We have received numerous reports of abuse over the weekend, so may I please remind people that the list of forum rules is pinned to the side. For those who cannot see the pinned posts, you can view the forum rules at healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
Please take a short moment to familiarise yourselves with them.
May we remind you that time spent mediating on the forum is less time available for addressing individual enquiries - we are a very small team.
"Numerous reports of abuse"?????
I cannot be alone in despairing about anyone being abusive on this forum which exists solely to give help to AF sufferers.
Abuse reflects badly on the abuser and achieves nothing.
Ditto. I have not noticed anything abusive. I was so happy to find this site and now I'm second guessing posts. Researching rules, links etc and wondering if I have broken any has undone benefits. Woke up, went to this site still in bed and left with reading link information and pondering.....
While I try to read as much as I can but dont always have time I can't recall any abuse recently. Am I being thick skinned or others thin skinned ?? We did go through a rather volatile period a few months ago when we lost one or two valuable members which was a great pity.
I hope I haven't unwittingly upset anyone !
Yes. A few months ago there were worrying things going on but I have not noticed anything recently.Are these perhaps private messages ?
I suppose they could be. We have had some very long posts which seem to go on and on ( and off on a tangent frequently ((guilty!))...) so may be some people got a bit carried away??
Very guilty. irina1975. I get long winded. But I do like sometimes when things go off topic because often I find the discussions helpful.😊 Don't like when an occasional poster replies in a know-it-all fashion when they disagree with someone else's ideas. I usually try not to respond but occasionally break my rule. I have my own private "DNR'" list of certain posters (DO NOT RESPOND). Thanks for listening. irina1975
I think this refers to the post which was totally deleted before many of us saw it - in fact didn't see a comment from anyone who did see it? Also I think there may be a member who objects to 'chattiness' which is against forum rules - alas! After all it is easy to scroll past a bit of banter if you don't enjoy it. Perhaps we could be redirected to a Facebook group though I don't recommend it.
I agree. I scroll past posts that don't interest me or that I see after reading a couple of lines I have nothing helpful to contribute. Also, many of us don't use facebook. Re banter; often it softens the tone of a post that might otherwise be seen as offensive or too didactic.
I didn’t notice any abuse, but I see that the earlier thread in which I noted that I hadn’t seen any abuse has now disappeared. Perhaps it was deemed to include elements of trolling, although no IDs were mentioned. Must be very sensitive 😳.
Of all the sites I have been on (and they are numerous but not health related) this is without doubt the most friendly with the least amount of unpleasantness 
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As far as I am aware there was a minor altercation between two members the other day. Anything like that is best forgotten, we are here to support each other not to stress about trivial things when we have AF.
I agree. I have found the people here extremely helpful, polite and great humor from time to time. It feels like a family. No other sites have I found this comradery💜
Well said. We are looked at as whole people here, in my opinion. If all we ever did was focus on medical problems and symptoms the posts would be cold, impersonal, and more like a medical abstract. We can get that too often from our healthcare providers. When our families can't come through for us because they are too close or frustrated and we need to be heard, the members here fill that need. We sometimes get off topic but that is what conversation and exchange of information should be about. Our medical issues affect all other parts of our lives. We need to hear ourselves think without prejudice and for me this is a safe place to be heard. Thanks for listening. irina
Yes, and I would be disappointed if I didnt occaisionally see friendly banter with a twist of sarcasm from certain people... you know who you are!!! More than once you folks have put a smile and a chuckle on my face
Absolutely. And I believe at times people can be helped as much by information that has veered away from the original topic as by pertinent info. Do any of us remember past teachers who, by not keeping to the subject at hand, taught us more about the world and life than if they had just stuck to history or geography facts? I do. I'll stop for today-no more philosophy, I promise!😊 irina
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It's a sad world we live in when people try and stop a bit of friendly banter if that is the case. To me a little light hearted chat amongst people is what makes a forum more friendly and welcoming.
My thoughts exactly.
Think I must be thick skinned as I cant recall anything particularly nasty. X
I am ver new.
I did notice some thing unpleasant and was very surprised.
I am glad to hear it is not tolerated.
I would be upset if someone responded to me in that tone.
We are probably a bit vulnerable anyway....I am at times, so it is important to feel no one will judge or ridicule you even mildly.
Thankyou to the group generally and to the site for taking this issue seriously.
And usually I've found if someone innapropriately posts something many other members back us with their comments and we feel supported. At least I do. the poster doesn't seem to get a lot of back up for their comments. I've learned who to watch out for and for the most part they are few and far between. 🐱
I'm distracted....what did I miss? So far today I've become upset, have questions, if an abusive post was removed guess I'll never know what offended some. One hour now and lost my calm researching links and pondering.
Old American saying "Don't let the turkeys get you down," I missed 'the post' also. Probably for the best. People with negative energy are few and far between and they usually don't get to say too much before others set them straight.
Have not noticed any abuse perhaps I miss it completely but the odd bit of banter does cheer me up
I’ve not noticed anything offensive to me. I hope I have not offended anyone
An example would be better.....all this time on links, reading rules, reviewing posts, now anxious vs calm. Not what I joined for.
This is the last place I would have thought trolls frequented? This is a website for support, shared experiences and help! Some people eh!
I'm not sure how to spot trolls; what they do or what their agenda is.
Trolls are just bitter betties who have nothing positive to add other than try to be nasty and make people feel crappy. The complete opposite of this forum. The sort of negative people that can only sound off on a forum as they are very sad. That's my take on a troll.
Unfortunately, I am not able to disclose the nature of the reports. We would just like to remind people of the rules, and if they feel someone has overstepped the mark, please consider whether this is something that needs actioning on by us, or if it's something that can be "scrolled past" before clicking the report button.
Thanks in advance
Rachel - AF Association
I understand.
Decision time and a reminder 
