I'm really upset now!

How come no one wanted to deal with this privacy issue properly when I raised it a while back.
How come people just jumped all over me, causing me to feel even more insecure than I did already, am I really so unimportant?
Are we all so unimportant here?
I mean really, what's the point in these on-line forums if we can't be protected as well as can be effected?
It's ridiculous, the whole security issue is being treated shabbily, are we supposed to believe that people can just walk into a psychotherapy session and have a listen-in, well we know for a fact that the general public cannot simply stroll-in.
Can the general public simply stroll into a rehab-facility willy nilly, no they can't, can the general public simply stroll into a convalesent home willy nilly, no they can't.
I've been away from this site again for a little while, for personal reasons outside of this site, but I'm less keen to come here more and more. This saddens me because I'm getting to know some wonderful people here whom I would never get to know outside of this site.
My personal fears and concerns mean nothing here, I've come to realise this now, this really hurts and upsets me.

FleeingFox>> Sorry that you are feeling like once upon a time your thoughts about security were ignored.
I wish you would not give up on us so quickly.
Can you explain a little about what you had posted about when you were here a while back?

im sorry you feel this way , ((((((((FleeingFox)))))))))))))
i have been using this site for personel support since last sep and i am allways worried, ppl i know will find this site ppl i know would use it against me , as in some of my threds you might not have read but i have refered to another female that got involved in my life, she alone has ruined my life and i knew her so , i think if i know this female and she can do this whats the point in hiding from ppl , i try not to say to much that can be used and only try to say things that are only to do with me, and my family , my doctor knows i use a forum and my councillor neither have asked for the web address
i used to use a diferant forum but i gave the address away to ppl that i trusted and not knowing if they would direct ppl there i stopped using it , i feel safe here i dont hide behind a user name because i am fed up hiding from other ppl my husband uses this forum as well but hes using a user name , again im sorry you dont feel safe here

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Twisted_Soul said:
FleeingFox>> Sorry that you are feeling like once upon a time your thoughts about security were ignored.
I wish you would not give up on us so quickly.
Can you explain a little about what you had posted about when you were here a while back?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Here's the link:
http://forums.psychcentral.com/showf...b=5&o=&fpart=1

I know what you're trying to say Katheryn, but I need to feel safer than that, being paranoid is not a choice, and it's not a pleasant condition to endure, and it doesn't bear up well to additional strain.

I know that some people will say don't use the forum, but that's unfair, I don't understand why our safety is so unimportant on these sites.

Fleeing Fox,

I believe you were referring to your post "Is this site safe?" I read through and you did get quite a few responses - it may seem like people ignored you because they didn't necessarily agree with you or your desire to lock out non members from support community did not come to fluition.

I am sorry that you feel this way. It is understandable, we all feel ignored and left out at times. I think the important thing to remember here is that it is being addressed and Doc John posted that he will be letting us know something tonight.

Best regards,
Songbird

i know what you are saying about being paranoid i think it goes with a lot of conditions , i agree we should feel safe , i also know that doc stopped us using the web at first because we logged on from the pc but when i explained that we both suffer he was ok with this i hope they can make things like this safer if not for us what about those children out there who think they are safe using childrens sites and we all know ppl use them that shouldnt ,

FleeingFox, many people did address your concerns on the link you provided.
The purpose of this site is to gain a supportive network, however, it is on the WorldWideWeb. Even home computers can be hacked of valuable information and this site is public.
If you want to maintain your identity then it is best to stick with a name unlike your real name and refrain from using your last name, location etc.
Sorry you are upset...

Because there are so many people here that have paranoia, we need to be careful to NOT infect others with our own. This is an AMIN issue, IMO. Best taken up with them rather than upsetting the membership even worse.

(((hugs))) Fleeing fox... I'm sorry you felt dismissed and minimized. Actually, anytime someone expresses concern, imo it IS given consideration. The reason there was that thread at all is because the issue was being address, imo. Many members are always onguard here, and while the system "worked" it could have moved a bit faster, is all, imo, thus possibly preventing some heartache.

It isn't the site that KEEPS us safe, imo, but each other. Some of us are so quick to defend a new found "friend" here, that we fail to see some of the red flags. If others send us a PM asking us to be safe with a certain member...until that member is "proven" so to speak, of if we see another member or two post questions to that new member...and no response, no real response (not necessarily "the" answer to the question) is given, we need to be able to step back a second, also.

IMO those who are mentally unwell are that way because the normal systems of mental health self-care are disordered somehow. (I know with PTSD, the alerts are set TOO HIGH, for others maybe they are set TOO LOW.) If we work to keep each other safe, and accept caution flags as good advice and not derogatory digs, we'll all be safer here. IMO, It's ok to not be able to share, or not want to, but that's far different than not understanding the fragile nature of the minds of some mentally unwell members - or deliberately taking advantage of them.

