Check the posting dates....

LivinginNH
LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
Hi All,

I usually post to the Colorectal board, but I've been stopping by here for the past week or so to read the posts from fellow caregivers. However, as I was reading the posts just now, I realized that a few of the newbies have been posting to posts that are over a year old. When this happens on the other board it can bring up strong emotions when you see the face of an old friend who has passed. So, just a friendly reminder to check the posting dates before replying.

I hope to get to know all of you better over time. Best wishes to all, Cynthia

Comments

  • LilChemoSmoker
    LilChemoSmoker Member Posts: 185
    Thank you Cynthia!
    I sure was emotionally charged there and didn't notice the date on the posting. Sorry if I caused any undue pain as that is the last thing I would want to do. Hope to know you more as well.

    Regards,
    Michelle
  • KLScoville
    KLScoville Member Posts: 161 Member
    Makes sense Cynthia
    That definitely makes sense Cynthia. I also should of read the date on the first post prior to replying. I am truly sorry if I offended anyone.

    From now on I will make sure I reply on a recent post. Thanks for the eye opener!

    Take care!
    ~Kelly
  • RAB73
    RAB73 Member Posts: 27
    So sorry if I offended
    So sorry if I offended anyone or opened old wounds. I just thought some of the new caregivers could relate. I will only reply to new posts from now on.

    Best wishes,
    Rachelle
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    Great Point
    Thanks Cynthia. I have noticed this recently too.

    Maybe a suggestion to "the powers that be" is to
    create an archives site where these posts
    are moved based on reasonable rules. Items
    in the archives could be read/researched but
    not allow a reply?

    For example, if the post is X or more months old and
    has not had a reply post in Y months, move the post to
    archives. (Just an example of a rule - probably not
    thorough enough).

    I'm sure some of their systems people could analyze the
    data and come up with something reasonable.
    It would reduce some of the clutter that occurs in navigating
    the site/posts. It might also speed things up if a lot of this
    data that is still in the "active" state went to "archived"
    and no longer has to be indexed for keywords, etc.

    Just my 2 cents.

    Jim
  • LilChemoSmoker
    LilChemoSmoker Member Posts: 185
    jimwins said:

    Great Point
    Thanks Cynthia. I have noticed this recently too.

    Maybe a suggestion to "the powers that be" is to
    create an archives site where these posts
    are moved based on reasonable rules. Items
    in the archives could be read/researched but
    not allow a reply?

    For example, if the post is X or more months old and
    has not had a reply post in Y months, move the post to
    archives. (Just an example of a rule - probably not
    thorough enough).

    I'm sure some of their systems people could analyze the
    data and come up with something reasonable.
    It would reduce some of the clutter that occurs in navigating
    the site/posts. It might also speed things up if a lot of this
    data that is still in the "active" state went to "archived"
    and no longer has to be indexed for keywords, etc.

    Just my 2 cents.

    Jim

    Jim I wanna....
    I wanna "like" button" too!

    LOL

    -Michelle
  • palmyrafan
    palmyrafan Member Posts: 396

    Jim I wanna....
    I wanna "like" button" too!

    LOL

    -Michelle

    I also want
    a like button!
  • catwink22
    catwink22 Member Posts: 281
    Legacy
    I understand dealing with strong emotions of seeing an old friend that has passed, but some of this information is very helpful to our newbies and it shouldn't matter how old the post is. Not wanting to deal with the memory of a friend makes them forgotten, and that is sad. Seeing an old face is hard, but why not let it bring good memories of that someone and remember how they were here to help us when we needed it. I'm sure they would want to continue helping someone even though their journey has ended. I hope that my words live on and somewhere along the way they will help the many people that need it, a legacy of having been there.
    Cat
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    catwink22 said:

    Legacy
    I understand dealing with strong emotions of seeing an old friend that has passed, but some of this information is very helpful to our newbies and it shouldn't matter how old the post is. Not wanting to deal with the memory of a friend makes them forgotten, and that is sad. Seeing an old face is hard, but why not let it bring good memories of that someone and remember how they were here to help us when we needed it. I'm sure they would want to continue helping someone even though their journey has ended. I hope that my words live on and somewhere along the way they will help the many people that need it, a legacy of having been there.
    Cat

    agree with Cat
    I see the point about "opening wounds" but there is so much value to walking in the footsteps of others. Or, at least "seeing" their footsteps.

