Recent Posting Deleted

A recent posting titled, Criminal charges against Guidant, has been deleted. There was nothing wrong with the actual posting, but many replies (too many to manually delete) did not comply with our terms of use. In fact, many were down right rude.

Members are certainly entitled to opposing points of view provided they are expressed in a manner that does not violate our terms of use. Please refer to our terms of use if in doubt. In particular, the clause that says …

You explicitly agree, in using this website or any service provided, that you shall not:
(a) provide any Content or perform any conduct that may be unlawful, illegal, threatening, harmful, abusive, harassing, stalking, tortious, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, obscene, offensive …

Let’s focus more on helping and supporting each other.

Thank you for your understanding,

Blake

9 Comments

Thank You

by SMITTY - 2010-03-20 08:03:32

Hi Blake,

I’m glad you deleted that posting. Not because I disagreed with its content but because I thought the animosity or hostility of some comments had gone a little too far.
Below is part of what I had said to Ted about his posting and the comments being posted.

I agreed with Ted on the content of his posting as, of course, I found it interesting. Also, I have no problems with people disagreeing with what is posted. No where is it stated that we all have to agree with everything said? However, I do disagree with one member calling out another by name and telling them how much they disagree. That occurred in Ted’s posting, but it happens too often (I think) in other postings. When that happens it ceases to be an innocuous disagreement, and to often becomes a personal feud.

That is not to say I have never disagreed with something posted, especially as a comment. But, I believe that everything posted is done in good faith so my being critical of the person making the post is not going to change their mind.

I truly wish our members would stop and think about what a great thing you have given us here. I can't even imagine what my life would be like today had it not been for this site. I was able to get information from the members about my pacemakers that the doctors and others responsible for looking after my pacemaker would not or could not give me. With the help I got here I was able to get answers and the help I needed with my pacemaker

Every time I see one member criticizing another I think of what I have seen take place on other sites such as this. I know one site that a couple of year sago was about as active as this one, but today it is almost dormant. I looked today and since the first of Dec. ‘09 there have been less than 50 new subjects posted. (The PM Club will probably get more than that in a week) The cause for the decline was very similar to what I see going on here from time to times. For them this apparently resulted in fewer and fewer new members coming aboard with their questions. And newbies are, I firmly believe, what keeps this site going. Without them we will have few new subjects or comments which will lead to a loss of interest in the site. Not to mention the members that leave because of the dissension and that makes all of us the losers.

Now, I’ll apologize for my preaching a sermon here, but keeping this site fun, healthy and wise is of great interest to me.

Smitty

Thank you Blake

by lenora - 2010-03-20 08:03:49

I appreciate your intervention in this situation because it's gotten way out of hand. I personally detest mob mentality meanness. Lets get back to the way the PM club used to be when everybody was welcome to post here. Lenora

Glad to hear it

by ElectricFrank - 2010-03-21 01:03:03

Blake,
This is one of the best forums I frequent in terms of a reasonable atmosphere. I don't mind someone "straightening me out" when I'm off base, but too much flaming can really mess up things.

Keep it up,

frank

Thanks, Blake, Im guilty too

by ted - 2010-03-21 02:03:16

The firestorm that errupted after this posting was rightly and properly put out by you. While I will not apologize for the original post which merely quoted from the official press release from the United States Department of Justice about criminal charges against Guidant, I am guilty of contributing to the escalation of the flame war that ensued. I know that this forum that you have created will continue to welcome news and commentary on heart related issues without fear of censorship. Thanks for your devotion to us. Ted

as a "newbie"

by JessiWay - 2010-03-21 03:03:08

As a newbie with a lot of questions, uncertainties, concerns...this site is very helpful. If I did not need it as much as I feel I do I would have stopped coming. There have been a couple times since I joined that I have noticed some nastiness. It is a turn off. How many members do we have on here that don't feel comfortable posting? Something to think about.
Thanks for deleting that, and as Smitty said...this is a great thing that you have given us. I would hate to see it go down.
~Jessi

Pity

by pete - 2010-03-21 04:03:52

It is as easy to take offense as it is to give offense. My own personal view is that It did get a bit heated and maybe there were some uncalled for comments but we are only human at the end of the day. I personally did not take offense.Life is too short. Cheers Peter

I'm biting my tongue

by ted - 2010-03-21 10:03:49

Having promised to bite my tongue, I shall not comment on the last post except to say that when the government issues a press release, it intends that the information be disseminated rather than suppressed for fear of violating any copyright. Have a nice day.

It's a shame

by redmop - 2010-03-21 10:03:58

It's a shame that a post by Ted which called attention to a government announcement of criminal charges against Guidant was driven from this website by a bunch of ruffians who attacked the poster for bringing an important piece of news to our attention. If the original post was appropriate, is there some way of only deleting the offensive comments so that the original worthwhile message would still be left standing?

FYI copyright

by kt_cook - 2010-03-22 12:03:59

Copying or reproducing any text or graphics from a website, web page, without consent in writing, is a violation of international and US copyright laws. FYI, that includes a govt. press release. With consent from both websites, only a link to "A" can be listed on "B." Even the govt has intellectual property rights.

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