ODD: Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Of course, using Contact Us means that the dissenter can't inflame the other posters with anything "subversive", LOL ... so, I wanted to cut-and-paste my note here (for as long as it's allowed to stay without being removed - I don't hold out much hope of that!!) If you are reading this now and agree with me, think about letting PS management know how you feel. iVillage and PS seem to have a desire to drive away as many posters as they can with their inconsistent and incomprehensible business decisions. Maybe they are ready to "see the light"? I hope that someone with the authority to do so reconsiders their decision to kill off this board and, instead, PRAISES Nancy for the wonderful and important work she has done here ...

To The Powers-That-Be --

I came to PS tonight to register my concern and displeaure about the fact that you are "dimming the lights" on the ODD board. However, it seems that the venues for registering concern/displeasure have been totally removed as well. What happened to Talk to Soup? There are virtually no forums left (save this one, where - of course - no one but your staff will see this note and potentially get riled up) to express any feelings - positive or negative - about the site. Is it an accident that your posters have nowhere left to express their opinions about your site? I doubt it.

First, my feelings on your disbanding the ODD board: No, it wasn't the most active board. But it did serve as a lifeline of sorts for parents who live personal hell with kids - kids they love more than anything - that "outsiders" just can't understand. The CL, Nancy, did (and does) a spectacular job of making sure that all posts are answered with compassion and intelligence; she also maintains a superlative website. The ODD board was MY lifeline more than once. And it is extremely sad, and it stinks, that parents who need the help that this board and these posters have to offer will not have that resource for much longer.

The ODD board is NEEDED. I can't say it any more plainly than that. More than the umpteen boards that continue to proliferate here on more banal topics, it is truly a public service that parents with ODD kids knew they could turn to in a crisis. No, it's not a "chatty" board, filled with recipes and QOTWs. It doesn't need to be. It's more like a cyber version of Al-Anon: It is there when it's needed, and it serves an audience in crisis. What would it have harmed to allow it to continue as a touchstone for the parents who need it? Please, have a heart.

I left iVillage months ago. The dreaded format change and the charges for services we formerly received gratis were the final straw (multiple posts viewed per page, anyone??) But the cavalier attitudes of TPTB at iVillage and PS were catalysts as well. This is no longer the "site for women"; it's now the site for "shiny happy women who happen to fit in a specific mold sought by iV's advertisers and management".

The board I posted on most of the time exited when I did and took up residence elsewhere; you lost about 30 passionate, articulate, bright, funny, dynamic women (with more than incidental discretionary income to boot) in one fell swoop. Your advertisers' dream demographic. I've heard that tale repeated for countless other boards. Can't you people take a hint? Traffic on even the debate boards is not what it once was. Ever wonder why? Do you even CARE??

I hope that you will at least do me the courtesy of acknowledging this note, AND sending me a non-boilerplate response that actually addresses the issues I've raised.

I will also copy this note onto the ODD board so that Nancy and others can see that "someone out there" DOES give a darn. I hope you will allow my note to stay, even if my opinions make you uncomfortable, since I have not written one blessed word that violates TOS.

Please reconsider pulling the ODD board, and please, PLEASE start to listen to your posters while you still have some left.

thanks very much.

Well thought out, well written ... as per usual.  Not sure if you'll get a response, but I certainly hope so.  I have posted the link on the Team Board at parentsoup just to be sure that it is seen and read.  More than that, I cannot do.

I've also sent an email asking them to reconsider their decision.  As stated in another post, sometimes things should be done out of sheer goodwill and not for the dollar signs.  I'm not holding out much hope ... there wasn't much (any) advance notice or warning, and it looks like we'll be deactivited on Thursday, redirected to another board (some special needs that is not ODD-specific.)  Again, I don't expect them to retract their ax, but I asked.

(((HUGS))) and thanks, for your words and support.

Hello -

I appreciate your concerns about making sure there is a place for members to go when they need information and support with regard to ODD. The new board format makes it possible to put several specific topics on broader topic boards. For example, we will be adding a folder for ODD to the Children's Mental Health board where members can continue to get the support and information they need. A link to the new board will be placed at the top of this one, so anyone returning to the board via a saved link will be able to find it.

Thank you for expressing your opinion and show support for the community.