H1n1 fourm. Can we really really have one? why not?

[BellaClaudia]

can we open temporary H1N1 forum like many other forums out there did?

there is so many concerned parents and it is VERY difficult to
post a topic and get a feedback that gets easily covered with new topics in a threads that are allowed.

would be really that difficult in the light how many people would benefit from it? we are all living in such a difficult times and winter just started and there is so many different quesitons from different groups..
to vaxx, non to vaxx.. children with problems, side effects,
fears, hopes.. good stories, questions,
doctors concerns.. flu mist flu shots..

it is really a plethora of problems and having it put in one thread is just very strange because we after all are forum of peole who are concern and try to do things naturally and right and we would love such a support from this forum moderators and help to esablish such a forum so everybody could post and easily find community answers as it is community that helps most to find answers, help in fears and solve problems

please please please open temporary dedicated H1n1 forum.

thank you.

[JessicaS]

We don't really plan on having a separate forum for H1N1.

I think it will be easier for people to get pertinent information if they can place their question in the *most* applicable forum.

We are encouraging SN questions to be placed in SN, pregnancy related questions in pregnancy and so forth.
My son has a heart condition so I prefer asking questions in Special Needs, because other people who have children with special needs are in that forum.

We are trying to avoid things getting bogged down in conspiracy and hysteria (on either side) and are concerned people would have trouble finding good information.

[lovbeingamommy]

just clarifying so I understand...

There is one thread in the Vaccination Forum (renewed monthy)

No limit to H1N1 threads in other appropriate forums such as Health, Pregnancy (due date clubs), SN, etc.

It this correct? Thanks!!

[JessicaS]

If it looks like it is starting to take over a forum then we might start imposing some limits but there are not currently limits set in those forums.

[thefreckledmama]

Any threads mentioning H1N1 in the pregnancy forums have been closed and asked to post only in the H1N1 thread.

I've also seen this is other forums-mods aren't allowing any threads in any topic specific areas to stay open.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by thefreckledmama

Any threads mentioning H1N1 in the pregnancy forums have been closed and asked to post only in the H1N1 thread.

I've also seen this is other forums-mods aren't allowing any threads in any topic specific areas to stay open.

I've only seen vaccination threads closed and the members directed to the thread in the Vaccination forum.

[khaoskat]

In the May 2010 DDC we had a post asking if people were getting the vaccine. We were discussing it related to pregnancy and it was closed down and we were told only allowed on THE ONE H1N1 thread only.

The huge problem with just THE ONE, is that I don't have time to sit through and read 100+ posts to see if my questions has been asked or answered.

Maybe instead of just THE ONE, it is broken down by subtopic (ie shot, mist, pregnancy, SN, general, etc) and then questions can get posted in the most appropriate sub topic.

[BellaClaudia]

I had the same experience..

so I don't think that it is the case.

In theory maybe it is encouraged by mothering to post h1n1
in any fourm that is perteining the issue but in practice
they are closed and or removed.

and again one can not find the same kind of feedback and
support from the forum if it is burried in one tapewarm thread.

please take a look at this forum that is although run by
people of very opposite minds to mothering, yet
they are caring enough for their members to
have extra temporary forum availalble to their members for easy access.

please see reference...
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/forums/list.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/for...042E2C6DDA0385

If only that forum was not so... pro big farma :-)..
but just take a look and see how simple solution it is
and how it makes easy solve peoples quesitons in this
difficult time.

we at mothering.com could use this kind of self support
of mind like people. it is very crucial topic to so many of us
and not having separate forum makes it soooooo difficult.

is motehring.com avoiding something here?

why can't we have temporary flu forum?
I mean ... really.. why?

there is tons of people struggling with so many issues
and they need sometimes fast response to their questions,
and nobody can get the same exposure to their questions
as in the separate forum, no thread can do that ever.


thank you for your kind consideration.

P.s. I know it is not a democracy forum but
could we maybe vote and see if more members
are for flu forum then not? okay okay.. I guess
I will get kicked out from the forum now.

