Q&A Chat Rules

Reproduced from our "Chats" page. These rules apply to the time Dr. Grohol is hosting a Q&A in the chat room only.

• Please read the disclaimer and terms of use before participating in any of Dr. Grohol's online chats. (The lawyers made me do this!)
• Chats are informal and centered around general mental health and relationship questions. Dr. Grohol regrets he cannot make specific treatment recommendations for any problems presented, nor can he diagnose a problem online.
• Questions are answered in the order received. If the chat is busy, you are requested to limit yourself to 2 or 3 questions.
• If you find Dr. Grohol hasn't answered your question after about 10 or 15 minutes, please ask it again. Sometimes questions go by more quickly than he can see and respond to them (especially if the chat is busy).
• Since Dr. Grohol is not a medical doctor, he prefers not to answer questions about medications, but can refer you to the online reference guide to medications about common side effects, indications, etc.
• Always check with your own doctor or therapist before making any changes in your treatment regimen.
• Private messages to Dr. Grohol are strongly discouraged, since they take away from the public chat (which is the point of the chat in the first place!).

Thanks!

THANK YOU for taking the time to host such chats!

I need to post 6 times before I can enter chat rooms so I'm spreading myself around, leaving breadcrumbs hoping someone will find me. Yep I have to admit that I'm needy. I couldn't believe it when my psych told me that. What! I've never needed anyone in my life and I've never been lonely either. So there.
All I need is my dog, and I'm depressed as hell right now.

I was wondering if there are any rules about what can and can not be talked about in chat? I've seen some rules scattered around here and there about other things regarding chat, but not this one. The q came up in chat earlier but I'm not sure about it.

Like it's not allowed to post about religions to much. I'm guessing same thing goes about chat? Like no reall indepth conversations as they can quickly turn into heated debates?

How about political topics?

Thanks

Blue

The Community Guidelines apply to all areas of the community, including the chat rooms, yes.

and does the rule about religion apply to political topics as well?
I'm sorry if i could have read that elsewhere

yes blue it does apply

this is just my opinion ..some people might be trigered when someone on chat room using red text s ..could u just erased that color or make the strick rules about it..thank you

i think chat is an area that definately needs monitoring because of the nature of this site and the sensitivities present.. if we cant monitor ourselves then someone else has to do it, making a 'police type' situation.. we are looking for freedom so why dont we try and be responsible here?

I just wanted to share that you can eliminate the problem of red text in your settings. Solves the problem, I don't get angry anymore just tab over and over ride the settings. It's also helpful when people feel the need to use those neon colors as well, that gives me an instant headache so it's a handy feature.

Wouldnt that change all of the colors to black? Cause i like the diff colors, its usefull in recognising who wrote what. Or can you choose what colors you dont want to see? Either way if doc john cant/doesnt want to do anything about it, you can still politely ask. 99.99% dont mind at all and the rest well... if changing your color is so much trouble for you then you're not worth my time. *ignore feature works well too*

Unfortunately DocJohn, can't take the red color out of the chat program as it is a bundled program and we have to take what is offered in the program. Many many folks don't understand how color can affect people. A polite mention of it and asking to change color is appropriate. I guess everyone has to find their own best work around for this situation for the time being. Where there's a will, there's a way


sabby

Actually its not for me i dont have any problem with the text colors but when i came to chat someone freaking out with the red color so thats why i mention it here...iam sorry if i sound so rude never meant to do that...thank you for taking time to answer this...

I didn't think you sounded rude at all. Right now the only things we can do are ask that the person change their text color or use the setting over-ride. I personally have found the setting over-ride very handy and I'm very happy that someone told me how to do it.

On a side note I have noticed a thread in red anyone have any suggestions for that?

A polite PM maybe?

I meant more along the lines of an over ride for the forums. I really hate to be a pain, it is my issue after all. Some people just like to be colorful, I get that.

Mmm... It's not just you, I think many people find the colour red a trigger, psychologically the red colour is used for warning or for anger. I'm not bothered by different colours but I can understand why some find it unpleasant.

Anyway this thread was supposed to be about DocJohn's Q and A chat sessions!

Hugs

If someone is kicked from chat for too much profanity, how long are they kicked for?

You can start attending chats immediately.
I understand we talk @ sensitive topics, profanity just doesn't help anyone or move us forward. Just triggers. This is a caring, helping community.

If this Chat was hosted (ie) prepared in advanced by a Chat Leader, you may consider
sending a brief apology via PM, to the Chat Leader &/or some members, if applicable.jmo

Peace,
Holmes

Thanks, but this might be different. My friend never kicked me, and he was hosting the chat. I got a warning from the chat, or something, and I held off the profanity, and then I accidentally swore and I was kicked, and now I can't go back on. I think it was one of those automatic warnings someone gets if they swear too much. But the host never kicked me out.

********************************************************
Dear Forgive & Forget,

I have four Chats per week for almost two years. There is no automatic warning or kick out, or ban. Only a specific person present in that Chat can do the actions you spoke of. Did you save the Chat??? Did your friend? I will be happy to go through the Chat & work to unravel this mystery. Tis a puzzlement!

?????
Holmes

No I didn't save it sorry, but I was talking on PMs with the guy who was hosting the chat and he never kicked me. This has happened twice, but I have been able to get back on. If it does happen again, I will make sure to save it.

I have a thought here.....sometimes the chat servers will "split" and you will get bumped off. It happens to us all at times. Could this be what is happening to you? If so, it's just one of those frustrating things that happen now and again to the best of us