The central aim and purpose of all of our activity here on PC is to write and post things that aid, succor and comfort new or older members who bring with them to these pages pain, misery and sometimes bewilderment for which we, as non-professionals, can offer some degree of compassion, sympathy and direction. Yeah. That's what we do, or try to do. In our several and different ways.

But closer reading of tens of thousands of PC posts reveals that different members have different philosophies (conscious or unconscious) of HOW it is best (or most desirable, or most effective) for us to offer that compassion, sympathy or direction.

There are many, many, different kinds and levels of helpful posts. Some writers prefer what might be called a minimalist approach, enclosing in their messages as much practical information as possible but as little of their own personal feelings as they can. Others restrict themselves only to their own feelings, their sympathy, their compassion. Still others spend significant time describing how they too have experienced situations and feelings similar to those expressed by the writer of the call for help.

From the point of view of the RECIPIENTS of such aid and comfort messages (probably the majority of us at one time or another), the point of view of new members or old members posting the original calls for help, are any of these different modes of responding better, more helpful than others? Is it a matter of personal taste on the part of those who are hurting? Or are all of these different types of responses equally helpful in informing those in pain that there are folks here who truly feel not only for them but with them?

Of course, the vast majority of PC members do their absolute personal best to compose and post messages as helpful as possible for those in pain and distress. But do those in pain, or who have been in pain, who are reading this thread-opener, have anything else to tell us that could help us improve what we do when we respond to messages for help? A little bit more of this? A bit less of that? Or have we wound up in The Goldilocks Zone, as the astronomers say, where everything as it is right now is just right? Take care!