycho-babble-tips will need to approved by me. I'm going to limit this to registered Psycho-Babble members, so please use the same email address that you used to register here. Make sure you create a folder for yourself so the top level of Links doesn't get too cluttered.

***What kind of folder--self-, drug-, or old topic-named, or what?

>In your folder, list only Psycho-Babble posts (those posts, of course, can list any page).

***By "page", do you mean the current board or a specific archived board? List how?

>Finally, URLs should include the archive, like in the Thread section of a post. If they don't, like in the Current Period section on the main Psycho-Babble page, they'll only work for the current period.

***I don't understand how to do that. Is there some significance to your inclusion of only some of the posts from this thread on your eGroup sample folder?

I use the web primarily for research, discovered PB from search results, and am unfamiliar with the workings of listservs and other types of boards. Hope I'm not the only one here so inconveniently naive.

If I understand this concept at all (and that's a huge IF), wouldn't it be simpler to enlist a popularity-ranking search engine such as Google to search the entire archives? This must be expensive, but I'll bet that babblers would be much more willing to contribute to such a specific expense than to pay for posting.

As helpful as the med expertise of babblers has been to me (and that's enormously), what I found so useful about the original Tips section were the experiences and views of other pdocs. Ideal for me would be an updated professional Tips section AND a total-archive search feature.

I would be happy to contribute time (generously) and/or money (modestly, I'm poor) to either or both features. (I'm exceptionally good and professionally qualified at organizing--except myself, of course.)

Regards---medlib

 

Karen: Good Selection of Topics 8-) (nm)

Posted by shar on July 9, 2000, at 19:46:05

In reply to Re: possible 2nd board » Dr. Bob, posted by KarenB on July 9, 2000, at 2:18:28

> Dr. Bob,
>
> Take a look at www.drlaura.com/forum and see how she has her site set up. It's one forum with several different sub-forums, categorized by topic. Possibilities for Psychobabble may be something like... Alternative Methods, Medications, ADD/ADHD, Bipolar, Depression, Juvenile Philosophical Diatribes...
>
> Thanks for being here and for all that you do to make this board available for our use.
>
> Karen

 

Wow, I hardly understood any of that... » medlib

Posted by shar on July 9, 2000, at 19:52:37

In reply to Re: possible 2nd board and links experiment » Dr. Bob, posted by medlib on July 9, 2000, at 18:59:41

Whew! No Sys Admin here! If the e-groups thing gets setup, I will be happy to do what I can to help. I think I would need a list of how to do things, tho.

Step 1. Go to www.etc.etc

Is this Compuserve that Karen suggested?

Shar

> > Hmm, what about turning you smart and savvy psycho-babblers onto it? :-)
>
> ***I'd be glad to volunteer if I were savvy enough to figure out what you have in mind.
>
> > Let's try an experiment. I've created a new eGroup called "psycho-babble-tips" (the name might be a little ambiguous, but "psycho-babble" was already taken!). eGroups lets members of a group create "folders" of links. Maybe we can use that feature to highlight particular posts on topics.
> >
> > To see the folders of links that have been created, just click on "Links". I've created a sample folder on the topic of a possible 2nd board. Maybe each topic could have its own folder, and that would help keep things organized?
> >
> > If you just want to see the links, you don't have to do anything else, they're public. If, however, you want to try your hand at creating a folder of links, subscribe to psycho-babble-tips from the main page (and register with eGroups if you haven't already).
> >
> > Subscriptions to psycho-babble-tips will need to approved by me. I'm going to limit this to registered Psycho-Babble members, so please use the same email address that you used to register here. Make sure you create a folder for yourself so the top level of Links doesn't get too cluttered.
>
> ***What kind of folder--self-, drug-, or old topic-named, or what?
>
> >In your folder, list only Psycho-Babble posts (those posts, of course, can list any page).
>
> ***By "page", do you mean the current board or a specific archived board? List how?
>
> >Finally, URLs should include the archive, like in the Thread section of a post. If they don't, like in the Current Period section on the main Psycho-Babble page, they'll only work for the current period.
>
> ***I don't understand how to do that. Is there some significance to your inclusion of only some of the posts from this thread on your eGroup sample folder?
>
> I use the web primarily for research, discovered PB from search results, and am unfamiliar with the workings of listservs and other types of boards. Hope I'm not the only one here so inconveniently naive.
>
> If I understand this concept at all (and that's a huge IF), wouldn't it be simpler to enlist a popularity-ranking search engine such as Google to search the entire archives? This must be expensive, but I'll bet that babblers would be much more willing to contribute to such a specific expense than to pay for posting.
>
> As helpful as the med expertise of babblers has been to me (and that's enormously), what I found so useful about the original Tips section were the experiences and views of other pdocs. Ideal for me would be an updated professional Tips section AND a total-archive search feature.
>
> I would be happy to contribute time (generously) and/or money (modestly, I'm poor) to either or both features. (I'm exceptionally good and professionally qualified at organizing--except myself, of course.)
>
> Regards---medlib

