Updated: Share button addition

Yvonne..

I don't really understand your reply but nonetheless, i'll just say that you are as entitled to your opinion as anyone.  I don't necessarily think the idea of adding the buttons is a particularly great idea but I don't think it changed anything from before they were added.  Nothing on the web is private.. even if it's in a private group unless you are the founder and sole member.  Even then, things are subject to being searched.  

The fact that you wouldn't repost what someone else puts out there just shows a self-inflicted boundary.  Not everyone has that but I can't see how adding the buttons changes things for those that don't share your ideals.  If someone considers something private, it shouldn't be shared.  Period.  That stops the buck from being passed.  The solution is to keep things you don't want shared to yourself (and I don't mean YOU, just in general).  

~Haven 

Sorry I was so confusing...again I'm really sick.  I think the panic in the streets comes from the people that live a separate life on facebook and don't want their past obesity "known".  I on the other hand have it all out there!  Great point about not posting things you don't want all to know because after all...the internet is forever!  Again sorry for the confusion...I'm hoping to be back to normal real soon again!

 I hope that you feel better soon.  Being sick sucks.  

As for living a separate life on FB vs OH is too much work for me.  I yam what I yam.  Take it or leave it, I won't die just because somebody doesn't like me.  I don't exactly advertise it to every person I meet but I don't hide it either.  I feel no shame.  

~Haven

Thanks for the well wishes.  I haven't been sick in so long that I SO will appreciate being normal again (as normal as I can be).  I too cannot live the separate life but I have to say I was rolling!! I yam what I yam!!

I think you just said the magic word that I push push push.  Getting shame out of our lives along with blame/guilt and judgment.  You are so ahead of the game by learning to abolish the shame and may I also say you are a beautiful woman with a great head on her shoulders!  My FB has all of my life on it and I feel no shame either.  Bringing it out of the back alleys will stop the shame associated with the whole obesity, WLS thing.  We have a disease and there is nothing to be ashamed about even though I know it is still a learning process for many still and my heart goes out to anyone that has to feel anything negative. I hope each and every one can come to terms with some type of peace within.

I'm still laughing!!! I yam what I yam!!
hugs, Y

I am one the OH'ers that does not like the share button feature.  Although I do beleive as some of those who don't care about the share button the only thing that has changed is the EASE of sharing, someone who would never have taken the time to cut and paste can now click a button with ease. Although personally I don't choose to share other's posts etc unless I tell them, even if I'm just sending a quick email to me mum.

I don't beleive that the OH staff ever thought it would cause this. 

Yvonne I absouley agree, let's start offering solutions. I personally would like to see more advertisments for Centers of Excellence.  I am continually shocked by some of the questions the early out folks ask, like "i'm a week out what am I supposed to be eating?"

OT - but your avatar just cracked me up.

 

I cannot wrap my head around all the hullaballoo that this has caused.  It's not like there is a sea of piranhas out there just waiting to get their hands on OH threads. 

First of all, it's extremely annoying to have a share button placed almost on top of the reply button. Not really 'bright'. I've hit it 10 times on mistake already. Maybe this was done intentionally, I don't know. I do know that,  I returned from surgery to find that most of the people I get support from, have replaced there Avatars to one that is no longer them. I was looking forward to seeing there faces and was wondering what happenned in a weeks time. Then I discovered this Share Button Problem.

Secondly, the idea to connect on twitter or facebook should be OPTIONAL. Many persons visit various social networking sites and have different site's to suit different needs.  This is a HEALTH-BASED SITE. It should therfore, be a bit more sensitive to issues that are shared that are personal and very intimate. Now, if this was a site that was not HEALTH-BASED, I would care less. Unfortunately, not every one here is so blessed to have a lot of positive RL support and would prefer to not let certain people know of there Health decisions. This could also include employers who have strict, or soon-to-be strict health and wellness standards regarding pre-existing conditions and obesity, etc. It is true, what private info you share  is up to you.  However, I think you've done a lot of us a disservice and you will be seeing lots of Fake Avatars and Friends only blog changes. I have loved to meet people here who I've just  happened upon there inspiring success story or blogs. I have been delighted to have others to see my story or read my post and start a friendship. I am truly sadden that I am forced to close my blog to friends only and switch my Avatar. I guess this will limit my experience exponentially, however, the idea of the Share Button and it's purpose has turned me off and I won't be posting as much now.