    Some people post lengthy messages, others post just a few words, but all are invaluable.

    I'm just saying...
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    Archive wouldn't lose the post
    I agree with Cat and Noellsmom but the posts would not be lost
    in an archived state. In fact they could just be flagged as archived
    and still remain in the listing or something similar.

    :)
  • ddpekks
    ddpekks Member Posts: 162
    jimwins said:

    Archive wouldn't lose the post
    I agree with Cat and Noellsmom but the posts would not be lost
    in an archived state. In fact they could just be flagged as archived
    and still remain in the listing or something similar.

    :)

    I'm with you Jim....
    Old posts have been invaluable to me and bringing them up should be a testament to those who plowed the fields before me. However, I think archiving them and makeing them unupdatable (is that a word?) would be a good thing. They would still be there, but we could take some of the info from them and make us a new, updated post, with their words of wisdom as guidance.

    Just MHO!

    D
  • catwink22
    catwink22 Member Posts: 281
    jimwins said:

    Archive wouldn't lose the post
    I agree with Cat and Noellsmom but the posts would not be lost
    in an archived state. In fact they could just be flagged as archived
    and still remain in the listing or something similar.

    :)

    The fact that people are still responding to these posts means they are relevant and still needed. Also the posts are in by date order, so the older ones are at the bottom of the board. In my opinion, it kinda feels like it's putting them in a closet, they're there, but you have to open the door to see them. I would hate to think I would be "out of sight - out of mind" (although I'm sure there are a few people who would probably prefer me that way lol). A date is just a time stamp, does it really matter how old it is if the subject matter is what is important? Or if it's about dealing with the memories, if they remain in a listing you would still have to deal with that. There will always be reminders of the ones we lost, but they helped us along the way and I wouldn't want to take that from someone else. You know I Luv YA Jim! just have some strong feelings on this one.
    Cat
  • LilChemoSmoker
    LilChemoSmoker Member Posts: 185
    catwink22 said:

    The fact that people are still responding to these posts means they are relevant and still needed. Also the posts are in by date order, so the older ones are at the bottom of the board. In my opinion, it kinda feels like it's putting them in a closet, they're there, but you have to open the door to see them. I would hate to think I would be "out of sight - out of mind" (although I'm sure there are a few people who would probably prefer me that way lol). A date is just a time stamp, does it really matter how old it is if the subject matter is what is important? Or if it's about dealing with the memories, if they remain in a listing you would still have to deal with that. There will always be reminders of the ones we lost, but they helped us along the way and I wouldn't want to take that from someone else. You know I Luv YA Jim! just have some strong feelings on this one.
    Cat

    OOOOH I want a legacy without an expiration date too!
    Well put Cat and I couldn't agree more. Jim, the powers that be can simply get better servers. With all the people that get such support from these boards, I think they can keep the posts alive. I too would want to know that if something I have contributed helps others, then keep it in the 'active' files!

    Hugs and Love!
    -Michelle
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    You know I love you guys
    You know I love you guys :).
    I didn't mean to open a can of worms either :).
    I also have a little chemo brain going on so I'm not
    explaining things very well I'm afraid.

    PROBLEM:
    ---------------
    Following the point LivinginNH was making, sometimes newbies
    respond to very old (technically not an active current discussion)
    post and it floats toward the top on the Last Reply column.


    I CREATED AN EXAMPLE:
    --------------------
    http://csn.cancer.org/node/135494

    I took that discussion from 2000 and posted a
    comment. It's now at or near the top of the list
    based on last reply column. Nothing had been posted
    to it since 2000 and the two members on the orginal
    post haven't had activity since 2002.

    Had I not posted to this it would have remained on the
    "last page" which in a sense is kind of like being in the closet
    or bottom of list. It's still there and available to be read
    and posts can still be made to it.

    POSSIBLE RESOLUTION:
    ----------------------------------
    Maybe a better way to handle that is to "close" the discussion to posts.
    Set up a tag that indicates "[CLOSED]". Items with "[CLOSED]"
    would not allow new posts. This would prevent newbies/anyone from
    posting to a discussion that is technically not currently active
    (as in the example, no posts in 10+ years).

    The topic title could look like this:

    I need Tamoxifen and Prozac - [CLOSED]
    -----------------------------------------------------

    The [CLOSED} means the topic is no longer active for discussion
    and replies can't be posted. The post is still in the list
    as before and can be read, copied from, links to it made, etc.
    It's not expired or removed from the site - just closed to discussion.


