What is this for?: I've had a quick... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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What is this for?

26 Replies

I've had a quick look at the unanswered posts and I'm concerned to see that numerous people have been left without any response to questions or worries about their heart conditions.

In contrast, any post that is remotely political immediately receives a great deal of attention, and usually degenerates very quickly into a slanging match where all the participants are of course right.

Other forums, (or fora, for the pedantically inclined), have banned all political discussions, as there are many other places to air political opinions and grievances.

I respectfully suggest that this forum follows suit in order to avoid increasing members' blood pressure and heart rate to dangerous levels.

May I also respectfully suggest that those members with relevant knowledge or experience could have a look at unanswered posts now and again, and offer some kind of help?

Happy Easter

26 Replies
lettingoffsteam profile image
lettingoffsteam

Hmmm, that's not my experience Flyingcarpet.I have found this forum very supportive and I feel I have benefitted enormously.As to unanswered posts...well that's unfortunate but sometimes there is nobody available to reply that has any experience of what is being posted.Bad advice is worse than no advice after all.I try to respond to posts that seem unanswered where I can.If we all do the same then hopefully most will be covered.

in reply tolettingoffsteam

I'm glad to hear that your experience has been so positive.

You make no reference to my point about politics, so should I assume you are happy with the 'discussions ' also?

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to

Hi Flyingcarpet

I must admit I can be one of the Combative people on the Forum BUT if I can answer a question I will, I tend to answer the questions on ICDs CRTs or other Heart Failure stuff. Oh and CABG and Stents as I have had the Full Suite of these mundane problems.

In my case I see it as most things are fixed, except my 100% blocked RCA oh and my Heart Failure no matter what pills I pop, that won't go away.

Unfortunately Politics and Health are directly related.

Removed my comment so as not to upset anyone !!!

LOL

in reply toPrada47

Thanks for your other reply. Can't possibly comment on the last part of this one 🙊

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to

It was something to do with a political party lol

lettingoffsteam profile image
lettingoffsteam in reply to

I don't involve myself with political discussions but I find I'm never short of threads to join in with.

seasider18 profile image
seasider18 in reply to

I can't say that I have seen any political discussions starting on the posts I read.

Helen_BHF profile image
Helen_BHF

Hi Hidden

We're sorry if anyone hasn't found the answers they're looking for - it's a busy time for our Heart Helpline team at the moment, and our cardiac nurses are doing all they can to make sure they're answering calls to our helpline.

While we know this must be a confusing and worrying time for many, I do hope the community can help by allowing everyone to connect with others in a similar situation - unfortunately we're unable to answer all medical queries, but the community is always here for people who'd like to to talk, find information and support.

in reply toHelen_BHF

Thank you for your reply, and of course your own team is busy, I make no criticism of you.

My point was to highlight the difference in response to the different kinds of posts, and to suggest that politics might be better left out of the forum.

Calliope153 profile image
Calliope153

If someone has replied to a poster via private message it will still show as no replies...... just a thought

in reply toCalliope153

Yes, that is possible, but I would be surprised, as most queries are not sensitive

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to

But the reply might be. I'll raise my hand on this - I have private messaged someone on an orphan thread (to ask them to hang in there until someone comes along with real help), and when I know my reply might be too sensitive for the open forum (usually a geographical reference).

I agree, I try to reply if I can, but my own knowledge is very limited compared with other members.

I hope they are finding answers somewhere

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to

I feel the same way - the orphan threads really sadden me and I have 'bumped' the ones I find that I can't give any help with beyond bumping by posting 'I have no experience with this but hopefully someone more helpful will be along soon'. And I've 'bumped' several times on the ones that are really in need of being brought back to the top so someone will see the question and pop in to offer some help.

Becksagogo profile image
Becksagogo

I do try to answer the questions on this forum based on my own experiences but there are times when I am either not sure what the question is or I don't have the experience to offer any advice. I do try not to get political as this is completely the wrong place for ones political views. Also I do tend to look at this forum daily on waking as part of my get up slowly routine so am guilty of missing some posts. I work so it's not always possible for me to re visit the site during the day.

Kristin1812 profile image
Kristin1812Heart Star

It is a worry, that people don’t always get replies. I didn’t realise there were so many.

I notice some are hard to answer because they are so very brief, or not clear exactly what’s wanted, but that’s really not very often.

Thanks for mentioning it. Must do better!

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

I've 'bumped' several of the orphan questions/discussion starters, so yes, it is definitely allowed. I only do that for the medical ones, btw, the politically aimed ones I usually ignore unless it's a comment clearly meant to cause reports on a discussion in an attempt to derail and cause the HU moderation team to have to suspend the discussion.

080311 profile image
080311

I do try to answer posts that I feel I can help and have personal inside information been there done that got the tee-shirt!

I too have noticed that some post are a bit vague and am not sure what they are asking, but as Kristin as said I must do better!!

Goldfish7 profile image
Goldfish7

I wasn't aware there were many unanswered posts - unsure how the set up works - do unanswered posts drop off the end of the list that comes up when you log in? Would not know what to do in this case. I always try to answer a post if there is anything I can say that would be pertinent (and not just replicating others advice) if I have time, but don't generally have time to go down the list past the visible topics. Re. politics - I guess it depends what you class as politics as health and the health, food production, pharmaceutical industry are very political by their nature and will naturally be noted as important in discussions.

What would be the best way forward?

in reply toGoldfish7

Posts can be sorted by status, just click the 'unanswered ' button.

I agree that politics comes into every part of life, but so often, political discussions degenerate into the kind of rows seen on this forum recently, requiring intervention from the admins.

It would be nice if we could all be respectful of others, regardless of political leanings

Goldfish7 profile image
Goldfish7 in reply to

Thanks for the reply but cant find the 'unanswered' button anywhere - I may be being a bit dim and looking in the wrong place!!

Re the political thing - I totally agree that people should be respectful of others but I do think that discussions and disagreements can be very useful learning tools so would hate for all of it to disappear.

in reply toGoldfish7

On the home page, a little way down is a row of options. Just to the right of the 'home ' tab, it says 'posts '. Select it, then on the page you are taken to, you will see the options.

Heythrop51 profile image
Heythrop51

The structure of the site makes older posts disappear from view quite quickly. Quite a lot of unanswered posts are unclear or no more than a statement. I asked for one to be made clearer some months ago and just got criticised for this! So no easy solution!

in reply toHeythrop51

Posts can be sorted by status, just click the 'unanswered ' button.

Most of them are quite clear and although I can't answer them myself, I know that others on the forum are able to.

But I stick to my main point that the forum is being to some extent hijacked by discussions and activities which are best served elsewhere

Goldfish7 profile image
Goldfish7 in reply to

Thanks to you I've now found it!!! I'll try to answer one a day - a brief flick suggests most of them are not related to conditions I've had but I guess I can be sympathetic and give a response

Heythrop51 profile image
Heythrop51 in reply to

I have noticed a lot of the highjackers have empty profiles and seem to join to make mischief or persue their own agenda!

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