Need I say more than my title? My post was taken down for advertising, which I didn't do. When I asked what I was supposedly advertising, I was told there was an advertisement about a diet pill or something to that effect on my post. When I told them I didn't advertise that and had no idea what they were talking about, the moderator apologized and admitted it was a glitch on their end with an embedded advertisement. Still not sure what they were talking about. My post was briefly put back up.

After my post was reinstated, it was taken down again and my account was suspended for asking about a medical procedure which wasn't FDA approved (stem cell injections for knee pain). Then I asked for my post to be reinstated if that portion of the post was eliminated. They agreed and removed my suspension.

So, this 3rd attempt to ask my question was answered by a member, a veteran member. THEIR ANSWER SUGGESTED THE STEM CELL INJECTIONS I HAD FIRST ASKED ABOUT! This cracked me up! During all of this, the were a few email exchanges I had with them going over their "rules", and I pointed out that nowhere do their rules state that asking about non-FDA procedures is prohibited. I then gave them several examples (links) of their veteran members talking about non-FDA approved stem cell injections. At this point, I was irritated with their inability for rationalization and common sense; I didn't care if me proving them wrong banned me, it was about principle.

Anyway, I was banned for "not liking rules" and I think "phishing" was thrown in there or something stupid and unrelated like that. Most of the the moderators are a joke and I'm guessing it feels good for them to have power.

Bottom line, go somewhere else for help. They suspend or ban folks completely unprovoked and don't even know their own guidelines/rules.

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.

Healthboards.com as far as I am concerned is absolutely the worst site on the Internet I've ever been on. I told someone yesterday that in the rules they should just put what they allow instead of listing what they don't allow as the list would be a lot shorter! I totally believe in obeying rules but this just goes beyond that...

It is a health site which means for anyone that don't know there will be those with medical problems that are seeking support and/or information from others about what they have. Duh! I totally understand not allowing people to sell items there but to not even be allowed to share health information at a health site is beyond ridiculous. Oh, but they do allow I think (as their rules are so confusing) to share the name of a information site/product ONE time? LOL Sorry, can't help but laugh it's so ridiculous.

So you would think ok they don't want it posted in open forums health information from sites even though they are a health site. Don't ask me to explain that so we will share in PMs with others THAT WANT TO KNOW, that would be ok, right? WRONG! Or at least according to their email to me it was wrong for me to give urls with information even though the two of us PMing each other agreed to do so and never asked each other to stop sending them! There was only ONE person I was exchanging information sites with so I can only conclude that is what they were talking about even though when I requested a copy of the PM they said "copies are not saved." I would really like to know how they knew what we were PMing each other? I would think about that. Private messages are suppose to be just that when two people agree to them which the two of us that were doing them had agreed to them! I had only PM one other person while there and I KNOW I did NOT send them any urls!

In my opinion this goes beyond rules and is a very controlling site that wants to control people. I suppose a hermit that does not want any replies, does not want to make any friends, does not want any information, but just wants to post about their medical problems it might be a good site for them. Although in my opinion it should be illegal for people to request what appears to me to be a diagnosis to their conditions! Only a doctor should be allowed to do that. I understand if someone stated they have similar physical problems their doctor told them what it was BUT adding to that the same symptoms can be other medical problems so only a doctor can diagnose!

I did NOT even ask them for a appeal. I realized when I joined and read those rules that is the longest rules I've ever read not to mention how hard it was to understand some of them that I probably would not be happy there and I was right so why would I want to appeal being on a site I no longer cared to be on. If you are thinking about this site I would suggest to read all their rules first and to understand them.

Yes, I have a Serious Bone to Pick with Healthboards.com. Wouldn't the people visiting such a site (specifically the Mental Health Board Forums) be most interested in a true solution to their issues with Anxiety and Depression (minus Medication) which essentially is at epidemic levels these days? Don't think I need to answer this!

Apparently they X'd me out in my attempts to Help Someone which is my #1 Passion after going through Significant/Extreme levels of Anxiety and Depression for 25 years. At the ripe age of 46 I finally came across, Truly, the Optimum set of Coping Skills/Tools one would hope to find. Well, Dummy Me unfortunately dealt with this Self-Help program Impatiently (human beings #1 virtue). I knew this was Everything really to get out of A & D (No Doubts) but made lots of mistakes in the process.

