Would it be possible for off topic threads to not be shown in the New Posts section at the top. I belong to anther board with an identical format and it was decided off topic threads would not shown there. I have read several posts and I did this at one point as well, that when you click on the new post section, you don't really know what forum its in. Its obvious most are comfortable having the Rants and Raves section and have turned this board into a general board instead of a support tool. For the newbies looking for support, I think it would be a great idea for them to see only the on topic things when they check out new posts and if they want to verture further, they can. Imagine the suprise on many newbies logging in and click on new posts only to see topics on abortion, boy love, religion, etc. Just a thought

To participate in a poll, click the link:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=34851

I, for one, am happy. Thanks Alex!

I'm not. Can you get rid of those damn smiley faces in the edit feature?

The "hide thread" feature has been added. You'll see "Ignore this thread" in the Thread Tools drop down. You can manage your ignored threads right from your CP.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, Alex!!!

I LOVE this option...:clap2:

I love this option, too. Thanks, Alex! It's a wonderful control feature. You da MAN!!

Thank you Alex. I, for one, certainly appreciate this board and what it should stand for. It's funny how 'debating' is debate for some people and if it's not to their liking, it becomes 'bitching' 'moaning' and 'complaining'. lol, too funny.

Either way, once again, my determination is not for me, specifically. I was merely supporting a suggestion that I felt was a valid concern for Neal and, after all, I do believe that his voice is as important as any other. I regret that those who feel the need to be sarcastic about it have been inconvenienced.

Again, thank you Alex for your trouble and your graciousness in offering this board up to all who may need Lapband support and information, regardless of their social standing, intellect, religous or political bent. There are those who appreciate your efforts.

I'm not. Can you get rid of those damn smiley faces in the edit feature?

Yeah, I don't want to seem ungrateful for all of Alex's hard work ('cause I'm truly not), but what's up with those smiley faces? If you go to Advanced, the smiley faces disappear, but then you get <p> in place of paragraph returns and have to edit all of those out.

:smow: What drugs ???

I've learned how to IGNORE things and not let them get to me.

For those of you that want me to close down the R&R forum = NOT HAPPENING!

If you don't like something you read just IGNORE it. Just because you're a member of the site doesn't mean you have to agree with everything that's posted here.

Exactly.Good on ya Alex.:biggrin1: You are what we Aussies call an absolute legend!!!! Susannah

I just write in my excuse for editing, then click "Go advanced", where you can see the post and edit in normal text if you want. Also you can preview it there.

No, it would be no skin off my nose, but if he brings in advertisers for the issues that are here because of the issues in RnR i bet you a cool mil that he loses a lot of his members.

I'm sorry, I am not sure what you mean here. Are you suggesting that if he advertises bypass related products/services that banders will leave this site?

I keep bringing up the forums staying issue with you because you keep claiming that you like them being there. GREAT! I like them too. The discussion we are having is in regards to the titles being shown around the site outside of that particular forum page. Your point that you keep making has nothing to do with that issue, so i have to keep stating that your point has nothing to do with the discussion.

Again, I do understand you I merely disagree with you.

I can't be the only person on the board that would be willing to donate money to the board to see that it remains ad-free (other than the Google ads). To keep this board from turning into another OH, I would be willing to pay. I am not suggesting that we require people to pay to be members, but I do think that we should see if the members would be willing to donate enough money to keep the board running without having to resort to ad sales.

There is a nursing board that looks just like this board but different colors. They have the option of paying annual fees for no ads. If there are no annual fees the ads appear to those members.

I'd be willing to pay an annual fee to get rid of advertisers just so I don't have to keep scrolling left and right because the screen is too wide now.

If we ever can hide threads, I'm going right for that American Idol thread. I am deeply offended by it. Every time I even see those words "American Idol" I feel a projectile PB starting to generate and work its way to the surface. I am deeply offended by American Idol.

I'll beat you to hiding AI threads! HA!

I'm sorry, I am not sure what you mean here. Are you suggesting that if he advertises bypass related products/services that banders will leave this site?

No, I am stating that if he advertises based on what is in the rants and raves section he will lose members. You know...abortion clinics and porn sites. We were speaking of how much relevance the rants and raves section had, and that to some it is more important than the site.

Anyway, none of this is relevant any longer. Alex has made his change, which didn't really address the initial issue, but people seem happy with it.

My understanding of how these type of ads work, is that he would give them keywords, and the ads would populate based on that, not based on random words from all of the posts. In which case there may be some bypass related ads, but all the ads will likely be weight loss/plastic surgery related.

The other option is for someone to buy the space (for a certain amount of clicks, or time) in which case Alex would know exactly what banner was going up.

I don't believe RnR is going to have any effect on the advertising.

I know how all of that works. I do it on a lot of the other sites I run. I was speaking as a response to those who were stating that the rants and raves section is more of what this board is about, not the lap band, but debates and hot topic issues. I was stating that if this were the case, then the advertisements that Alex should be running should have more to do with the threads in rnr rather than weight loss and the lapband. and that if that started happening he would lose a lot of members.

The one ad which I had seen and investigated thus far was from a pro-life group and lead to a website encouraging pregnant teens to keep their babies. I was appalled but not discouraged from returning to this website.