For newbies: Getting the Most Out of This Forum (repost)

A lot of us old times have been mourning the gradual loss of the Lap Band Board. It used to be a place where we would all come as friends - friends who don't always agree - to laugh and cry, ***** and moan, salute our successes and commiserate our failures. We talked about food and band life, of course, but also REAL life: kids and spouses and jobs (or lack thereof), birthdays and annoying relatives and plateaus and protein and saggy skin and our pets and pretty much everything else.

It may be possible to get this place back to its heyday, but I need all of you to start posting again. I know you are still out there, lurking in the internet bushes. Come on out, pull up a chair and chat a little. We used to always be there for each other - the newbies and the old timers, the successes and the struggles.

That being said, I am reposting one from the archives about how to make this forum work best for you. If I've missed anything, please feel free to add!

FOREMOST: IF YOU ARE HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, ARE EXPERIENCING UNRESOLVED PAIN, CONSTANT VOMITING, BLEEDING, FEVER, ETC. DO NOT POST HERE FOR HELP. CALL 911, VISIT YOUR NEAREST HOSPITAL AND CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN(S) IMMEDIATELY!

- Obesity Help has their own list of TOS (Terms of Service) that you should read so you can be aware of their own requirements for a post's acceptability.

- No one - other than OH - owns, runs or dictates this or any other forum or OH page.

- Know that EVERYONE is allowed to post whatever they want to this or any other OH forum. You will hear both pros and cons of the band (and pros and cons of pretty much everything else, too.) 

- Remember that even people who have had negative band experiences may have things to offer you.

- Try to disregard comments from people who HAVE NEVER HAD A BAND!

- YOU are always welcome to post what you like. Obviously, issues and topics relating to band and band life are primary, but if you want to post a photo of your new puppy, feel free. If you want to tell us about your vacation, great! If you're having a crappy day or just lost your job, feel free to vent. Posts that are not band-related should be prefaced with "OT" (off topic) on the subject line.

- If you find a person or their comments disagreeable, you can block them using the BLOCK button, which can be found below the person's post(s). This is a very good function! By blocking, you will not see any of their posts anymore, unless you - or they - sign out.

- Understand that everyone will have a different experience with the band. You may lose a lot of weight. You may lose very little weight. You may have no success at all. It's possible. This is commonly referred to as "your mileage (or results) may vary."

- It is recommended that you post band-related issues HERE, rather than on the Main Board, which can be notoriously "bandtagonistic."

- Remember that people post the same questions here all the time. Before posting, scroll down through recent posts to see if your question has already been asked.

- If your post doesn't get the quantity of responses you would like, please don't post that you're now pissed because no one cares. We may not have an answer to your issue or may have responded to that issue 5 times in the past hour.

- Understand that NO surgery is right for EVERYONE, regardless of what anyone says. You and you alone should make the decision of which procedure is right for you, your needs, your life and your expectation.

- Assume that no one here is an actual, certified, licensed medical professional, regardless of what they may say. The Internet is full of BS artists and liars along with people who genuinely want to help you. For MEDICAL ADVICE, consult your own medical team: surgeon, nutritionist, primary care physician.

- Appreciate that most posters will be trying to help you resolve whatever issue you need addressed. But if someone tells you that you are doing something wrong ("You need to exercise more", for example) don't get pissed if you don't like the answer.

- Understand that you may not lose weight - especially large amounts of it - right after your surgery. Look for posts regarding "Bandster Hell" for details. Remind yourself that just as you did not become obese overnight, you can't expect that you will lose a lot of weight in a day or a month. You MAY, but you also may NOT.

- Your surgeon and/or nutritionist should have given you a post-op diet to follow. If they HAVEN'T, be sure to ask for one. If they HAVE, FOLLOW IT. Please don't post that you're a day out of surgery, ate an apple and don't know what to do. You will most likely get and forum dope-slapping. Please don't act surprised if you do.

- Feel free to privately message (PM) people if you have an issue you would like to discuss off the board. 

- You will, fairly quickly, learn what posts to read - and whose - and which to not bother with. There are a lot of topics that will just not interest you. Don't feel like you have to read or respond to all of them.

- Standard message board protocols apply. ALL CAPS MAKES IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE SHOUTING. That's fine, if you are actually trying to shout as in, "HELP ME!!" Caps are also fine for emphasis.

- Read your post before you hit "submit" to make sure it makes sense. There are many times when we read someone's post and actually have no idea what they are asking about. You won't get helpful responses if the readers' first impression of the post is, "WTF??!!"

- Please try not to use a font color that is hard to read, like light pink or pale blue, on the white OH background. Please try to avoid using a tiny font size. Not everyone has a large monitor.

- TRY TO HAVE FUN. You will meet some people here who you will call "friend" for years, perhaps even life!

Yes, I miss the old board. We had lots of disagreement but not the sort that chases people away! It would be good if it could come back to where it was but I don't think many old timers will come back. For a start, they left and so won't see this post! I have ried dipping my toe in a few times but can't be bothered with aggro!

One point about your excellent thread, Bette. You talk about OT threads and I remember them as a good part of  the board. But I thought OH had now banned these and even totally harmless OT threads were being removed. The only ones not being removed were for some reason the daily religious ones. Have they reversed this policy?

Kate

I'd also like to add that if you have a long post, please use paragraphs. One huge block of text is difficult on the eyes and some people won't wade through it. I know thoughts get long sometimes. It's fine to write a book, but remember, books use paragraphs!

Thanks,

Lindsey

Lindsey, it may just be me, but sometimes paragraphing vanishes! I have several times posted from my ipad, used paragraphs and then when it appears, they have vanished. And for some reason, I find it hard to edit from my ipad. OH and ipads are supposed to be compatible but I don't find them so!

Ah, well, maybe it can't be helped sometimes. Just thought I would throw it out there because it is kind of a pet peeve of mine!

Thanks Bette.  I agree.  I am not a lap band fan but I have never (that I know of) had any cross words with any of you.  I am always allowed to state my opinion and I have received help when I needed it and also I have had many fun times.

One rule I personally have is that I try not to be negative to anyone that already has the band.  Once you have it, try and use it to your best advantage.

If someone asks my opinion regarding the band before they have it I will tell them. 

I also post studies that I have found one way or another.

What I can't stand and don't participate in is knocking someone's experience whether  it is good or bad. 

I have never blocked anyone but it is nearing time.  Some people just can't stand a quiet board.  You can give your experience without bashing others experiences. (Not you Bette) JMO

Funny how traffic picks up around this boring old board when there's some drama, isn't it?

All I can say is that I posted this with the hopes of helping the newbies that have been arriving in the last week or so.

I post with the hope of helping newbies, as well. However, it's not considered, "help" unless you tell them that the band is wonderful. And that's not been my experience. It has not been the experience for most people.

And then people get all up in arms when the truth is told, for some reason. I'm nice when it's called for. And I'm not nice when I see stupid ****  (And, to clarify, I'm not calling this thread, "stupid" or "****"  But, there is definitely some stupid **** on this board today.)

I actually didn't see the drama but a nice post.  I don't post often because of comments like this.

See Yaaa...............