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0x5555

As someone who goes to a lot of forums I have a few suggestions to streamline this site.

Firstly, it's very unconventional to have the forum show the latest comment at top.  I don't know any other forum that does this.  If you show oldest first you can basically read the history up to the latest post and know the whole context of the post.  I'd recommend changing to showing oldest first.

Secondly, this section should probably not allow forum posts and only have a few pinned topics of interest.  Obviously the first would be forum rules.  I think it would be very helpful to have another topic which states 'GO TO A UROLOGIST'.  The internet is a dangerous thing when it comes to medicine - it's very easy to self-diagnose and end up doing more damage because you think you know what you have based on a few posts.  I think it would be helpful to have a 'GO TO A UROLOGIST' post and perhaps a list of known Peyronie's experts on a city by city basis.  Disallowing comments in this section would help as I see a lot of topics in here which should really be posted to other areas.  It should be emphasized that self-diagnosing is a very bad idea and that this forum is only an ancillary to professional medical advice.

The third useful topic would be a general summary of treatments.  VEDs, Pentox, etc.  Also perhaps a list of scams/ineffective treatments.

Some other suggestions for pinned topics would be: what to bring to the urologist, some information about the various diagnostic tools doctors use to get to a 'peyronies' diagnosis.

I greatly appreciate this forum and all the support it provides.  These are only suggestions and I hope it doesn't offend.  As an IT guy these are just some suggestions from my own experience using the site.

Old Man

Ox5555:

As you said this is a great forum and may need some updating. Your first suggestion can be handled by you if you change the way you receive posts. As far as I know, you change the order from latest to oldest. Most of us like the latest first since it precludes scrolling all the way to the bottom of each topic/thread to read the latest dated posts.

Overall, the forum has served us all well in the order it is maintained now. One reason for some of the clutter and scattered posts is that guys just won't adhere to the basic topics/thread order. Also, new topices are allowed to be formed by any and everybody. New topics/thread, IMHO, should be limited to moderators. One wanting to start a new topic/thread should get permission from a moderator before doing so, but this is based on what the owner of the forum wants to do. If prior permission was required, then the index would be much shorter as similar items would be combined before new items are started.

I am sure that there are many ways to shorten up the coverage of so many and widely varied adaptations of a subject. The headings should be searched out before starting a new topic/thread. Combining similar subject matters is a very time consuming operation which most moderators and the owner of the site just does not have.

The above is just my 2 cents.

Old Man
Age 92. Peyronies Disease at age 24, Peyronies Disease after
stage four radical prostatectomy in 1995, Heart surgery 2004 with three bypasses/three stents.
Three more stents in 2016. Hiatal hernia surgery 2017 with 1/3 stomach reduction. Many other surgeries too.

0x5555

Oh, I didn't mean that all posting should be moderated - just this 'new user guide' section.

Really the main point I was trying to make was that I think it's important to really emphasize that people NEED to talk to a urologist.  I think that should be made much more prominent.

I definitely don't think you should have to ask permission to make posts.  The beauty of this site is not so much the information it provides but the sense of community and the ability for people who may not have anyone else to talk to about this get some help and support.  Imagine you are going through this really tough situation and some random person you don't know denies your post!  I'd lose my mind.  It's better to have clutter and no politics than a pristine site that no one wants to use because they have to go through a gatekeeper.

To be honest the forum is working - I'd probably leave it alone.  Just some feedback based on my experience with it.

Hawk

Ox555,  Thanks for your input.  You make some good points.

