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Online health forums are such a timesaver vs in person group or zoom meetings

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Posted 12/18/2023 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I am rather perplexed as to why online health forums are declining. Not just this particular place but others as well.

The few times that I did attend lyme and other health topic meetings with actual people, it was mostly a waste of time. I went there with questions, wanting answers, and 90% of the people just wanted to wallow in their tears without solving problems. 🤔

I get it , as a guy I’m a problem solver (because time is precious.) As to not sound completely sexist, there were a few men at these things, but also mostly just wallowing in their tears versus trying to find out answers to improve their health.

It takes more effort to actually drive to meetings or even hang out for a long zoom event. Yet once these people are there, they don’t seem to use their time very wisely, from my point of view.

Yep, this is kind of a rant because I just wasted two hours of my time in a health zoom meeting and learned almost nothing. You could say what I learned was to not attend one of these again.

Then again, I am the typical introvert. I don’t find talking for the sake of talking, that exciting (nor soothing) unless you’re actually getting something out of it. If im not learning, there better be some good jokes! (There were no good jokes either).

I might’ve answered my own question. From my experience, the best place to get questions answered is on a forum. Many people at these live gatherings don’t seem to actually want questions answered for some reason. Apparently that was not even in their thinking. But, when it was a live group (not zoom) in a physical meeting place, after the meeting officially ended, roughly 5-10% of the people who actually were looking for answers hung out in the hallway or the parking lot and eventually got something out of their time.

Hope I don’t get blasted for this, ….

oh well,….rant over.

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/17/2023 10:29:57 PM (GMT-8)

Posted 12/18/2023 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
its understandable to feel frustrated after putting time and effort into something and coming away feeling like you got little in return

my best guess is there are two different things going on here.

ref the in-person groups being less interested in answers and more in perhaps the human contact part.
i think people seeking these meetings will tend to self select as the people who mainly want some form of social contact - in terms of perhaps feeling understood, feeling empathy with others etc
this is a natural and universal human need - the need to feel understood
but people who are very analytical or goal oriented tend to place other values ahead of this social need and may find this environment less than satisfying.
so i think its just down to differences in the spectrum of human values - and in-person events attracting more people with a social values higher up the list.

ref the reduction in traffic to forums - this a different issue i think - and mainly down to the ever shorter attention spans our populations are drifting towards as we live in a more and more distracted world with its ever present screens, short form content of, tweets, likes, 10 second video clips on tik-tok etc etc
more and more people have a hard time focussing on anything longer
its not just forums that are suffering - its across our entire culture
long form media is less and less attractive to people
for example - how many 25 years olds read books these days ?
Posted 1/28/2024 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Very sad, I also notice google does not index the sites as good as other search engines.
Also, the new to lyme thread has incredible info on Candida….yet for the longest time I had no clue that existed despite extensive searching with google, on this site, etc.
Posted 1/28/2024 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Georgiee’s right. No matter what search engine I use, not much of anything useful comes up. The internet has been highjacked by censors and propagandists. Before that started, I would find all kinds of alternative health information, including old posts here. That’s actually how I found this site, Phoenix Rising, Paradigm Change, Biotoxin Journey, LadyofLyme, RealFoodRebel, Dr Rawls, Lara Briden, and much more.

I have never been to an in-person Lyme group or zoom meeting, but I did talk on the phone with another local person who has Lyme and mold. She did move on to another Lyme/mold doctor who I had heard of, so she definitely pursued help and healing outside the conventional realm. Still, I could tell from our conversation that she didn’t seem to know much about Lyme and coinfections. She was treated for Lyme, but she was still sick. She was more focused on mold.

Even some of the doctors I have talked to recognize that I know things they don’t. I have come to realize that most people aren’t like me. Even my best friend. She graduated valedictorian and is a nurse, but she is very much indoctrinated by that whole system. She and her family have had loads of health issues, and she has gotten more integrative, but I really don’t like talking to her about my issues. In our last conversation, she asked me if I thought my reactions to mold could be all in my head. She has asked me this multiple times. I am smarter than her in the sense that I will never believe “science” or other people over my own body.

It blows my mind that there are people who will let others convince them that reality isn’t real. How can you deny your own self? It’s lunacy.

I digress.
Posted 1/28/2024 4:56 AM (GMT 0)

Georgiee said...
Very sad, I also notice google does not index the sites as good as other search engines.
Also, the new to lyme thread has incredible info on Candida….yet for the longest time I had no clue that existed despite extensive searching with google, on this site, etc.

Way back when - we (moderators) would welcome the new members and suggest they read the “New to Lyme… Start Here “ thread at the top of the page.
I’m not on the forum as often now and have not been doing that with all newbies.
Posted 1/28/2024 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
I think it's because now we have social media like Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, Pinterest - most people I know get their health information from these whereas prior to the existence of social media the only option online was forums. For example, the only reason I'm using forums now is because I no longer have social media but previously I always used social media and quite frankly didn't even realise forums existed!

I also had similar experiences attending 'in person' meetings. I think people generally go to those meetings to look for emotional support rather than medical answers
Posted 1/28/2024 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
Astroman,

In light of what Emma said, maybe it’s an age/generational thing. I have never been a part of any of those social media outlets. Maybe we’re just old, LOL!!!! 👵👴

This forum makes much more sense in terms of what we are here for - to give and receive detailed information, engage in lively discussions, and provide encouragement.
Posted 1/28/2024 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
If we’re just used to forums because we’re old, then the younger generation doesn’t know what they’re missing.

The only reason this thread is still continuing, is because it’s a “thread” in a forum that actually has a post title.
Posted 1/28/2024 4:32 PM (GMT 0)

astroman said...
then the younger generation doesn’t know what they’re missing.

Exactly.

I can’t remember a detailed example, but I have said things to younger people before and realized they literally have no idea how to effectively use the tool glued to their hands. It doesn’t cross their mind to look up information on the internet.

It’s like all they know to do with it is communicate acronyms, emojis, or selfies with friends and do schoolwork. It’s so weird. Everyone who has a smart phone, literally has an interactive encyclopedia at their fingertips and can instantly learn about any topic that crosses their mind.

I guess if you aren’t sick and don’t need anything, then it makes sense not to search for answers or help. But who isn’t sick or needing help with something they don’t know enough about these days?
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