TheBody.com has been sold

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Welcome to the AIDSmeds/POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page. Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post. The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician. These forums are moderated by AIDSmeds/POZ paid staff and volunteers: David Evans (paid staff), Tim Horn (paid staff), Ann Smith (volunteer), Andy Velez (paid staff), Jan Waddell/anniebc (volunteer). None of our moderators have any conflict of interests (e.g., personal financial relationships with antiretroviral manufacturers). All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such. Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other AIDSmeds/POZ community forums. We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge. Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured by AIDSmeds/POZ. Para ver la página de inscripción y otros enlaces para navegar foros en español, haz clic aquí. Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

[Peter Staley]

First AIDSmeds, now TheBody -- stop the madness! (just kidding)...

The HealthCentral Network Acquires TheBody.com, the Number One Interactive Resource for HIV Communities
http://www.thehealthcentralnetwork.com/news/20080904.html?ic=506023

My congrats to my number one competitor the day I launched this site -- TheBody's founder, Jamie Marks.  He and Bonnie Goldman, their Editorial Director, built a great site, which constantly pushed me to work harder on AIDSmeds.

[newt]

TheBody is full of old materiall, to the point of being inaccurate, and (Ask the Experts excepted) Aidsmeds trumps it any day .. just saying...

Plus it has fixed font sizes in Internet Explorer (endemic Internet problem)

- matt

Now playing: Mary J Blige, Be Without You

[allopathicholistic]

Plus it has fixed font sizes in Internet Explorer (endemic Internet problem)

and their pop-ups are hard to get rid of

plus the pop-ups
move
ugghhh

[blondbeauty]

The only good part of the body is the "ask the experts" section. For a recently diagnosed person it is extremely difficult to find useful information. Everything is mixed up and "hidden". It is of very little help and a bit scary for begginers.

[jkinatl2]

Even the "Ask the Experts" section often parrots old material instead of offering current scientific models. I often cringe at their inaccurate transmission/prevention stuff. I had a choice many years ago which site to throw my attention and efforts towards.

I believe I chose wisely.

[Basquo]

When I was new online, The Body helped me get my feet wet in online forums. Once I discovered I didn't need to be taking AIDS meds to join aidsmeds.com, it was only a matter of how quickly I made friends here that I stopped visiting that other site regularly.

I do enjoy their Visual AIDS Gallery. Very nice presentations each month.

[northernguy]

Even the "Ask the Experts" section often parrots old material instead of offering current scientific models. I often cringe at their inaccurate transmission/prevention stuff. I had a choice many years ago which site to throw my attention and efforts towards.

I believe I chose wisely.

Well, "Ask the Experts" does have the smokin' hot Dr. DeJesus, so cut them a little slack

[matty.the.damned]

The Body is a dump. One wonders who'd be thick enough to buy it.

MtD

[Mouse]

Well, it is sort of a mess.

But uh. Yay?

[GSOgymrat]

I'd love for The Body to fold just to get rid of that lipoatrophy interview I did in 2006. I got an email this week from a guy I dated for 3 months 20 years ago who googled me, read the interview and now feels sorry for me.   I haven't responded and I'm not sure I will. Doing that interview was one of the stupidest things I've done.

[komnaes]

I remember I looked up all their webcasts (i.e. online radio shows) when I was first diagnosed.

Actually I think maybe this is one thing Peter can consider doing - it felt good to hear people discussing the issues other than just reading them, whether the topics are about hardcore sciences on possible new treatments or everyday things like finding dates.

The internet though is a scary thing: I was told recently by a friend that some email newsletters I helped editing back in the early 1990s on gay Asian issues are STILL being stored somewhere and searchable on goggle. It seems once it's there there's nothing we can do to erase it.

[jabez]

GSOgymrat, your interview is displayed fairly prominently on TheBody, that's for sure.   When I first started reading the Aidsmeds forums, you seemed strangely familiar to me.  I couldn't figure out why.  Finally it hit me that you're the Famous Man From the Lipo Interviews. 

I do enjoy the "Ask the Experts" questions and answers, particularly the ones about "Aging With HIV" and "Treatment Experienced".   I find it very interesting to read about the various regimens being prescribed for the treatment experienced, since we ALL hope to be around long enough to be 'treatment experienced' at some point. 

[Peter Staley]

I remember I looked up all their webcasts (i.e. online radio shows) when I was first diagnosed.

Actually I think maybe this is one thing Peter can consider doing - it felt good to hear people discussing the issues other than just reading them, whether the topics are about hardcore sciences on possible new treatments or everyday things like finding dates.

We HAVE been.  We've been doing podcast interviews since the Toronto AIDS Conference (http://www.aidsmeds.com/IAC2006.shtml), and videocast interviews since the conference in Sydney (http://www.aidsmeds.com/archive/currentNews_2021.shtml).  One that might lift your spirits is with long-term survivor and AIDS activist Matt Sharp:

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/matt_sharp_isentress_2076_13038.shtml

TheBody finally started doing video interviews at the Mexico City conference, but they kind of sucked (IMHO).

[swede_dish]

The Body was a help at first, but I much prefer here.

[bear60]

Question:  why are we finding out this information here at AIDSMEDS...cant TheBody make an announcement.?

[komnaes]

We HAVE been. 