This Read Me First board is NOT and never was intended for posting.  The problem is that with my decrease in activity many of the boards have gone a bit helter-skelter with topics.  We need a team of dedicated moderators to control that aspect but most people want a great forum without a big commitment on their part.  Heaven knows I and a few others have tried to fight the good fight for several years and still maintain a personal life.  At this point we do what we can with the time we have to invest.  There were years when I worked on this forum for several hours a day.  Many times it was 40 - 50 hours a week.  it ended in some discouragement at how hard it was to build a reliable team to do the work.  Just as I would think I had a team 2 or 3 key members would disappear and we would be back to a skeleton crew.  There seems to only be so much you can expect from volunteer help.  I still worry about what happens to all of this info and this community when a truck runs over me some day, although when that finally happens I doubt the forum will be my last thought upon leaving this life :)
Prostatectomy 2004, radiation 2009, currently 70 yrs old
After pills, injections, VED - Dr Eid, Titan 22cm implant 8/7/18
Hawk - Updated 10/27/18 - Peyronies Society Forums

KAC

Hawk, Thanks for your work on all of this.  I'm sure it can feel strange at times to be volunteering to assist people you haven't met personally.  But it's deeply appreciated.  I'm not web savvy enough to help out, but it seems like a really fair question to be asking how could you receive some additional support.  KAC

james1947

What about adding a statement in "Read This First - Guests and New Members" not to open new topics before one is checking if have already a similar or very close related topic?
I know it will not work 100%, but it may reduce the number of similar or close related topics.
Except of course in "Introduce Yourself" that every new topic is welcome.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

james1947

In continuity to my yesterday post
Concentrating information – your opinion
I find it difficult in some cases to find the information I am searching for. Below are the Xiaflex related topics and how many replays each had.
Some of the topics were not opened at all if people were reading all the Xiaflex related
I would like to know the forum members opinion regarding merging some of the topics
or just to make a summary "Highlights on Xiaflex"

do you guys think xiaflex will restore sensitivity/feeling to the penis?
14 replays
Thread for Guys in Xiaflex Trial - Currently or Previously « 1 2 ... 8 9 »
421 replays
does collagenase elimate all the plaque? or does it just soften it?
17 replays
Xiaflex helping dents and hourglassing?
3 replays
Dr. Gelbhard and Xiaflex
9 replays
UK Xiaflex Trials « 1 2 »
94 replays
Xiaflex « 1 2 ... 6 7 »
307 replays
Collagenase is available?
2 replays
when do you think xiaflex will be approved and ready for the public?
2 replays
result of AA4500
3 replays
Open Label Xiaflex Shot
16 replays
Xiaflex
0 replays
Basic Xiaflex timeframe question
3 replays
AA4500 drug testing has started for Peyronies
5 replays
Major Announcement from Auxilium!!!
1 replays
Auxilium Stock Watch
1 replays
Xiaflex study restrictions...unreal...
5 replays

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

GS

Highlights on Xiaflex sounds good to me, but whatever is easiest for you will be fine for us.

Gs

Hawk

James,

My view is that all those on Xiaflex topics should be merged into one big topic.  I see no problem with that.  Originally on our forum we did not even allow members to make new topics and we carried on conversations (some say better) with only as many topics as we currently have boards.   All developmental drugs were discussed in the same topic and even that was not unworkable.  There may be an argument (even if not a strong one) for some breakdown of Xiaflex into multiple topics like:
active trials and another for
results or one for
theory behind Xiaflex and how it works.  

It is crazy however to have topics like:
Will it work on a dent
What about a ventral curve
Does it help ED
What about plaque near the head
All of these are the same topic.

Clearly Xiaflex and Botox would be different topics within the board.

We already have a "Highlights" topic which is a place for new members to quickly learn the essentials on each Board.  I don't think it would be wise to start making highlights on specific areas of the boards either from a stand point of work load or organization.
Prostatectomy 2004, radiation 2009, currently 70 yrs old
After pills, injections, VED - Dr Eid, Titan 22cm implant 8/7/18
Hawk - Updated 10/27/18 - Peyronies Society Forums

Skjaldborg

This might be a bit off topic, but what happened with the downtime yesterday? Was it administrative or a DDOS attack from somewhere? This seems to be happening a couple times per month, any word on how the hosts are working to prevent downtime?

-Skjaldborg

james1947

Hawk

I will go forward with the Xiaflex as example.

First I agree with you that merging topics will help a lot regarding ease of navigate and find things you are interested in.
From the other side, if we are merging the Xiaflex topics we will have a topic of 921 posts. Scrolling in such topic to find something will be really difficult. Just someone who really want to read everything will do that.