Fleeing, you can PM me anytime you feel unsafe, or sense something askew...even though I'm NOT a moderator nor admin here, safety is something I always take seriously. TC... it's good to have you helping us watch.

one thing to remember too is this is the internet. anyone can join. so it isn't like going to real life therapy sessions where only you and a dr are there.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
SongBirdandDaisy said:
Fleeing Fox,

I believe you were referring to your post "Is this site safe?" I read through and you did get quite a few responses - it may seem like people ignored you because they didn't necessarily agree with you or your desire to lock out non members from support community did not come to fluition.

I am sorry that you feel this way. It is understandable, we all feel ignored and left out at times. I think the important thing to remember here is that it is being addressed and Doc John posted that he will be letting us know something tonight.

Best regards,
Songbird

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I did post a link to the mentioned thread!

I was responded to, but nothing happened, except my emotional and mental stability being damaged, but that doesn't matter does it, just so long as people can flame me in their subtle ways.
I get it, let's pick on the vunerable folk, because that's always fun isn't it!?!


To those here who understand how nervous I'm feeling and are trying to support me, I send much love.

To those who only want to try and make me look foolish and wish to pick on me, fine, go ahead, pick on me, nothing new there.

Fleeing,

I hope you don't feel that I was "flaming" you, because I wasn't and if you feel I did, I apologize. I'm just trying to keep everything in perspective and keep people grounded. It's easy to feel attacked - I know. I was not attacking you, nor would I ever attack anyone here. I was attacked for many years, physically and emotionally and would not do that to someone else.

Ask any member here who knows me, they will tell you.

I am merely pointing out the obvious that you were not ignored and people responded to you.

I am not going to carry on this conversation with you anymore because now you are attacking me and accusing me of picking on you when I wasn't. This is a very sensitive issue for everyone and I was only trying to settle things down for you.

Sorry I tried to help.

((((((((((FleeingFox)))))))))))))

I understand that you're upset and nervous. Many of us are right now.

I don't think it was anyone's intent to flame or upset you here by they're posting tonight. Many showed great support and care.

I do hope you feel better and we're certainly working on helping all to feel safe...as safe as is possible. Certainly there are many tools here available for personal emotional safety as well. That's another cool thing.

Peace to all,

KD

Ok fleeing fox.. let's see if I can help here too... what you are doing is catastrophizing. Have you heard that before? It doesn't mean you aren't feeling overwhelmed, for I feel you are. (((safe hugs))) It's good that you recognized your feelings of paranoia have kicked in ("big time I see."

The first thing that was in the other thread, I think, is about "invisible" and "anonymous" titles. Right?

I am currently "invisible." I don't think it really matters, because there are only 2 members who are Legendary status...Septembermorn and I. But sometimes he helps to show as invisible to be able to catch up on PMs and posts...before others realize you're on site... it gives me a breather, I know.

As for anonymous... IN the forums, there are few threads that contain a "member" listed as anonymous. That is a member who left the site, asking that their account be deleted. They do not have access to posting, PMs nor chat anymore. The lower half of the "who's online" page lists what appears to be "anonymous" viewers. I think DocJohn explained this fully somewhere here in the forums, and I took it as a type of pay no attention to the man behind the green curtain type thing... except there is no man there. It is part of the site softward accounting, I think.

Another of your concerns was the site being the target of search engines... and it was answered that NO there are no outside search engines that can view this site. DocJohn works hard at keeping up with the techniques to continue to block all outside search engines.

Now, what else can I (or someone else) answer for you tonight, to help you feel safer?

B R E A T H E... breathing is good I know you are upset (((fleeing fox))) ... trust me and the others who are wanting to reassure you that your worst fears don't come true here, ok?

When we use words like "never" and "no one" we are probably overgeneralizing. Indeed, in that thread, many of us did take your concern seriously...and you posted that you felt better after the posting, right?

This is part of your disorder, it's understandable. It isn't you. It's telling you to fear, but you really do know better, and want to feel safe. Don't "flee" foxy.. it is a safe place here. I'm sorry you feel overlooked in all this going on... and you did right to post about your feeling unsafe. There are others who haven't yet been able to post that, but are feeling just as unsafe.

Maybe by your reaching out to let the site know, you will also have helped others here.

This is the Internet. Security can help, but it can be costly. Even then, some hackers are skilled enough to bypass it. I don't think most would care about a site like this, though.

I don't know what DocJohn will do about this, if anything, but he or whomever handles the website and/or the boards will need to get familiar with security software, if he's/they aren't already. Ideally, he'll get more than one form of security.