10 years later I realized the mistakes made and after analyzing the effectiveness of and coming across other things that became obvious to me, I began the process of writing a Self Help Book, driven by my initial desire to help someone very close to me. After 2 years and 5 months of writing, I know it came out Special, Effective, and Powerful. So Many Could benefit from this and AnxietyZone refuses to allow me to address it! This is Absolutely So Wrong!

Am I advertising to make a $?; Hey No because again, I just want to Help Someone so they do not have to go through what I have! Here is the website to the Book and please access the sample pages of the Book ("Rise and Shine Anxiety & Depression & Life Management Tools" {Self Help Book} and read the Preface; you be the judge what my intent is...: www.RiseandShineAandDandLifeMgmtTools.com

Like so many others, I am aghast at the irrational and rude behavior of the moderators and administrators on this site. They are tyrants on power trips who seem to expect begging/pleading and the promise of your firstborn. Here is my latest exchange (I kind of lost patience at the end):

RE: account suspended

ME: Hello -- I've just gotten this message and I don't know why because when I try to look up FAQs to see if I can figure it out, the same message just pops up again and I can't get anywhere on the site:

Your account has been suspended for the following reason:
Advertising, ignoring terms of use
To appeal, please contact *******@healthboards.com by email.

I'm guessing its because I included a link to an article? Thanks!

HEALTHBOARDS: Promoting unapproved websites is considered to be spam.

ME: I am not promoting any particular websites, only providing links to articles and research (it is not spam). However, if linking to anything outside of healthboards is not allowed, I won't post anymore. Thanks!

HEALTHBOARDS: NO RESPONSE

ME: I'm not sure why my account is still suspended w/out any warning whatsoever...? Thanks!

HEALTHBOARDS: The Posting Policy expressly states that use of the site may be terminated without notice. It is upon the member to learn & follow the rules on your own.

ME: I have a dozen different severely painful and debilitating medical conditions and this is just one of several forums that I post on. None of the other sites are so restrictive as to ban links to research and information (as long not trying to sell anything), so I did not expect those links to be an issue. As I already said, I won't do this again on healthboards.

Suspending (or "terminating"?) a forum user in this manner for an obviously honest mistake suggests a harsh punishment rather than an effort to maintain the rules in good faith. That is certainly not the type of despotic action I would expect from a representative of a community that's been expressly set up to provide support to sick people who already have enough stress and difficulty in their lives without having to go several rounds with an anonymous moderator to get posting privileges returned.

My message said: "To appeal, please contact *******@healthboards.com by email." I have already done that. What else are you looking for?

HEALTHBOARDS: NO RESPONSE

I joined this website in search of medical advice about a rash that I had. While searching the site after my post, I answered other peoples questions searching for medical advice with my similar experiences I had. The next day I try to log on, and I get a message saying "Your account has been suspended for the following reason: spam. To appeal, please contact *** by email" I immediately was shocked and went to email the address given. Below are the emails between myself and the administrator.

> On Thu, Oct 25,2012 at 9:33 AM, wrote: Hi, I was just wondering why my account has been suspended on healthboards? My username is ard90. Please let me know. Alexa

>From: HealthBoards Moderator Date: Friday, October 26,2012 0:54 am: >Evidently you posted against the rules, since the listed reason is spam. We enforce the rules. We don't keep records for you. Regards. *Administrator

>On Fri, Oct 26,2012 at 4:08 PM, I wrote: > I only posted a question I had seeking medical attention, and posted to help answer other peoples question with my own experience. I do not see how that is SPAM, I thought that was the point of the site.

>From: HealthBoards Moderator Date: Friday, October 26,2012 9:17 pm: >What you posted is not the 'purpose of the site' or it would not have been albeled spam. Good day. Administrator__________
I would just like to show how the "Moderator" treated me, and the website should not give an email address to appeal their suspension decision if this is how they are going to treat people.