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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 21 to 45 of 94. Go back in thread:
Posted by noa on July 7, 2000, at 15:52:46
In reply to Spell Check! , posted by SarahB on July 7, 2000, at 15:36:00
Hi, Dove! Missed you a lot. Hope things are peaceful with the gang at home and all.
Posted by dove on July 7, 2000, at 16:03:43
In reply to Re: Dove!!!, posted by noa on July 7, 2000, at 15:52:46
You kids are too sweet, I'm all warm and fuzzy inside :-) I'll be trying to catch up on all the new threads (that should take me the whole weekend I think) and of course trying to catch up on all the beautiful babble-landers I care for so much.
Thank you both so much for reaching out to me, it is so incredibly wonderful to feel the warmth of your thoughts and the friendship of your words. I cannot accurately express my sincere gratitude for you both and for this place called Psycho-Babble and all its fathomless personalities!
Thank YOU!!!
dove
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 7, 2000, at 16:58:53
In reply to OOPS! Please see Renee N at Girl Interrupted, posted by Renee N on July 7, 2000, at 7:09:43
> I think that one of the great things about boards like this is that newbies can benefit from oldies' experience...
I agree. I wasn't thinking about *excluding* the old-timers from this board, just letting them have a new board all to themselves...
> One more thought. Do you think that too much Psycho-Babble can be counterproductive?
That comes up from time to time, whether this can get "addictive". Maybe anything that really affects people has that potential?
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 7, 2000, at 16:59:24
In reply to Spell Check! , posted by SarahB on July 7, 2000, at 15:36:00
> could you put a spell check on it for us non spelling ADD'ers? ;-)
You know, I've seen another message board that does have that feature. The thing is, some people express themselves through their spelling. :-)
Bob
Posted by Cass on July 7, 2000, at 19:18:15
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board, posted by Dr. Bob on July 7, 2000, at 2:52:25
> Hmm, what about limiting it to those who've been here the longest -- or posted the most???
Dear Dr. Bob,
How long would you have to have been here to be on the oldie's board? What if you used to post a lot, but haven't been posting much lately? What if I got picked for the board that I didn't want to use? What if there are certain people I would like to be on the same board with?
It's stressing me out. I just like things the way they are :)Cass
Posted by Kath on July 7, 2000, at 21:29:49
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board » Dr. Bob, posted by Cass on July 7, 2000, at 19:18:15
Dear Dr. Bob - Before I saw Cass's post I was going to write one to you telling you I'm having a massive anxiety attack at the thought! I AM actually anxious! I think I like to be able to skim through & check people who I like to keep track of & don't think I'd have time if there were 2 boards. Yikes!! I have the same questions as Cass.
Kath
> Dear Dr. Bob,
> How long would you have to have been here to be on the oldie's board? What if you used to post a lot, but haven't been posting much lately? What if I got picked for the board that I didn't want to use? What if there are certain people I would like to be on the same board with?
> It's stressing me out. I just like things the way they are :)
>
> Cass
Posted by paul on July 7, 2000, at 23:20:06
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board, posted by AndrewB on July 7, 2000, at 10:12:35
i'm glad for the registration system too. stjames put it well. as for splitting the board-any method is agreeable as long as access to both sides still exists. would this be the case dr. bob?
pcl
Posted by Janice on July 8, 2000, at 0:15:28
In reply to TEST (No Real Message), posted by dove on July 7, 2000, at 15:00:09
> testing... Just me dove doing a little testing. Hope everyone is well and hanging in there. I've been super busy with the kids (all five of them) home for the summer and I sure do miss everybody :-) Take care!
>
> dovewell hello girlfriend. I've missed you. Janice
Posted by shar on July 8, 2000, at 1:04:34
In reply to reg/2nd board-for dr.bob, posted by paul on July 7, 2000, at 23:20:06
Wonder if we could have a board for the folks who like to discuss mental health from a social/philosophical/political/societal point of view.
