How can we improve the forums? Your suggestions and comments please

[Chris_B]

Hi all, this thread is a running commentary for all members on things for improvements to the forums. This can be anything from how it looks, the categories, to moderation, community rules etc.

While we might not be able to implement everything straightaway, or keep everyone happy all of the time, we'd like to hear about what you think we can do better.

This is not a thread for discussing the moderation or editing of individual posts - if you have questions about this please contact the team offline via email modsupport@beyondblue.org.au

To avoid repeating suggestions already received, below are some results from our last user survey giving an indication of which new features people would like to see on the forums. This survey was answered by 1,597 users:

44% - Email notification when I have a reply on the forum
39% - Access to the forums via an app
27% - Ability to block seeing posts by specific users
25% - Ability to contact users privately
25% - Ability to use emoticons
25% - Ability to follow posts by specific users
24% - Ability to share links
23% - Forum posts visible only to registered users
22% - A profile, viewable by others users, where I can introduce myself
21% - Ability to quickly access all posts by a particular user
15% - Ability to tag users in a conversation
10% - Ability to share images
6% - Ability to share videos
17% - None of these

Update July 2022 - This discussion has now been closed. Please go to the updated version below to share feedback and follow our updates:

How can we improve the Forums?

[Sophie_M]

Hi eight, 

We are so sorry to hear that you were sexually harrassed yesterday. Everyone has the right to live free of sexual harrassment. We are checking in with you privately as we are concerned for your safety.

You've mentioned that you need a few days to process this experience. If you feel it may be helpful, you are always welcome to get in touch with Kids Help Line. They are a confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged 25 and under.

We would encourage yourself and any other community member to report posts which you believe discusses sex in an inappropriate or harmful way. This may result in us removing or editing out inapprorpiate content, moving threads to more appropriate locations, or adding trigger warnings.

Trigger warnings should have an explanation following the trigger warning. Generally speaking, members should be aware that any threads posted in the 'PTSD & Trauma' or 'Suicidal Thoughts & Self Harm' section may be triggering.  It's best to avoid these sections if you don't feel up to reading posts on these subjects or participating in the discussions. Selected threads in 'Multicultural Experiences' and 'Long Term Support Over The Journey' may also contain distressing content from time to time.  This is addressed in the pinned thread at the top of those sections.  If you feel a thread title doesn't give due warning of the content, you can report the post to us.

Our moderators work 24/7 to keep the forums safe. However, due to the dynamic nature and the sheer volume of posts being a nationwide forum, we can't immediately read everything written – therefore much of the responsibility for maintaining our friendly environment lies with our community, both in the way of posting appropriately, and of reporting posts to our team for further review.

 

[Summer Rose]

Hi Eight

Thank you for pointing to technical and anonymity challenges relevant to the discussion. You have given the conversation important new dimensions.

I haven’t personally come across inept trigger warnings, so again thank you for raising the issue.

I know that bb wants to keep everyone safe and is earnestly working 24/7 to achieve that goal. As a community member, I am happy to also accept responsibility and play my part. I have rights here and that means I also have responsibilities.

What I feel I need, however, to fulfil my obligations is easier access to pertinent and clear information.

Hopefully access will be addressed as part of the upcoming forum enhancements.

One of the key ways I’ve learned about expected community behaviour and expectations of members is through this thread. If others are like me, I’m guessing there could be a lot of people who would benefit from enhanced safety communication.

Of course, the other way I have learned the ropes is through participation and making inadvertent mistakes. Trouble with this is, it creates unnecessary work for bb staff.

Perhaps the enormous burden on bb could be reduced and safety could be enhanced through further communication, particularly about when and why to report a post.

I would further respectfully suggest that examples of appropriate and inappropriate text would be useful. I would also suggest including a broad range of topics, not just sex. This is because many of the issues discussed here require a high level consideration to ensure appropriateness for some audiences.

Kind thoughts to all

[Guest_1643]

it feels "bad" sometimes to report a post

also if the person is talking to multiple ppl and having a great ol' convo you feel like you're kinda killing their fun or wandering if the convo is tacitly okayed by mods because it has yet to be removed....

so it's hard an i think i get a bit nervous about what to report

I've also noticed sexually graphic material thta tbh upset me but wasn't sure if i shoul report it

thanks for raising this tayla, summer rose and eight and for adding more food for thought

i also wander if there could be a safe or non judgemental section which could be for victims of SA or harrassment to talk, and maybe the rules there could be stricter etc of who could join... not sure...

[quirkywords]

Hello everyone,

I have read about people not being confident or lack experience to report a post and as some one who has reported post I thought I would share some of my thoughts.

Firstly, don’t be worried, the moderators are very kind and appreciate feedback.

If you think something is not quite right or makes you feel uncomfortable, just report a post.

A moderator has explained that they have listened to my report and then tell me what has been decided.

Moderators are grateful for posts being reported .

I know the first time I reported a post I was worried but was reassured it was helpful.

I think if you can be specific about what you find upsetting or uncomfortable or are concerned about it will help to communicate your feelings.

