[Partless]

Polls are the new black so here's one that's been on the back of my mind for a while, given that I sometimes delete my replies or hold back when I make a post, whereas other days share everything and feel safe to be and say as I please with no worries whatsoever about possibility of being mocked or invalidated or ignored or whatever.

So the poll, ZERO is where you totally defensive and don't even want to make a post in any thread, to share even general thoughts (nothing about yourself) or give vague advice, and feel totally on guard. To TEN, where you share everything on your mind as if this is the perfect safe therapy session, everybody being caring and so on; and give detailed suggestions and advice as if to grateful appreciate best friend.

About midway. I'm a pretty private individual by nature so I would never be one to bare all on a forum. I've found the forums mostly supportive, but on a forum with everyone here for other issues, there are always those instances where problems come up. I very intentionally am not set up for private messages because of a few posters who have become abusive because they thought they could get away with it since the world wouldn't see what they've written.

[atisketatasket]

Depends on what.

To share own distress, which I don't do well with anyone, maybe a 2-3.

To give advice, if someone's asked for it, a 6-7.

To post polls, a 10.

[NowhereUSA]

I try to avoid as much identifying information as I can and have at times opted not to respond to something because I felt I would be giving away too much info. I don't even like saying that I thought about not responding at all LOL.

[AnaWhitney]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

About midway. I'm a pretty private individual by nature so I would never be one to bare all on a forum. I've found the forums mostly supportive, but on a forum with everyone here for other issues, there are always those instances where problems come up. I very intentionally am not set up for private messages because of a few posters who have become abusive because they thought they could get away with it since the world wouldn't see what they've written.

That is terrible, I am so sorry People never fail to amaze me
I went for a four, sometimes I bare all on the forums with my own personal stuff and then panic and delete them later. Sometimes I leave the personal stuff on, it just depends.
I am pretty cagey about commenting on other peoples stuff. Sometimes I'm afraid I just wont be helpful enough or might have missed the point of the thread. Sometimes I think my opinions are stupid. Other times I just go for it

[LookingforCalm]

There are many times I feel as though I have nothing to contribute to some conversations, which is why I sometimes hug and run. Or say thank you.

I feel safe on this forum, since I have no other outlet.

[BayBrony]

I'd say a 3. I hesitate to give advice or share too much. My It's approach is unusual and I've experienced a lot of negative response. Either people telling me that I doing therapy wrong, or about to crash and burn, my T is wrong for x reason. But its working for me so I tend to just keep my mouth shut so.others can't judge.
Its hard, as there are people here in therapy for so many different issues. I feel like only some posters have anything in common with my experience (,severe pervasive childhood abuse). I often write a response to a post and then choose not to post it because I don't want to deal with the fallout

[ruh roh]

I put 0 before I read your criteria. I do post, but am much less open here than I am in real life. I, too, have been a victim of PM hit and run, so no longer accept private messages. But basically, I don't feel safe here at all.

[scorpiosis37]

I used to feel very comfortable creating my own posts and sharing aspects of my life, but I don't anymore. In my last thread, I got so many negative and judgmental responses that were totally off the mark that it made me feel misunderstood and invalidated. I've never had a problem taking constructive feedback, but the responses I received just seemed mean-spirited and totally off-base. When I said so in my thread, the posters said that I was wrong about my own experience and just kept reiterating their misperceptions and pointing out all the ways I *might* be doing everything wrong both in my RL and with my (now former) T. There was no point in trying to clarify or explain my situation after that. So, for that reason, I am choosing not to create any of my own posts for the time being. It really sucks because I used PC productively for 5 years, but it just doesn't feel safe anymore. But I'm successfully managing my own life without a T and without posing on PC, so I dont *need* that support. Instead, I'm just talking to people in my RL, using my own judgment, and taking care of my own needs.

[vonmoxie]

I went with a 7. I basically don't feel any less safe here than anywhere else; just differently. I'm especially careful with my words here, so that I can stand by them even in the face of a few relatively unavoidable misinterpretations. Since in real life I get to pick and choose to whom I reveal myself, I can shoot more from the hip, knowing the extent of my audience. This is more wild west. Both venues have their benefits.

