If there is something inappropriate in a journal, you should report it right away, but I agree--they skirt the lines sometimes.  

I sort of feel the same way about the "Notes".  They are used as weapons by some people.  

I disagree. Journals aren't the problem. It's how they are used. Used right and they can be a helpful resource. (please check my earlier journals about autismAutism
Autism - resources and my dad's (MJthewriterdad) journals).  But true, some journals and notes are better off as personal messages, espcially some of the comments.

That said I have no problem with people venting but I do wish they would listen to the advice and support they receive, rather than disregard it and focus on the less supportive remarks. I see a lot of frustration, and I wish that people can take what steps need to be done to reduce some of that frustration.

I agree......some of these people have journal entries all the time and it's the same old stuff.  Gets real old.

"journals arent the problem...it's how they are used"

my point exactly ! ! !

Some of us are often alone and in emotional or other types of painAbdominal pain
Abdominal pain diagnosis
Alternative medicine - pain relief
Ankle pain
Anterior knee pain
Back pain - low
Bone pain or tenderness
Breast pain
Causes of painful intercourse
Chest pain
Chronic pain - resources and for me at least, the choice becomes writing a journal or doing something stupid and hurting myself.  These journals are not meant to elicit sympathy or pity; they are meant to be an outlet.  I am aware that we can choose to make our journals public, for friends only or private.  Unfortunately, there have been a number of times when I thought I was writing for myself only to find out that I was writing for everybody.  There are people here that I don't want to see my painAbdominal pain
Abdominal pain diagnosis
Alternative medicine - pain relief
Ankle pain
Anterior knee pain
Back pain - low
Bone pain or tenderness
Breast pain
Causes of painful intercourse
Chest pain
Chronic pain - resources and some that I do.

As a person who has suffered from severe depressionAdolescent depression
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Depression - elderly
Depression - resources
Depression among the elderly
Depression and heart disease
Depression and insomnia
Depression and men
Depression and the menstrual cycle
Depression in children and anxietyGeneralized anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety
Stress and anxiety since childhood and been in therapy for it, I have found that writing and drawing often help.  I don't write to get attentionAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd).  I don't write to have people say "wonderful things" about me.  Also, with respect to the comment about ignoring the good comments - well, depressed people tend to do that when they are suffering through a severe depressive episode.  Similarly, anxious people often say they are going to commit suicideSuicide and suicidal behavior when what they really want is to kill the painAbdominal pain
Abdominal pain diagnosis
Alternative medicine - pain relief
Ankle pain
Anterior knee pain
Back pain - low
Bone pain or tenderness
Breast pain
Causes of painful intercourse
Chest pain
Chronic pain - resources of anxietyGeneralized anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety
Stress and anxiety.  When someone has walked the path of the depressed and the anxious I'll listen.

I don't pretend to know about other forums and wouldn't presume to even say I understood what it feels like to be autisticAutistic behavior, have HIVAcute hiv infection
Asymptomatic hiv infection
Chills
Early symptomatic hiv infection
Elisa/western blot tests for hiv
Histoplasmosis, disseminated in hiv patient
Hiv
Hiv infection
Hives
Hives (urticaria) - close-up
Hives (urticaria) on the arm or other problems.  Furthermore, I don't speak for other depressed and anxious people, I speak only for myself.

Maybe there should be a section in "settings" that allows both the writer of the journal and a potential reader to agree to read the journal and have the option to change his/her mind if he/she wants to.

There is a trend towards phrases like "attentionAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd) seeker"; "drama queen", "gets real old"; "move on" etc.  Well, when someone gets to the point of hurting themselves, giving in to a craving, being so isolatedIsolated sleep paralysis it becomes unbearable I wonder how a comment like "that's getting real old" or "what a drama queen" will effect the person reaching out for help.

I know I wont be writing any more journals and will be very, very careful who I talk to after this.  If I have the strength maybe the saying, "Let he/she who is without sin among us cast the firstFirst progesterone mc10
First progesterone mc5
First-progesterone vgs 200
First-progesterone vgs 400 stoneAcute cholecystitis (gallstones)
Bladder stones
Developmental milestones
Developmental milestones record
Gallstones
Gallstones, cholangiogram
Kidney cyst with gallstones, ct scan
Kidney stones."

