[SkyscraperMeow]

I don't get the purpose of this forum sometimes.

I've seen people here get lectured by mods twice now, once for questioning what they read in a thread, and just recently for what amounted to offering too much advice, or judgement.

Apparently it's fine to start thread after thread after thread about more or less the same topic, elicit feedback from people and then start another thread about pretty much the same thing and at no time is anybody allowed to point out that what the OP is doing is counter productive.

Some have said it's because people just want to 'vent'. Fine

Here's the thing, if a poster just wants to 'vent', why do they have to do it to a group of people who are then shut down if they have something to say about it besides 'there there'?

It seems to me that unless total unconditional (I'd even go so far as to say mindless) agreement is offered, people are censured.

Basically, you can post whatever thread you like about whatever problem you like and say whatever you like, but if anybody dares respond to you, then they're a problem and they have to be shut down because nobody is ever allowed to judge. People are allowed to 'vent' endlessly, and make multiple posts on the same issue, and start discussions about themselves as much as they like, but if an actual discussion happens, then all hell breaks loose.

Forums are for discussion. That's literally what the word forum means. And yet, if anyone actually dares use the forum as such, responding to others posts with their feelings and thoughts on it, they're shut down for being 'judgemental'.

What it amounts to, is the members of this forum being forced into basically acting as therapists for random strangers because they have to express nothing other than completely mythical positivity.

The other option, of course, is to say nothing at all. And that sort of defeats the purpose of a forum, doesn't it?

I think this forum would be much healthier if it wasn't forcing a totally fake level of 'acceptance' which isn't actually there by shutting down any kind of thread where any kind of real feedback might be given.

Sometimes people are way off track, and the community could be of use to them, but it's not allowed to be because all we're allowed to do is hold hands, sing kumbaya and maybe make a vision board.

[musinglizzy]

I highly respect you for voicing your concern/opinion on this. The last line cracked me up! Thanks for the smile!

ETA: I also don't see all those "couch" threads, I rarely see moderating in action.....just sayin'

I think if you have issues with what the moderators or administrators do then you're supposed to take it up with them.

I've been here almost nine years and I don't agree at all with what you've posted. I think you're exaggerating to make your point which I'm not sure of, but I see plenty of disagreement done respectfully. I think the mods and admins are smart enough to decide what is appropriate and not appropriate. I don't own the forum and don't make those decisions and am not concerned about them. I don't invest that much emotion or energy here normally. There are guidelines and rules and those should be followed. If there are issues then let the mods and admins deal with them. That's the best way to deal with frustrations you might have.

I just wanted to add that I quickly looked through the first 20 pages of threads on the psychotherapy forum and outside of the couch's threads (which I think get locked after so many posts) only three have been locked. Two of them were involving someone whose posts were questioned and not believed to be real and the reason for locking was because of concern of hurting the original poster. That's A LOT of threads where opinions or whatever were allowed to be shared. It's not nearly as dire as you think. LOL.

[unaluna]

I think the mods closing a thread more functions as a t saying "thats all we have time for today" in a single or group session, rather than as a censor. Somebody has to call time!

Originally Posted by hankster

I think the mods closing a thread more functions as a t saying "thats all we have time for today" in a single or group session, rather than as a censor. Somebody has to call time!

LOL. Probably true.

[Crescent Moon]

You really haven't been here very long. It's not at all like you presume.

[stopdog]

I think there should be some consideration for what the OP requests - if they say they just want to vent, then vent away and in as many threads as they want. No one has to respond if they do not want to or don't like how the OP is venting. And what difference does it make if the OP is not making the progress someone else might like them to have or being counter-productive. Why can't I be counterproductive if I want to be. I did not think there was a limit on the number of threads someone could start. Sometimes a person just needs to keep doing something until they don't need to do it anymore - and hopefully this could be a rather safe place to do it. It is certainly better than any number of other things one could do in real life.

But I will never make a vision board.
Or hold hands - ack.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by stopdog

But I will never make a vision board.
Or hold hands - ack.

I was more counting on you to at least light if not build the fire. Or blow-torch the s'mores

[stopdog]

Can I blowtorch the vision board?

[catonyx]

What on earth is a vision board?

[Ellahmae]

Originally Posted by stopdog

Can I blowtorch the vision board?

