Making a title informative as opposed to emotive is not censorship.
Staycalmandcarryon, I would suggest the title was informative rather than emotive.
Hi everyone
I have to say I am really concerned about how this thread is heading as it appears to be going down the slippery road of the last one. I think everyone has to step back and remember that we are on here because we have one thing in common - a real and direct concern about bc. Bc is devestating and it takes us all our own individual way of dealing with the aftermath, whatever that may be, irrespective of grade or stage.
I am sorry if i sound inconsiderate of those who are passionate about higlighting stats and doing all they can to progress treatment and care, I certainly don’t mean to. I and everyone on this forum need those advances to be made. I also remember how I was terrified at the point of my daignosis last August and how scared I was by much of what I read on some of the threads. So much so, that I stopped reading for a while.
Lets focus our energy at targeting those who need to hear our concerns. The professionals, the politicians, etc. and continue to support each other in whatever way we can.
I wish everyone peace and tranquility. J.
Hi I respect all the hard work you are doing lemongrove and the information you give on both the stage4 threads is very important.But all of this bad feeling would never have happened if the title of the first thread had been altered after a few people said they were uncomfortable or thought others would be scared by it,all that needed to be changed was the 8%.I do think there is a difference in being upset by a thread title and being scared by one.I used to get a bit upset when people say “yay no nodes or vascular invasion” Of course I am very pleased for them.there is a difference.
Anyway I think its all neither here nor there now, the thread title has been changed and that’s that isn’t it?.Maybe things should have been left instead of starting this thread now there are just more bad fellings.just my thoughts.
Melxx
If a title causes enough emotion to ask for it to be changed then some would say it must have been emotive, otherwise it wouldn’t cause any emotion.
We are all sensitive in different ways at different times that’s all.
Staycalmandcarryon. When you say “We are all sensitive in different ways at different times that’s all”, that’s why censorship doesn’t work - because we can all object to different things, and end up with nothing ever written. I have also received quite a few pm’s thanking me for writing the topic, but I’m afraid those with the loudest voices seem to hold sway.
The purpose of a title is to give a flavour of what is in the post. To allow the reader the option of choosing to find out more. Sometimes the cue is very strong and you know exactly what you might be getting, other times it is more ambiguous. But we are free to choose to read or not. Especially when the subject is emotive, people have the right to’ not know’ this can be a proactive, positive choice, when reading something could be unhelpful or promotes anxiety as blanket statistics often do.
I was reading a research paper this week which was written by my own psychologist and her team who were looking at the impact of depression and anxiety on chemotherapy and it’s effectiveness. The paper showed evidence of adverse effects. State of mind in this paper was shown to play a part in treatment. How people maintain their ’ hope, positivity or even peacevof mind’ is very individual. For some it is research and scientific advances, but that is not the same for everyone.
If titles were for giving all the information then we would simply show the whole post and not have titles at all. Titles give the reader freedom of choice.
Debx
I missed the furore over the thread title but i had seen the thread title prior to this. I had recommended to a friend that her best friend come to the forum for support, having just been diagnosed with brain mets. She is in a really bad place. When i saw this title on the forum i told my friend to wait a while before recommending the forum as it would have been too much to be confronted by this information at this stage.
The cruk website explains what the next bit of text is about and you chose whether to read it. I think this is an excellent approach in that you “opt in” to information rather than having no choice. I do not consider it censorship to be careful with a thread title as the information is still contained in the text itself, just not explicitly in the title. That said, censorship isn’t necessarily a dirty word anyway as it does have its place in society, eg moral censorship, anti-racist censorship.
The point of The BCC forum, and charity, is information and emotional and practical support, and to ensure both aims are met, care has to be taken so as not to achieve one at the sacrifice of the other. Have a look at the “about us” pAge on the bcc website:-
Our vision
We want every person affected by breast cancer to get the best treatment, information and support.
What we do
We combine the personal experiences of people affected by breast cancer with clinical expertise, using this in a unique way to:
provide information and offer emotional and practical support
bring people affected by breast cancer together
campaign for improvement in standards of support and care
promote the importance of early detection.
How we work
We focus our work on the unique experience of each individual affected by breast cancer
We involve people with breast cancer in all that we do
We use our understanding of the emotional and practical issues facing people affected by breast cancer alongside our clinical expertise.
Vision 2020
During 2010 we consulted with a range of people – including our users, breast care nurses, our volunteers, staff and trustees – to draw up plans for how we should work in the coming decade.
As a result, we are concentrating our efforts in seven key areas of impact. We believe this will help us make a life-changing difference to even more people affected by breast cancer.
Find out more by downloading our report:
Vision 2020: living with and beyond breast cancer
Lemongrove - i’m sorry that you feel that those that disagree with you have ‘the loudest voices’.
My voice was virtually a whisper when i put my penny’s worth in but i’m afraid it’s had to become louder to be heard above the justifications.
I have expressed my opinion and i won’t be returning no doubt there will be another final comment: it’s all yours.
I don’t intend to keep defending the title I posted, and this is the last time I intend to explain things. Censorship is the thin end of the wedge, and if we all took exception to titles, nothing would ever get written. Also many have sent pm’s to say they approve so what about their opinions ?
I think given the seriousness of the disparity between UK and US figures, peeps could spend their time more wisely by debating those issues.
As far as I’m concerned this thread is now closed, but I shall continue to post what I regard as serious issues - as we are all free to do.
Hi staycalmandcarryon, really understand, I made a couple of comments yesterday but will not be doing so again.
Hi gingerbud…(commenting on your 2 replies below this one)…that’s very upsetting to hear. I think there’s a facility where you can block a member’s PMs. Take Care…x
Can I just suggestthose of us who are upset by the post/ title + poster might be best just avoiding these contoversial threads rather than raising their profiles by replying? I fear this is becoming the lemongrove show- it is not a debate or discussion as other peoples views are being discredited + ignored. I for one am rising to the bait + will make a conscious effort from now on to avoid posters who refuse to budge on anything and are adamant that they know best.
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[deleted by moderator]
Extract:
Our community guidelines
These guidelines aim to keep the Breast Cancer Care forum a friendly, welcoming, supportive space for people affected by breast cancer.
- Be kind to each other.
Many people using the forum are going through difficult times. A few words of kindness can go a long way. Be especially nice to new posters – it can be very nerve-wracking to post on the forum for the first time.
Give each other the benefit of the doubt: it can be very easy to misinterpret other people’s comments, especially when read or written in haste. Sarcasm and humour are particularly easy to misunderstand.
Please don’t post comments just to annoy or inflame other users.
Dear margaretw,
Thank you for posting the Community Guidelines. It is appropriate that forum members are reminded of them again at this time.
Please respect them.
Janet
BCC facilitator
This topic will now be locked as it has descended into a personal argument which is not getting us anywhere.
Belinda is correct to say that there is a function on the site to block other members’ PMs if you do not wish to receive them. If anybody isn’t sure how to do this, please contact a moderator. You can also report inappropriate PMs to the moderators.
Thank you
Leah
I aagree with Leah, worry is relative to the person worrying… it is immperative we stay calm and kind, I can deal with differnces of opinion I am currently in the middle of two conflicting senior health care proffessionals whilst my life hangs in the balance. Arguments, even cyber ones between people I don’t know unsettles me so we should stop tearing down and build up, speaking for myself that’s why I joined this site… my one and only comment on this matter