There are always interesting "debates" here, but I think most (IMHO) posters are interested in this board at the individual level. For education and support.
Another idea for the pot.
Shar
Posted by Noa on July 8, 2000, at 9:48:04
In reply to Dr. Bob - Micro and Macro Boards?, posted by shar on July 8, 2000, at 1:04:34
I like Shar's idea a lot. One board for discussion of personal experiences of mental health issues, another board for discussions of mental health issues from view of the philosophical, public health, social, socio-political, anthropological, evolutionary biological, etc.
Posted by Oddzilla on July 8, 2000, at 11:48:06
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board, posted by Dr. Bob on July 7, 2000, at 2:52:25
> > But a CC# requirement would mean no more posts by
> > this _h_uman _b_eing
>
> Why?
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can't speak for Harry but 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?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> It's unfortunate, but I realize that each new hoop to jump through turns some people off. It's a trade-off. I'd rather have it be more supportive here than have more people here. Of course, I wouldn't want to turn *too many* people off...
>
> But another concern of mine has in fact been how busy it's been here at times. Could there at some point be too much of a good thing?
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Bob aside from the effect it has on posters at some point isn't it going to be impossible for you to keep up your oversight? I think losing that would change the board more than limiting the number of posters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
> I've wondered about starting a second board. But I'm not sure how to differentiate it from this one. It could be specialized in some way, for example, focused on particular diagnoses or medications. Or on a specific age group, like children.
>
> Or the walls could just be a different color, and another general discussion might develop, but then there might be a lot of double-posting.
>
> Hmm, what about limiting it to those who've been here the longest -- or posted the most???
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What about a separate limited list for people who've been her the longest. You could "grandfather " in all the current posters that wanted to be in it and after that have a waiting list as people drop out. There could be a separate unlimited list for new people, old people who want to come back after an absence. 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. I don't think I would want to pay for something that everybody could read but not post on.
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.
Thanks for fixing my address and getting me registered. Best wishes O.
Posted by harry b. on July 8, 2000, at 11:48:31
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board » Dr. Bob, posted by Cass on July 7, 2000, at 19:18:15
> It's stressing me out. I just like things the way they are :)
>
> CassStressing you out??
I thought Doc Bob was gonna want my credit card, my
driver's license, an escrow account, my fingerprints
and a real email address. Whew!
hb
Posted by harry b. on July 8, 2000, at 12:37:26
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board » Cass, posted by harry b. on July 8, 2000, at 11:48:31
Don't go getting any ideas from this last post ;)
>
> > It's stressing me out. I just like things the way they are :)
> >
> > Cass
>
> Stressing you out??
> I thought Doc Bob was gonna want my credit card, my
> driver's license, an escrow account, my fingerprints
> and a real email address. Whew!
> hb
Posted by Sara T on July 8, 2000, at 12:58:32
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board » Dr. Bob, posted by Oddzilla on July 8, 2000, at 11:48:06
Many bulletin boards have separate folders for different topics, such as medication issues, political issues, etc. Can this board be divided like that?
The idea of a separate board for those who've been here the longest is , too me, a little like creating a limited membership club. I personally have a strong dislike of that idea. It would mean that those people who come to this sight looking for advice and support for the first time would not be able to benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of those who have been around. Mental illness is an equal opportunity illness, and to create an atomosphere of disinclusion would be, IMHO, counter to the intent of this board.
Sara T.
Posted by Oddzilla on July 8, 2000, at 15:32:07
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board, posted by Sara T on July 8, 2000, at 12:58:32
> Many bulletin boards have separate folders for different topics, such as medication issues, political issues, etc. Can this board be divided like that?
