In my everyday life, I’m used to people who don’t understand fibromyalgia saying things like I just need to be happy & think positively & I’ll get better. I started this blog so I could share my experiences with fibromyalgia & life with other fibromites & get feedback from healthy people. Plus, I wanted to share my story & hopefully make people laugh. I also think that as many people with fibromyalgia as possible need to speak up & educated others about this disease.
About a year ago I became a dofollower. This means that the nofollow tags to my commenter’s url are turned off after a certain number of comments. Since the dofollow movement has started, a lot of bloggers have dropped out of this just because of the increase in spam. I totally understand this. It seems like everyday my site is added to a new list or directory , even a search engine of people wanting free comments from me. However, I want to encourage discussion & dofollow definitely does this, so I’ll continue to use it.
However, lately I’ve been noticing that I get a lot of comments calling me a hypochondriac or saying that I need to think positively. Some of these I let through, others I don’t. They don’t bother me. However, it does bother me that other fibromites that come here looking for a sense of community read that. I don’t blame the dofollow movement, although most of these comments come from people using keywords in the name field. In all fairness, some of those comments are really thoughtful & inspiring & make me want to keep blogging. I’m so grateful to those people. Others simply are the equivalent of “Your disease doesn’t exist. You whine too much. Give me a link”. I don’t usually reply to these comments because these people will probably visit my site again & I’m too tired to argue with them. Fibromyalgia exists. I know it exists because I’ve had it for 13 years. I was diagnosed by a medical doctor & that diagnosis has held up with every other doctor I’ve visited. I tried everything to make it go away even positive thinking & it hasn’t helped. I don’t need to argue about that.
I’m stuck because I want freedom of speech, but I defiantly don’t want fibromyalgia myths, legends & misinformation running rampant here. So I need some feedback, if it were your blog, what would you do? Do you have a comment policy? Do you find comment policies annoying? Should I still let people leave keywords as their names? If not, how do I stop it?
Well, I have not had one negative or disbelieving comment on my blog since I started it in May of ‘07, so I don’t know what I would do in your situation. But I’m glad you’ve brought the subject up so I can prepare myself for when it does happen.
My first impression is that I don’t think my blog is a democracy. I think it is an absolute monarchy and I am the monarch. I’ll decide what stays and what goes on a case by case basis. (You being the princess of everything, probably understand this.) If I think an argument or opinion is valid and/or worthwhile I’ll let it through. If not, I won’t.
I have never nad such kind of problem, but I’ll think about it.
It’s your own right to moderate comments I think
I found this blog through a listing of do follow blogs.
Yes, I am looking for backlinks. If appropriate I will leave a keyword as my name or a keyword with my name. But no matter what I usually read a few of the blog’s posts to get a an idea of the blog’s objectif.
And most importantly if I leave a comment it must be relevant to the post’s topic. Not “you have a nice blog”
On wordpress blogs you can use the Akismet or Bad Behaviour plugins to reduce spam. Both are very good.
Fibro pain is very real. A recent study that I read show that the nerve endings in the skin of those with fibro are really different than the skin of non-fibro people.
Another recent NIH study showed that the receptors in the brain that dull pain are messed up in fibro people. The receptor sites to dull pain are less.
Interestingly, that same study said that the receptors cell look similar in depressed people - which begs the chicken and egg question between fibro and depression.
I am a firm believer in the mind body connection. I believe in the power of the subconscious mind and I know the healing power of hypnosis (personally and anecdotally).
People with fibro are most definitely not hypochondriacs (no more than someone with a very real ulcer) - but the mind body connection is very real. I say that it is not “in your head” but from your head. It is not a fibro person’s “fault”.
I have personally witnessed multiple people get enormous pain relief through hypnosis (clearing up depression and opening up those receptor sites?).
Hope this was of interest and help to you. I also believe in herbal remedies. Whatever you do - please try to stay off prescription drugs.
As a librarian, I’m a believer in free speech. But, as a librarian, I’m also very concerned about valid information.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia two years ago after several years of wondering why I “hurt all over.” Only recently am I discovering how cruel people can be when faced with a person who is in constant pain. I think it a reaction to being powerless to relieve another person’s suffering.
My own father has offered the opinion that I would be better off if I could “buck up” and work through my pain with vigorous exercise. Tried it, Pop, and it didn’t work.
I work fulltime, am a part-time gourd artist and do a pretty good job of keeping up my beloved garden. This week, I did break down and hire help to clean my old farmhouse. What I am trying to say is that I am not a slacker. I take Pilates, go to therapy and try to minimize my condition. Hearing comments suggesting I’m a hypochondriac or malingerer plunge me into the depths of depression.
I have thought of starting a blog. If I do, I think I will use the same rules that I use as a librarian when helping students with research. I will be sure to present all sides of an issue, but make sure the source of the information is valid. In other words, if a rheumatologist or other person with good information wants to say fibromyalgia is not a “real” disease, I would print his or her comments, assuming the science backs up the opinion.
But I would make darned sure the other side is presented. I search science databases every day for information about fibromyalgia. Believe me, the research is out there to prove it is real.
Please don’t get discouraged. Keep up the good work on your blog. It is of enormous help to me.