Regarding "Alternative Treatments of Peyronie's Disease"> "Highlights of Alternative Treatments for Peyronie's Disease" is a topic regarding all the alternative treatments, not concentrated in groups regarding different alternative treatments so again is difficult to find things. Also don't forget that it was compiled at  December 19, 2006, we are know March 30, 2012. Is not a complain, I know how many people committed themselves in the past and how few keeps they commitments.

Rethinking after your answer, you are right regarding "Highlights" topic that one is just enough. I see the button "Unlock topic" is visible just to the board moderators so the best in my opinion is (Xiaflex as example):
1. Merging all the topics that are Xiaflex related
2. Adding a new post to the "highlights" that includes posts from December 19, 2006 to March 30, 2012. The new post should include results posted by the members, by the manufacturer and relevant posts when the treatment will be available. If someone want other information, can read all the Xiaflex topic. In this update the different subjects should be concentrated together (Xiaflex for example).

I know is a big job, but have to be done. We have much more members and posts today than 5 years ago.
I would like to get your OK to do that.

James

PS: The Internet is very slow, so I don't make Spell Check. Hope my post still understandable
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

Hawk

James,

It is always a challenge to figure out how to best organize the forum to promote discussion and easily find information.  I do not think there really is any one best way.  Everyone organizes things differently in their mind and in their filing cabinets.  One of the most amazing things I have seen in the 8 years since I started a forum is how little the members seem to concern themselves with such issue (as seen from the lack of replies here).  In the final analysis you will have to make the call and decide what makes most sense to you.

Prostatectomy 2004, radiation 2009, currently 70 yrs old
After pills, injections, VED - Dr Eid, Titan 22cm implant 8/7/18
Hawk - Updated 10/27/18 - Peyronies Society Forums

james1947

Hawk

WARNING !!! You have given me free hands!!!
But don't worry, I will not abuse the trust.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

james1947

Developmental Drugs & Treatments board

I had merged the topics according to the specific subjects and I think that is easier to find what is interesting you (subjective opinion of course).

Before going forward with the "Highlights" subject I will try to do the same for the "Alternative Treatments of Peyronie's Disease" board and the "Oral Treatments" board.

I would like to know your opinions regarding my second sentense in this post.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

Hawk

Three Cheers for a job well done !!!

I agree completely.  Doing the basics on the other boards should probably come before working out a strategy for updating the highlights.

Hawk
Prostatectomy 2004, radiation 2009, currently 70 yrs old
After pills, injections, VED - Dr Eid, Titan 22cm implant 8/7/18
Hawk - Updated 10/27/18 - Peyronies Society Forums

james1947

Hawk

Thank you for the feedback

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

newguy

I can certainly see the logic in updated highlights threads and, say, the Xiaflex topics. I can also see the argument of allowing for two or three threads around that theme:
active trials and another for
results or one for
theory behind Xiaflex and how it works.   (to give Hawks examples)

The previous design of the board did work very well for certain topics, but not for others in my view. For instance with the Intro section as it is, it's easy to see who has and who hasn't been replied to, and to keep track of particular conversations. This used to be tricky in the past.

It's a difficult subject to have a forum for because on one level the basics of what's known about peyronie's disease in terms of treatments doesn't take all that long to convey to a person. However, with a constant stream of new people coming in with little knowledge the condition and very individual circumstances, there is often a need to reiterate.


Hawk

Quote from: newguy on April 02, 2012, 08:50:56 PM
on one level the basics of what's known about peyronie's disease in terms of treatments doesn't take all that long to convey to a person. However, with a constant stream of new people coming in with little knowledge the condition and very individual circumstances, there is often a need to reiterate.

Newguy, that is kind of the point of Highlights.  They should spend a day or two reading those then ask questions.  Few get directed there by the members however and I share in that guilt.