    OTHER - NAVIGATION ON COLUMNS:
    ----------------------------------------------------

    Topic Replies Created Last reply

    We can sort topics on any of the columns above by clicking on the
    header or the selected column (click the same header again to
    switch from oldest to newest or newest to oldest order).

    I hope this makes things clearer.

    Jim
  • catwink22
    catwink22 Member Posts: 281
    jimwins said:

    You know I love you guys
    You know I love you guys :).
    I didn't mean to open a can of worms either :).
    I also have a little chemo brain going on so I'm not
    explaining things very well I'm afraid.

    PROBLEM:
    ---------------
    Following the point LivinginNH was making, sometimes newbies
    respond to very old (technically not an active current discussion)
    post and it floats toward the top on the Last Reply column.


    I CREATED AN EXAMPLE:
    --------------------
    http://csn.cancer.org/node/135494

    I took that discussion from 2000 and posted a
    comment. It's now at or near the top of the list
    based on last reply column. Nothing had been posted
    to it since 2000 and the two members on the orginal
    post haven't had activity since 2002.

    Had I not posted to this it would have remained on the
    "last page" which in a sense is kind of like being in the closet
    or bottom of list. It's still there and available to be read
    and posts can still be made to it.

    POSSIBLE RESOLUTION:
    ----------------------------------
    Maybe a better way to handle that is to "close" the discussion to posts.
    Set up a tag that indicates "[CLOSED]". Items with "[CLOSED]"
    would not allow new posts. This would prevent newbies/anyone from
    posting to a discussion that is technically not currently active
    (as in the example, no posts in 10+ years).

    The topic title could look like this:

    I need Tamoxifen and Prozac - [CLOSED]
    -----------------------------------------------------

    The [CLOSED} means the topic is no longer active for discussion
    and replies can't be posted. The post is still in the list
    as before and can be read, copied from, links to it made, etc.
    It's not expired or removed from the site - just closed to discussion.


    OTHER - NAVIGATION ON COLUMNS:
    ----------------------------------------------------

    Topic Replies Created Last reply

    We can sort topics on any of the columns above by clicking on the
    header or the selected column (click the same header again to
    switch from oldest to newest or newest to oldest order).

    I hope this makes things clearer.

    Jim

    Question
    Hey Jim!
    That is so organized and user friendly! But my question is why are we closing it for discussion? I like the fact that it opens stuff up for discussion (like this thread lol!).
    Cat
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    catwink22 said:

    Question
    Hey Jim!
    That is so organized and user friendly! But my question is why are we closing it for discussion? I like the fact that it opens stuff up for discussion (like this thread lol!).
    Cat

    Hey "Kitty" :)
    Hey "Kitty" :)
    I sent you an email by the way.

    Well, on many discussion forums the items
    do get closed to new posts at some point but the
    entire discussion (thread) does remain intact.

    Personally, I can work around things the way they are.
    Similar to LinvinginNH, I just happened to have a similar
    "annoyance" I guess to posting to something that really isn't
    active - for example a topic that has had no activity on
    it in a year or more.

    To me a discussion in this setting is like a "conversation"
    between two or more parties. The "conversation" is active
    while parties are still participating within a reasonable
    time frame. I mean most conversations (discussions) do
    end at some point.

    Maybe I'm just anal too :). I do tend to like things neat
    and orderly. I'm the kind of person who can tolerate clutter
    for a short while but if I'm around it too long, that's how
    I begin to think. Of course that was before chemo. Who knows
    what the "new me" is gonna be like ;).

    Hugs
  • catwink22
    catwink22 Member Posts: 281
    jimwins said:

    Hey "Kitty" :)
    Hey "Kitty" :)
    I sent you an email by the way.

    Well, on many discussion forums the items
    do get closed to new posts at some point but the
    entire discussion (thread) does remain intact.

    Personally, I can work around things the way they are.
    Similar to LinvinginNH, I just happened to have a similar
    "annoyance" I guess to posting to something that really isn't
    active - for example a topic that has had no activity on
    it in a year or more.

    To me a discussion in this setting is like a "conversation"
    between two or more parties. The "conversation" is active
    while parties are still participating within a reasonable
    time frame. I mean most conversations (discussions) do
    end at some point.

