HealthBoards

I was kicked off this website for referring to a video that was on the page I was posting on. It's not a website for info--they won't let you post any real information on new surgery's or Drs performing new procedures. It's mostly a website to whine about your problems without finding a solution. There are other websites that allow real information that I would use. It's very sad they get to call them selves health boards... Because you aren't allowed t to share real information...

The administrator hit me with a heavy hand when posting a link to an accredited college, when I asked about it I was hit even harder, then hit with a different penalty for having part of my user name the same as my email address. This person was vindictive in her tone, even to a polite response. They have a lot of guests on there but very little interaction between members, it seems obvious that it's due to the iron fist moderation. What's really too bad is there are a lot of people struggling with real health issues and it keeps members from offering genuine support.

I did not name the doctor, or equipment - I just said my vision was much worse after LASIK. If considering LASIK do your research (not on this site or surgeons websites - but it is VERY hard to tell)

I was banned due to a website submission. I realized it was solely my fault for doing so. Although, I thought I'd put my site in my profile only. Well regardless of where I put it, if they do not allow web links, it is what it is... I own up to my error. So sorry, I did that, as I will miss the community. Most were very helpful and concerned; I enjoyed the awesome tips. I would highly recommend this board to anyone. Just make sure you read their terms of service agreement and abide fully by it... You should be okay. Take care everyone and blessings!

I couldn't post after joining because I never got the activation link. It finally arrived days later and I decided to post only to find out I was immediately banned for advertising! No, I was posting about drugs I was taking. I'm not selling anything. Never have I seen such an unprofessional forum.

I registered and got banned on my first post! I politely asked for peoples experience about elimination diets and stated I intended to create a 100% free app to help people with their elimination diets. About 5 minutes after posting that, I was banned from the entire forum and my post was deleted. The reason given was "no projects" When I asked where is that in forum rules I was provided documentation that says all bans are private and final. I searched and no such rule exists. Nothing even close.
Who ever runs this really doesn't appear to give a damn about helping people.

I'm not alone. Google "banned from healthboards" and you'll see a distinct pattern here.

I joined Healthboards a few days ago and will probably be leaving very soon, if I don't get banned first. I have participated on many Internet forums and for lack of usefulness and general snottiness (on the part of the mods), this forum is in a class by itself.

I spent a long time writing a cogent, detailed post on my condition and situation. At the end of the post, I asked for advice. My message was taken down within the hour and all I got for my effort was a message from the moderators saying that I had violated the forum rules because I... wait for it... asked for medical advice! Only my doctor can give me advice about a medical condition and everyone else in the world is entirely ignorant and unhelpful. Well, they didn't phrase it exactly like that, but that was their drift. They also suggested I was stupid for asking for medical advice in a forum. So, not only did they slap me on the wrist for doing what any rational person would attempt to do on a **Health Forum,** but they were rude about it to boot.

As you might suspect, there are many, many post on this forum asking for medical advice. I have a hunch that they just didn't want someone too articulate and informed on there.

If I were you, I'd stay far away from this place.

Back in 2010 I used this site for support in dealing with cancer. The responses were supportive and the feedback useful. I met some quality people there. I had no issues of any kind using the website.

Fast-forward six years later.

I was on another online forum and someone there recognized me from HealthBoards and when I asked if they still used that site they said absolutely not; something about it had changed for the worse. A few months later a friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer, and I thought, why not use HealthBoards to ask a few questions about alternative treatments? I remembered the warning about the site, but I decided to give them a shot anyway.

That was the worst decision I made all week. Those here who say the moderators are arrogant, rude, obnoxious, overbearing, etc. are spot-on accurate. I used the site to ask about treatment options to, you know, start a dialog on my friend's illness. I did not use links, as I remembered, for some nutty reason they do not allow them. I did ask for key search words so that I could find links myself. Almost instantly the gestapo who has taken over this once noble site jumped all over me. Apparently I had violated multiple rules of conduct, of which the moderately let me know in a rude, cold, lordly fashion that would have been right at home in a fascist prison camp.

I do my best to respect all the rules of a given website, but there is a tome of them for HealthBoards, and I suppose I failed to keep all ten thousand five hundred in my head. Yet, even after a re-reading of the tome, I still do not know what rule I violated. I mentioned the words search engine. Perhaps that is a mortal sin to the HealthBoards politburo? I mentioned alternative treatments, and I suppose this is whatever is beyond a mortal sin. My only deduction about this site and its transition into general suckiness is that it is now an arm of Big Pharma, and any threat to that agenda, no matter how small, its smote down immediately.

Please do yourself a favor and avoid this board.

JR

I was sharing articles and patents on how cannabis oil (RSO) can treat lyme disease. I only linked to one article. Then they banned my account. This site is motivated by big pharma and they do not want people to get well. I hate this site. It is full of spam ads and even try to get you to fill out surveys after you register. What a joke.

