[Travelinglady]

I have noticed that sometimes newbies post and NOBODY responds. Also, folks who have been here for awhile might post and not get any reactions. I am concerned because some of these folks are really hurting and need help quickly. I am wondering if maybe the monitors or even someone else assigned to this task could keep an eye on this problem, and at least make some comment or ask someone to respond. I am sure some folks get on PC with high hopes and then have them dashed by not getting anyone here to help!

[shezbut]

I agree with you, Payne.

I do make an effort to respond to those poster's (new and old) who aren't receiving any responses to their post. I, myself, have felt that no one gave a hoot about my troubles a time or two. Those are very hard times, so I try to do what I can to prevent those in my subject arenas from feeling as though no one cares about them.

Unfortunately, I can't go into the New Member Welcome room. That room always overwhelms me! Hopefully, those who can go into the New Member Room will read this post and get the word out to others to make their trips into that room more regularly. It's a good thing to remind active members every now and again to keep our ears open to those in need of a shoulder to cry on.

[pegasus]

As a Community Liason, part of my job is to greet new members, make them feel welcome and answer Unanswered Threads
If you click on that link (it's under the search tab) you'll see there are hundreds of unanswered threads so if anyone wants to help please do! If you'd like to be a Community Liason I'm sure DocJohn would love to hear from you.

An Inspirational Idea, Payne,

Not just new members, either. I read a post, just yesterday, by a 'friend' of mine that is a wonderful person, and was obviously in need of some comfort. By the time I had stumbled across his plea, he alone had posted onto his own thread five times and still no one had written anything. Not everyone knows what to say on every thread, and even I was a little confused myself as to what he was needing, but I took the next half an hour to try to write something that would appropriately speak to his pain, and to
my sincere care for him.

I was in a bit of a hurry as I had an online meeting to 'get to,' and like the idiot that I have been a hundred times before, so long had I taken to scribe my missive, I had been automatically logged off of PC, and when I went to post, a message informing me that I must again log in came up. It was then that realized I had failed to save my own message.

I tried for five minutes to retrieve it, in anyway possible, and finally had to get going so that I would not be late. I have yet to search for his letter today, but I truly hope someone noticed that he had not yet received a reply. I plan on sending a PC to him later, this afternoon, when I have time again to focus on my response.

Payne1, this is one of the best, and most well-thought ideas I've heard, in regards to the feelings for, and kindness shown to all of our 'friends' at Psych Central, whether or not they are newly arrived.

Can there be nothing worse than placing your pain atop a soapbox in the center of a city sidewalk, and find that not only are others looking away, or stepping around your distress, no one even seems to care enough to give it a quick, kick out of the way?

I will be glad to commit with you, Payne, to addressing at least one of these unnoticed pleas for help, each day, and offer whatever support or direction I am able.

Payne, it takes empathy, and the gift of a generous nature, to notice a heart stitched loosely to the sleeve of one in need. The consideration you have shown for the feelings of possibly hundreds who have experienced this, themselves, both belies and honors your name, as well as your character.

Thank you for being one who stands for something,

-Fleeing Bellocq, Admiring the Muster of the Mission District

[Travelinglady]

I'll be glad to help out where I can! I, too, have to avoid certain forums and threads because of my own issues, and there are times when I am too depressed to read about other people's woes. Even my therapist has been concerned about what I get on here, and I have even deleted certain forums. Sometimes even the thread titles throw me for a spin. But surely we aren't all depressed at the same time, and we don't all have the same issues.

I have noticed that one possible "theme" to unanswered posts is their length. Really long ones tend to get "kicked aside." I know most folks are busy, and it's hard to take the time, especially if someone is really distressed, and their post is hard to make a lot of sense out of. But who of us has not been in that state at some point?

Thanks so much for your positive responses to my concern. I gather it's okay if I check out the unanswered threads and see if I can respond? I have sometimes just said "Hello" to a person and expressed understanding, even if I personally have no words of wisdom on their issue.

