Hey everyone, Here’s 5 tips for new and old members alike to help you
get the most out of your forum experience. 1. A good title makes the
difference Just like a headline in a newspaper, when scanning the dozens
of threads to click into, it’s only na...
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Hey everyone, Here’s 5 tips for new and old members alike to help you
get the most out of your forum experience. 1. A good title makes the
difference Just like a headline in a newspaper, when scanning the dozens
of threads to click into, it’s only natural that people will choose the
ones that resonate with them most. A title that entices the reader, or
asks a question, is likely to get a better result than something
non-descriptive like “Depression” or “I don't know what to do”. If you
think you’re not good at choosing titles, leave it till last. Spend time
writing your post, then perhaps choose a sentence from what you’ve
written as the title. 2. Join in threads that have already been posted
We all have our own unique stories, but part of the reason for joining a
forum like this one is because you know that you will have a lot in
common with others who are posting. Before starting a new thread, have a
look through the current topics being discussed and see if there’s a
conversation you can join in with. It can be quite common to have a
handful of very similar threads happening at any one time, with members
seemingly unaware that there are others right there who are going
through the same thing. Talking to other members on their threads is a
great way of getting yourself known so that when you post a thread of
your own, people may respond quicker because they recognise your name
and feel they know you. 3. Choose the most appropriate section for your
post Many people browse the forums looking for stories specifically to
do with pregnancy and parenting, employment, grief, loss, separation
etc. Going straight for the “Depression” section may seem like the
easiest option, but this section is often the busiest, so your post is
more likely to get lost among the threads. Making good use of the
different forum sections not only helps keep the forum relevant, but
you’re more likely to find others who are going through the same
experiences as you. Also, if you're wanting to discuss issues of trauma,
abuse, suicidal thoughts or self-harm, it's really important you post in
the designated section to avoid triggering others who may not wish to
read about these topics. 4. Try and keep it short! Sometimes the hardest
thing to do. We have a forced 2,500 character limit on the submission
form (about the size of one whole typed A4 page). Posts that go on for
longer than one screen, where people have to scroll in order to read,
run the risk of people skimming your post and not reading it. Break up
your paragraphs as well - big blocks of text with no breaks are equally
intimidating for others to read, as is txt language and abbreviations
(It's like talking to someone in person and not taking breaths or
pauses). Please don't try and cheat the limit by submitting
multiple-part posts...it only creates more work for our moderators who
have to clean the forum up. Forums are about dialogue, not monologue.
You'll have plenty of time to tell your story if you're patient, stick
around, and take the time to discuss, not broadcast! 5. Stick to one
thread for support When seeking support on the forums, we really
encourage members to use one thread rather than starting new ones all
the time. It's really difficult for the community to keep up with your
story if you have a lot of threads going at once, and you may find
yourself having to repeat information if your story is spread across the
forum - sometimes our members will be repeating themselves as well if
it's an issue you've had previously. Help us to support you by keeping
to one thread, even if you're returning here after a period of time.
There's a lot of value in seeing how someone's story evolves over time,
and when facing a new crisis it's helpful to scroll back and see how
you've coped previously. Please feel free to share your own tips below
on how to get involved in the community and get the best out of your
time online.
Meet your community champions!