 

Re: rules

Posted by MisterB on July 9, 2000, at 20:04:52

In reply to Re: possible 2nd board and links experiment, posted by Dr. Bob on July 9, 2000, at 14:10:26

It's Dr. Bob's time to do with as he chooses, but I would think it better spent clearly defining rules for participation on this board than spent creating more exclusive boards.

In the other hand, the internet first was created primarily as a research tool to facilite interaction among scientists. In the evolving environment of personal use, it seems totally appropriate that anyone can develop their own mailing list and conduct an ongoing exclusive dialogue. From my perspective, problems would develop when this private converstation is published for public consumption. As a reporter and journalist, my effort has been to insure that the breadth and depth of perspectives in the community are fairly represented in public forums. An exclusive second board would not be unlike the many round-table conversations available on cable TV, but those conversations benefit from a production staff that is concerned with the fairness of the content.

My concerns about an elite, exclusive, second tier are not that such a tier is per se unfair, but that it might be used unfairly, as a badge of prestige, to exclude unpopular perspectives and to publically criticize participants on a lower tier. If those were to be the functions, I would suggest members of an exclusive dialogue keep their conversation private. If the only measure for participation was that old-timers on this board can participate in a new board, I would rather it also only be read by old-time members of this board. Otherwise, anyone wanting to respond might feel obliged to post responses to the exclusive board on the main board, or to create some alternate board, and invite an open-season of un-regulated criticism. My point is that excluding segments of the public from public discourse can promote extreme reactions.

The e-groups site idea is interesting, but my experience with e-groups is that their registration processes are a bit cumbersome. It took me several tries to get a handle registered to allow me to continue posting here - I don't know if my earlier handle was blocked, my ISP was blocked, my e-mail address was blocked, if there was just a glitch in the software, or if I was persistenly making typographical errors. With e-groups, a user has to navigate several pages to log on to the site - as I recall, one can't simply direct their browser to a URL to read the contents of a discussion.

The requirement that users have a credit card is particularly offensive to me. Many, especially those in lower income groups, cannot obtain credit cards. I refuse to hold credit cards for several reasons. A general argument against numeric identifiers is that they further erode our biological identity. Anonymous participation in electronic forums seems more natural to me ... as in nature, what you see is what you get.

The idea of grad students participating as moderators here seems like a good idea, though the countersuggestion that psychobabblers perform that function is also a credible idea. Telephone crisis lines are seldom any better than the training offered to the volunteer staff, whose skills are usually limited to empathetic listening and to directing callers to other resources. Volunteers on this site would presumably serve as moderators. To go further, and offer live assistance in directing users to other resources might be very helpful in some cases, but it might also encourage dependancy at a site that otherwise helps develop initiative.

Another problem is to determine what guidelines moderators would follow. Many users of this site might agree on a common definition of the term "civil" but participation in this board so far might be self selective in favor of people who can afford psychiatric care, who have sufficient educational development to participate in their own care and who have internet access. As participation in the site grows, even if we presume that the accepted idea of civility here is to be imposed on new participants, those who do not share the predominant background might need some clues as to the definition of civility used here.

I don't mean to suggest that a moderator would limit content. My suggestion for moderators would be that they respond to the way information was conveyed rather than to the information itself. I am thinking a moderator could be like an editor.