Originally Posted by AnaWhitney

That is terrible, I am so sorry People never fail to amaze me

You might be amazed at who those kinds of PM's come from. Definitely some people on PC who apparently are untouchable.

[ilikecats]

I voted seven. I feel pretty comfortable here because of the anonymity.

[Nix]

I share some things, but not everything. If I am feeling really terrible I tend to lose my filter and post everything. I don't feel very comfortable giving advice because I feel like I'm sorting out my own issues right now.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

You might be amazed at who those kinds of PM's come from. Definitely some people on PC who apparently are untouchable.

I've got some aggressive PMs few times even with profanity in them. I didn't take it personal as I think these posters are most certainly unwell. Why else would they do that?

And couple of times I got very long PMs from people whom I don't know and never saw them posting yet these were very long "life stories" pretty much " autobiographies". It kind of creeped me out.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by divine1966

I've got some aggressive PMs few times even with profanity in them. I didn't take it personal as I think these posters are most certainly unwell. Why else would they do that?

And couple of times I got very long PMs from people whom I don't know and never saw them posting yet these were very long "life stories" pretty much " autobiographies". It kind of creeped me out.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup. It isn't that I take it personally, but I refuse to set myself up for abuse. The PM feature, unfortunately, gets abused by some and is not a safe feature any longer for me.

I am very uncomfortable sharing distress or personal experiences on here. I have had several bad experiences and now mostly just stick to posting on the couch thread or responding only to people I am familiar with and feel I can trust.

[Cinnamon_Stick]

I feel pretty safe on here because its anonymous. I am a pretty private person so I don't share to much personal info on here. I have shared some things. Nothing like what I share in therapy. I have posted my own threads before and the responses were not helpful and made me doubt myself and my choices. I try to only post them now if I really need to. Most of the time other people will post something I have wanted to.

I'm neutral about posting. My life is no longer a closed book. I'm continuing my journey, and I want to share how I got there. It's a very different path than most, but I was always a bit off from the stereotypes and conventions that society pinned me with. My oldest sibling says no worry, because people put their pants on just like you, one leg at a time. I don't feel bullied or attacked here, anymore. We are strangers on a forum, and for me there is no real investment, so no vulnerability to get hurt. I find real life friendships much harder to do though, much easier after terminating therapy. I don't have a need at this time in my life to start a thread, because I have many outside and trustful resources. I do feel empathy for many whose here whose therapy has gone awry. That's why I mostly post, and atm I have lots of free time.

I got two text from friends the other night' "Is that you...", because of something I shared on PC. I've shared this forum with quite a few friends, so I wasn't upset. I'm glad that they find PC useful for them like it was for me when I was in therapy. It was usually the negative and attacking post that my therapist helped me frame differently. I'm grateful for her guidance.

Zero, because there are no negative values on the scale (I'd have picked "-10" if I could.)

Depends on where I'm at, and often I hold
back or delete, especially if I feel what I've
contributed won't be helpful or is misapplied
due to my own issues.

[brillskep]

Overall it would be a 4 for me. I feel pretty comfortable offering support, but I am wary about posting personal things - even positives and more so when it comes to personal distress. I am mostly concerned that I might be recognized by forum guests if I give too much information about myself. I would feel more comfortable if the Delete button didn´t disappear after 3 hours.

I voted 5. I typically say what I want to say with a few sentences. I'm not a super wordy person.

I use the block function A LOT. That's because I don't have much in common with those that have their own agendas or biases going on.

[Ellahmae]

Originally Posted by Mastodon

Zero, because there are no negative values on the scale (I'd have picked "-10" if I could.)

Yes, ditto.

[The_little_didgee]

I chose 4. Sometimes giving advice is easy and other times it is not. My words are often misinterpreted, so I tend to be careful. I don't mind sharing some information about myself.

I've really backed off from PC and certain forums. I don't socialize on this site anymore, because it is overwhelming.