>
> The idea of a separate board for those who've been here the longest is , too me, a little like creating a limited membership club.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It would be limited in numbers but open to anyone when an opening became available.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I personally have a strong dislike of that idea. It would mean that those people who come to this sight looking for advice and support for the first time would not be able to benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of those who have been around.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had actually thought it might make it easier to focus on the concerns of newcomers by cutting down on some of the tangents and discussions between people the newcomers aren't familiar with.
I had envisioned the the people on the "limited" board would continue to answer questions and interact with newcomers but with the focus on the newcomers. Specific questions and requests for information would be easier to find and focus on too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mental illness is an equal opportunity illness, and to create an atomosphere of disinclusion would be, IMHO, counter to the intent of this board.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That wasn't at all what I had in mind, if that's what it would do I wouldn't be in favor of it either. I thought it was getting so crowded people were getting lost in the shuffle. I was afraid people who post about "macro" issues might feel disincluded if they were put on a different board.
I don't care what they do. Just don't have captains and choose up sides for the new boards because I don't want to be the last one chosen!!!Best wishes O.
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 8, 2000, at 16:29:00
In reply to To Dr. Bob Re: Possible 2nd board, posted by Kath on July 7, 2000, at 21:29:49
> > How long would you have to have been here to be on the oldie's board? What if you used to post a lot, but haven't been posting much lately?
I don't know, I haven't thought about the specifics...
> > What if I got picked for the board that I didn't want to use?
Then you could just not use it! :-)
> > What if there are certain people I would like to be on the same board with?
Um, well, maybe start your own eGroup?
> I like to be able to skim through & check people who I like to keep track of & don't think I'd have time if there were 2 boards.
But wouldn't too many posts be too many posts, no matter how many boards they were divided up among?
Bob
Posted by Cass on July 8, 2000, at 16:47:31
In reply to Re: Possible 2nd board, posted by Dr. Bob on July 8, 2000, at 16:29:00
> > > 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?
Posted by Cass on July 8, 2000, at 16:55:42
In reply to Re: Possible 2nd board, posted by Dr. Bob on July 8, 2000, at 16:29:00
> > > What if I got picked for the board that I didn't want to use?
>
> Then you could just not use it! :-)
>
> > > What if there are certain people I would like to be on the same board with?
>
> Um, well, maybe start your own eGroup?
>Dear Dr. Bob,
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?Confused,
Cass
Posted by Sara T on July 8, 2000, at 17:14:22
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board » Sara T, posted by Oddzilla on July 8, 2000, at 15:32:07
Odzilla-
LOL, my remarks weren't really adressed to you in particular. They were meant to express my opinion about the different ideas that have been proposed.I appreciate your concern, though, and of course, I'd be glad to have you on my team!
Sara T.
Posted by Snowie on July 8, 2000, at 18:32:48
In reply to Re: Possible 2nd board, posted by Dr. Bob on July 8, 2000, at 16:29:00
I've been a long-time lurker of Psycho-Babble and posted a few times a couple of years ago under my real name, but I've only been visiting Psycho-Babble with frequency in the last 10 months or so since the camaraderie and intelligence of most the posters has grown on me. Although I don't post to see myself in print, I have learned as much or more by reading the postings of others. However, I'm also getting very distinct "get lost" vibes from Dr. Bob. Perhaps it's costing him too much in time and resources to continue to host this BBS.
Although there will never be another Psycho-Babble, there are other Boards. For those of you who are unaware, tAPir has a great BBS. The link is below. Just copy and paste into your browser. If you're unhappy with where Dr. Bob eventually takes Psycho-Babble, be aware that you have other posting options. If anyone knows of other Boards, please feel free to post them, or email me about them. Thanks.
The link:
http://www.algy.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgiSnowie
Posted by Adam on July 8, 2000, at 20:36:39
In reply to Re: Possible 2nd board, posted by Dr. Bob on July 8, 2000, at 16:29:00
Hmmm.
I'm not sure if I have any good ideas to contribute as to how this board should or might be organized in the future.
