[Artchic528]

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

Artchic, I see inconsiderate and mean replies frequently on PC. There's one going on right now, and I bet nothing will be done about it. That's what bothers me...the Current Events board often takes the brunt of blame just because it's more obvious, whereas oftentimes mean threads on other boards are ignored.

Well, do what I do and just keep reporting that post repeatedly until you see it's been taken care of. I don't mean to go and mash the report icon repeatedly one click after another, but just go back every 4-5 hours or so and report it again if needed.

My theory is that doing this will garner the post enough attention by the modding team that they will take action. Either that or they will just handle it to stop seeing it come up as a problem.

[Open Eyes]

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

I definitely understand what you've posted. And this is part of the reason why I'm glad there's a specific group/forum on PC now that is just for political discussion.

I will say, however, that when I am doing really badly with depression/anxiety just about EVERYTHING triggers me. I can't even be on PC at all. In fact, a big problem I have with PC is that I reply to others, but almost never post about my own problems while they're happening because I can't even put myself out there when I'm really messed up.

So...I wonder if some of the people who leave PC when they're having a really bad time leave because just about everything is feeding their despondency.

Well, I have had things going on IRL that have been so bad that I would just come on PC and read and sit. I could not talk about my own challenges, was much too overwhelmed and tended to help others instead. At least that helped me think about something else rather than how badly I was doing.

If only others could actually see me when things were so incredibly bad, sitting at the computer, shaking with PTSD chills, the heater at my feet had not showered and sometimes it was so bad I burned my legs with the heater not realizing it because the PTSD chills were just so bad.

I remember reading and posting and reading and posting trying SO HARD. I was SO BAD LauraBeth. I would get up wanting to avoid going outside SO MUCH, and sit and type, then I would get up and read my statistics so I could remember what I had posted and to whom. What other members did not know about me when I joined is that I was actually dangerously suicidal.

I know I talked about PTSD, but I was trying SO HARD to understand it because I was experiencing it so badly. Well, part of my brain was struggling SO MUCH, yet another part was totally confused about it. And everyone IRL was being so mean to me about it. The therapist I had been seeing had told me he was a herioin addict and was also a narcissist. Scared? Ugh, if there was a bad therapist, I sat across from him/her. Needing the kind of help I had needed and not being able to find the right help is not something someone expects to experience. I had to have therapy for bad therapy and honestly, I came so close to not even "being".

I don't even remember reading the guidelines, thing is, I don't remember because that's how bad I was. Having the statistics helped SO MUCH. Did you ever read a post with missing words? Did you even happen to think that could be a sign of just how bad someone is struggling and "not" how they really talk? You know, sometimes what appears to look like angry or "mean" is more "frustration" from the way someone is challenged?

When I joined PC I had NEVER heard the term "trigger", but I was being triggered a lot, no therapist ever explained that to me. I had so many "triggers" in fact in my IRL environment because a great deal of trauma happened in my environment, but I did not "understand" that. The thing about PTSD is that some have it more severe then others.

People say, "if that triggers you then don't go there" right? But, what if you don't know "why" something triggers you? OR, what if you "need" to be triggered so you can find someway of learning how to "control" it? What if you are so afraid of being triggered in front of people that can "use that against you"? What if you want to interact where you "know" someone is going to argue with you for practice because you are going to face that kind of situation and YOU HAVE TO ABLE TO HANDLE IT?

When you are faced with people who tell you, "You can't react, don't react" and you "can" react and that is something you don't understand because you were never like that, not so incredibly sensitive that you can react before even consciously choosing to do so how do you work on that?

What about when someone is struggling so badly that they sit and read their homepage and see something they want to talk about and they post it and fail to follow instructions, "unknowingly" because what they are trying to say is this.... which means I want to talk about this but I can't seem to find the words today. It can mean, "will you help me talk, can you get me started, can't seem to muster that today, don't know why though.

My husband goes to AA meetings almost every night, the other nights he works. I get jealous because I wish there was something like that for me. I can't go to his meetings because it triggers me tbh, I am not an alcoholic and having experienced three in my life is enough, I need something different something for PTSD. There is nothing around for that and that is how I found Psych Central, looking for a "live" support group. I definitely get SO LONELY.

I can understand why some members liked having that CE forum and being able to discuss some politics. It can be helpful in ways. It can be helpful if one posts and then thinks about what they posted and change their mind and delete, or rethink their initial response and change their mind too. I don't think there is another place that has that. However, there is a risk as someone had warned me a few years back, "you know people will actually hate you if they are X and find out you are Y". I noticed that to be "true".

It's understandable the need to take some time to actually think through the decision to finally stop allowing. Considering what the main goal of the site is meant to be and the "risk" involved.

[bounceback]

I am for one very happy you did this. Thank you Dr. John

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

Well, I have had things going on IRL that have been so bad that I would just come on PC and read and sit. I could not talk about my own challenges, was much too overwhelmed and tended to help others instead. At least that helped me think about something else rather than how badly I was doing.

If only others could actually see me when things were so incredibly bad, sitting at the computer, shaking with PTSD chills, the heater at my feet had not showered and sometimes it was so bad I burned my legs with the heater not realizing it because the PTSD chills were just so bad.

I remember reading and posting and reading and posting trying SO HARD. I was SO BAD LauraBeth. I would get up wanting to avoid going outside SO MUCH, and sit and type, then I would get up and read my statistics so I could remember what I had posted and to whom. What other members did not know about me when I joined is that I was actually dangerously suicidal.