They are a big health board forum. I've joined in the mid 2000s; currently I've been a member for over ten years. I'm a member of other forums (non-medical) and I know how rules work. I like interacting with the members, but watch out if you deal with the administrator. He is very blunt and has a sarcastic tone.

I researched their parent company and I noticed the other forums they manage have very similar complaints to this forum. I'll be on here until they ban me. I use it to help other people, but I don't really like posting too much. Here are some things that I noticed from the rules--they aren't written well and are confusing. Take about 30 minutes to really read them.

So here are some things that are important on the website - you can't recommend websites or post website links. In the rules, there are rare exceptions such as using their sister site (another medical website) or medical website that end in. Gov can be posted. However, the information must be requested by the member asking the question. So, there are so rare occasions to even post a website I'd recommend not posting any website or mention names. You can get in trouble for mentioning other medical websites or services or even review websites.

Newbies are not supposed to be allowed to post/reply to private messages, but the forum software allows it. The administrator claims it's a forum error, but nothing has been done to fix it. With other members you're supposed to send a test private message asking permission to communicate with them. No other forum I have ever been on makes you jump through all these hoops. If you do get caught messaging a newbie the administrator team can give you a warning (which they call infractions). However, they can close your account for any reason and at any time. I believe they gave me the benefit of the doubt because I have been a member for so long. However, as you see below, there are many people who were members for a long time (like me) and got banned without warning.

If you promote a product in many threads, you can get in trouble for advertising. You have to be very careful with it as they can interpret the rules anyway they want and get you in trouble. Typically, look for the other member asking what product or treatment they should use. If they don't specifically say anything, I will ask them what they have used or if they're asking what product/treatment to use. You really have to cover your buns because the administrator can get you into trouble for the stupidest things.

Some other odd rules - on many other forums, someone might ask you something private or off topic, so you say on the forum - go ahead and send me a PM. Forget about it on this forum, it's against the rules. Then remember what I said above? You have to send a test PM - and ask permission if you can message them. Oh and if it's a newbie you're not supposed to message them because it's in the rules not to. Their forum software is supposed to be set up to not allow newbies to have access to it, but they do.

For privacy reasons, you're supposed to use a user name that is anonymous (doesn't include your first and last name), supposedly if you do, they have the right to ban your account. Now get this, if you refer to them by their full user name (and they used their full name), YOU can get in trouble. But, hey, weren't they supposed to ban them in the first place for breaking the rules? Nope, it doesn't matter, YOU still get in trouble. Oh, and don't refer to the first poster by any slang terms (OP) - you'll get in trouble there, too!

Then they say be yourself and don't be afraid to post. To be honest with you, if I were a newbie, I WOULD be afraid to post because they put so many road blocks. If I weren't a long time member, I would never sign up for this website. If you're thinking you want to sign up for this website, just keep in mind of their not so logical rules and they can and will close your account at any time for any reason.

They spam me without giving me the option to unsubscribe. These are the lowest of the low in terms of slime bags.

I LOVE HealthBoards.com
It is one of the very few forums that are kept clean from the common vulgarities and general nastiness that often results from open forums.

If you do want a free for all environment, you will want to use some other website. That's fine with me. I see no reason to have to endure people acting out on a public forum.

I asked a question about Plan B on a board and had my post deleted for "references to abortion." I thought there had been some mistake, and emailed the moderator/admin to correct it. He wrote back and said that I had discussed termination of a pregnancy which was not allowed. Nowhere in my post did I state I was pregnant, as I was not. I simply made an inquiry if anyone had used Plan B. I stated this, and he then banned me outright for being "argumentative". It was the strangest exchange ever. I still have no idea what they're smoking over there (and besides, even if I was discussing abortion - it is a medical procedure that relates to one's health so I am confused as to why it is forbidden to discuss it). Plus, there are tons of posts that still remain on the board inquiring about Plan B that have not been deleted. Very perplexing indeed. I think the moderators must enjoy being very rude, judging by my experience and the other reviews I've read here.

In a nut shell i posted seeking help on coming off ssri drugs. In thd post i mentioned that i had suffered greatlly in which time i considered taking my own life at times. That was as personal as i got. I received an email from the mod explaining that i was not to use such references as it could upset people and i was banned. There i was seeking help and was shamed and discriminated against. Awful

I was a member of this forum for a number of years but finally gave up at the beginning of last year. There is zero tolerance or understanding and any post that seems to contradict the moderators is removed and the member banned. I have seen banning after banning under the guise of being argumentative. Time and time again I saw wrong, incorrect and utterly absurd advice and information given out. Trying to correct it, even in the most civil of tone, results in warnings. If you even post up a link to real peer reviewed studies they are removed and you are warned. None and I mean none of the members of this forum, giving out medical advice, is in anyway qualified to do so and quite frankly, in some cases, it is dangerous. After warning and warning I finally lost it and replied to administrator by telling him where he could put his forum, resulting, obviously, in an instant banning. Go elsewhere for advice, preferably, your own doctor. But please dont bother with this place, if you are feeling down you will feel a lot worse for your experience on this board.

