How can we improve the Forums?

[Sophie_M]

Hi all,

 

This discussion is a space for all members to share suggestions and ideas to improve the Forums. This can be anything. Navigation, notifications, topics and themes, moderation, community rules, or something else!

 

We'd love to hear about what you think we can do better. We are really grateful to everyone who has contributed their ideas already, and we're always keen to hear more. 

 

Kind regards, 

 

Sophie M

 

Please note: 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 

[tranzcrybe]

Hi Summer,
I can definitely concur with your comments although I would like to point out the distress over 'publishing one's profile' may be misrepresented as 'putting personal details into the public view'.
As far as I can tell, this is not the case as no personally identifiable information (email, user information, etc) is presented. That said, some users have been quite specific in detailing their situation in the public space which I might suggest is unwise given the BB terms of use. At the same time, the support from 'being brave enough' to pour out one's heart and soul has fostered some long lasting friendships and affinity among the community - in that vain, why should it be denied other users to learn from past experience of others (as is the objective of forums, surely) as they embark on their own journey seeking support?

What better way to 'qualify' a responder than to garner some background of similar stages members have gone through (noting this has always been accessible in the past).

Simply disabling this link will quickly resolve any qualms - perhaps, as you mention, this should be an option availed to members for added peace of mind but don't you feel that is a double standard in some way?

Re dragging up the past, it is not obligatory to reply to posts, particularly when becoming 'personal' and the option to report still stands. As Sophie has mentioned, editing/redacting any personally identifiable comments is a wise decision. If all else fails, then possibly closing your account and starting afresh will perform a 'reset' to ensure a clean slate (how nice it would be if we could achieve that in real life??).

Yes, you put your trust in BB, but one must remember first and foremost that your trust is actually in the hands of the reader in whatever you say - nefarious or otherwise, that is the nature of the forum and consideration must be given to the broader viewing audience.

[Summer Rose]

Hi Tranzcrybe

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Just a few comments to throw into the mix …

Appreciate what you’re saying about the wisdom of sharing personal information on the forum given bb’s terms of use, yet those same terms advise that one of the purposes of the forum is to offer people a place “to share their stories.” 

As I’ve explained, I see having one’s entire story—most often shared in snippets over time—packaged in one spot as a loss of privacy. So, given the encouragement to share stories and the retrospective impact of this unforeseen change, I feel it’s fair to ask bb to help rectify the issue.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect users to review/edit potentially hundreds or thousands of posts (depending on their length of time here and activity level). Particularly, as following all the changes, some people wouldn’t even know how to find their old threads (I wouldn’t).
Changing user names leaves one with the same problem just under a different name.

This is why I’m requesting a system wide change to give people choice.

Of course people should have the benefit of learning from past experience, but I thought that’s why we have sections. Anyone looking for help to deal with anxiety, depression etc has a section to go to with a wide variety of views and experiences to peruse and hopefully find information/support that meets their needs. Why does there need to be a shift to individuals? 
With regards to the past, agree with the points you made. But no one comes to a MH forum expecting to be blindsided or triggered. And the person making the comment would have no idea of the potential for harm. 

To be honest your comment about “qualifying” a responder really threw me. I treat all responders the same, with kindness, respect and compassion. I’ve always believed the “non-judgmental” approach to be a non-negotiable foundation of this forum. I had no idea that someone would want to “qualify” me for anything here. The thought that you may have read up on me before deciding to engage makes me both sad and very uncomfortable.

Perhaps it’s my age or lack of forum experience but I see this issue in a different way. Hope it’s ok to agree to disagree.

Kind thoughts to you

[Croix]

Dear Summer Rose~

I believe there are two factors to consider and your idea there there be a mechanism where some may want their story not to be available is a valid one, and possibly the only practical one if the Forum software allows it.

Some people wrote thinking their history would be scattered over many hundreds of thousands of posts, and that in itself was a form of anonymity. Now of course that has changed.

People can be anxious about their past being disclosed for a whole variety of reasons, an obvious example is someone who has the terrible experience of domestic violence and all it entails.

There is another side, in order to talk to the whole person it is needful to know them. Gone are the  days were people were simply symptoms  to clinicians -Mrs Smith is an appendix, Mr Brown is a malaria and so on.

Now the whole person is -or should be - treated.

We do not do clinical treatment on the forum, nevertheless viewing people as a label is not going to be that effective in many cases. If someone makes a new discussion about their not being able to sleep -and that's all one knows, then it is easy to give out the standard response -go and look at Beyond Blue's pages on sleep hygiene.