[Turtleboy]

i always try to answer a post with no replies esp the new people, it can make a huge difference to your day to see somebody has taken the time to read your thread, i know the awful feeling of putting up a personal story and the wait for an answer seems endless, it is a lovely thing that you even thought of this thank you payne <3

[yellowted]

i must admit i go through phases of answering unanswered messages as mine often only get a reply when i reply myself and lately i have been having a rough time myself so have been concentrating my energies on me. saying that i do try and answer and questions i feel i can contribute to. i did not know about the link to unanswered messages, i will try and find it and answer any i can as often as i can.

[ArthurDent]

Payne, I think this is very inspired. I've often wondered the same things. Two thumbs up for putting this into words. None of us can accomplish this all alone, but by bringing it to our attention, maybe we can all try to do a little more. I couldn't agree more....this is very important to those in need.

Thank you, Payne.

Very thoughtful, lovely ... thank you for bringing it to our (my) attention. I must admit, I too have a hard time reading certain threads or topics or going to other forums. But I will truly make an effort to be more mindful going forward.

Thanks again.

hey I don't know what the fuss is about!

we cannot all be synchronised...
emotionally and mentally and personally and universally...and

whatever.

enough of the sympathising with sympathy.

I put heaps of stuff up here and everywhere and always have
....that... alot! never gets responses and thats just the way it goes.

some of it does some of it doesn't (this might be a perfect example)

doesn't stop me!...and I'm a terrific loser!...like what the hell?

it's ridiculous to think this psych set up can be "arranged"...

or even "convenient"

we get to each other when we can...and when we do...?

it's very cool

[LadyShadow]

I agree Payne1, it is often hard to answer threads when you are going through hard times yourself. I will make more of a conscious effort to help those in need. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention

[Puffyprue]

yeah its sad.. and its more sad if you are a newbie and on your few first post everyone started attacking you simply because your issues is different from everyone else ...ITS JUST SAD !

[optimize990h]

I try my best according to how I feel. And whether I am focused enough to stop being in the games forum and answer appropriately to posts. I like to post something that I mean, but sometimes my mind is not going to give out helpful thoughts.

Take care.

[Ladyzero]

Where's the new member welcome room ?
I do try to answer as much as I can but often I can't find positivity in me to share, and wouldn't want to share my 'misery soup' so I don't reply.
Also if I have no knowledge of certain disorders, illness' or impairments I can't give an opinion. I do try to empathise, sympathise and advise where I feel I can.
Good points raised in this thread.

fleeingbellocq, do you know what i also like to do sometimes? (i don't really do it on this forum) but on other boards.. if i know i'm writing a long message to someone, before sending it, i copy it to my clipboard- so if i do have to log back in, i've got it safe somewhere

as for the issue about people not replying to every message, yes.. you have a point.

i guess a lot of the time- it's not about not wanting to reply, it's about who reads the forums, who sees that thread, and who has something to say about it.. also about time zones- if someone posts a message say at a reall awkward time, it's not going to get a reply until someone loggs on and read that board

not sure their is really too much we can do that's in our control- the only thing i'd perhaps suggest is if you see a message that's not got a response to it, just at least leave a hug or something so that the author knows that it's been read

we could always install a new feature to the site where we can subscribe to forums, which will also make things easier for those un ansered posts

[DocJohn]

Here's the New Member Introductions forum:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=40

If you would like to volunteer to become a community liaison -- members who make a special and concerted effort to welcome new members, reply to their threads, and such -- drop me a PM and I'll get you added.

There are a lot of people in our community and of course, a self-help community such as ours only works when people try and give back to the community after they've gained some support from it. Just saying, "I hear ya..." can be enough or "I can't begin to understand what you're going through, but I just wanted to let you know I'm here to listen."

The act of listening on a forum like this is a bit different than what we do in real life with a person face-to-face. A 100 people could read a thread, all of them actively listening to the person, but the person really has no way of knowing that if no one posts some reply. So it takes a little more effort to "listen" online.

I appreciate everyone who is making the extra effort to help out with folks who may not be getting replies. Thank you.

Best,
DocJohn

[layla11]

Hi, I would like to help with this also when I can. Thanks all