Greetings All, whoever and wherever you are in the world.
Unusually for me, this is a slightly more serious follow-up to, and endorsement of Bee's very thoughtful and thought-provoking Post about How, and what we communicate about on this respected health forum.
First: as I write, there have been more than 160 interactions in 24 hours (wow!) as a result of Bee's insights into, and practical suggestions about making this Forum more navigable for some. But.. only 15 'Likes' (even I get more with my inane, silly, usually Off-Topic ramblings). Mmmm, it only takes one click of a button...
Ok, it's only my opinion: but whichever side of this controversial fence you sit on, I think Posts like Bee's deserve more, and visible appreciation on the forum for at least having the courage to open-up and then remain objective in sensitively mediating in what is clearly a lively discussion!
'Likes' in response to a Member's Post (s) on a forum like this will generate more interest in that particular Post or Topic: and by my logic are an indicator of the relative Value / Popularity of and Respect for that Member's input to the Community as a whole (whether on or off Topic?). It's also personally rewarding for the Member who has taken the (a lot of?) time and effort to put words-on-the-page (screen) to know that they are resonating with an increasingly wide and diverse audience. Whether a Silent Lurker or an Active Responder, and whether in agreement or not, a 'Like' means a lot to the HU Member who put their head above the Online Parapet and actually made a statement.
As for the theme of Bee's Post:
Yep, it seems to have polarised many of Us Lot as to whether Posts / Content on this Forum should be dedicated more to strictly PMR / GCA medical related topics: or that the Forum should allow and indeed encourage the Social Side, i.e. off-Topic chat around all things from the price of Broccoli to our pets, grand-children, gardening exploits and so much more (better not mention Br*x*t)! Or, maybe, a sensible balance of both?
But (and a Big But..): how can anyone (even the Site Moderators) effectively manage the process of achieving Editorial Balance on a Social Forum that satisfies ALL Users? You tell me...
Many of You Lot know my opinion on the above, for better or worse. But that's not important right now: what IS important is that thoughtful contributors like Bee get adequate recognition for their input in the Forum's Popularity Ratings. And.. a few 'Likes' validates their input and encourages them to stay around and contribute more. To be honest, that's probably the main reason I'm still here - seriously.
So, whichever side of the fence you sit on (be careful of Splinters.. ha ha!), let's hear it for Bee: and please send your appreciation with a simple click of a button as well as (or at the same time as) responding? It can make a big difference.
Best wishes All, and try to keep smiling on the often difficult PMR / GCA Journey. Yep, it's good to let-off steam here (in whatever way and about whatever topic..). But Life is too short and precious to let differences of opinion about the style of content of an Internet Social Forum become burning, stressful issues. Ultimately, we can all choose whether to engage or not.
Ok: I've said my bit. That's it. Here: the red wine is open, Tedski's out on the Razzle (again), the Curry's in the oven and all's well with the world (or as well as it can be with PMR..). Oops, sorry, Off-Topic (as usual..?)
'This, Too, Will Pass'
'Uncle' MB
Written by
markbenjamin57
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Often when I press like it turns to unlike, I can’t be the only one. It is not a reliable indicator. I am also guilty of forgetting, particularly if I answer. Just saying.
Ha Jane - I know what you mean. And Yep: it's easy to reply before acknowledging a Post with a 'Like'? I'm guilty of it sometimes too (blame the Brain Fog...) :-D.
It's Bee who deserves the 'Likes' for her Post, not me for this follow-up. I'll forward any mis-directed ones onto her..
I don't mind the lack of likes , I am happy to add a post and take a few punches for others if it helps , or say something happy and hopefully make someone's day a bit easier.
As you said yourself , ' Live and let live , I am that sort of girl.
And I am about to cry
( which if you could see it is hysterical as I can't make any tears these days so I have to squirt my eye drops in and start making a face like Mutley! Got the same laugh too!!)
Gosh , thanks and sorry for all the fuss folks , Bee xxx
Hey SJ, It turns to "Unlike," because that is your next option.... You've "Liked" it, but in case you change you mind or decide you don't like it, you could then click "Unlike." It does not mean you don't like the post... hope that helps.
I think it is a blip, although I do have sausage fingers. It happens when I touch the button for the first time sometimes. Yesterday, I went back “ liking” posts and it didn’t happen. I felt like “ It’s a Wonderful Life” giving out angel wings, every time a bell rings. How is your poor eye today? Xx
When you click " Like" and keep your arrow in the like box, it gives you the option to change your mind. If you move your arrow away from "Like" your "like" will be accepted, or should be. Trevor.
Thank you Mark for saying this about Bee. She has handled this topic really well and has tried to appreciate every ones opinions and views without forcing her opinion on anyone.