If we had a comprehensive overview document we could fine tune it even more but as you see from my request for someone to work on an acronym definition list, most want others to work for them but not help. I have not had one volunteer to work on that in years of asking  ???
Prostatectomy 2004, radiation 2009, currently 70 yrs old
After pills, injections, VED - Dr Eid, Titan 22cm implant 8/7/18
Hawk - Updated 10/27/18 - Peyronies Society Forums

ComeBacKid

Guys I think your def. right, before we go onto highlights we should def. organize the forum, and even with a handfull of moderators this could take awhile, there is no rush, just as long as we keep chipping away at it.  It will take some time.  Once we get done with that (which could take up to 6 months) then we can go through and worry about highlights.  I don't think that many people read highlights I think some people get overwhelmed by the information and topics.

I  think we should def. consider not only NOT allowing responses to certain topics, but also there should be certain areas of the forum where no one can make a new topic either.  For example the PDS Resource Library, its starting to grow large as well.  We don't allow replies but we allow anybody to start a new topic.  I think we should keep this locked so it has important and legitimate studies in it. Meaning only moderators can start a new topic. I think if someone has a good study they should submit it to a moderator in charge of that to post it.  I think we should and can be picky about what goes in the resource library, despite this appearing like a dictatorship, members can post and create new topics almost anywhere on the forum, and reply to any topics they choose.  

I believe we could do this for:

1.  Read this first- guests and new members
2.  Member Polls
3.  PDS Resource Library

Another question I had was about merging topics, if topics are merged, how are the posts ordered, are they simply mixed together and put in order by date?  I suppose this could cause some confusing conversation to follow on a new single thread, had you noticed how this works James?  It might require you to go in and rearrange some of the posts if thats even possible?

Comebackid

james1947

First I agree 99% with ComeBacKid last post.


Regarding merging topics I find that hey are arranged by date.
When I am merging topics I keep the original topics names to be easy to follow up a certain topic
Maybe it will be better if they will be arranged according to the topic subjects, but the disadvantage of that is that some of the topics may be in the end of the merge and no one will read them.
Not merging topics is making the forum very loaded and difficult to find things, so in my opinion should be done to maximum possible.
I would like to hear from many members as possible what are they opinion in this subject.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

Hawk

I find the merge process of merging by date (the only option) works great.  While there may be some interceding conversation (which happens in all topics anyway) the responses follow in correct order and reading thru the merged topic seems pretty smoothly.  This is true even if there are a few conversations going on.

Read this First has been locked down for a week.  Members can no longer post there.  I did eliminate some topics in resource library and locked all topics so they do not get comments.  I may lock it down further so topics cannot be made but I figure it is a stream line just to let members post what they think is particularly valuable reference material.  If I don't think it should be there I will move it to one of the other topics.

Now that the forum is upgraded and the quirky visual registration code has been resolved, I have one more issue then I will tighten up a few areas like, Our Histories, Polls etc which have already been cleaned up.

Regarding our registration process, it will be interesting to see if we get more registrations.  Yesterday's count is bogus because in the hour I had spam blocking down we had 8 spam registrations plus I made several test registrations.

Prostatectomy 2004, radiation 2009, currently 70 yrs old
After pills, injections, VED - Dr Eid, Titan 22cm implant 8/7/18
Hawk - Updated 10/27/18 - Peyronies Society Forums

LWillisjr

Quote from: Hawk on April 02, 2012, 10:26:54 PM
If we had a comprehensive overview document we could fine tune it even more but as you see from my request for someone to work on an acronym definition list, most want others to work for them but not help. I have not had one volunteer to work on that in years of asking  ???

I'll start an acronym list. Where would you place it in the forum?
Developed peyronies 2007 - 70 degree dorsal curve
Traction/MEDs/Injections/Surgery 2008 16 years Peyronies free now
My History

LWillisjr


Quote from: Hawk on April 02, 2012, 10:26:54 PM
We also need some help with definitions in general.  If you look here you will see my first efforts still waiting for someone to pitch in and help.  http://www.peyroniessociety.org/glossary.htm

I forgot about the glossary section. I'll start with this and see what I can put together.