Oh ok Peter, will look them up.

For me poz.com is more or less just about these forums. I need to explore more.

[Miss Philicia]

/fail

[StrongGuy]

The "Ask the Experts" forum is their best feature and I recommend (and read) it all the time,  but Aidsmeds/Poz is one of my top stops for cutting edge research info. The Body is a labyrinth of old and new information and really jumbled. I never saw the two sites as competitive, just filling different niches. But I'm looking in from the outside so what do I know!

Glad to hear the NY staff isn't losing their jobs too...

[Florida69]

Both sites are a great resource, when I was first found out I was positive the Body was where I found the support that I needed.  I do post there often, but it is just my way of paying forward the assistance that was given to me.  I agree that the Ask the Experts forum is one of the best resources of the Body, but they have other really good things going for them.  Although, AIDSMEDS is well moderated, and that sometimes can be a little easier to post.  In my opinion both AIDSMEDS and the BODY as resources are wonderful, and I am grateful for both.  Peter, thanks for making us aware of this new perhaps change, the one thing in life that is constant is change, I just hope it is for the better.  D

[Peter Staley]

I just blogged about this, and included a few other tidbits about the news...

http://blogs.poz.com/peter/archives/2008/09/thebodycom_has.html

If you comment here, please cut & paste your comment below this blog entry.

Thanks!

[matty.the.damned]

When I was diagnosed with HIV back in 2002, the only website that Google threw up was AIDSmeds. So I subscribed to the newsletter.

I remember that my first experience of the AIDSmeds community was Cliff's blog in 2003. Or possibly 2004. Eventually I joined the forums in 2005.

I had never heard of the Body until I joined AIDSmeds. Frankly I was glad of it. AIDSmeds, that is.

My point is that the Body is a terrible website. Half of the problems we have in Am I Infected are a direct result of the idiocy that is allowed to flourish at The Body. Dr Bob and his idiot mates do little to promote HIV education, they just seem to be concerned with the making of money.

MtD

[jkinatl2]

My point is that the Body is a terrible website. Half of the problems we have in Am I Infected are a direct result of the idiocy that is allowed to flourish at The Body. Dr Bob and his idiot mates do little to promote HIV education, they just seem to be concerned with the making of money.

Agreed. Not to join a Trash TheBody chorus, as their professional version of the site actually contains current and rational data - similar and in a few cases even superior to what Poz.com offers.

But Dr Bob, though admittedly a hottie (in his photo, which has not changed in ten years. Perhaps he takes really good care of his skin?) and the other experts often parrot obsolete information gleaned from the most conservative websites, with almost ZERO references and footnotes.

I might grumble and kvetch when a worried well asks me to cite my sources, but damnit, I always do. because I can. Because here at AIDSMEDS, at least in the AM I forum, we do not speak individually out of our arses. If a qualified responder gets it wrong, s/he is swiftly and soundly corrected by the others. Using first tiered peer reviewed data - preferably from this millennium.

Its one of the things in my life I am proudest of, being able to help out there. At least, when I am not rolling my eyes because someone from Kenya spits when they talk.

The "support" forum at TheBody lost my participation early on. More of an enabling forum for those with serious preexisting psychological issues to languish and bathe in their despair and fear. I prefer solution-based support, myself. Not necessarily "tough love," but there should always be a way out... even when the only way out is through.

Anyhow, rant over. I like this site for the reasons stated. Any problems I have with it or members thereof are directly related to the issues I have with other sites; namely enabling and non-science-based advice.

[Truthteller]

I'd love for The Body to fold just to get rid of that lipoatrophy interview I did in 2006. I got an email this week from a guy I dated for 3 months 20 years ago who googled me, read the interview and now feels sorry for me.   I haven't responded and I'm not sure I will. Doing that interview was one of the stupidest things I've done.

It's a great interview though. Not sure why you're sorry. It sure helped me.

[Truthteller]

The only good part of the body is the "ask the experts" section. For a recently diagnosed person it is extremely difficult to find useful information. Everything is mixed up and "hidden". It is of very little help and a bit scary for begginers.

I use both sites actually -- the body has been around so much longer than this site. they both have good points and bad points. the ask the experts is amazing and so are their podcasts. i used to go to aegis and still do sometimes. Also I like PRN.

[Peter Staley]

Welcome to our forums, Truthteller!  However, there's one truth you kind of left out.  The IP address of the computer you used when registering here yesterday is owned by TheBody.com.

I was less than surprised that the first thread you posted to was this one.

 

[GSOgymrat]

It's a great interview though. Not sure why you're sorry. It sure helped me.

I'm glad it helped. To be honest I've received hundreds of emails from around the world asking me questions about my PMMA experience. It just sucks that now when family (my dad for example), friends or coworkers google me I'm known for HIV and lipoatrophy.

When I did the interview I naively believed it would be other people with HIV who would read it, not nurses and techs at my job sitting around the nurses station shooting me knowing looks. I wondered why people I didn't know from a unit on which I don't work were making it a point to say hello to me and calling me by name. I overheard later they had been passing the time by googling people and one tech made a comment that she liked my photo online and then shut up when I asked what photo. Of course not one person has actually brought up the subject since they would have to confess they were accessing the internet through work, which is a no-no.