I am of the opinion the forum should be left alone and the people who dont want to join in on non pmr posts, do what most of us do and just ignore. Its not hard, we are adults after all. If it seems that certain people need a warning about non pmr conversations then we will have to do something like you do about your funny posts and indicate we are possibly going off the topic of pmr.
Ok that's my opinion stated in public and my little rant is over. Thanks again Mark.YB
I just stole a like from you Yellowbell, not meant, you and Bee have managed this very well with warmth and humour. I came late to the party. It was lovely to see how organically this little haven moves towards the light.
You might have been late but you still turned up. I sometimes set out but never get to where i was meant to be because I either forgot where i was going or I get side tracked.xx
He does , he is either acting as a human shield or has just shoved me out on stage with my skirt caught in my pants , but he has kept people from going mental with his unique brand of insanity for years and is an absolute legend in my book.
Even if , he has just made me turn into Betty Beetroot with the kind post above.
Oh Goodness I am terrified to think what that would look like!!
If there was a forum choice now it might have two parts .
An angel in Elton glasses wearing a dotty nightgown and playing the ukelele for the "likers".
And a devil with horns bent over with a soft spot on the bum for the " haters " so all the people I annoy get the chance to kick me without it setting there symptoms off.😂😂😂
In 24 hours I have managed to turn myself into Marmite !!!!!
Awesome , Doomsville needs you to help the fight against all those white coated devils and PMR evil nemeses, we'll let you keep your dayglow barraclava on ( it will hide the black eye!) xx
Yes Mark l pressed like for your post and it turned to unlike as Sheffield Jane said also happened to her.l hastily kept pressing on unlike to hopefully return it to like which it has ! phew,l wondered If Tedski is responsible.l know he can be a bit of a handful .Bee always writes interesting posts,and l agree with Yellowbluebird that we have a choice as to whether we read a post or not.l love seeing the photos members post on here ,it makes it more interesting and friendly .
Ha, Grants! I grilled Tedski about messing around with my PC and he flatly denied it. So, I grilled him in the oven along with some fresh Kippers - that'll teach him.
Oh, sorry, my humour gets worse and worse. Must be the effects of the Preds?
We have discussed on here before, why different people press like. Some did it just to show they had read it. I am probably at the other extreme and only like if I agree strongly with what is being said, there will be others inbetween. Strangely I usually ' like ' replies rather than posts.
If the post is a question or someone asking advice it helps to 'like' what you consider to be good advice as this reinforces the reply.
A post like Bee's was putting a discussion out there and although I thought it was a good sugesstion it didn't occure to me to 'like' it I just wanted to see what others thought and started reading. I did 'like' a few replies.
I think that we should not put too much importance on the use of the 'like' unless there is some form of standardisation of it's use. We all use it in our own way and as many of us are not familier with the conventions of social media this will no doubt continue.
I wasn't really expecting likes and wasn't sure how interested people would become discussing it.
I thought in that case , people would like the post if they agreed that it needed talking about , and would , as did happen have equal likes for people with different views or opinions below.
I do agree with Uncle MB about liking something you enjoyed to read , wether you are going to reply or not , as a kindness and a courtesy.
And I agree with Scats , that you should like posts you like , and most importantly go back and like posts that you found really useful so they are easy to find and give help to others.
I just agree with everyone getting to use the forum in a way that works for them , but letting others do the same , live and let live , that's probably what got me in trouble in the first place xxx
I think a better indication in this case was the number of people that got involved, you certainly pushed the right button there!
I find that on the forum, as in real life when discussion becomes too animated I tend to sit back and hear what others think. I have learnt the hard way that if not careful I can say things in the heat of the moment that I later regret!
I agree that the forum must work for everyone, we all find it so valuable in our own way. I wouldn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable and I'm sure noone else would.
Well said MB! I am scurrying back to Bee's post, which I totally agreed with by the way. But I went totally off piste when writing on it blabbering on about movies!
Sounds like a normal.response for me and Bee. We never get anywhere without getting lost on the way. Getting side tracked over films sounds reasonable.xx
Only possible in a new post, i.e. the first starting a thread. Can't be done in replies. That's the extent of my knowledge but it is an essential basis to explore how...
Hi 9lives- see Dorset lady’s reply above about the like button. When you press it to like a post then that’s it done, even if it says unlike. Pressing it again means you’ve taken the option to “un-like” it as DL says it’s a toggle button. It confused me for ages.
I think you can only put up photos when you start a new post. Once you’ve written it up then there should be an option to add a photo then as well as adding topics etc. I just choose/tick a photo I want on my camera roll and my phone does the rest! Just have a play with it😊
I’m sure someone more technically savvy will be along or you can request via help button? Atb x
A toggle button? I knew what was happening but not the name of the device. You see all these diversions can be quite fruitful adding to the sum total of our knowledge! ☺️
Only way I've figured out is to have the picture accessible on my computer. Then in the original post there's an option to add a photo, which one can do by finding and opening the picture's file. So as far as I know if you want to share something you've seen on the internet you first have to save it to your computer. But I would be very pleased to learn if there is an easier way.
