I'll try to make this brief...

I principally come here just to, well, "talk" to someone, but I never expect a reply, suggestion, etc.

Surprisingly, I had a great suggestion today from one of my posts. A post that offered a personal experience as a possible solution to a dilemma that I've been having. A wonderful and helpful suggestion that I will implement tomorrow.

So whilst rooting around the forums, I came across the post of a new member that was so contradictory, writing of how wonderful his life, but in the following paragraphs he wrote things contrary to the "I love my life," statements.

No need to find the thread, I'll just say that my reply wasn't what would normally be thought of a reply of "support". It was, however, honest. I pointed out the contradictions in what he had written. As he had praised himself so much, what he described was anything but healthy, and I challenged him to be self-critical (as in judging well, not severely) for a moment. I posted the message.

Then I read it again. As I said, it wasn't a usual message of support: not a "hang in there," "be good to yourself," etc. But even with a sixth reading of his message and a third of mine, I couldn't find anything to change in my message and that led me to wonder...

...is it okay to offer healthy criticism here or should we limit ourselves to upbeat support phrases?

Personally, I would hope that if I wrote a message on here saying that I loved all animals and then, a few sentences later, saying that my main hobby was the vivisection of kittens, that someone would call me out and tell me that my one statement seemed contrary to my practice.

Any thoughts?