naturalliving: Mod post: Once more

Emily (

xemcats) wrote in

naturalliving,
@ 2007-09-12 08:05:00

Mod post: Once more
Please remember that asking for help in diagnosing a medical condition is not allowed in

naturalliving. This includes posts that don't directly ask for a diagnosis but are still worded to illicit those types of responses.

For example: "These are my symptoms: [insert symptoms]. I'm not sure what's causing them. Does anyone have experience with something similar?" To the mods here, that is a diagnosis post. Even if you throw in, "Oh, and if anyone has treatment ideas too, that'd be great," doesn't negate the semi-vague diagnosis request. I do understand that you're not directly saying, "Please diagnose me," but the above wording is becoming very common and there's not much else it could mean other than, "What conditions match these in your experience?"

Sorry to be a broken record, guys! It's just that within the last two weeks I've probably had to comment on 15 posts about not doing the hidden diagnosis thing.

Thanks,
Emily the mod

(Post a new comment)

	lucystrawberry 2007-09-12 01:50 pm UTC (link)
	so basically, we can't ask people to share their experiences with something we are dealing with? isn't that kind of one of the points of the internets? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	fooltheworld 2007-09-12 01:53 pm UTC (link)
	To be your doctor? Not really, no. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

lucystrawberry
2007-09-12 02:16 pm UTC (link)

uh is that what i asked?
No.
I asked, can we ask people to share their experiences with something we are dealing with?

Not, can we ask someone to provide a medical opinion on something we are dealing with.

If you don't see the obvious difference then...well then I can't help you.

I thought of of the points of the internet was communication and sharing and community.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	lucystrawberry 2007-09-12 02:21 pm UTC (link)
	I'd also like to point out there there are plenty of other communities that are very established where people DO often come and ask for other peoples experiences with the problems they are dealing with like vagina_pagina birthcontrol just to name two. So I don't understand why doing so is such a problem in this community. (Reply to this)(Parent)

entelodont
2007-09-12 04:05 pm UTC (link)

I imagine it's because natural remedies, like conventional medicine, can do harm if the person does not know what they are actually treating. For example, if a person is feeling very tired, spacey, and sometimes nauseous, someone might suggest a fast as a treatment, because it worked for them. However, if the OP was suffering those symptoms because they were hypoglycemic, then a fast would be a very bad idea. Of course, the possibility of getting tested for hypoglycemia could be raised in the comments; however, this makes it impossible for the OP to know exactly what suggestions are safe to try. Getting a diagnosis first helps cut down on these issue and provide people with options that are viable.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	ladyceleste 2007-09-12 02:39 pm UTC (link)
	You CAN say "I have X, does anyone else? Any tips?" That is not a diagnosis post and fulfill the internets community aspect you're concerned with. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	lucystrawberry 2007-09-12 02:42 pm UTC (link)
	okay thanks. that's what i was looking for. so i can say i have weird white spots on my mouth. does anyone else have these? any tips? but not i have weird white spots on my mouth. does anyone know what these are from? any tips? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ladyceleste
2007-09-12 03:16 pm UTC (link)

I think I was unclear. You can say "I have canker sores. How do you guys treat yours?" but not "I have these sores in my mouth, has anyone else had these? any suggestions?"

One says "I have *already diagnosed problem*", and is just looking for treatment. The other one implies that you don't know what it is, and the treatment options that others might give you could be diagnosing an incorrect problem and cause you issues that no one wants to be liable (not even legally, but emotionally) for.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	Sorry for the triple reply! xemcats 2007-09-12 09:55 pm UTC (link)
	ladyceleste pretty much said it all. "I have weird white spots on my mouth. does anyone else have these? any tips?" to me, as a mod, sounds like, "Does anyone have these? What could they be?" That would be against the comm guidelines. As long as you clarify that you're not asking what they are...simply asking how to treat them, you should be A-Ok. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Sorry for the triple reply! flynd 2007-09-13 04:47 pm UTC (link)
	So something like "I have weird white spots on my mouth. It doesn't matter what they are, but how are they treated?" is okay? (I find this entire issue to be very confusing.) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Sorry for the triple reply! xemcats 2007-09-13 11:36 pm UTC (link)
	What matters is intent. If you're coming here to ask others what medical condition your symptoms point to (in other words, to help with a diagnosis), then the post would not be allowed. If you already know your medical condition and are wondering about treatment or the experiences of others with the same condition, then it's ok. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	autumn_sylver 2007-09-12 10:25 pm UTC (link)
	Saying something like "I have IBS and would like to hear other people's experiences" is different than saying "I've been constipated for 3 weeks. Anybody have any experience in what might be causing it?" The latter is what the mods are referring to. The former is not. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	gymx 2007-09-12 02:19 pm UTC (link)
	I don't see what the problem is here provided the poster and any commenters acknowledge that anything shared is not official medical advice. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	seirra81 2007-09-12 02:31 pm UTC (link)
	Because the community is naturalliving, not diagnoseme. I'm not a mod, so the mods can feel free to tell me to butt out but it's kind of off topic. It's one thing if the person says "I think I have ___. Does anyone have any experience with natural treatments." But it's another when they are just asking for a diagnosis. (Reply to this)(Parent)

violet_flames
2007-09-12 04:22 pm UTC (link)

