[pegasus]

It says for teenagers only to post in there but I wondered if this could be widened for all to be able to reply to posts. It's such a shame to see zero replies.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by pegasus

It says for teenagers only to post in there but I wondered if this could be widened for all to be able to reply to posts. It's such a shame to see zero replies.

I kind of think having adults replying in the teen lounge would defeat the purpose of having a place where teen agers can discuss teen age issues with other teens, kind of like having teen agers reply to posts in the seniors lounge would defeat the purpose of having a place where seniors can have a place to talk about issues that happen with people over 50, 65 depending upon ones location of what is senior.

teen agers have different problems and things going on then adults do and they dont always want an adult butting in on their discussions together or adults giving advice on their activities. they get enough of this (having to listen to adults and do what adults tell them) at home with their parents and family.

my opinion is they need a place where they can get away from adults and just talk about their own things with their own age grouping.

besides that there is nothing stopping them from posting in other areas of the community when they do want adult advice and input. I mean there are 61 categories here not counting the social groups and many of these categories have subforums to them, so figure about 80- possibly over 100 forums where the teens have to put up with adult advice and input, not to mention the chat rooms....

my point there are plenty of opportunities for the teens to get the adult input and advice but their options of just amongst their selves what do they have... the teen lounge.

also adults interacting with minors on the internet is a very gray and questionable area in many locations add mental disorders and anything can happen. having the teen lounge limited to just teen agers in my opinion goes a long way in helping these teen agers feel safer. I know that it doesnt prevent things from happening but it does add to the security elements for teens here.

[Skeezyks]

I have, on a couple of occasions, taken it upon myself to reply to new members' first posts in the Teen Lounge when they have gone a day or two with no replies. At least so far... I've not been reprimanded for it. I support your suggestion.

I like this idea too.

deffenetly in favour

[Artchic528]

But it's a Teen Lounge, not an "All Ages Lounge". It kind of defeats the purpose.

[Crazy Hitch]

Maybe where it says: “only teens may post here” it should say:

“Only teens may start a new thread topic for any PC member to reply to “

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

Maybe where it says: “only teens may post here” it should say:

“Only teens may start a new thread topic for any PC member to reply to “

hey great idea,

while we are at it how about doing the same (change or ignore the limitations placed ) to the senior board, transgender and other gender board and the womens forum and the mens forum and basically the whole site where there are limitations on who and what can be posted in them.....

ok ok I was being sarcastic, of course I dont want that to happen... my point was each board has its limitations for a reason. that reason is because there was/ is a need for those limitations.....

otherwise psych central would be just like many other websites out there where the boards are not very well organized, posts and threads gotten lost and people feeling paranoid and hurt when someone who does not understand and have those situations take threads off track, with people who are not in those categories posting and replying about things that they dont go through.

Has anyone actually taken the time to look back on the history of these "only" designated boards. many of us who have been here more than 5 years can pretty much remember the creation of at least one of these "only" designated boards and why the "only" rule was imposed....

I have been here long enough (8 plus years) to see more than one "Only" designated board come into being by doc john....

each time it came about because those boards were asked for and they fit Doc Johns criteria for having their own board.

Having the "Only" designation happened after there were problems in those boards with being open to everyone. people in those boards were afraid others didnt understand the unique problems that come with being a teen, a senior, transgendered and other, didnt feel women understood mens issues and women didnt feel comfortable having men answer their posts about female issue.... on and on and on... feelings got hurt, people felt stigmatized, discriminated when others outside the category posted there.....

in short the "only" designation was placed on each of those boards for a reason... it was and is needed.

think of it this way... each member look at their own posting history. notice where they post the most.. then think about whether you would want some one who does not have that issue, come in telling you what to to about your problem when they have no idea whats what with that problem...

I know I certainly would not want a man to tell me what to do about my periods, or a teen ager tell me what to do about my senior parent, or someone who is not LGBTQ giving me advice on my being a lesbian and my lesbian related problems, or ....

well you see what I mean.... why should we impose ourselves into the teens only board...

dont get me wrong I can understand being on the outside looking in and seeing no replies and want to reply there, I have had that feeling on each of the"only" designated boards... but I recognize that the"Only" rule is there for a reason, and I have been here long enough to remember the chaos of many of these now "only" designated boards before they were given their "only" status.