I do think, though, that something needs to be done. The board has gotten a bit unweildy of late. It used to be that I could follow a thread pretty easily, and though there was some redundancy in the threads, it was kept, just by virtue of the of the number of participants, to a reasonable minimum. Now in a matter of a week the number of topics can swell enormously, and often they are comprised of questions that have been asked numerous times before (is mirtazapine right for me? Parnate vs. Nardil? etc.) There's nothing wrong with being a newbie, and I certainly have contributed to the redundancy myself, so this critique is not in any way meant to insult or belittle new psychobabblers or their relative lack of information.
However, 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.
I'll put my thinking cap on (if you'll pardon the conceit) to see if I can be a contributor to the process of change rather than a mere critic (assuming, of course, that such contributions are welcome). My oppinion: This place needs a major overhaul. Not because it's bad, but because it could be EXCELLENT given the wealth of smarts and experience gathered here. The latter especilly is just becoming increasingly diluted by the volume of posts. I fear many bright old-timers have moved on out of frustration with the redundancy, and sadly we effectively lose not only their growing experience and insight, but also (due to the challenge of mining for their old posts, not to mention the missed opportunity of those who are newcomers and never saw the old threads) their past contributions. I'm hoping the changes would allow all to contribute to and peruse the same space, but would somehow better accommodate the growning number of participants, and would also somehow minimize the loss of extant but essentially buried information, so that newcomers could benefit from it, and also not inadvertantly contribute to the swell.
A tall order, I know, but hey, I can dream!
Adam
> > > How long would you have to have been here to be on the oldie's board? What if you used to post a lot, but haven't been posting much lately?
>
> I don't know, I haven't thought about the specifics...
>
> > > What if I got picked for the board that I didn't want to use?
>
> Then you could just not use it! :-)
>
> > > What if there are certain people I would like to be on the same board with?
>
> Um, well, maybe start your own eGroup?
>
> > I like to be able to skim through & check people who I like to keep track of & don't think I'd have time if there were 2 boards.
>
> But wouldn't too many posts be too many posts, no matter how many boards they were divided up among?
>
> Bob
Posted by Adam on July 8, 2000, at 21:23:00
In reply to Re: Possible 2nd board, posted by Dr. Bob on July 8, 2000, at 16:29:00
P.S.
Do you use grad. students to help you? It's hardly an original concept, but I do think to myself that the Internet might become THE place to gather information, both for patients and health care providers, and that publically available databases will eventually completely supplant various references like the DSM and PDR (the latter, I know, can be viewed on the 'net, but what is available publically is no better than what you can get from lots of other sources, and to access the more extensive, albiet crusty, reference info. that I assume is a mirror of what one finds in the bound volume, you gotta pony up some cash and credentials). I envision a big, dynamic, constantly revised, well organized clearinghouse of useful info. about any particular drug, for instance (say the usual plus current info. in the literature about off-label uses, the most recent pharmacodynamics, robust list of potential drug-drug interactions that would automatically pull up relevant information as new, incriminating evidence became available), that could be broken down by specialty, indication, etc.
Not to say that Dr. Bob's should be the place for such services (unless you want them to be!), but I wonder if "in silico" psychology and psychiatry are not very much in our immediate future, and if the skills to not only adeptly navigate this extension of the fields but also contribute to it, might not be in VERY high demand. Hence, psychoinformatics becomes a specialty unto itself, practiced by those schooled not only in psychotherapy and/or psychopharmacology, but in also in managing and using databases, or maybe even web page design, linux and JAVA.
What I'm getting at is: This page might be quite a training ground, a great resouce for independant projects for those so-inclined to contribute to such endeavors, with an eye toward the future and what skills might be in demand.
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 (meaning as a project or independant study) be a win-win situation for everyone? Are there even provisions in the educational structure of graduate and medical study for such endeavors?
> > > How long would you have to have been here to be on the oldie's board? What if you used to post a lot, but haven't been posting much lately?