I do think there can be a misuse of journal entries but just like any feature here. That doesn't mean there's something wrong with the feature. If someone is using it as a blog to vent their frustrations that's not abuseAlcoholism
Chemical dependence - resources
Child abuse - physical
Child abuse - sexual
Child neglect and psychological abuse
Drug abuse
Drug abuse and dependence
Drug abuse first aid
Family troubles - resources
Laxative overdose
Signs of drug abuse it just means it may not interest other people but it makes the person feel better in writing it. If the person is genuinely upset and describing why, people can be supportive. I found with mine though that length is everything. The ones that went on for several paragraphs didn't get comments so perhaps they didn't interest people but I noticed that people signed up to the site just to find out about new treatments for tardive dyskinesia so that showed a positive effect. However, that brings to mind one important concern. Everything you post is visible to the public unless you set your journal to "private" (which can be a good idea at times) so if someone is speaking about a troubled relationship its important as people can offer coping solutions but don't be too specific about the person, even though they are off site as they can read it. And if you have a concern with a particular site user even if you don't name them don't mention them in description. They will know and be hurt or offended. And most importantly, if someone has concerns about Medhelp in general, post them in the suggestion forum as we are doing here. And as for comments as long as they are not hurtful or antagonistic then I don't see any concern. Everyone has their own style. Some people offer emotional support. I usually tend to offer practical advice. Both are warranted. The main ground rule to me is if its a concern about a specific user pmPremenstrual syndrome
Relieving pms them don't post it or if its a concern about Medhelp in general post it in the suggestions forum. Otherwise, as long as the language is appropriate and other basic rules are followed, then its not really a big deal and if doesn't interest other people that's a good skill to learn what to put in the next one that might engage people. With every new feature there comes a chance for abuseAlcoholism
Chemical dependence - resources
Child abuse - physical
Child abuse - sexual
Child neglect and psychological abuse
Drug abuse
Drug abuse and dependence
Drug abuse first aid
Family troubles - resources
Laxative overdose
Signs of drug abuse but that's a given. I see no reason why the journals entries shouldn't stay as a feature but as always if there are ones that are offensive to you flag or report them judiciously.

It's alright to discuss one's feelings. Yes during those times of depressionAdolescent depression
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Depression - elderly
Depression - resources
Depression among the elderly
Depression and heart disease
Depression and insomnia
Depression and men
Depression and the menstrual cycle
Depression in children it is hard to se anything good, but at the same time, I learned this the hard way, if it is something that happned on the website that upset me, I'm better off keeping my mouthMouth sores
Oral cancer shut and not discuss it out in the open.

Yes I vented about things that bothered me on the website, but did it really help me?  No it didn't one bit. It only got people more angry.  Knowing this now, I can avoid posting things that may possibly offend other people on the website. That said, I still am free to discuss other things. If I feel down in the dumps and feel like nothing is going right at the moment, I can express that. If someone posts a disgreeable comment on the journal or on my profile, then it's their problem.  But rather than retaliate, it's better to report that comment to the admins or ignore it.

That's a tough lesson for me to learn when it comes to very personal attacks.  It's better to ignore than to make any mention, even in pmPremenstrual syndrome
Relieving pms that it hurt unless I can speak with the person directly though pmPremenstrual syndrome
Relieving pms and be sure they are open to understanding. If they aren't then I have to ignore them or block them until they are ready to stop making attacks.

One thing I'm wanting to do which I believe is a better option to retaliating or blocking is to see if I can get the person to change the subject and talk about something else.  At least that's a plan I hope to do in the future. If they can't change the subject then it's time to ignore the person for a while.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

LIZZIE LOUAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis, may you please explain to me what you mean by unbelieveable?

I think it's rather simple:  People are free to express their feelings and viewpoints as long as it isn't a personal attack againt any members on the website. It's alright to vent angerIslets of langerhans
Ovarian cancer dangers
Pancreatic islet cell tumor and frustration.

People can choose to reply or not. If it offends them, then they don't have to reply. It only becomes "drama" if someone posts an attack against the writer of the journal to get them angry. There's the old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it."

i agree with what you have said, iladvocat ..

i think journals are a really good feature, i've read quite useful information on them  and even good articles and anyway, if any of us  doesn't like them, just don't read them and mind our own bussiness . Really very easy to do and much  better than censor them, imo ...

Thanks for sharing your opinion on journals. We will not be removing them as many members do find them useful for sharing information or writing down their thoughts. If you do not wish to write or read journals, you have that option. If someone writes something abusive, please report the journal and it will be reviewed by our moderators.

Thanks,
MedHelp

I've never had any problems with any journals, mine or posting on someone else's. I've actually seen more fighting just in the regular posting on different forums. It's actually easier and quicker to delete comments or even the whole journal if people are starting to fight or get nasty.
I've been on this site for over a year and a half and before they started the journals I saw a lot of fighting on regular threads. So, I guess if people want to fight, they'll find a way. There was one particular person that I can think of who was only getting on threads to start fights and name calling, etc. Every time MH would delete the comments, she'd pop backBack pain - low
Back strain treatment up the next day under a different username. It was getting old. Thankfully, she hasn't been backBack pain - low
Back strain treatment since then but, boy, was it ever unpleasant for awhile there.

LIzzieLou, can I ask what your dislike is of the journals? Did something happen on one of yours or something?
I have to say I've really enjoyed the journals! It's been a great way to get to know people better and a great way to share a little of ourselves.

I like the notes, too. It always gives me a smile to log on and see that someone has sent me a "hug" or "prayer" note or whatever. I find them very encouraging and nice.

I hope MH keeps these. I love this site!

I agree about enjoying the notes and finding the journals a good way to not only get to know someone but even to know someone is ok if yu have not heard from them in awhile.