[SleeplessMommy]

Originally Posted by khaoskat

In the May 2010 DDC we had a post asking if people were getting the vaccine. We were discussing it related to pregnancy and it was closed down and we were told only allowed on THE ONE H1N1 thread only.

I saw the same thing in my DDC.

I think a temp H1n1 forum would be nice - provide support for those of us who have high risk family members, high travel family members, etc.

[NCmama]

Only my 2 cents, but I can see the problems with having an H1N1 forum.
First of all, nobody is being tested for it unless you fall into a small set of guidlines, so nobody REALLY knows if they have H1N1 or the flu.
Second, there are so many people right now who have a case of the sniffles and think they have h1n1. It's ridiculous actually.
Personally I think having one designated forum would create too much "I had the swine flu and so do you because....." When it makes more sense to keep the threads in the appropriate category.

No flaming please. It was only my opinion.

[khaoskat]

Originally Posted by NCmama

Only my 2 cents, but I can see the problems with having an H1N1 forum.
First of all, nobody is being tested for it unless you fall into a small set of guidlines, so nobody REALLY knows if they have H1N1 or the flu.
Second, there are so many people right now who have a case of the sniffles and think they have h1n1. It's ridiculous actually.
Personally I think having one designated forum would create too much "I had the swine flu and so do you because....." When it makes more sense to keep the threads in the appropriate category.

No flaming please. It was only my opinion.

No flaming. But I can see your point. But, I think you might be getting confused with what we are asking for.

We are not asking for a forum about H1N1. I think many of us have questions about the various vaccines. Right now, each month there is only allowed ONE THREAD on the issue. That thread gets so bogged down with people asking things and commenting and replying that it is often times hard to find the information you are specifically seeking.

But, if we say created instead of a monthly thread, threads for a) questions/information on the Flu Mist vaccine, b) questions/information about the shot version of the vaccine; c) General H1N1 vaccine information/discussion - ok, so this one might have to do a monthly thread on; d) questions/information for instance about H1N1 vaccine in Asthma sufferings, immunocompromised individuals, individuals with general development delays, individuals with nuerological delays, pregnancy and post partum/newborn.

I know some of these could probably be done in specific areas (like pregnancy related stuff in the pregnancy area), but keeping all H1N1 discussions in one area I think is easier. Plus, they could do a stick at the top of places with links to the discussions that most concern that area.

Right now, the November H1N1 thread in Vaccines has 163 posts in it, which is in average of almost 27 posts a day, and we are only on the 6th day of the month. The October thread had 634 messages in 31 days - that is around 21 posts a day average.

[MadameXCupcake]

I think a temp forum would be awesome. I only peek at the H1N1 thread occasionally its too hard to follow, it really sucks because some of the H1N1 threads I have seen closed down, well I would have liked to see the responses.

[BellaClaudia]

clearly there is many of us who did try to post h1n1 questions in
apropriate sections due to lack of general forum for it
and clearly this ends up on the threads being closed...
so that is confusing.

but regardless.. what is a biggie with having a separate forum?

after all everybody in the mothering community is highly
affected by the topic and while we have
so many permanent forums (with all dure respect) like:

activism
diapering
digging in Earth
personal growth..
etc.. etc..

clearly nobody died from those and while so many
forum members are deeply concerned and have
so many questions and feel isolated espeically
due to the fact that so many of the members
is no vaccing and trying to make sens in the world
that is bombarded with scare tactics and misleading facts.

why can't we have a forum that would help us
all to get through?
thas far mothering.com appeared as a caring and
very human oriented body, why is such a
hot and current topic being neglected and orphanted
and simply made difficult to get some communal help?

could the highest forum authorithies grant this
wish? what could change their reasoning?
ithanks.

[alexsam]

All I know is... I don't want to read about H1N1 everywhere here on MDC. Whatever it takes to get that, fine.

I think there is a lot of hype and conspiracy theories out there from all kinds of angles. Frankly, to me the whole thing seems blown way out of proportion on all fronts. I certainly understand that MDC has many populations that have risk factors, so I understand the need to discuss it. I just want to be able to skip that part .