I admit I dont always like the rules but I do recognize that they are needed and are there for a reason. we cant just pick and choose which rules we are not going to abide by/ break just so that we dont have to see threads without any replies. seeing threads with out any replies is just the risk we take in being part of any internet forum.

Also in looking back on the creation of the "only" designated boards that have come into being during my time here I did discover that there is a way for people who do not fit the "only" criteria to post in those boards....

when someone in those boards asks for someone outside the boards to come in and reply there. like the invite only social groups, you wait until a teen ager asks for non teen ager replies. then non teen agers can reply to that thread.

Just like if the men place in their threads they would like a womans point of view or a senior puts in their thread they want others input, or a trangendered/other asks for non transgender/ other input, or someone in the LGBTQ board asks for non LGBTQ input....

once someone in those boards ask for these replies then its ok for others to post in that thread.

I have not yet seen a teen ager ask for non teen agers to reply there fore I follow the rule and do not reply in that board.

heres a suggestion that might work....maybe in each of these "only" designated boards there can be a statement saying if those in that board would like outside replies, feel free to ask for it. that way if someone does want outsiders replying they can get those replies and those of us outside the "only" designation will still be following the rules, instead of ignoring the "only" rule and posting anyway.

line in the sand the "only" designation is there for a reason. if we all start breaking that rule then problems can happen, feelings can get hurt.

I will continue to follow the "only" designated rule. when I see a post or thread asking for outside the "only" designation then I will reply in those boards, because someone in those boards asked for outside replies.

[pegasus]

There are many teenagers and young people that come to Psych Central because they are being abused or have a mental health concern. Imagine coming to Psych Central for help and advice and not getting any help or advice. No replies can make them think that this is not the place for them, that no one cares and then they won't use Psych Central anymore. I like the idea of teenagers starting threads and stipulating if they would like all ages to reply. I'm not saying to take over the forum, but to step in and answer an unanswered thread. It could be a life saver!

one thing i'd like to add, is that part of our job as CL'S is to welcome people, and answer unanswered threads.

that goes for any forum

teen or not

as for the comment above only teens can start topics, I don't agree

what if an older member wants to ask a question in their to get conversation going

they should be allowed that, right?

it comes down to this.

if something like the self injury forum said

" just for those that self injured",

or the anxiety forum said " just for people with anxiety", their goes the support from other well meaning people who don't have those problems, because they can't post in their

I think it's the same for the teen lounge (or rather, it should be the same for the teen lounge)

we were all teenagers once, we can all relate

just my thoughts

final comments:

the question of the month forum states that it's a place to answer the question of the month, " posted by doc john"

other people (including myself) have posted threads in that section and it's okay

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

final comments:

the question of the month forum states that it's a place to answer the question of the month, " posted by doc john"

other people (including myself) have posted threads in that section and it's okay

no offense here but we are talking about the "only" designated boards (teen lounge description says only teens post there...

question of the month is not an only designated board its description is ...

The place to answer the Question of the Month, posted by DocJohn.

there is no only designation so its understood that all can partake in that board.

also if you trace the posts and threads back you may find that somewhere before anyone actually posted their own question someone actually asked permission first. when I first came here I was interested in reading that forum and went back to its beginnings and found first threads asking questions by doc John, then a thread or post stating by doc john that he would welcome help in coming up with questions or otherwise giving permission for others to post their own questions of the month threads. apparently and my guess is that question of the month was never an "only" designate forum.

[Artchic528]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

final comments:

the question of the month forum states that it's a place to answer the question of the month, " posted by doc john"

other people (including myself) have posted threads in that section and it's okay

With that logic, men can post threads in the woman support forum and vice versa....

