Vax forum alienation

[Jennyanydots]

I'm kinda hating the vax forums right now. Perhaps this isn't the place to post this gripe, but I think it is appropriate. I discovered this place, I don't know, a year and a half ago or so, and it has been so refreshing to actually be able to read the opinions of, and interact with, others who, like me, are concerned about the safety of childhood vaccines. Recently, however, there has been a strong and successful push by a few to polarize the conversations here and divide posters into "pro" and "anti" vaccine. It just makes me sick. Thread after thread dissolves into bickering over ridiculous details that are emotionally charged and have no bearing on the original discussion or question. There is a small group of antagonists who persistently bait the vax skeptical into emotional arguments and derail the opportunity for meaningful exchanges to take place. Instead, we get a rehashing of the same debates time and time again, while the antagonists smugly pick at the sincere and truth seeking skeptics.
I need to think, read, discuss, etc, much more, but will probably get the tetanus shot for DS at some point (thus the whole DTaP, I guess) so we will likely be more selective/delayed than non vax, but I feel alienated from the new "mindful vaccination" forum because it was lobbied for and is presided over by vocal non sel/del. There is no in between here anymore. We are "us" and "them" and that's neither realistic nor representative of how a lot of us feel.

I resent the shift around here, and I miss the place I thought I'd found.

[lsumstine]

I love that you posted this and I totally agree. Well stated!

[emmy526]

i totally agree, and can't help but others feel the same way, as this board is not active anymore....anyone have any thoughts as to why that this is?   why is this support forum not supportive like it used to be anymore?   

[FloridaBorn]

I too appreciate the support, articles, information, and inclusion this forum offers.

Fear mongering type posts need to be curtailed.
Edited by FloridaBorn - 12/31/12 at 9:46am

[Marnica]

I feel this way too and vow to stay out of the debate forums because that's where this kind of crap goes down. But then I go there and read and at times just can't help myself. But I know my limits and know when I just need to call a spade a spade and stop engaging with certain people.

I do miss the old MDC as well. Maybe those of us that feel this way can just start to hang out in this forum a bit more?? There is plenty of information to share and things to learn without that kid of venom getting in the way. 

[Jennyanydots]

Marnica, I agree.  I would like to see this INV forum become a little more active because the guidelines prevent the kind of takedowns that occur in the debate forum.  Actually, not to get caught up in semantics, but I don't feel like either "support" or "debate" are what I'm looking for.  "Support" implies that I've made a decision or gone through something and I'm looking for help or commiseration.  "Debate" sounds like a place to exercise your arguing skills, and that's just what that forum feels like.  I appreciate a healthy discussion, where parents who are genuinely interested and concerned about the issue at hand participate in sharing ideas and even arguing for different points of view.  I like that differing views stimulate conversation. What we have now in our "Discussion" area, however, is a place for those with utter disdain for our worries and fears (over our childrens' health, for goodness sake) to make sport out of heckling us virtually unchecked, as long as they stay within some very loose guidelines.  I don't want to help them to realize their goal of grinding out meaningful discourse on this subject!

I guess I need to put my money where my mouth is and start threads here myself if I want to help make things more active here.  I'm just not much of a thread starter...

[HappyHappyMommy]

Hi All, I appreciate the concerns that are being raised here and will discuss them with the admins and other mods; I will also check and get back to you on the best place/way for addressing and discussing general concerns such as some of the ones raised above. For the time-being, I'm closing this thread for review. If you have specific concerns about posts/threads in this or other forums, please flag them. Thank you! HHM

[HappyHappyMommy]

Hi All,

I am reopening this thread. Please edit your posts to remove concerns about other forums and other member's behavir and focus the thread on how to liven up INV. Any general concerns about other forums can be raised in Q&S on this thread. Issues about particular members or moderation must be directed to an administrator or moderator via PM; the forum is not a place for discussion of member behavior or moderation. Concerns about any posts may be raised by flagging that post.

Please note that "support" allows for debate within the perspective of non-vaxxing. Selective vaxxers are welcome to post in INV regarding vaccines they are not getting.

Thank you,

HHM

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by HappyHappyMommy 

Hi All,

I am reopening this thread. Please edit your posts to remove concerns about other forums and other member's behavir and focus the thread on how to liven up INV. Any general concerns about other forums can be raised in Q&S on this thread. 

Thanks for re-openning, HHM, as well as letting us know of an appropriate place to post our grievances.  

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by Marnica 

I feel this way too and vow to stay out of the debate forums because that's where this kind of crap goes down. But then I go there and read and at times just can't help myself. But I know my limits and know when I just need to call a spade a spade and stop engaging with certain people.

I am right there with you.  I would not say I know my limits, as I do tend to become embroiled in flame wars and nastiness.  It is not who I want to be, so I have to stop visiting that forum.   I want to be a thougthful, passionate, and reasonable poster.    Oh well, acknowledging there is a problem is the first step, you know?

I am going to try to post more in INV, and start more threads here.

If I want to start a thread in vaccines, I am going to ask myself if there is a way I can tweak it so it can be posted here instead.

Hopefully it will not get too echo-chambery (lol).  We can be civil and discuss things without it turning into a flame fest.   Personally I hope sel/del participate here ( a little diversity is a good thing) it will prevent too much echoing, and on a personal level I have a lot of respect for the very sel/del position.