[DocJohn]

Just a gentle reminder, as this has come up in recent days in regard to another member's story here.

We do not question or call into question another person's experiences or history. It is unsupportive to do so, and can be very invalidating. We're not here to play amateur detective.

Yes, having such a policy may mean we get somehow "duped," but if that's a concern for you, then I suggest you not contribute to a thread where you question the member's story.

Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

Best,
DocJohn

[kaliope]

thanks

[Gavinandnikki]

Thanks for treating us like children- but the point has been made. I'll get my pacifier and go back in my crib now.

I'm a little uneasy that there is no responsibility the other way, but I suppose it would be hard to police false stories. I think perhaps with something as far reaching as this where there has been a lot of emotional investment from other PC users, there needs to be some sort of safeguard for the community. While we all have a duty to protect ourselves on the internet, there are a lot of vulnerable people here and it would be a real shame if this felt like a less safe environment in the wake of all this.

Well, it's not safe. Probably a good lesson for all.

[irishandproud]

I think the issue for many of us was that people were contributing to a thread where they genuinely believed in and empathized with someone's suffering and it is now only late in the day that people are realising that they may have been "duped".

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ScarletPimpernel]

What do you think the moderators can actually do that would be helpful? Most, if not all (?) are volunteers. And they can't determine the truth anymore than we can. So I understand their position. In the end, we are responsible for our own feelings and actions.

I understand their position too, as I said I think it would be difficult to police, but maybe PC users apparently visiting/sending care packages etc should at least raise some flags that the situation needs to be monitored.

[rainbow8]

Do we have to process what happened with our individual Ts? It happened here, and most people, including myself, did not question anything until now, almost a year later. There were something like 32,000 views on that one thread! Most people embraced the person and the threads. I have mixed feelings about the whole episode. It is not so simple as to stay away from a thread! It's very unsettling and hard to move on.

[Purpledaze]

If we do not call into question peoples' stories, why has the deleted thread not been reinstated - minus the comments that called the story into question?

[Lauliza]

I agree that it's a little invalidating to shut down a thread that the majority of posters really want to participate in. This is to process feelings about something that has already occurred, so telling people to avoid a thread like this is unrealistic.

This is a good learning experience for anyone who uses social media as a way to connect with people and make friends. It's a great way to meet people but still needs to be approached with caution in any context- whether it be PC, dating sites, Facebook and other social media. If you've never met someone in the flesh, then you don't really know them. Just for self preservation it's wise not to invest too much emotionally until you're able to confirm their identity.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I bet if someone starts a thread about ways to cope with possible false stories, that would be acceptable. I don't think they will allow any post dealing with the previous subject even if it's indirectly (i.e. absolutely no details about the previous thread).

Might want to confirm with a moderator before starting it.

[growlycat]

I'm walking away when I smell BS from now on.

[musinglizzy]

I'm completely in the dark...musta missed something big (or just didn't realize it was big)

[Inner_Firefly]

I'm confused, which thread was deleted?

[precaryous]

Originally Posted by Inner_Firefly

I'm confused, which thread was deleted?

An older thread.

[Achy Turtle Armor]

Originally Posted by musinglizzy

I'm completely in the dark...musta missed something big (or just didn't realize it was big)

I don't know what is going on as usual and this time I'm pleased. Sorry if some of you were hurt or misled though.

[Ididitmyway]

I am clueless as to what this whole thing is about..I guess, I just wasn't on the thread that seems to have brought issues here..But from the perspective of moderating the forum, yes, it doesn't seem very respectful to scold people like children. We are all adults here and while the moderators have to right to impose their rules, those rules need to be adequately explained and the words need to be chosen wisely.

I agree with Lauliza that it's wise not to be emotionally invested in any online interactions since we will never know who we are dealing with. That's why I've always been skeptical of the whole idea of online "support" groups and "support" forums..Online information exchange - yes, Internet is well suited for that. Emotional support when all you can see is avatar pictures and have no way of determining who is safe and who isn't? If it was up to me, I'd put a sign on every online forum "Enter at your own risk".

[Nobodyandnothing]

I am glad that I was able to read the thread before it was deleted. I was very concerned about this individual and kept looking for their messages. Closure is good, and I learned I may not be good as I thought in identifying fibs and bigger fibs.

[rainbow8]

But it's not all black or white! We probably won't ever know the entire truth. What is important is to be cautious. But the facts are that her threads were uplifting and beautiful, no matter what the situation is or was.

[growlycat]

Wondering if this would be treated differently if a fraudster was soliciting for money (or care packages) on PC

If nothing changes, this community is ripe for scamming. Kickstarter campaign for a sick PC member anyone? It will happen with the current policy in place.

[missbella]

Originally Posted by growlycat

Wondering if this would be treated differently if a fraudster was soliciting for money (or care packages) on PC

If nothing changes, this community is ripe for scamming. Kickstarter campaign for a sick PC member anyone? It will happen with the current policy in place.

I assume this means too that we're all free to take multiple user names since there appears no interest in protecting this community by cross-checking IP addresses. We can all be many people and spin yarns about our Nobel prizes.

[eskielover]

Kickstarter campaign for a sick PC member anyone? It will happen with the current policy in place.

Actually that's not true....all fundraisers have to go through the proper channels here at PC & no money or other soliciting can be done here other than through that process.

LOL.....thinking that maybe part of the guidelines need to be "no made up or false stories are to be posted unless specified that is what they are".....Obviously posts can't be checked out or verified but at least there would be a guideline specifying that it's wrong to do that. Make a person stop & think before they post something isn't real even if there is no way of actually verifying it at least it would be a stated guideline that might stop those who bother to care about following guidelines.

The problem is that red flags don't start flying about certain posts being valid until long into their posting most times & that has already sucked many people into the thread before any red flags even show up. Guess the point is that if we feel a warning is necessary, it also needs to be done through the PM system to those who have posted on the thread who may be wondering about it.

[Yearning0723]

Originally Posted by missbella

I assume this means too that we're all free to take multiple user names since there appears no interest in protecting this community by cross-checking IP addresses. We can all be many people and spin yarns about our Nobel prizes.

No one has taken multiple usernames in this specific instance.

[missbella]

Originally Posted by Yearning0723

No one has taken multiple usernames in this specific instance.

I'm discussing terms of service generally. Now it's perfectly fine and not to be questioned.