I always want to give the most helpful answer I can to any poster. I also agree wiht Tranzcribe's point that for the Forum to work people have to give parts of their experience to help others.

If one has to ask why not sleeping? Then that can re-traumatize a person if they have already set out a life history of toxic and abusive matters in a previous discussion. It can also lead ot a feeling that nobody understands/cares, or that important matters are inadvertently left out in any explanation.

I'm sure you can think of better examples than me

As a result I'd not be in favor of all history being banned, or absolutely all allowed,  a middle road needs to be found so everyone is regarded as a person, not a label

I'm afraid you point about people lookng up Forums, such as Anxiety, is not altogether practical, as people are moved from one section to another

I also think few would need to 'read up ' on you, your posts are invariably timely with wisdom, show experience and hope. and stand alone

Croix

[Matchy69]

Maby have a button view first post so you don't have to see the first post everytime and you would be able to fit more discussions in on a page.

[Summer Rose]

Hi Croix

Thanks so much for your kind words, support and explanations of the thinking behind this change.

I feel I’ve had a good run expressing my views and am very conscious that I don’t want to dominate this thread. I am also quite distressed, as I feel like I’ve lost something I can’t replace. So, please understand that I need a break from this. Nothing personal.

Kind thoughts to you 

[geoff]

Hello Summer Rose, how you are feeling is what I was hoping wouldn't happen with many posters and it's most unfortunate you feel this way

I just hope that with all the suggestions being made, something will be done by what people don't like about these forums.

I myself am just hanging on, wishing and hoping that there will be another change, because what we don't want to happen is lose more contributors.

Geoff.

Life Member.

[ProjectTeam]

Hi everyone, thank you for support and for your feedback - we've just updated the Forums changes - updates thread! - Page 7 - Beyond Blue Forums - 26589 thread with our latest update.

We appreciate that after years discussing improvement this has been a big change, and want to reassure you that it's not a once off endeavor. We're listening to your feedback and will be prioritising it amongst the other activities and plans we have to improve the Forums.

[Summer Rose]

Hi Croix

Please accept my sincere apologies for walking away during our discussion—just needed some time and space from bb. But I would like to respond to your comments.

Please know that I regard you and your significant contribution to the forum with the greatest respect. 

Collating all of one’s discussions and turning them into a public profile is kind of like creating an electronic diary of someone’s life that everyone can read. And on the forum it may well contain the most challenging and traumatic pieces of a persons life.
This has been done retrospectively and in my case at least without my understanding of when or how I consented to this change to my account status.

Take a minute and imagine the posts you could have made at age 13 or 15, or when you were at the lowest point in your life, or when you were so distressed you may not have been thinking straight. Now imagine them following you for your entire forum life in your public profile.

Now I understand you’re only wanting to read this information about others for noble reasons—to provide the best advice. But aren’t we forgetting about the agency of the poster? Aren’t we taking away their control to reveal information at their own pace to whom they see fit during their conversations? What about their self-determination?

Think of it this way. Would it be okay for a psychologist to read a patient’s Twitter feed or Facebook page because they sensed the patient was holding something back or they that may have forgotten something the patient said? I don’t think the end would justify the means.

For me there are so many issues associated with this change and no matter which way I look at the issue it’s problematic.

Kind thoughts to you 

[Croix]

Dear Summer Rose

No apology necessary, I quite understand - though I did rather worry about you.

Look, you do not have to convince me as I agree with everything you have said including the retrospectivity. I do feel however there are competing and valid points of view. As a result I'm hoping, as I mentioned, that the administration will find a way of reaching a middle ground.

The only this I'd like to add is to respond to your perceptive point about past trauma. If I know about it I will take it into account in the sensitivity with which I'd respond and not be as likely to blunder in and re-traumatize the person.

Additionally it has been known for Moderators on occasion to allow a post to be deleted, however I'm not a staff member and I'm unsure as to the criteria. I'd imagine the welfare of the poster would be a first consideration.

No, in the outside world going beyond the clinical environment, if it were even possible (it isn't here of course), would not seem ethical to me unless it is in the standard exceptional circumstances: ("when there is serious concern for the safety of the patient or others").

Croix (who is certainly hoping  some of his antics at age 13 are never brought to light, let sleeping dinosaurs lie I say:)

[Eagle Ray]

I share your concerns Summer Rose. People often post when at their most vulnerable and it’s often difficult identifying the fine line at that time between what to disclose or not. I think to change how posts are arranged retrospectively is concerning in this regard and I hope BB can rethink this in a way that enables forum members to feel safe and protected.