Hepatitis C Expert Forum

[Marcia2202]

As quite a few people are annoyed by people accidentally or intentionally answering questions directly addressed to Dr. Dieterich, I have taken the initiative to write to medhelp and ask them to do something about it. I know that I myself have accidentally answered on the Expert Forum and only realized afterward, that I was on the wrong forum. So .... my suggestion is that they change the settings, so that only Dr. D. can reply.

In the beginning I thought that it was kind of okay to reply to the answers AFTER Dr. D. posted his reply. But after thinking a bit more about it, I actually don't think that's so cool either.

If a person asks Dr. D. a question, they expect an answer from Dr. D. and not from all of us. If they would want our comment on that particular question they would/could post it either here or on Hep C social forum or on the Hep c forum.

And if they want comments from Dr. D and the forum members, they can post the same question on both forums.

The problem is, that Dr. has missed some questions and they look as if they have been answered. And that must be quite frustrating to the posters.

Hope I haven't stepped on anybodies feet.

Marcia

[Trish77]

I do appreciate your thought and intention, which was to make things better.  The subsequent discussion was definitely useful even if to help you yourself feel more settled about the situation.  Take care.

Trish

[Marcia2202]

Btw, medhelp never contacted me... they must have followed this discussion and seen that it was unnecessary to do anything about it.

Marcia

[Marcia2202]

Right on the spot. No gagging. I'm glad it got this discussion going, though.

It's good to see you posting... Haven't seen you in a while... Your comments are always very much appreciated.

Hope you're doing fine!

Marcia

[IAmTheWalrus]

I think you are on the right track now. Some rigid rule would take away from the openness on the forum. Etiquette is the key. Sometimes even well meaning members can make ill considered comments, but we shouldn't use a draconian gag for everyone because of a few impolite comments. I think MedHelp can remove any truly offensive comments or comments that are obviously malignant in nature. I would like to think that the vast majority, if not all on the forum deeply appreciate Dr. D's availability here.

One thing I have learned here is that there are a lot of smart people on this forum. I value most all the opinions, even some that I consider harsh a little inflamatory. A steady constant here is that when things are wrong, they are always corrected by others. That's a good thing.

Brent

[Marcia2202]

That's the best suggestion! I really hadn't thought of this one!

Marcia

[smaug48]

It would be great if MedHelp could keep unanswered questions at the top, so Dr.D doesn't have waste time looking for them, and forum members can post without worrying about pushing unanswered questions down.

smaug

[gatorman4890]

if they`ve never tried it? Even a doctor? People believe what they want to believe, like America is a good country, full of smart people.

[Xenigma]

No I can see he doesn't with all the unanswered questions.  Perhaps that's also why people answer until he can get to the questions himself.
It's probably like a second job to him.
4 a day isn't bad, just wish i could get one in   LOL
Thanks Marcia...
enigma

[Marcia2202]

They allow 4 posts a day... and maybe less over the weekend. I haven't really figured that out. When they announced the forum they said 4 a day. I think it must be not to inundate the doc .... He probably doesn't have all that much time to sit there answering questions :-)

Marcia

[Xenigma]

and find out why they only allow like 2 posts a day over on the expert forum.
It used to be like that here and it stunk!  Someone over there opened a new post to the Doc instead of continuing in his original---That could have been MINE!!!  LOL
(I've been trying to get in there to post a ? for a few days now)

[Marcia2202]

Thanks... I'll do that...

I don't know what the heck that Matt is on... He is really, really bizarre...

Marcia

[Kristina538]

Hey Marcia,

Thanks for taking the initiative - I don't think the thread re Dr D was aimed at you :-)...
I've had posts from my questions to Dr D replied by Dr D as well as other informed people on the forum and found the suggestions invaluable.
So, those reading, if you see a post from me to Dr D, feel free to add your comments... Please!!!!   I had no doubt as to which responses were from Dr D and which were from others sharing their experiences.

[Trinity4]

Me too - one of the worst threads I've seen on MedHelp.  He got so bizzare at the end I thought maybe he was on some of that other stuff they call "juice" too.
Trin

[comeagain]

100% with jim on this one, and the matt issue aswell .

You the best

ca

[jmjm530]

When Harry contacts you, I don't think anyone will object if you tell him instead to get rid of Matt's "Juicing" thread on the other side :) Just want you to know that no apologies are necessary at least as far as I'm concerned.  You did what you felt was right, nothing wrong there. Discussion is always good.