Les
Developed peyronies 2007 - 70 degree dorsal curve
Traction/MEDs/Injections/Surgery 2008 16 years Peyronies free now
My History

james1947

It is possible to make the pages showing 50 topics or posts per page?
In my opinion it will be more easy to navigate.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

Hawk

Quote from: james1947 on April 03, 2012, 09:39:17 PM
It is possible to make the pages showing 50 topics or posts per page?
In my opinion it will be more easy to navigate.

It is possible but why is that better?  It does have a bit of a down side.  Every time any user clicks on a page, which is thousands of times a day, twice the data has to be streamed to their PC.  That means more band width used and MAYBE a bigger plan with our host depending on how close we are to our limits.  I have to check.  Why do you prefer 50?
Prostatectomy 2004, radiation 2009, currently 70 yrs old
After pills, injections, VED - Dr Eid, Titan 22cm implant 8/7/18
Hawk - Updated 10/27/18 - Peyronies Society Forums

james1947

It will make less pages for topics and posts.
I have not tacked in consideration:
QuoteThat means more band width used and MAYBE a bigger plan with our host depending on how close we are to our limits.

See my question close, I will do my best to minimise the pages by merging topics.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

james1947

It is possible to add a paragraph or a point to:
Read This First - Guests and New Members > Read This Post First - Important Forum Rules & Member Rights
with the name "How to Post on the Forum" that explains to new member a few important things regarding opening topics and posting like:
- Please read the topics before opening new one to see if have already a topic that close to what you would like to talk about and post there.
- Please post topics on the most relevant board. For example do not post regarding traction devices on the VED board.
- Do not quote large segments from other posts because it takes place on the server memory and make the topic less readable.
- ........

Hawk has posted in the past such requests but it will be better in my opinion if it will be included in the Forum Rules.

Sorry for my English, can correct/change my sentenses to be more easy to understand

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

james1947

Ubiquinol

We have Ubiquinol topic on Oral Treatments and Alternative Treatments.
I would like to know your opinion where it should be.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

Hawk

Quote from: james1947 on April 04, 2012, 07:46:11 PM
It is possible to add a paragraph or a point to:
Read This First - Guests and New Members > Read This Post First - Important Forum Rules & Member Rights
with the name "How to Post on the Forum" that explains to new member a few important things regarding opening topics and

It is possible James but don't expect much.  The truth is that I think it is rare for a person to read that topic.  In fact, I think it has more chance of being read if it is NOT under the forum rules but has a highly visible heading somewhere called "How to post".  It is sad and frustrating, but people do what is easiest for them.  I think the only way to get real compliance is to warn members that violate.  If they are chronic offenders then they could get an official warning and be put in a "warning group" that restricts privileges like sending pm's, posting, etc.  
Prostatectomy 2004, radiation 2009, currently 70 yrs old
After pills, injections, VED - Dr Eid, Titan 22cm implant 8/7/18
Hawk - Updated 10/27/18 - Peyronies Society Forums

james1947

Hawk

I agree that a "How to post" topic is much better and bigger chance people will read.
What about adding a topic with this name to "Read This First - Guests and New Members"

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

james1947

hawk

I don't know if is connected to the forum layout (somehow I think yes) but I want to say that the speller of the forum is the best I have used.
It gives excellent proposals to change wrong words, much better than Microsoft Word speller.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum

Luciano

Quote from: james1947 on April 04, 2012, 11:49:28 PM
Ubiquinol

We have Ubiquinol topic on Oral Treatments and Alternative Treatments.
I would like to know your opinion where it should be.

James

I am not that familiar with SMF boards, but in vBulletin as well as xenforo you can create subforums and threads that are in reality links.
I suppose SMF can do this also.
In that case you could move all ubiquinol threads to Oral Treatments, and change them in Alternative Treatments to links that point to the new ones in Oral treatments.
This is just an idea, IF SMF supports this feature.

Luc

james1947

Luciano

I am not familiar also with the SMF, I will try to find out if can be done.

James
Age 71, Peyronies from Jan 2009 following penis fracture during sex. Severe ED.
Lost 2" length and a lot of girth. Late start, still VED, Cialis & Pentox helped. Prostate surgery 2014.
Got amazing support on the forum