My Support Forums - View Single Post

*Beth* · 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DechanDawa

Does all this conjecturing really help? After this posting I will refrain from making any more comments on this thread -- out of consideration for other members -- some who have expressed that all this talk is raising concerns and anxiety.

Your comment is hurtful to me. I'm feeling uneasy myself, and started this thread with the intention of members being aware of possible changes to the forum, and to help process those changes (should they occur) with ourselves and with each other. (Please note that I started this thread on the Bipolar board in order to have some discussion about what ways we'd like the PC forums to change, or not...it was intended to be a "what if it was up to you" thread. When it was moved, it became available to the entire forum.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DechanDawa

I certainly wasn't intending to increase anxiety. As for concerns...well, naturally there are concerns. I believe that a degree of conjecture is part of processing a possible change.

And of course, if anyone feels that this thread creates an excess of anxiety for them, they don't have to read it. It's the old "keep scrolling...."

Loyalty to Psych Central seems a bit misplaced when it has been sold to a large conglomerate. (I am agreeing with what Skeez has already stated.) What these large multi-companies do is not based on the needs of consumers but rather how well the platform does as an anchor for advertising.

Okay. But it's like shopping on Amazon. Does the company truly care about anything except knowing demographics to create more revenue? No. Do I still like to/need to shop there? Sure.

If a forum is used for "research" that is again saying it may be an anchor for advertising research i.e. research on what medications people are taking etc.

Well, yes...that's the nature of capitalism. While I am aware that some people are uncomfortable about the medication research, advertising, and so on- I'm not. I don't mind seeing med ads; I've found some useful information about medications from ads.

Whether or not it was a "good move" monetarily or management-wise for Psych Central administration does not concern me, or how it will be better "managed" - as I get my mental health information elsewhere and only engage with Psych Central forum --

"Good moves" don't concern me, either; I don't have any financial stake in PC. Having use of the forum is my interest.

If this forum is changed from a "community" of "safe support" then it is no longer what it was.

I have never thought it was a good idea when mental health providers suggest online communities as a way to "connect"...for all the above reasons.

Think it is time for members to perhaps rethink how they connect to friends and community. I think a new model might be more use of sites such as meetup...which would be local and could afford members the opportunity of actually meeting in real life. Or course there will always be a percentage who won't like that idea...but meetup sites could include little mini-forums. A healthier model of support could be created than online communities.

There are some problems there, though. For a number of reasons, many people don't have access to IRL support communities. And IRL groups are not available 24/7. If I'm unable to sleep at 3 a.m., I can check in with friends here; that's a tremendous advantage to being part of an online group.

A very real and present problem at this time is covid. I understand that in some places people are able to meet in person with therapists, support groups, etc. In my location, we will not be able to have person contact until at least late spring of 2021 - at the earliest. There's a long autumn and winter between now and then....

I have facilitated a NAMI Connection (support) group for several years. One week in March we held our usual group - the next week we were informed that we could no longer meet in person. And although I have advocated for it, NAMI still has no online support system.

Were it not for PC, I would have had no mental health group connection for almost six months.

Although I have tremendously appreciated the support I have gotten on this forum...and consider online people as Internet Friends...it is a rather fragile and enigmatic situation...and sometimes the anonymous nature seems a detriment. I have taken forum friendships offsite...but frankly they never last that long. It could be me. I grow tired of having "friends" all over the globe...most of whom I will never meet. It is not that I dislike these friends...but more the opposite...it is frustrating to not be able to bring the friendships into real life, meet for coffee or a hike etc.

I love having contact with people all over the globe. I find it fascinating and educational.

I have 4 IRL life-long friends that I'm close to, and a number of other friends. But none of them are involved in mental health support. I'm not at all interested in making new IRL friends at this time. I find online friendships to be very fulfilling.

As for long-term online friendships, there are 5 women that I met online and we have remained friends since 2005. We've watched each others' kids grow up. And a couple of us have met in person. Those meetings hold such special memories for me. So, I agree that how we handle online friendships is a personal thing.

I have a load of wonderful memories that I've made from online connections. Some people whose real names I never knew, but who have had a very real influence upon my life.

I do have trouble with transitions but most of all I have been having trouble with multiple sites I am a member of simply melting away.

I'm truly sorry, DD. That certainly is the downside of internet relationship. That said, real life friendships often change or melt away, too.

A forum has a particular function as a forum and this one has been the best of the best. Thank you everyone for being here all these years.

Thank you, DD

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~