Be well,

-- Jim

[Marcia2202]

When Harry contacts me, I will tell him to ignore my message.

At least we got a good discussion going here, instead of discussing it on the expert forum. And it is always good to clear things out.

Again, sorry for contacting medhelp prior to discussing this with everyone.

Love you all, am going to sleep now. Was at a 30 yrs bday brunch of one of our daughter-in-law's today and am soooo zonked now. 4 hours out was just a bit too much for me.

Marcia

[Trish77]

Well....I think that little orange "caduceus" is pretty darn obvious.  If people can't figure out the difference between others and Dr. D., I think adding more posting rules is going to make it even worse.  

I do have the option not to read the other posts if I don't want to, I've found it helpful to read the additional posts and sometimes new people don't notice the other forums are there and we get to tell them, rather than having Dr. Dieterich also act as a forum moderator. We can also direct people to links to forum threads that exist on the question they're posting. The only time I get annoyed is when someone answers the question before Dr. Dieterich as if answering on his behalf but I can ignore those posts.  

I'm concerned we'll lose more by instituting a rigid rule that only Dr. Dieterich can post there than we lose by putting up with the occasional irritating-to-some posters.  

Trish

[Deb_c430]

well said to you and Jim, Ca you make me grin.  

[comeagain]

First I thought it might easen up my foggy brain if we do as marcia said ,but I must say desrt said it all, theres a yellow caduseus for us and for dr D to see and censorship and controlspirit can easily take away all joy and creativity.

So I will say as the Beatles Let it be, and if you have problem Roll over Beethoven.(Chuck Berry)


ca

[DragonSlayer45]

I agree with you. I think the expert part should be for the doctor to answer. I also mistakenly posted there once forgetting I was in that forum. When I read a post there I am curious as to his answer to a particular question to that question.

If I ever posted to Dr. Dietrich, it would be because I wanted his expert opinion. If I wanted other forum members opinion I would post in non expert section. Sometimes when I see people answering a question that was posted to Dr. D I think exactly what you are saying, or that it is a little rude.  Don't get me wrong it is not that I do not value others opinions and experiences, because I certainly do or that I do not want other advice on something. It is just that, IMHO, is not the correct forum for that. So I usually just chose to not read those peoples comments.

If I posted to him, and I never have yet, and someone else answered my post I would be thinking (but probably not say) "I do not recall asking you" or "I did not know your name was Dr. Dietrich" but that is just my opinion. Like I said if I wanted, which I do, others experiences or opinions I would post it in the hepc forum.

[jmjm530]

Thanks for the contact info! As mentioned before, Med Help has allowed forum member participation for a long time in all of its professional forums now numbering close to 100! As long as people don't abuse the priviledge I see no reason to start changing something that obviously is working. I just sent Harry a note including links to both this thread and the other.

-- Jim

[Marcia2202]

On the actual thread on the expert forum there are more people annoyed with the fact that ppl are posting there. There has been so much talk, that's why I decided to bring in some action. Maybe I shouldn't have. But sometimes I have a problem sitting around when ppl are complaining... if you know what I mean. I guess it comes from the constant problem solving mode one is in, when one has so many kids....

I apologize, I didn't want to step on anyone's feet, just wanted to help.

So please everyone, let me know what you guys want me to tell medhelp when they contact me.

Marcia

[Marcia2202]

Of course. I wrote to Harry. Had been in touch with him at the beginning when they open the expert forum. I had written to medhelp, as I saw that Dr. D. was answering some questions and not others. Harry explained to me that they had had problems with the email alert to Dr. D.at the time. He was only getting some and not others at the time.

BTW, He hasn't responded to my message, yet. Probably not before Monday. Anyway, when he does, I will tell him that we are split on the subject.

An alternative would be to write it a bit more obvious that it is an expert forum and to also mention that there are the two other hep c forums, where one can converse with fellow heppers.

Obviously we need to reach a compromise!

Marcia

[jmjm530]

Would you mind giving us the name of the contact you wrote to as mentioned in the professional forum? So far it appears that more people are "annoyed" (your word) by the possible implementation of your suggestion than are annoyed by the perceived problem. As long as you involved MedHelp, I think it only fair that they hear all sides of the issue.

-- Jim