And while I respect educated non-vax parents and their choices, I really don't want to hear the vax/anti-vax canon on every thread. Not every case of "flu vax or not" is black and white, and at MDC, the vax issue is hot and soon takes over whatever the original question was and people are very emotional and set in their ways about this issue, so it is the same every time. And honestly, I really don't want to read about it in every thread...


All this not meant to be offensive, snarky or anit-MDC values. Just that I'm on flu overload.

[Drummer's Wife]

The threads I've personally noticed moved (and I'm not in a DDC, so I can't speak for those) were about the H1N1 vaccine, not the illness. Otherwise, they seem to stay in the main part of H&H, or pregnancy, F&F, etc. I do think, it's inevitable that many discussions include the vaccine, at some point - so maybe the mods are deciding where the conversation is going and moving it if they see fit?

I do agree that The One thread in the vax forum is lengthy, and jumps all around since there are random questions and bits of information all jumbled together. It can be hard to follow, definitely. But, can you imagine how many different threads would be started say, each week, considering how concerned so many people are? I guess b/c of the sheer volume of H1N1 threads/questions a separate forum would contain and organize it all a bit better.

[JessicaS]

As long as the threads about pertinent to the area they are in then they can be hosted in that forum.

Breastfeeding, Pregnancy, NICU, Special Needs, Health and Healing, Allergies and Nutrition, can all host threads about H1N1. I would have to look at each individual thread to ascertain why they might have been closed, but we will make sure the mods are aware that those forums can host such discussions.

[amnesiac]

As far as Vax specific issues go, we actually have four ongoing threads open (monthly general discussion, trials/testing, pregnancy & military):
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ement.php?f=47

In these threads we do ask that discussion remain on topic regarding vaccine issues & that extraneous discussion regarding nutrition, disease prevention & treatment other than vaccines, and any discusions appropriate to other forums be reserved for those other forums.

[StoriesInTheSoil]

Have we EVER had a flu-specific thread before? Keep in mind that the flu happens every year. Have we ever had any illness-specific forum? I've only been here for a year and a half but I can't remember seeing one in that time. I think that making one for swine flu would just be giving in to the hype.

JMHO

[DeerMother]

I see both sides of the coin. Just a few other points to ponder. . .
-forums regularly get bogged down w/ threads of a specific nature (visit the multiples forum and see how many "I think I'm having twins" threads there are.)
-this will run its course. In a few months, I imagine we won't even be concerned about this. Adding another forum is a lot of work, and I don't really see it to be necessary. If you add one for this, you'll be adding it for the next one that is hot in the news.
-Sometimes I feel that closing threads is stifling the natural course of discussion and hinders the awesome place that mdc is. Of course, I never see the ends of threads where I assume things do get heated and uavs are thrown around. That I understand. I'm saying as far as ONE THREAD about H1n1. I find that stifling. I also feel it is up to members of the community to answer or not answer, and if threads aren't getting answered, that discussion will naturally die down, kwim?

[Ruthla]

Yes, MDC has a lot of forums- but from what I understand, putting in a new forum isn't easy or simple. When the administrators are ready to put in new forums, there's always a whole lot of discussion about which forums are most needed (and they ALWAYS have a long, ongoing list of "wanted" new forums.) Putting in a new, temporary H1N1 forum probably isn't a practical solution, from a technical/behind the scenes standpoint.

I'm wondering if it would be better to have WEEKLY threads on the topic in the vax forum, rather than monthly? If the threads are getting too big and questions are getting lost, "updating" the threads more often may help with that. Also, if there are some general links that keep on being posted with info on H1N1 and the vaccine, maybe sticky one small thread with those links?

I also think this is partly a symptom of the larger problem of "posting in due date clubs." On at least one occasion, a "let's poll the DDC about whether or not they're getting this vax" got moved into a larger forum, with the original intent of the thread lost. I think that DDC threads should be "sacred" in that they should be left where they're posted in most cases, even if they're "off topic." Let other members of the DDC suggest "hey, cross post this to the X forum for more replies" rather than having a mod move it to the X forum without the OP being aware of it.