I don't know whose decision this was, but CHOICES ARE ALWAYS A GOOD THINGS. Please reconsider adding an on/off option in the profile setting, or better yet eliminating it all together!

We understand there are privacy concerns and confusion related to the new "Share" button that has been included on the message boards.  

Regarding Privacy
We would like to ensure you that your privacy has not been compromised. You still have complete control over what information you display publicly.  

With or without a share button, if you are concerned about privacy on ObesityHelp or would like to remain anonymous, here are a few things you can do.

1. Your avatar - Your avatar or profile pic can be anything (within limits of course). It does not need to be your picture. Click here to change your avatar.

2. Display name - You have complete control over how or what name is displayed on ObesityHelp. Click here to control your display name.

3. Location - You have the choice to share your location with others or keep it private. Click here to control your location settings.

4. Profile privacy - You can control who has access to view your profile. You can allow everyone to see it, only friends or keep it completely private. Click here to change your profile privacy settings.

5. Groups - If you prefer to post on a private message board, we have a Groups system that will enable you to do so. You can start a group and have complete control over who is allowed to have access to your group. Click here to find and/or start a group.

A little more about the share button
The share button that you currently see replaced the email button that was previously in its place. There are a numerous different share buttons available which are fairly standard on public message boards, photo sites, blogging system etc.  The button is meant as a means to quickly share or bookmark what you are reading. 

There seems to be some confusion about what is posted to Facebook if someone chooses to share a post on Facebook. The following illustrates what exactly the options are.



There also seems to be some concern over the share button being available on the message boards of both public and private groups. While users of a public or private group can share links with or without a share button (will be discussed later), it needs to be made clear that even though a member of a private group may select to share a link on Facebook or anywhere else, the share button is not able to copy the title or content of message board posts from a private group. A link can be shared just like copying and pasting but the share button will not and cannot display the content of posts made in a private message board. share. If a member/user that is NOT a member of a private group does manage to find a link to a particular post in a private group, they will be denied access to the link since they are not a member of the group.

Public content has been distributed in many ways.  Here are some of the ways that we know people have shared OH message board threads previously: Printing & Mailing, Copy & Paste, Instant Message, Email, Private Messaging, and linked through social networking sites with browser share buttons. For example, items such as the share button now on ObesityHelp message boards, can also be added to browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari) allowing you to share any page on any website, not just ObesityHelp. Some examples of these "browser plugins" include:

     - AddThis for Internet explorer
     - Sharethis for Firefox
     - Facebook share for Chrome
     - And there are many others

These types of browser plugins are commonly used and have been for some time. The addition of the share button has not made ObesityHelp or your activities on ObesityHelp any more or any less private. If there are things you would like to keep private, remember that you can do so by controlling your privacy settings and/or posting to areas such as private groups that are only accessible to select individuals. The addition of the share button is new to ObesityHelp message boards but sharing ObesityHelp message board posts on Facebook, MySpace or other areas is not new.

The ObesityHelp message boards are a wealth of information that deserve to be shared in order reach those who need assistance, provide education, and raise awareness for obesity and weight loss surgery.

We value your concerns and suggestions and will continue to keep looking at privacy and sharing practices on the internet. 

 

 

 

Updates

 

We're working on:

1.  Removing sharing from adult forums.

2.  Adding an option for group owners to turn off sharing in their groups. 

3.  Moving the sharing button to a better location and disabling the rollover. 

 

 

I LIKE the OPT OUT option/idea too!

--D