Originally Posted by Artchic528

With that logic, men can post threads in the woman support forum and vice versa....

true,
but I also doubt though every single forum user is monitored in those sections
50 people say post in the women support forum (just as an example). I really don't think it's top of the moderators list to check all their profiles to figure out if they are women

I would imagine that users use their common sense.

they have access to the forums, it's up to them isn't it

I mean you could password protect the men and women forum, that would solve the issue- and just get the members to PM the mods with the passwords they want.

[lizardlady]

I'm going to weigh in with those who think the teens forum should be for teens only. Amandalouise pointed out there is a history behind the existence of these forums. They came into being because there was a need. I work with teens in the outside world. They need a place to talk with each other without what they perceive as "interference" from adults. I believe we should leave things as is.

For adults who feel badly about a teen post not getting any replies, how about PMing the poster?

Skeezyks, I see nothing "wrong" with a community liaison posting a welcome message to a new teen in the forum. Seems like that is part of your "job."

[pegasus]

lizardlady, for personal reasons I have my pm set to friends only so PMing the teens would not work for me.

I agree teens should have a place to call their own if there were enough replying to each other and for light hearted stuff. But when there is a desperate post and one was posted in there recently about how lonely they are and then no replies to it! I wish someone had been there for me when I was a teenager. No point having a forum for teens only if they get no replies or hardly any at all.

Anyway, my bad for caring! I was hoping for admin reply which I guess from the lack or response, I already know the answer. Would be nice if we could just pop in there and direct them to a more appropriate forum.

[seesaw]

What if we treated this like posts that may be in the wrong area? Like, if you see a post that isn't getting any replies 1) try PMing the member to let them know you hear their concerns and problems, that you can't respond on the thread bc of where it's placed and that you would be willing to offer them support if they need it OR 2) click the report button and in the comment field suggest to the moderators that they maybe suggest to the teen to also post in a different forum so they can get non-teen advice too.

I agree we were all teenagers once, but for a teenager, getting advice from an adult, no matter if they were once kids, isn't the same. People want to relate to their peer group. Peer support is a very important tool in recovery and validation. Yes, we can relate and help to an extent, but to some extent we can't. The world is VERY different than when I grew up. Each generation faces it's own challenges. Having a teens only forum respects that reality.

Seesaw

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

true,
but I also doubt though every single forum user is monitored in those sections
50 people say post in the women support forum (just as an example). I really don't think it's top of the moderators list to check all their profiles to figure out if they are women

I would imagine that users use their common sense.

they have access to the forums, it's up to them isn't it

I mean you could password protect the men and women forum, that would solve the issue- and just get the members to PM the mods with the passwords they want.

Um, nope, they do, actually. I mistakenly posted in the mens' forum once (I did a search for certain topics and it doesn't easily show you where the thread is located) and they contacted me almost immediately to tell me that they had removed my post.

I think they get monitored pretty closely.

Seesaw

[Skeezyks]

I can see both sides to this discussion. One thing I have done, just today as a matter of fact, is to leave greetings on the message boards of members' profile pages so that, although their posts have so far gone un-replied to, at least they don't feel completely ignored.

Also I just want to add here that while women only are supposed to post in the women's forum, & men in the men's forum, & teens in the teens forum, cis-gendered members seem to feel it is appropriate to post in the transgender forum. And I know there have been trans members who would prefer that this not occur either.

[DocJohn]

If we take away teens' rights in their own forum and let others post to it, it feels intrusive, paternalistic, and like we're treating them as a group that isn't the same as other special groups in our community (like "women only" or "men only" forums).

For many members, PMing the person who's had no replies is one alternative. Sorry that doesn't work for the OP.

While I hear the concern of lack of replies, we have that problem throughout many forums. It's not unique to the teens forum.

So at this time, no, we will not allow adults posting to this forum. But we will monitor the forum for this issue.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

cis-gendered members seem to feel it is appropriate to post in the transgender forum. And I know there have been trans members who would prefer that this not occur either.

I agree Skyeezyks.

[DocJohn]

Report CIS concerned posts that aren't questioning their own status... CIS are allowed to post there if they are questioning or looking for guidance.