I think it's also because invariably people leave out VERY important pieces of information whether on purpose or not. That on top of the vast majority of community members not being a health professional makes it really shady.

Example: I'm weak and out of energy, what are some healthy foods to eat.

*looks at user info finds Proana communities*

The original person needs professional help, not a community full of second guesses and bandaid fixes. Now imagine the same situation, but without any indication that she may have an ED.

Example: (this is more or less from another community I'm in)

My new BC is making me bleed constantly, is there anything I can do?

Comment much later: Oh yeah, I went on this bc because it was my last chance option before getting a hysterectomy for excessive bleeding *face palm*

No wonder she's bleeding.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	violet_flames 2007-09-12 04:23 pm UTC (link)
	Sorry should read? "I'm weak and out of energy, what might be causing this and what are some healthy food to eat." (Reply to this)(Parent)

balamuthia
2007-09-13 12:56 am UTC (link)

There was a recent post that was a perfect example of this:

I feel dizzy, have vertigo, and get nauseous. I think it might be an ear infection, any natural remedies?

People recommended ear candling but luckily a few (including myself) told her that vertigo, dizziness, and nausea are nothing to play with and she needed a medical diagnosis. later in the comments she mentioned that she went to the doctor, there wasn't an infection, and he scheduled her for an MRI.

It could have been truly disastrous if all she had tried was ear candling.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	xemcats 2007-09-12 09:48 pm UTC (link)
	First and foremost, it's simply off-topic. Secondly, it's an unsafe practice...one that I'm not comfortable with. There's a couple explanations next to this rule in the user info if you're interested in reading more reasons why we don't allow it. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	yosephy 2007-09-12 06:06 pm UTC (link)
	Maybe you need a meaner looking mod-pic icon. Maybe one that says, "Do not invoke the rath of xemcats!" ;) (Reply to this)(Thread)

	xemcats 2007-09-12 09:57 pm UTC (link)
	Yessss yesssssssssssssssss muahahahha (Reply to this)(Parent)

	rainbow 2007-09-12 10:06 pm UTC (link)
	iawtc :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

	autumn_sylver 2007-09-12 10:30 pm UTC (link)
	Or like we say over at answers_on_sex: "Do not mess with the mods, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup". Hehehe. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	mommalovesme 2007-09-12 11:00 pm UTC (link)
	im getting a little annoyed by the coded posts that list symptoms and then ask for natural remedies as an afterthought, those posts that are like 'ohmigod something is wrong with me helphelp!tell me what to do!...oh, natural please!'...those tend, for me, to be unhelpful posts to read. (Reply to this)

What did we all do before Western Medicine?

paleo_huntress
2007-09-13 03:08 pm UTC (link)

I understand the need for the disclaimer and I am not arguing against the rules, only making a point.

We have gotten so far away from what is "natural" in this world. We go to OB's instead of midwives, we take pills instead of eating whole foods, we go to gyms instead of just moving more and we see doctors who are more interested in treating our symptoms with drugs than in discovering their cause.

I understand why people come here. It is natural to ask for others experiences with certain "symptoms". Why do we feel the need to send someone to a doctor when sometimes it's as simple as holding up a mirror and inviting them to look inside. I think it's a shame that we're afraid to share our our instinctive knowledge with others.

I get it.. but it's still a shame.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

Re: What did we all do before Western Medicine?

plymouth
2007-11-16 02:56 pm UTC (link)

When someone says "you should see a doctor" that CAN still include a holistic doctor of some sort (homeopath, herbalist, acupuncturist, etc.) - they at least have training, even if it isn't necessarily standard western medicine training. In fact there are quite a few people out there who study BOTH western medicine and some sort of alternative practice.

(hi, I'm seeing this from the userinfo comm guidelines thus the late reply)

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	laceyslostlove 2007-09-14 03:09 pm UTC (link)
	how ironic that the two posts following this WERE these types of posts. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	xemcats 2007-09-14 09:40 pm UTC (link)
	I noticed that too. =o\ (Reply to this)(Parent)

	violet_flames 2007-09-17 12:25 am UTC (link)
	LOL... oh the irony. BTW... you should come see me. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

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