    Maybe I'm just anal too :). I do tend to like things neat
    and orderly. I'm the kind of person who can tolerate clutter
    for a short while but if I'm around it too long, that's how
    I begin to think. Of course that was before chemo. Who knows
    what the "new me" is gonna be like ;).

    Hugs

    Meow!
    Now I understand! Thank you! It's like hanging up the phone (which I have a hard time doing lol).
    HELP! I'M TALKING AND I CAN'T SHUT UP!
    I didn't think of it as "conversations", but that is what it is.
    I'm a little OCD myself, I feel nervous if "things" get too chaotic, I just feel it's important to keep the information available.
    Purrrr Purrrr
    Cat
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    catwink22 said:

    Meow!
    Now I understand! Thank you! It's like hanging up the phone (which I have a hard time doing lol).
    HELP! I'M TALKING AND I CAN'T SHUT UP!
    I didn't think of it as "conversations", but that is what it is.
    I'm a little OCD myself, I feel nervous if "things" get too chaotic, I just feel it's important to keep the information available.
    Purrrr Purrrr
    Cat

    Yes! I like the phone analogy.
    Yes! I like the phone analogy.

    Sending hugs and catnip your way,

    Jim
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    Same discussion on Colorectal board
    This same discussion has been occurring on the Colorectal board.
    I posted the paste below there.

    Hugs,
    Jim


    =================================================
    Hello everyone. I'm posting this as two discussions
    about this have been occurring on two different boards (maybe more)
    and oddly enough, roughly at the same time.

    I'd just recently finished chemo and was bouncing on prednisone
    so had difficulty in making my point.

    Catwink22 and I went back and forth for awhile and she helped me
    explain my point of view better. I've pasted that part of the
    discussion below. I also pasted links to both of these discussions.
    Forgive me Phil for not using your tips on how to make it show as a
    link. I did read that during one of my chemo fogs and plan to return to it.
    You have good information at your "expressions" and I appreciate that.

    Personally, I'm in favor of closing discussions - meaning locked to posts.
    If the topic comes up again, start a new discussion of the same topic.
    Perhaps they could set up links to similar closed discussions?

    I think of these discussions as "conversations" that are active while
    their are people paricipating within a reasonable period of time.
    Conversations do end. Another analogy would be a "conference call".
    Would you dial into a conference call that was scheduled/occured on 2/1/2001
    with no participation/activity since 4/15/2001 and attempt to participate?
    That is kind of what's happening - especially with newbies.

    I realize the information in some discussions is timeless and valuable - like
    tips on being a caregiver, how to deal with grief, etc. Maybe a solution here
    would be to "flag" those discussions for quick reference? Just a thought.

    Sometimes this website is unusally slow - I don't know if resources being used
    in indexing keywords and other things on active discussions is a factor or not.
    My thought is on "closed" discussions, there would be no need to re-index them
    as they would be completed (since no new posts).

    Anyway, thanks for letting me share my 2 1/2 cents :)

    Hugs and positive thoughts to all of you,

    Jim



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


    Jimwins:
    ==========

    Well, on many discussion forums the items
    do get closed to new posts at some point but the
    entire discussion (thread) does remain intact.

    Personally, I can work around things the way they are.
    Similar to LinvinginNH, I just happened to have a similar
    "annoyance" I guess to posting to something that really isn't
    active - for example a topic that has had no activity on
    it in a year or more.

    To me a discussion in this setting is like a "conversation"
    between two or more parties. The "conversation" is active
    while parties are still participating within a reasonable
    time frame. I mean most conversations (discussions) do
    end at some point.

    Maybe I'm just anal too :). I do tend to like things neat
    and orderly. I'm the kind of person who can tolerate clutter
    for a short while but if I'm around it too long, that's how
    I begin to think. Of course that was before chemo. Who knows
    what the "new me" is gonna be like ;).

    Catwink22 Response:
    =======================

    Now I understand! Thank you! It's like hanging up the phone
    (which I have a hard time doing lol).
    HELP! I'M TALKING AND I CAN'T SHUT UP!
    I didn't think of it as "conversations", but that is what it is.
    I'm a little OCD myself, I feel nervous if "things" get too chaotic, I just feel it's important to keep the information available.
    Purrrr Purrrr
    Cat

    Jimwins response:
    =========================

    Yes! I like the phone analogy.

    Sending hugs and catnip your way,

    Jim





    Colorectal Board discussion:
    -------------------------------

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/229191

    Caregivers board discussion:
    ---------------------------------

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/228762