The post about humorous verbal terrorism contains a valuable inventory of rhetorical devices used to misdirect conversation. In a discussion such as this, identification of rhetorical devices can serve to preempt escalation of interpersonal conflict. A simple, timely identification of a rhetorical device, with perhaps a brief explanation of the hazards associated with that device, might help get a discussion back on track. For a person who suspects, as I do, that many biologically identifiable mental disorders are caused by social stresses and that those social stresses are often a result of deficits in interpersonal communication skills, an informed moderator can serve not only to help keep the board on track but also to provide therapuetic education for participants.

 

Re: links experiment » medlib

Posted by Oddzilla on July 9, 2000, at 20:30:58

In reply to Re: possible 2nd board and links experiment » Dr. Bob, posted by medlib on July 9, 2000, at 18:59:41

Hi Medlib-I'm glad you came back.
>

There's so much repetition if just the most relevant posts were put in the folder it would be much more useful than endless threads and the same answers and questions over and over. For instance there might be an Effexor withdrawal folder with the best posts about that topic, an Effexor success folder,an Effexor side effects folder, etc. I'm not sure how narrow each should be to be most useful. What do you think? Aren't you a Librarian? You returned just in the nick of time!

It seems like it should be oriented towards being most useful rather than complete. The posts can be re-titled to make the contents clearer and more accessible. I would guess? that people would be able to add to any folder something they thought was relevant and had been left out.

If everyone worked on an area that had interest for them, it would naturally be tailored towards people who might be interested in the same area.

I would like to see a folder for some of the best posts for encouraging suicidal people because some of them have meant a lot to me .

Perhaps there could be folders for specific diagnosis or therapies,etc.

I think the best part of having Babblers do it would be that we know what would have been helpful to us.

I think it would be possible to have the same post in more than one folder if it was relevant to both. At the same time a lot of repetition could be weeded out.

These are all my own impressions-they may not be what Dr. Bob had in mind at all.

I was actually thinking of more of a "Best of" version of whats in Babble for people who were too tired to try and search the archives.

I think the most valuable part of PB is the personal experience unless the information is referenced.

Do you think it would be a good idea for someone (like possibly you :-) to start an organized sytem of naming folders and then let people add to the ones they are interested in?

It's possible that I've totally missed the point(it sure wouldn't be the first time). Best Wishes O.

 

links experiment--good idea and we could help? » Oddzilla

Posted by shar on July 9, 2000, at 23:50:42

In reply to Re: links experiment » medlib, posted by Oddzilla on July 9, 2000, at 20:30:58

If there were volunteers to search the archives and sort of sketch out what's there, that could help establish categories. I would be willing to take an archived period and analyze it.

We could ignore the personals, and focus on specific drugs, or specific situations (suicide), or hospitalization. Whatever the archives tell us. Sort of a content analysis approach.

Deciding what to include in a link, and what to leave out...that could get interesting. We could leave out redundancies.

I'll keep following the posts.
Shar

> Hi Medlib-I'm glad you came back.
> >
>
> There's so much repetition if just the most relevant posts were put in the folder it would be much more useful than endless threads and the same answers and questions over and over. For instance there might be an Effexor withdrawal folder with the best posts about that topic, an Effexor success folder,an Effexor side effects folder, etc. I'm not sure how narrow each should be to be most useful. What do you think? Aren't you a Librarian? You returned just in the nick of time!
>
> It seems like it should be oriented towards being most useful rather than complete. The posts can be re-titled to make the contents clearer and more accessible. I would guess? that people would be able to add to any folder something they thought was relevant and had been left out.
>
> If everyone worked on an area that had interest for them, it would naturally be tailored towards people who might be interested in the same area.
>
> I would like to see a folder for some of the best posts for encouraging suicidal people because some of them have meant a lot to me .
>
> Perhaps there could be folders for specific diagnosis or therapies,etc.
>
> I think the best part of having Babblers do it would be that we know what would have been helpful to us.
>
> I think it would be possible to have the same post in more than one folder if it was relevant to both. At the same time a lot of repetition could be weeded out.
>
> These are all my own impressions-they may not be what Dr. Bob had in mind at all.
>
> I was actually thinking of more of a "Best of" version of whats in Babble for people who were too tired to try and search the archives.
>
> I think the most valuable part of PB is the personal experience unless the information is referenced.
>
> Do you think it would be a good idea for someone (like possibly you :-) to start an organized sytem of naming folders and then let people add to the ones they are interested in?
>
> It's possible that I've totally missed the point(it sure wouldn't be the first time). Best Wishes O.