This website is HORRIBLE. They ban you for made up rules or some minor detail lost in pages and pages of rules. Can't believe any advertisers stay with them. And, they won't even let you unsubscribe or erase your posts. They do this to make the site look bigger than it really is. STAY AWAY.

If I could give it zero stars, I would!

Warned for posting a website, from a clinical source, that clearly identified the success and risks of a surgical procedure. This information was clearly, accurately and concisely written, and there was no copyright or commercial issues whatsoever.

Was warned, rather vaguely. I queried this. Was then banned:

"Doesn't like rules."

I do like rules, a great deal. Especially the one that says:

Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The users are wonderful. The staff? Puffed, taciturn and wary.

Amazing site. I tried to help a poor woman who was panicking over her child's very normal puberty changes. I made the mistake of posting a link to WebMD which the moderators called a "commercial sales site". Apparently accurate information and sensible advice is not considered appropriate for this forum. I hope they don't get anyone killed with their irresponsible medical advice. After I created an account, I also started to get a ton of spam which makes me regret the experience even more.

I enjoyed using this site for 12 years with no problems. I posted hundreds of times on various subjects, and had many fruitful discussions with other members. I treasure the advice I got from them, and I hope they appreciate mine too.

Then, in the summer of 2016, everything changed. They must have come under new management. I posted a link to a book, which I didn't know was against the rules, and I was banned without warning. I apologized to the moderator and was allowed back. Then in another comment I said I'd like to recommend a book but it was against the site's rules, and I wished they'd change the rules. Guess what? Banned again.

So I apologized again and got back my credentials. I was very careful after that and didn't break any rules. Out of the blue, I'm banned again. Why? For the comment I had previously been banned over months earlier! I demanded an apology and got one from the moderator, with a nasty reminder that I should have erased the earlier post and if I didn't like their rules, I could take my business elsewhere. I will do that. Too bad the nasty people running this site now have ruined what was once a great resource.

And FYI, I've posted on dozens of other web sites over nearly 20 years and have never been banned. I'm not a problem person or a troll.

After trying to post some facts about a less well-known effect of health issues as a result of prolonged, long-term noise exposure (and naming peer-reviewed publications to back up my information), I was immediately banned from Healthboards.com... when I inquired why, I was told that Healthboards is not a site for professionals. Right, I knew that and as I am neither a health professional, nor a researcher and as I was not pretenting to be one, there shouldn't be aproblem. So, we are good? No. NO PROFESSIONALS was the reply from the admin... Ooooo-kay... so, if you are a professional barista, dog coiffeur or bricklayer you can NOT post your health problems. Makes total sense to me.

The admin furthermore pointed out that they don't want postings that LOOK professional (ah, the literature quotes!)... the consequence is this: when you seek help or information, don't go to Healthboards.com, as people can NOT share facts or give you solid advice... so why does Healthboards exist in the first place? I have no idea. But I am certain that many people out there are in fact risking their health when they believe that they will find valid information there. By definition (and the fine print in their rules) Healthboards.com will block any real or substantiated facts about health issues.

I had been contributing to the board about a health problem of mine and helping others for several weeks. Another user posted a request for information about exercises that could be done while wearing a cast. I had found a very helpful Youtube video showing such exercises and posted a link to it. I am used to being able to post helpful links on forums and did not even imagine that there could be a rule against that, especially when the content is helpful, does not benefit me personally, and is targeted to another users needs. I was given an immediate one-week ban from the website. When I protested, I was banned permanently. The website pretends to be about helping people with health issues but is really about monopolizing ad revenue from users and gives the moderator a platform for power trips and abuse.

I posted some info in regards to a health issue... nothing in regards to selling anything and I was banned. The admins there are over-the-top and the board is pretty useless if you go by their overly strict rules which make little sense.

Signed up and started a thread asking if anyone has had a certain procedure done and put the website for reference. I was banned permanently. Wrote a few emails with the moderator but they don't really care. Here is their response!

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Any disallowed website/business info may called 'spam' for our convenience. Not bothering to read the terms of use doesn't nullify them. Knowing & following the rules is entirely the user's responsibility.

From the terms of service in the FAQ -By accepting registration you agree to be bound by administrator and moderator decisions.

Complaining or arguing about Administrator or moderator instructions or decisions is not acceptable.
Any kind of disrespectful communication to or about those doing their job of enforcing the rules is cause for permanent ban.

POSTING RULES & TERMS of SERVICE
Posts, profiles and usernames may be moderated without warning. Members are responsible to learn and follow all rules and instructions on your own.

Upon registering, you agree and commit to be subject to all Rules, Terms, Policies, and
Infractions & Suspensions:
Infractions are private communications that no one else can see, from Admin or Moderators to members. Infractions are not for debate. A suspension may be given without warning at any time to stop misuse of the website. There is no obligation to give a warning before an infraction or suspension. Breaking any rule can result in either a no-point warning or accruing points that can result in your membership being rendered Inactive.

Good posts do not negate disallowed posts. A suspension may be appealed, but there is no obligation to release it.