[blueoctober]

I just had 2 of my threads moved from the Bipolar forum. One was on how we choose our Profile Names and the other was on our "Eat, Pray, Love" places.

The explanation I received was the threads were more suited for General chat and "The Bipolar forum should be used for discussion of issues relating directly to bipolar, while other sections can be used to discuss other issues."

I understand that this site has rules, but part of the reason why I posted it in the BP forum was because I feel we need a break at times from thinking about bipolar and many of the members that post on BP don't post on the general social chat. I also feel that the BP forum is a kind of "family" and part of posting these threads was to get to know our members better. Also, I had posted the "Eat, Pray, Love" thread on the General Social Chat and I received one response.

I just need to voice my concern. Thank-you for reading.

[PT52]

I would have to agree. I only go to the bipolar thread because I have a limited amount of time and because it's hard enough just to keep up with the other BPs, much less everyone else. Plus so many of us also deal with anxiety issues that makes it hard to communicate in places we're not familiar with - and that includes virtual places.

I've only been a member a couple of months, but I know every so often there are threads added that remind us we're not just our illness. So many times we're dealing with serious issues. We are very much a family, and sometimes families need to be a little lighthearted.

I hope that people in charge can see that it is important to us and maybe be a little more understanding.

Thank you for listening.

[lynn P.]

TBO I understand why they moved those 2 particular threads because the topic isn't related only to bipolar members or the disorder itself. These topics could involve everyone in the forums, which is why it was moved to social chat. Other members could relate to your topics. If you want to discuss various topics within the bipolar community, I suppose you could start your own social group/sub forum - maybe a title like 'bipolar light hearted sharing' for example.

[Travelinglady]

Can't help putting my one-cent worth in, since I have also posted about proper places for certain threads. I'm Bipolar II and am having, in a sense, the opposite problem. I was "religiously" reading the bipolar forum and really taking to heart the problems that people were sharing. And I was trying to help out. I then got frustrated when someone came in with what seemed like a serious matter and then when people responded that way, she seemed perturbed. I suggested that the forums be saved, then, for more serious topics and humor be placed elsewhere.

Since then my therapist has told me that it would be healthier to avoid the bipolar and depression forums and to limit my time on PC. She has encouraged me to mainly go to the social chat section and other such places.....

Is there a possible "compromise"? Such as a continuing thread on the bipolar site for people to post in with lighter topics, things perceived to be helpful especially for our fellow bipolars, etc.? Then I could make a beeline for that, anyway, and other people who don't have a lot of time, but want to make sure to spend that time on the bipolar forum, can quickly access it.

Thanks for considering this possibility!

[blueoctober]

Thanks for your suggestion Lynn. I have posted on the General Social Chat and I received a rude comment by one of the regular posters (totally uncalled for). I appreciated that you stuck up for me, but it made me feel not very welcome into that group. I understand that 1 person's actions don't speak for the whole group, but this was my experience.

[blueoctober]

I'm sorry that you experienced that PAYNE1 and I agree that thread was uncomfortable; I didn't post on it because of that. I do miss having you post on the bipolar forum.

Perhaps we could have a subgroup called "Bipolar Social Chat" similar to the General Social Chat having the Pets subgroup?

[lynn P.]

Originally Posted by blueoctober

I'm sorry that you experienced that PAYNE1 and I agree that thread was uncomfortable; I didn't post on it because of that. I do miss having you post on the bipolar forum.

Perhaps we could have a subgroup called "Bipolar Social Chat" similar to the General Social Chat having the Pets subgroup?

I think that would be a great idea blueoctober.

[laur88]

Originally Posted by blueoctober

I'm sorry that you experienced that PAYNE1 and I agree that thread was uncomfortable; I didn't post on it because of that. I do miss having you post on the bipolar forum.

Perhaps we could have a subgroup called "Bipolar Social Chat" similar to the General Social Chat having the Pets subgroup?

I definitely agree with your idea for a solution. I only really check the BP forum because like blue said, it's my PC "family". I agree that it's good to have light-hearted topics but I only really have the patience to look at one or two forums so I think having a lighter forum within the BP forum would be good.

[DocJohn]

We are one big community here -- not 20 sub-groups of people all divided up by our disorder or diagnosis. Putting in individual social chat groups in each disorder forum kind of defeats the purpose of gathering us all together in one place in the first place.

I'm disappointed that you got only one rude response in social chat to your thread (you should always use the report icon on such a post to report it to the moderators to see if it violates the guidelines and have it removed). But that doesn't mean it's a reason to ignore the guidelines and our efforts to keep the forums somewhat organized. Sure, I understand that some people like reading only one or two forums, but if we allowed any topic under any forum, then what's the point of having any individual forums to begin with? We could just have one forum and call it a day.

To that end, the community team here is tasked with helping keep topics in each forum appropriate to that forum's focus, and in upholding the guidelines. Unless someone asks us permission beforehand to do something that might violate the guidelines, we have no way of reading into people's intent of why they posted off-topic in the wrong forum or what-not.

And last, technically this thread is against the guidelines, because it's a discussion of administrative actions. As per the guidelines, we ask you bring such concerns to a community team member or myself directly and privately. The reasoning for this is because we could spend an awful lot of time explaining our actions here rather than actually working on the site or helping others with their concerns. We would just like to focus what limited volunteer time we have here.

I've allowed it to remain to help explain why threads sometimes get moved to a different forum, so in the future, others may read and understand our rationale better.

Thank you,
DocJohn