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READ ME: Forum or blog? Which do I use, and when, and why?
One of the big changes since we upgraded the bulletin board is that the blogs are much more visible. Before, you really had to hunt for them, and now, the blogs link is always visible right next to the forum (above, in the green strip).
This has had the unintended side effect of... confusion. I have seen several blog posts that look like they were intended for the bulletin board. I know this whole thing can be really hard to figure out especially for those not used to discussion boards.
So what do you use?
FORUM
The Forum is for DIALOGUES with others about dry eye.
Use the Introduce Yourself forum to:
...Introduce yourself
Use the Community Forums, especially Open Forum, to converse with other patients:
...Ask questions
...Rant on a bad day
...Rave on a good day
...Reply to others' questions with your suggestions & thoughts
...Post a good experience with a doctor
...Update us about your progress
...Post dry eye medical news of interest to others
Use the Pro Corner to converse with doctors & others:
...Post questions in the Dr. Q&A forums
...Post questions or comments in the open forum
...Post about availability of specialty treatments near you.
Please do NOT post new threads in any of the "Archive" sections of the forum. This is our filing & search system.
BLOGS
Blogs are for MONOLOGUES about dry eye. If you want to start a blog, click on BLOGS in the green bar, then "My Blog" in the blue bar. Remember though, when you're in the Blogs section and click "Create new post", you're adding to your blog, not to the discussion forum. Anybody can see your blog posts and comment on them, but they don't show up in the forum.
Blogs are a great way to chronicle your journey. It can be helpful for your own reference to look back later on and read about your progress. It's also very helpful for others who may be earlier in their journeys to hear what you've come through and how you're coping now.
Personally, I use my blog to post dry eye news, recent studies and such.
Blogs are, of course, totally optional. If you are looking mostly for feedback and interaction with others, the Forum is more appropriate.
WHAT'S NEW
"What's New" collects all new forum posts and blog posts so that you can see what's happened since the last time you visited.
This has had the unintended side effect of... confusion. I have seen several blog posts that look like they were intended for the bulletin board. I know this whole thing can be really hard to figure out especially for those not used to discussion boards.
So what do you use?
FORUM
The Forum is for DIALOGUES with others about dry eye.
Use the Introduce Yourself forum to:
...Introduce yourself
Use the Community Forums, especially Open Forum, to converse with other patients:
...Ask questions
...Rant on a bad day
...Rave on a good day
...Reply to others' questions with your suggestions & thoughts
...Post a good experience with a doctor
...Update us about your progress
...Post dry eye medical news of interest to others
Use the Pro Corner to converse with doctors & others:
...Post questions in the Dr. Q&A forums
...Post questions or comments in the open forum
...Post about availability of specialty treatments near you.
Please do NOT post new threads in any of the "Archive" sections of the forum. This is our filing & search system.
BLOGS
Blogs are for MONOLOGUES about dry eye. If you want to start a blog, click on BLOGS in the green bar, then "My Blog" in the blue bar. Remember though, when you're in the Blogs section and click "Create new post", you're adding to your blog, not to the discussion forum. Anybody can see your blog posts and comment on them, but they don't show up in the forum.
Blogs are a great way to chronicle your journey. It can be helpful for your own reference to look back later on and read about your progress. It's also very helpful for others who may be earlier in their journeys to hear what you've come through and how you're coping now.
Personally, I use my blog to post dry eye news, recent studies and such.
Blogs are, of course, totally optional. If you are looking mostly for feedback and interaction with others, the Forum is more appropriate.
WHAT'S NEW
"What's New" collects all new forum posts and blog posts so that you can see what's happened since the last time you visited.
Actually I get the PubMed emails on dry eye, blepharitis etc, but their filter hasn't been working so well lately as the emails come with a bunch of irrelevant stuff too.
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