Welcome Newbies

[Kathy]

Originally Posted by mmglobal

After a year and a half, we moved the community over to ADR Support. I think that Justin (Dr. J) was the first to be banned from BPSG. Harrison, Alastair and I, along with Justin, were the band of 4 forum leaders and soon we were all banned. Shortly after that, anyone who said anything nice about me or mentioned the new forum was banned, and we were joined at ADR Support by dozens of the old crew. (Sound familiar?)

What does BPSG stand for? Did you, Justin, Harrison and Alastair all have your own forums? Or did you all start ADR support together? So Harrison was one who was censored and left? And now is doing the same thing to others?

Originally Posted by mmglobal

The “banned of 4” moved the community over to ADR Support in December of 2004 and again, we all worked very hard to build the community into the best place on the internet for the new technology information seekers.... I’ve now observed > 200 spine surgeries of all different kinds, have attended dozens of conferences and classes, and have a unique body of experience that makes my input valuable to my clients, and to the online patient community as well. Unfortunately, this experience was deemed to be at odds with the goals of ADR Support and in March of 2006, I was banned. The process was pretty outrageous and many things that were just flat-out untrue were said. An email was sent to all ADR Support members stating, “We believe that clearly separating commercial contacts is the best way to provide transparency within the Forum, as well as clarity and freedom of choice to each individual member.”

So, you all started ADR together? Was it 4 forums made into one? Or new? So, you weren't kicked off for trying to get 'new clients'; but because you were becoming more experienced, learning more and maybe making a particular someone jealous or feel inferior to you? This is just crazy to me.

Originally Posted by mmglobal

Here on iSpine, you do have a choice.

There is no entity that is the arbiter of correct and incorrect information. You may disagree to your heart’s content. It is up to the reader to determine the value of the information presented by all members.

You must be kidding, you aren't the 'God' of Ispine?

Originally Posted by mmglobal

I will NEVER read your private messages, unless they are sent specifically to me. Surreptitiously reading other people’s communication is just wrong.

I suspected that this might be a problem at ADR and chose my titles carefully. After the pm's I sent telling we were leaving, I am probably banned by now.

Originally Posted by mmglobal

I will NEVER edit a post, then edit the database to cover tracks. That is just wrong. Transparency is not just a word to bat about... it's a way of approaching one's resoponsibility to those we serve.

Thank you, because it is extremely irritating to be re-reading a post of yours that has been so edited, that it's not even what you wrote anymore. Or having a post locked, just so the administrator can have the last word.

Originally Posted by mmglobal

This is a tough community. Many of us are in chronic pain, on huge doses of medications, severely depressed and literally have our lives crumbling around us. (These are the folks that are doing well… the severe patients are much worse! … OK, bad joke.) .

Unfortuantely, not a joke. Maybe someday, with this site and many faithful doctors, leaders, patients and others it won't have to be this way for others that walk this road behind us.


Thank you Mark, I don't know you; but already like your personality and humor. Can't wait to get to know you better.

[mmglobal]

Originally Posted by Kathy Earhart

What does BPSG stand for? Did you, Justin, Harrison and Alastair all have your own forums? Or did you all start ADR support together? So Harrison was one who was censored and left? And now is doing the same thing to others?

So, you all started ADR together? Was it 4 forums made into one? Or new? So, you weren't kicked off for trying to get 'new clients'; but because you were becoming more experienced, learning more and maybe making a particular someone jealous or feel inferior to you? This is just crazy to me.

BPSG was Back Pain Support Group. It was a nice forum and probably still is. Same moderator issues as ADR Support. Harrison, Alastair, Justin and I were all prolific posters. When the board got over-moderated (and we got banned), we all moved to ADR Support. Harrison stepped up and said he'd run it. At the time, I felt that with my position in the community, I shouldn't own the forum. (Not my brightest decision.)

[Kathy]

Originally Posted by mmglobal

BPSG was Back Pain Support Group. It was a nice forum and probably still is. Same moderator issues as ADR Support. Harrison, Alastair, Justin and I were all prolific posters. When the board got over-moderated (and we got banned), we all moved to ADR Support. Harrison stepped up and said he'd run it. At the time, I felt that with my position in the community, I shouldn't own the forum. (Not my brightest decision.)