 

Re: links experiment--good idea and we could help?

Posted by quilter on July 10, 2000, at 0:06:59

In reply to links experiment--good idea and we could help? » Oddzilla, posted by shar on July 9, 2000, at 23:50:42

I'm so confused... but I guess thats about par for the course. Quilter

 

Re:rules-BBob,boBB,MisterAlexBirkett...

Posted by KarenB on July 10, 2000, at 0:34:33

In reply to Re: rules, posted by MisterB on July 9, 2000, at 20:04:52

Geeeeeeeeeeez.....CHOOSE ONE NAME!!!!!!!! That way we may all have the CHOICE to avoid your posts altogether...or to read them with unbridled enthusiasm for someone who has the guts and fortitude to go against the "system,"...OR to use as needed as a viable alternative aid for insomnia.

Choice. That's what I'm talking about.

Karen

 

Re: links experiment

Posted by Dr. Bob on July 10, 2000, at 8:42:36

In reply to Re: possible 2nd board and links experiment » Dr. Bob, posted by medlib on July 9, 2000, at 18:59:41

> ***What kind of folder--self-, drug-, or old topic-named, or what?

Maybe like my example, with a "title" that's the focus of the folder and a "description" with your name? A lot of this will be more clear when you actually try it, I think. (I hope!)

> >In your folder, list only Psycho-Babble posts (those posts, of course, can list any page).
>
> ***By "page", do you mean the current board or a specific archived board? List how?

You'll see: you get to enter, for a link, in addition to "title" and "description", "URL" also. The posts could be from the current board or any archived board.

> >URLs should include the archive, like in the Thread section of a post. If they don't, like in the Current Period section on the main Psycho-Babble page, they'll only work for the current period.
>
> ***I don't understand how to do that.

To include the archive of a current post? Maybe the easiest way is to go to the post, find it in its own Thread section, click on it there, and then use the URL of that page.

> ***Is there some significance to your inclusion of only some of the posts from this thread on your eGroup sample folder?

Not really. They were just the posts I was responding to before.

Bob

 

Re: links experiment

Posted by Dr. Bob on July 10, 2000, at 8:57:53

In reply to Re: links experiment » medlib, posted by Oddzilla on July 9, 2000, at 20:30:58

> For instance there might be an Effexor withdrawal folder with the best posts about that topic, an Effexor success folder,an Effexor side effects folder, etc. I'm not sure how narrow each should be to be most useful.

Some trial and error is going to be inevitable. Actually, you can create folders inside folders, so one way to do it would be to have an Effexor folder with withdrawal, success, and side effects subfolders.

> I would guess? that people would be able to add to any folder something they thought was relevant and had been left out.

> Do you think it would be a good idea for someone to start an organized sytem of naming folders and then let people add to the ones they are interested in?

Hmm, I was thinking one person (or at least a small number of people) would take responsibility for each folder, but it could be more open, too. But if a lot of people work on (add to) a folder, they'll need to work together...

> These are all my own impressions-they may not be what Dr. Bob had in mind at all.

Don't worry, you got it! Think of Psychopharmacology Tips with a folder of links being analogous to a page of posts.

Bob

 

some observations based on my professional exp

Posted by Wallabee on July 10, 2000, at 10:36:59

In reply to Re: Dr. Bob - Micro and Macro Boards?Yes, Shar, posted by Noa on July 8, 2000, at 9:48:04

I only discovered this board a few days ago.

I work as an executive director in the charitable sector and I have spent the past few years successfully leading community based organizations through periods of crisis (I actually think that in learning to live successfully with manic depression I have developed some formidable skills at coping with crisis/the unexpected) and growth characterized by:

* tension between the expectations of some "oldtimers" - particularly founding members, and newcomers - largely around the questions of "who are we" and "what do we want to be". Often the group's focus or purpose shifts or expands from that originally intended by the founder.

* issues of capacity and structure - how will we support growth, who will lead this growth, how will we govern ourselves, etc.

