Posted by Dr. Bob on February 15, 2015, at 21:53:25
In reply to Re: why Lou isn't blocked » oceansun, posted by Twinleaf on November 12, 2014, at 23:41:58
> I was scared because his post to me was one of the first ones I read. My first response was actually shock. I've only recently resurfaced, and I remember the board 10+ years ago when it was a big source of support and knowledge to me.
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> What I've seen on this board lately still retains that care and compassion and curiosity, but the sheer number of people posting has dropped dramatically. Shockingly. I certainly can't speak for any member, past or present, but I myself wish more people were able to gain the sort of support and information offered here.
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> So, I wonder, although I don't know how long Lou has been posting, has he, or similar people, been a factor in the decrease in posters?
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> I don't think it's a matter of triggers -- many people seem to ignore him, though I'm guessing pretty annoyed that he's still around -- but of maintaining the health and wellness of the board as a whole, and encouraging growth, if that is wanted, of course.
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> I continue to post, and am posting this post, simply because I remember the board of the past and thus was able to look past his post to the wonderful other posters here. I don't read his posts. It's the new and potential posters I am worried about, who don't have prior knowledge of the board and might just be turned off immediately, and the current members who might get discouraged and leave.
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> oceansun> While the medication board has continued to be a great source of informstion for new treatments, it does seem that the sense of warmth and community which once characterized Babble has largely disappeared. The number of active posters appears to be decreasing. I don't really understand the reasons for this, although I do feel it would have been helpful to both Lou and the community to impose moderate checks on some of his more frightening statements. I don't read them, but I can see that they could be quite alarming to new posters who are just trying to find out if this site is helpful for them. We will never know how many potential posters have decided to reject this site because of this.
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> TwinleafThanks for your posts. Sorry again about not replying more promptly.
My idea is that new posters who are turned off by Lou (or anyone else) will be more likely to stay if posters with more experience reassure, support, and encourage them. For their own health and wellness, they might simply ignore Lou. But it would help maintain the health and wellness of the board if they paid attention to his effect on others.
Bob
a brilliant and reticent Web mastermind -- The New York Times
backpedals well -- PartlyCloudy
poster:Dr. Bob
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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20140902/msgs/1076701.html