Yes! I had to do one when I was a lot younger. It was torture.

via tapatalk

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by stopdog

But I will never make a vision board.
Or hold hands - ack.

What in the world is a vision board?

[stopdog]

I don't know - the OP mentioned it. It sounded crafty and as I am not crafty - blowtorching such a thing was all I could think to do with one.

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by stopdog

I don't know - the OP mentioned it. It sounded crafty and as I am not crafty - blowtorching such a thing was all I could think to do with one.

My lack of craftiness has me right in there with you... But if we blowtorch that thing together I promise to not touch your hand.

[Favorite Jeans]

I actually agree that this can be a problem. There are posts that get deleted without the thread getting locked and that seems to go on under the radar so you actually can't look back and see what's been censored or who's been censured (or maybe you can if you have greater technical know-how than I do?)

I understand that the overall tone of the forum is meant to be a supportive one and that there is sometimes a fine line between pointing out something unpleasant to hear and being hurtful. I have not seen much of people being hurtful just for kicks here but I have seen some appalling insensitivity, which, given the subject matter, could feel pretty devastating to someone in a fragile state.

I do often miss the more thoughtful and lively discussions that, unless I'm imagining it, used to figure a lot more prominently on this board.

I agree of course that people have a right to vent and can ask for the type of response they want to receive and that no one is forced to read anything they find uninteresting but it's just so much more satisfying --for me!-- when people actually engage with the issues that the OP raises.

[Crescent Moon]

Sometimes people ask that their own post be deleted. I think that is much more common than for mods to go on delete-posting sprees

[Ellahmae]

A vision board is where one posts pictures/quotes/anything of what they want to see/have/happen in their future and hang the board where you can see it daily so those things can manifest in your life.

via tapatalk

[catonyx]

Originally Posted by Ellahmae

A vision board is where one posts pictures/quotes/anything of what they want to see/have/happen in their future and hang the board where you can see it daily so those things can manifest in your life.

via tapatalk

Oh dear. Ok... Well, in that case I will assist SD with the torching.

[KayDubs]

Originally Posted by Ellahmae

A vision board is where one posts pictures/quotes/anything of what they want to see/have/happen in their future and hang the board where you can see it daily so those things can manifest in your life.

via tapatalk

In that case, my vision board is chock full of sushi. Definitely trying to manifest sushi in my life right now.

How long does it take to kick in?

[Crescent Moon]

Originally Posted by Ellahmae

A vision board is where one posts pictures/quotes/anything of what they want to see/have/happen in their future and hang the board where you can see it daily so those things can manifest in your life.

via tapatalk

Wow. That's a lotta power they got.

[Ellahmae]

Originally Posted by KayL

In that case, my vision board is chock full of sushi. Definitely trying to manifest sushi in my life right now.

How long does it take to kick in?

Mmmmm, sushi. I've been craving that lately as well.

via tapatalk

[catonyx]

I'm craving cold pizza.

[stopdog]

I would think if one wanted a discussion on a certain idea or topic one could start a thread and indicate one wanted to discuss an idea. I think that is very different from when people pile on to an OP who does not indicate a willingness to take the advice others seem to so badly want to give.

I'm an advocate for freedom of speech, but I think the moderation is very good here. Like Puzzle pointed out, it's only like 1 or 2 threads a month, if that. I've been on some forums where the moderators are very controlling and all reactive, taking sides that really causes divisiveness in a forum.

I read Crazy Meds sometimes. I was going to open an account there to ask questions about meds, but was really turned off when one of the moderators deleted a thread and even banned the poster because they mentioned the concept of "borderline". So I'm just a lurker there instead.

I like lively conversations too, and intelligent debate. Why not start a thread about people searching for therapists, or something, and make it not personal? I think much of the discussion spurred from some of these posts is good content for a new thread about therapy in general.

I mean what would it be like if everyone started pressuring someone with psychosis who thought they were god?, to see it how you see it? I know from experience that the best way to deal with ACUTE psychosis, delusions, is to agree. That stabilizes the person until they can get real help, till meds kick in. To argue, point out, etc., puts them and yourself in danger and escalates the situation.

This is a mental health forum, and it's supposed to be for support. People can have nervous breakdowns, honestly, I don't see how the OP in that thread would have been helped by further arguments. Like I said, why not start a new thread about similar topics.