[Guest_1584]

The Kingdom for and edit button .

l'm Dyslexic and it's taken me a few yrs of struggling to write much as the box is tiny in itself also and trying to get something right first and only hit is a feat all it's own. How l normally get by with other forums is coming back for a reread 10mins later when l can refocus and then edit the boo boos from there , but no can do unfortunately.

rx

[Summer Rose]

Hi Quirky

Thank you for demystifying the process for reporting a post. The information was really helpful.

However, I have to ask, how many people know this? I refer to my earlier comments about communication.

I respect your suggestion that we report a post if it causes discomfort. I have to ask though, is this congruent with other responsibilities?

I ask for two reasons. First, I believe the rules request a report if we experience abuse, although it’s not really defined. (Bb carries the responsibility to remove or edit posts for a long list of other reasons)

Second, because we must all listen without judgment, assume the best intentions and appreciate that others might have opinions different than ours. Different opinions can cause discomfort, so where is the line?

I was recently involved in a very difficult and heated discussion about the rights of a convicted child molester to access children and raise a child as a sole parent. Without going into all the details, I was advocating strongly and purely from the perspective of the protection of children.

It haunts me still. It was very challenging for me to listen to another view. I really struggled not to judge. It was one of the most difficult conversations I’ve ever been in. Still don’t know if the other view was simply different or just disturbing to me or more widely unacceptable.

I don’t believe I’m alone in facing challenges through participation in the forum. And I believe the benefits of my being here far outweigh the challenges. But I feel there is room for additional support for members in the form of enhanced communication even online induction.

When it comes to inappropriate sex talk and safety, particularly in relation to young community members—which is where this discussion started—I think we must all err on the side of caution.

Most importantly we all need to consider that the ground around misogyny, sex discrimination, abuse, etc has shifted in the last few weeks.

I’m only one person, I know others have different views, and I only make these comments because I care deeply about bb and all community members.

Kind thoughts to all

[Guest_1643]

hi all,

i definitely think more clarity needs to be given about how to report

Sophie M mentioned that much of the burden or responsibility falls on the users for keeping the community safe, both by keeping to the rules and reporting posts which break the rules, offend, or distress.

if this is the case, I think that the system is broken unless users can be clear on the responsibilities of reporting, how and when... if it can be normalised ,so to say. That everyone knows it's a normal, routine part of being on the forums to report distressing posts....

I think many ppl believe that they can only report posts which are abusive or overtly racist, sexist, transphobic, homophobic, etc...

However issues like discussing sexual content, discussing use of medications, excluding members, talking judgementally about a specific group (while not openly racist, saying things which mock, make generalisations, etc...) all of that stuff is truly harmful. everyone should feel that the space if okay for them to contribute without risk of being judged, mocked, talked about on other threads, or put down. This is no easy task, though.

[Guest_1643]

i've had posts feel very harmful to me related to race etc and also to sexism. I also find that if the matteer isn't dealt with quickly, it usually escalates and gets worsee, with more potential to harm and hurt others. The mods def deal with it quickly, but sometimes it takes a few days for it to be reported etc. you want to give the person thee benefit of the doubt and see where the convo goes. But generally, it doesn't get safer unless stopped, and stopped pretty quickly.

I also wanted to draw attention to a rule about not talking about users "behind their back" in a way which might mke them feel uncomfortable.
Eg if a user upsets you on one thread, to then go to another thread and say "i'm so upset by that user, their comments were so bad!" - i believe we should try address the user, or report something to the mods, rather than vent to others. We're all in this together so i'd feel very sad and distressed to see myself spoken about on some thread i wasn't part of, that someon hadn't spoken to me directly etc. This is pretty upsetting.

[Guest_4643]

What I meant by talking about sex is stuff that has nothing to do with mental health. Stuff such as "I have mental health and body image issues and fear of intimacy" I have no issue with because that has to do with mental health, and of course, sexual assault. By the way eight, I'm so sorry that happened, I hope you're ok.

I didn't mean to sound controlling, rude, judgemental or anything.

And Sleepy, I agree. I've been excluded from threads before for no reason even if I say hello and offer support the best I can even if I'm not sure what to say, by new members also, but everyone else gets included in the thread. With my AVPD it feels personal and makes me feel like I did something wrong. It's discrimination if people are excluded and it's very traumatic and harmful. Everybody should be treated equally, on the forums or not, no matter their gender, race, sexuality, religion, age, whatever. It's not right and can be seen as some sort of bullying. I try to include everyone because I know what it's like. I try to make everyone feel welcome.

Even threads where I have been noticed before, I still get ignored in. It's not right. I do understand it's hard to keep up with people commenting especially if it's a busy thread such as the Cafe but still.

[Guest_1643]

hi tayla i'm sorry that happened to u and u don't sound rude or controlling, many ppl here feel the same

again, really sorry you went through that here. sorry that u felt you were being excluded. Please report even being excluded. That's not okay, either. if u don't know what to say on a post that's okay - you don't have to know what to say. we're none of us MH experts here so we just try and share what the post reminds us of or sparks in us, or even how we interpret it. Sometimes the connection can be indirect.

When I was suicidal a friend who had gone through Post Natal depression provided endless support to me and shared non-judgementally her own experience of being low. We had such different circumstances but pain is universal. So it's okay if you haven't exactly experienced what the poster has gone through. ur care and willingness to listen always comes through. I see you helping many people here.