[(JD)]

I'm wondering.
I know there are social groups here, hey I have a few myself. But one of the ones I began is private. I made it that way so the casual reader/member won't be in shock by what some "professional" might express regarding their own feelings or self care...as well as other confidential type things. That's a private social group. We still hold to basic guidelines of being civil, giving support etc.

But there are social groups that are public to read. And I wonder why they are able to post things that slant against/bash a group of people, readers, here and say all manner of ill will or untruth (their own opinions) when it's a public forum.

Shouldn't they take their forums private if they want to share and embrace those sentiments?

Just wondering what the guidelines call for in those particular cases.

[Miracle1986]

Originally Posted by (JD)

And I wonder why they are able to post things that slant against/bash a group of people, readers, here and say all manner of ill will or untruth (their own opinions) when it's a public forum.

Shouldn't they take their forums private if they want to share and embrace those sentiments?

[DocJohn]

All forums, social groups, chat rooms, etc. are to abide by the Community Guidelines:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/rules

If you find a post anywhere on the site that is violating the guidelines, please report it. That's the only way we know about it (since we get well over 1,000 new posts a day, no one on the community team is reading each and every one of them).

The only exception to the community guidelines are --

- Religious posts are banned from the Spirituality forum
- Topics of religion and politics are allowed in Social Groups, but are discouraged anywhere else in the Community

DocJohn

[(JD)]

Thanks for your reply. Are topics of religion and politics allowed in publicly viewed social groups? I thought that was only private social groups.

[DocJohn]

We don't differentiate between public and private social groups, so yes, they are allowed in both public and private social groups.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by (JD)

Shouldn't they take their forums private if they want to share and embrace those sentiments?

I don't think it's that simple to just take a forum private. My understanding was that you had to have quite a large number of members to do that. Is it easier than I think to do it?

That's besides your point, though, JD, so excuse the divergence. I do agree that people should be civil and respectful no matter what forum they post in. And my understanding of politics and religious topics matched what Dr. John confirmed--OK to discuss religion and politics in the social groups. Some social groups are even designed just for people of certain religious or political views. Usually this is evident from either the social group name or description, so it is pretty easy to avoid the groups that do not match one's personal views if one would find it upsetting to read divergent (albeit civil) views.

[(JD)]

Once you have enough members in your social group, you can take / make a forum on the main index. The creator of the group decides if the group will be private or public. But I know of a group that isn't listed on the main index and it happens to be a "moderated" group (by the originator of the group) does that keep it from being publicly viewed on the main PC listing???

(PS I think it only takes 25 members in a social group to go forum. It takes activity to keep it going though... I guess... on the PC indexing?)

[notz]

Hmmm...care to say which group?

[pegasus]

Yeah, I think this is an issue that should have been discussed via PM to admin rather than on the boards, I can see feelings getting hurt here.

*sigh*

[KathyM]

Hi JD

If you are personally offended by the conversation, would it be possible for you to ignore their conversation? If not, would it be possible to address the group directly and explain exactly what offends you so personally about their conversation? If their conversation has nothing to do with you, it should be pretty easy for you to ignore. If their conversation is directly about you, I believe you would have the right to address them directly.

BTW - who are we talking about here?

[(JD)]

I can only see 10 social groups on my PC main index page, yet there are 3 pages of them in the social group
listing . I know not all have enough members for a forum, and others may not have made forums. Am I correct in assuming that only 10 of the social groups have created forums?

As for who specifically, that doesn't matter. And we all know each other well enough that that question doesn't require my answering.

I do recall having some editing of discussion of a previous social group, and some negative labeling too. I'm glad things have relaxed a bit for the social groups now.

Sent from my iPhone

[DocJohn]

JD, private social groups that have created forums won't show on your page unless you're a member of that group. So yes, there are more than 10 social group forums.

I'm going to close this thread, as I think the original question has been asked and answered. Please PM me if you need further clarification.