Dr. Bob, this is a wonderful site, and a tremendous achievement. As a newcomer I have yet to witness or be bothered by whatever issues gave rise to this thread in the first place. Nevertheless, many of the comments in the thread have useful suggestions for the site's improvement. Some suggestions I would make, based on my professional experience, if you really want to see the site maintain its vitality and become the best that it could be are:

* Be prepared to let go of the board as "your own",

* get help, lots of it. There are many people who work in the area of organizational development and specialize in and have a great deal of experience facilitating the transition this board is going through. I think you could find someone who would jump at the chance of doing it on the net. I am not in the US, so cannot give specific examples, but there must be established charities - actual organizations - whose missions would make them interested in lending a resource hand in supporting the board through this process of growth (perhaps some other posters have suggestions on who these might be). In canada the United Way maintains a service of volunteer consultants who help small organizations (or community groups struggling with the need to become organizations) deal with this stuff.

Some other observations:

* The first thing that struck me about this board is that it is way too much for one person, or even one person and a group of grad students to take on.

* It is truly a community resource, and belongs as much to the people who post here as to the university that hosts it, and you Dr. Bob, who founded and oversee it in a way that is not entirely clear (though that lack of clarity may just be because I have only taken a cursory look at some of the other pages).

* It is something sufficiently worthwhile that it should not be struggling for funding, and could receive sufficient philanthropic support if there was leadership and determination to find same (and that is not meant as a slight at you Dr. Bob, rather one more illustration of my point that this is just too much work for one person).

Sorry if my comments are not an instant fix, but I hope that they will be useful. Still IMHO

My non cryptic email is:

dymordecai@yahoo.com, but I check and answer them all.

Wallabee

 

and no, I didn't mean to imply . . .

Posted by Wallabee on July 10, 2000, at 10:41:20

In reply to some observations based on my professional exp, posted by Wallabee on July 10, 2000, at 10:36:59

didn't mean to imply grad students aren't people

lol

 

Re: another idea

Posted by noa on July 10, 2000, at 16:05:24

In reply to and no, I didn't mean to imply . . ., posted by Wallabee on July 10, 2000, at 10:41:20

When I have visited the sleep apnea forum, I noticed that they have a page of "today's posts". If that were possible here, then we wouldn't always have to view all the threads. We could just check the "today's posts" page to see what is new. Your yellow "new" posts are terrific, but I think that with the skyrocketing volume, scrolling through to see what is new is still quite a job.

 

Re: links experiment

Posted by stjames on July 10, 2000, at 18:07:21

In reply to Re: links experiment, posted by Dr. Bob on July 10, 2000, at 8:57:53

>
> Some trial and error is going to be inevitable. Actually, you can create folders inside folders, so one way to do it would be to have an Effexor folder with withdrawal, success, and side effects subfolders.

Hmm, I was thinking one person (or at least a small number of people) would take responsibility for each folder, but it could be more open, too. But if a lot of people work on (add to) a folder, they'll need to work together...
>

James here...

I like the way this is developing. I;ll take Effexor.

james

 

Re: links experiment

Posted by noa on July 10, 2000, at 18:36:51

In reply to Re: links experiment, posted by stjames on July 10, 2000, at 18:07:21

Ok, I checked out the links thing at egroups. I think I get it. It is indeed easier to understand when you see it.

The problem I am having is finding posts through the search function--I thought I would find some old posts to put in a folder . I would like to start a folder on thyroid related depression.

 

Re: links --Noa's Thyroid/Depression Links folder

Posted by noa on July 10, 2000, at 19:32:23

In reply to Re: links experiment, posted by noa on July 10, 2000, at 18:36:51

I just created a folder and filled it with a bunch of links, mostly PB posts, and a couple of Mary Shomon's pages. It probably will need editing--ie, weeding, keep only the most relevent. But I wanted to see how it works. This is pretty cool.

 

Re: links --Noa's Thyroid/Depression Links folder » noa

Posted by Oddzilla on July 10, 2000, at 20:04:42

In reply to Re: links --Noa's Thyroid/Depression Links folder, posted by noa on July 10, 2000, at 19:32:23

> I just created a folder and filled it with a bunch of links, mostly PB posts, and a couple of Mary Shomon's pages. It probably will need editing--ie, weeding, keep only the most relevent. But I wanted to see how it works. This is pretty cool.

You're amazing- I'm still trying to decide on a subject for mine. It looks really good. BTW how do you keep your e-mail address from being posted
on the E-groups site? I don't guess it really matters, but nobody else's is showing. Best Wishes O.