>
> I don't know, I haven't thought about the specifics...
>
> > > What if I got picked for the board that I didn't want to use?
>
> Then you could just not use it! :-)
>
> > > What if there are certain people I would like to be on the same board with?
>
> Um, well, maybe start your own eGroup?
>
> > I like to be able to skim through & check people who I like to keep track of & don't think I'd have time if there were 2 boards.
>
> But wouldn't too many posts be too many posts, no matter how many boards they were divided up among?
>
> Bob
Posted by shellie on July 8, 2000, at 22:18:15
In reply to Re: Possible 2nd board » Dr. Bob, posted by Adam on July 8, 2000, at 20:36:39
> Hmmm.
>
> I'm not sure if I have any good ideas to contribute as to how this board should or might be organized in the future.
>
> I do think, though, that something needs to be done. The board has gotten a bit unweildy of late. It used to be that I could follow a thread pretty easily, and though there was some redundancy in the threads, it was kept, just by virtue of the of the number of participants, to a reasonable minimum. Now in a matter of a week the number of topics can swell enormously, and often they are comprised of questions that have been asked numerous times before (is mirtazapine right for me? Parnate vs. Nardil? etc.) There's nothing wrong with being a newbie, and I certainly have contributed to the redundancy myself, so this critique is not in any way meant to insult or belittle new psychobabblers or their relative lack of information.
>
> However, 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.
>
> ...... The latter especilly is just becoming increasingly diluted by the volume of posts. I fear many bright old-timers have moved on out of frustration with the redundancy, and sadly we effectively lose not only their growing experience and insight, but also (due to the challenge of mining for their old posts, not to mention the missed opportunity of those who are newcomers and never saw the old threads) their past contributions. I'm hoping the changes would allow all to contribute to and peruse the same space, but would somehow better accommodate the growning number of participants, and would also somehow minimize the loss of extant but essentially buried information, so that newcomers could benefit from it, and also not inadvertantly contribute to the swell.
>
> A tall order, I know, but hey, I can dream!
>
> Adam
I was really excited to find a board where knowledge of new medications, combinations of medications, and information about medications was shared by very well informed and intelligent people. I don't mind the rest of the stuff, (hey, mary (john), how ya doing, gone snowboarding, etc.), but I didn't come to the board for that reason, and they do add to the total volume, if that's what you all are worried about.(And I must admit, I do enjoy many of the short humorous posts-they make me laugh--laughing is worth a slight increase in volume to me.)
There are lots of boards and chatrooms for friendships. But this is the only board I've come across where I have gotten help and support with medications and been able to share with others the information I have picked up from reading and friends, and my own experience. I have been really impressed at how willing more experienced babblers have been to share their knowlege with newbies.
So the redundancy about meds doesn't bother me. All boards are cyclical, people come and go, and there is generally a swelling at the juncture. Since I've been here (a couple of months) the people who said why they were leaving--related it to wanting to spend more time in their real life, opposed to their virtual life.
Many pdocs are often not as well informed as they should be, and will not go the extra mile that we, as patients, will go, to achieve the quality of life that is possible. That is why I think this board is so great. So I think that everyone in the future should have the same opportunity as I am having to learn about their treatment options. If they start with "nardil or parnate?", that doesn't bother me. I guess I'm saying to me it is worth the redundancy, because that is the main thing that I find on this board that is not redundant on other sites.
Check out about.delphi.com's depression board and you'll know what I mean. No one seems to know they have any options in helping to steer their own treatment.
btw, it might help redundacy if the search functions actually worked. I never seem to come up with anything even when I know it's there. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I seem to be able to work searches on other sites.shellie
p.s., this thread is fast becoming the ultimate sweller!
Posted by shar on July 8, 2000, at 23:42:37
In reply to Re: registration system and possible 2nd board » Sara T, posted by Oddzilla on July 8, 2000, at 15:32:07
> > 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
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
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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