I know I talked about PTSD, but I was trying SO HARD to understand it because I was experiencing it so badly. Well, part of my brain was struggling SO MUCH, yet another part was totally confused about it. And everyone IRL was being so mean to me about it. The therapist I had been seeing had told me he was a herioin addict and was also a narcissist. Scared? Ugh, if there was a bad therapist, I sat across from him/her. Needing the kind of help I had needed and not being able to find the right help is not something someone expects to experience. I had to have therapy for bad therapy and honestly, I came so close to not even "being".

I don't even remember reading the guidelines, thing is, I don't remember because that's how bad I was. Having the statistics helped SO MUCH. Did you ever read a post with missing words? Did you even happen to think that could be a sign of just how bad someone is struggling and "not" how they really talk? You know, sometimes what appears to look like angry or "mean" is more "frustration" from the way someone is challenged?

When I joined PC I had NEVER heard the term "trigger", but I was being triggered a lot, no therapist ever explained that to me. I had so many "triggers" in fact in my IRL environment because a great deal of trauma happened in my environment, but I did not "understand" that. The thing about PTSD is that some have it more severe then others.

People say, "if that triggers you then don't go there" right? But, what if you don't know "why" something triggers you? OR, what if you "need" to be triggered so you can find someway of learning how to "control" it? What if you are so afraid of being triggered in front of people that can "use that against you"? What if you want to interact where you "know" someone is going to argue with you for practice because you are going to face that kind of situation and YOU HAVE TO ABLE TO HANDLE IT?

When you are faced with people who tell you, "You can't react, don't react" and you "can" react and that is something you don't understand because you were never like that, not so incredibly sensitive that you can react before even consciously choosing to do so how do you work on that?

What about when someone is struggling so badly that they sit and read their homepage and see something they want to talk about and they post it and fail to follow instructions, "unknowingly" because what they are trying to say is this.... which means I want to talk about this but I can't seem to find the words today. It can mean, "will you help me talk, can you get me started, can't seem to muster that today, don't know why though.

My husband goes to AA meetings almost every night, the other nights he works. I get jealous because I wish there was something like that for me. I can't go to his meetings because it triggers me tbh, I am not an alcoholic and having experienced three in my life is enough, I need something different something for PTSD. There is nothing around for that and that is how I found Psych Central, looking for a "live" support group. I definitely get SO LONELY.

I can understand why some members liked having that CE forum and being able to discuss some politics. It can be helpful in ways. It can be helpful if one posts and then thinks about what they posted and change their mind and delete, or rethink their initial response and change their mind too. I don't think there is another place that has that. However, there is a risk as someone had warned me a few years back, "you know people will actually hate you if they are X and find out you are Y". I noticed that to be "true".

It's understandable the need to take some time to actually think through the decision to finally stop allowing. Considering what the main goal of the site is meant to be and the "risk" involved.

Hi Open Eyes, I suspect a lot of us here on PC could write a post very similar to yours. I'm sorry for all of us who have to work so hard to find ways to live lives that are so very painful. I appreciate what you've written and I sense that you are trying to tell me something, but I'm not sure what it is. Are you saying that sometimes people are mean or attacking because they're in pain? Yes, that's entirely possible. Or...??? I'm so sorry, I'm just not exactly sure what you've tried to tell me.

[mimsies]

Whenever a new decision is made by Admin there are those who thank them and those who gripe about it.

Funny thing is, if people would moderate themselves, and behave with a reasonable level of maturity, critical thinking, compassion, and thoughtfulness toward each other... most of these actions wouldn't be necessary.

But people do seem to think their wants and needs are more important than everyone and anyone else's. Here is something to consider... yes any individual may have MI and problems with triggering and desire understanding and deferential treatment. Guess what! By the very nature of this site, pretty much ALL of us have MI and triggers and difficulties.

The admins are simply trying to make the site safe enough for most people to be able to get support and resources. They are trying to help the site run smoothly. I can guarantee, no matter who one is, or what one's issues are, they are not trying to persecute any one person, nor are they making rules or changes just to target any one person. And if one does happen to find one's self embroiled in many conflicts and problems with other members or admin, I can guarantee that person is NOT just an innocent victim.

[lizardlady]

^^^^^^^ Great post mimsies!!!^^^^^

[Open Eyes]

Funny thing is, if people would moderate themselves, and behave with a reasonable level of maturity, critical thinking, compassion, and thoughtfulness toward each other... most of these actions wouldn't be necessary.

Thing is though mimsies, some people/members are struggling so much their ability to function the way you have just stated is challenged. If a person is reaching out for help by going to AA for example, the rule in that program is firm on not discussing politics or religion. That is the case in "most" support programs or groups set up to help people who struggle.

But people do seem to think their wants and needs are more important than everyone and anyone else's. Here is something to consider... yes any individual may have MI and problems with triggering and desire understanding and deferential treatment. Guess what! By the very nature of this site, pretty much ALL of us have MI and triggers and difficulties.

YES and some members are struggling more than others too.

[DocJohn]

Folks, this thread is about the new politics policy in current events; it is not about members' individual situations or our moderation policies in general.

Given that the policy has been announced and discussed now, and the thread seems to be going off-topic, I'm going to close this thread. Thank you for your continued support of the community.