Yes , had to get my kids to explain that , wish I knew I could call on you for tech help first , I wouldn't have had to look like such a Luddite in front of them and get the , ' Ahh, poor Mummy' looks and pat's on the head again. 😂😂😂
Does that then put the picture up as it is? I just copy and paste the link from the toolbar when I want to put things from the internet. Don't have much on my computer...
My daughter's taught me that I can share any photos from my own documents or camera with needing copy paste ( which for some reason , despite doing over and over I always have to remind myself how to do , even before meds!)
You can find any photo or link on the net , press the three dot sign on the page or photo , press to share to your drive or documents .
You can then just press the attach image bit and it will put up your list of camera , documents etc. Press the right one , and the links come up , press the link or photo it goes on your post.
You can then delete it straight away from your files if you want.
I save a picture to my desk top. Open HealthUnlocked and click the add photo option. That makes my computer stuff pop up, so I just go to the desktop and open the file I want, and presto, the picture is in my post! If this doesn't work it probably means the picture isn't saved in the right format, but most things will open just fine.
Hmmmm? I feel duly scolded! ...but with everything going on in my life, I have to admit, I totally missed Blearyeyed's post, altogether! (Sorry Blearyeyed, I will go back and find it.)
And I know you can all do without my adding my "two cents," but... I don't think it's a good thing, that any Member, strongly suggests to other Members, that they should be obliged or compelled to "Like," "Comment," or be otherwise "engaged in" another Member's Post.
It was mentioned above, that we are all grown ups and have freedom of choice, thought and speech; no Member should ever feel that they are "required" or "expected," to respond/comment, or "Like," anything posted.
Just sayin....
PS - Dear Blearyeyed, for the record... I thoroughly enjoy your posts; you're funny, insightful, authentic, knowledgable and honest! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I must admit it's probably my comment about being adults you may have seen. I just wanted people to realise there are options for every one on the forum and as adults we have to make decisions and if that means just ignoring certain topics, joining in or even just watching then we are old enough to do this without being upset. I personally love the way things wander off but I know if I need to find something out medically I can get that info as well. YBxx
, some make me shout replies and some are really helpful. It has never occurred to me to ‘like’ or ‘unlike’ any of them. We all have opinions and we are all able to like or dislike without pressing buttons.
I am happy to read them all, discard those I wish to and take comfort from the rest
Just thought it's nice for a contributor to get this type of feedback if their Post resonates with us (even if don't comment on it). That said, we all have a choice either way...
Cheers HeronNS. The thing I draw comfort from is that even though this PMR thingy makes us (most of us) grumpy, we all seem to do a lot of liking. Which is excellent??!!??
Ohh, sorry J, thought you meant one of my Posts. It was actually one from Blearyeyed about how to write stuff here and navigate through the off-topic stuff. Got ALOT of (mixed) responses... !
Sending all your poor readers off to read through all my drivelling , this is meant to be a PMR/ GCA Health Forum giving people tips on how to feel better with PMR not causing users to provoke a ' flare up ' !!
Ohhh... sorry Bee. It was with the best intentions, but better keep my mouth shut in future? The last thing I want to do is start (or perpetuate) an almighty FFIIGGGHHHHTTT here!
Just goes to show what a diverse community this is - and with a wide range of opinions on just about anything and everything?
As I was going to add after the Radio Silence ( either technical or administrative 😜)
I will send you some of my knitting needles and a sock pattern to distract you.
Although, I know you have always been secretly tempted to start your own PMR/GCA version of Fight Club I am not sure how many of us could give a physically good show , despite willing.
I might manage a few rounds, did you hear in another chat , apparently I am a perfect contestant for the Worlds Strongest Man ( despite being a woman and as feeble as a bent stick) , they kept pinging me the application form for weeks.
I have a feeling however, I would be better off finishing the hat I have been trying to knit the OH since before Christmas so it's finished in time for July in Wales!
Plus , I think , with the GCA/PMR and other random associated illnesses my days as a Tutu wearing Fairy Glitter Wrestler are beyond me ( at least for now anyway , and yes that is a thing!)
Big Hugs to you Uncle and all our wonderful Community
And be happy in the fact we all know and love that
Variety is the Pred in our Prune Juice , hugs Bee xx 😁😋
I had absolutely no idea about this LIKE business ! I just read and reply or post if I have anything to say. Well, at least I know now . Kudos to everyone who posts stuff to help us or make us laugh. Thank you.
I have been fascinated about the like discussion, although had to give up half way through. If that is anything to go by nobody will read this. I am 85 and had no trouble working out that unlike comes up just in case you need to undo it for any reason.
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To be continued... 
Chat amongst forum members
