To StacieMay and others:

I've stuck my oar in, so I feel like I should say something. I ask myself many times "Should I chime in on this (whatever) thread? Am I able to say something that will help the person and/or further the purpose of PsychCentral in general?" I think that's the bottom line. I don't know what thread you were responding to, Stacie, but I suspect that you certainly helped the person to feel better by agreeing with his/her anger. When we're angry we're angry, and I personally think that feeling should be validated. If we do believe that the person is angry about something that should be a non-issue or that the anger is not justified, then there are times where that would be appropriate to say, carefully, too. I know I have certainly second-guessed my responses sometimes--and then I do (now and then---Ha!) have someone who comes along and says that he/she thinks that my response should have been different. I do try to listen and to learn from others, and to admit my wrong if I see that I have unintentionally given poor advice.

I don't have the guidelines memorized chapter and verse, but the concern PsychCentral (PC) has is that we need to treat people with consideration, respect, and general common decency. Most of us here are NOT therapists. We aren't experts. We are fellow travelers on the road of mental illness. Sometimes we ourselves need the help of the other members, and sometimes we are healthy enough to help others in turn. We just try to help others who are experiencing the pain of mental illness the best we know how.

Does that help any? Welcome to all the new folks! I am being forward in trying to speak on the behalf of PsychCentral, since I am a relative newbie myself, but I am trying to get a handle on the wonderful purpose behind this site. Remember that any time you feel that someone has answered in a way that is mean, inappropriate, or just not helpful in any way, there is an icon to the side of the answer that you can click on that will get the attention of the moderators.

This site is a wonderful one. All organizations have their struggles and this organization is so wide-ranging in membership that it's impossible to keep everyone always in line. But I think you do see, I hope, that there are many caring people here.