 

Re: links --Noa's Thyroid/Depression Links folder

Posted by noa on July 10, 2000, at 20:23:56

In reply to Re: links --Noa's Thyroid/Depression Links folder » noa, posted by Oddzilla on July 10, 2000, at 20:04:42

BTW how do you keep your e-mail address from being posted
> on the E-groups site?

Good question. All that actually shows right now on mine is the beginning of the address, and I guess you could make educated guesses about the rest of it, but it isn't obvious. Since Dr. Bob did not create a "Members" page, or perhaps I don't have access to it (yet), that keeps email addresses from being posted.

My preference would be to not have mine up there.

 

Re: links --Noa's Thyroid/Depression Links folder

Posted by janeS on July 10, 2000, at 20:48:06

In reply to Re: links --Noa's Thyroid/Depression Links folder, posted by noa on July 10, 2000, at 19:32:23

> I just created a folder and filled it with a bunch of links, mostly PB posts, and a couple of Mary Shomon's pages. It probably will need editing--ie, weeding, keep only the most relevent. But I wanted to see how it works. This is pretty cool.

Noa:

It IS pretty cool...great job!

Thanks,
Jane

 

Possible topics and question

Posted by shar on July 10, 2000, at 22:38:53

In reply to Re: links --Noa's Thyroid/Depression Links folder, posted by janeS on July 10, 2000, at 20:48:06

Possible topics (for anyone's use)

AD's in combination
Withdrawal
Individual AD's (Wellbutrin, Paxil, etc.)
AD: MAOI Group
Non-AD meds (I'm not sure about this--Zyprexa?)
Hospitalization
Suicide/Suicidal Thoughts
One of those Days (down days that surprise us)
Getting back into the swing of things
Self-medicating (alcohol, Rx drugs, pot, whatever)
Choosing Pdocs and other Pdoc issues
Women's issues?
Drug interactions
Definitions: SSRI, Tricyclic, MAOI-like a glossary

And, how do I get to the eGroup?

Thanks, Shar

 

Re: Possible topics and question » shar

Posted by Adam on July 10, 2000, at 23:30:16

In reply to Possible topics and question, posted by shar on July 10, 2000, at 22:38:53

I think many of these ideas for possible folders are great, and probably right on target.

Once an old girlfriend spent a summer at Cornell. When I visited, I was a little disturbed by the eclectic archtecture, but there was this one quad that I thought was kind of cool: It had all these sidewalks criss-crossing it in what appeared to be a haphazard fashion, but the truth was they simply paved over paths already created by students collectively taking what was to them the best routes to serve their purposes. It lacked much, if any, of the symmetry and structure one would imagine an engineer or an architect might dream up, but it was in all likelihood the best of all possible arrangements, since it suited the needs of those who used it every day, rather than the aesthetics of any particular designer.

I imagine the redundancy here that I have described might be a little like those students wearing paths in the ground. The "structure" (meaning, I suppose, the organizational scheme that has the most utility) has been made clear by the "paths" we have gravitated towards; or it would be clear if it were not for the fact that the oft-traveled "paths" are periodically obscured or hidden through archiving and a linear structure that would, if it were not for archiving, create an endless sequence of posts and threads that few would have the patience to scroll through.

We often tread the same paths. More often than not, I think, we're not aware of it. Our way might be more clear if we could survey the route taken by those before us. I think the most functional topical breakdown of this space (should such a breakdown be implemented) has already been designed. It just requires an adequate survey to be elucidated. Hopefully some means of paving new paths, when they "organically" are laid for us, will also be implemented, to balance the needs for efficiency and structure with the need for growth when it is compelling.

Just more thoughts...

> Possible topics (for anyone's use)
>
> AD's in combination
> Withdrawal
> Individual AD's (Wellbutrin, Paxil, etc.)
> AD: MAOI Group
> Non-AD meds (I'm not sure about this--Zyprexa?)
> Hospitalization
> Suicide/Suicidal Thoughts
> One of those Days (down days that surprise us)
> Getting back into the swing of things
> Self-medicating (alcohol, Rx drugs, pot, whatever)
> Choosing Pdocs and other Pdoc issues
> Women's issues?
> Drug interactions
> Definitions: SSRI, Tricyclic, MAOI-like a glossary
>
> And, how do I get to the eGroup?
>
> Thanks, Shar


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