So you all 'founded' ADR support? Then, you got banned and now Justin? That is outrageous. Especially since Harrison has turned into exactly what he left from. From what I had read on the home page and speaking with Harrison, I thought ADR was his brainchild and that he built it single handed from the ground up. I have even read in previous posts, him post 'warning' members that some of the "other sites" that some of the members visited, are trying to get them as customers, or somehow have some financial intrest in having them there. I had thought that there was something against you. From what I had got from posts, you were on their 'soliciting members to be a customer of yours' and that you were banned to protect us. That the members on other sites "would see the truth". I can't believe all the horse crap he tells people.

In all honesty, the site shouldn't be called ADR; but Mycobacterial, The Secret Bacteria that are in your body causing all the problems you are having and the Conspiracy of the doctors to keep patients in the dark.

I am just dumbfounded at all of this.... I feel so dupped and naive.

[SandyW]

Mark,

Thank you for stating how you run things here. I am fairly new at posting on any site. I can see that feelings can be hurt, when you're in pain you lash out at those who support you! If we can all be understanding and believe that no one intentionally wants to hurt our feelings, we'll be great. We only have one God, the rest of us are just human.

I want to say that I had gotten a report about Mark traveling with patients and was told I could do it myself since my budget was very limited. I made it, but let me tell you, if Mark had been by my side, what a difference it would have made. My hubby and I thought we had things under control, but how wrong we were. He did offer suggestions, his services, his phone number when we met in the hotel lobby and didn't send me a bill. . He does a lot of unpaid - ??? shoot, can't think of the word - for patients. He pesters the well-known doctors to see patients with severe problems that have been turned down by others.

So thanks Mark, glad to meet you again. Sandy

[dshobbies]

Just want to let everyone know, Mark is very soft spoken. He forces nothing on you. He is only insistant about your knowledge base regarding your own health. He might prod a little but stops short of telling you what to do.

Whether you utilize his services or not, he doesn't push. To set the record straight, Mark bent over backwards not to solicite ADR Support members but Harrison wanted him out to fulfill his own agenda and manufactured a way to do it that appeared he was in the right. To be truthful, it was people like me and a myriad of others who sang Mark's praises. After Mark was kicked off the forum, I posted my surgical experience, mentioning Mark several times. I was chastised for it.

Not to long after Mark was banned, Harrison announced his own desire to become an ADR advocate or somthing like it. You do the math.

To complete this post, I'd just like to tell you that Mark was my best investment into my spine. I could have done it without him, eventually, but he made everything easier and today, I consider him my friend. I was able to call him during those 'crazy' moments, or fear or despair. He's been there, done that, and he understands. He just wants to help people. How fortunate for him that he was able to turn this into a career.

To all, please take care I look forward to getting to know everyone,
Dale

[chasswen]

hi everyone it's ME. heheheh
my name is chuck and have been around for quite a long time. my surgery was with dr bertagnoli aug 2006 and was successful after a very long rough recovery. i have helped many with travel and support with there surgeries. please feel free to write or contact me for any of the above reasons or for what ever. i know many of you and i am always checking in. i have watched most of everything talked about over the years and it a shame.
best wishes
chuck

[Terry Allen Blackburn]

It is being stated that I was not banned, but chose to leave. I did leave, after Justin was banned. The next thing I knew, I could no longer access the forum and was unable to see any PM's or postings at all. I wrote an e-mail explaining my feelings about someone allowing their ego to get in the way of good business sense. I have a belief that we are all in this together and there is no one of us that is more important than each other. Also, we are all replaceable so, it is best to get along and make the best of differences as we can all learn from adversity.

I was invited to come back on as I have done my best to support all who I came in contact with. I made it a stipulation that Justin needed to be allowed back on the forum in order for me to come back. This was not going to happen and Justin did not want to come back.

My life could have went on without being a part of any forum. I just believe that we are our brother's keepers and, if I can lend a little support to my fellow human being along the way, then that is my responsibility.

So here I am and, I consider myself; "One of the banned."

Terry Newton