Do you feel comfortable on the forum?

[Doolhof]

Hi Everyone,

I've just been having a look at some of the posts on the forum and have once again been aware that some people make a thread, post once and then we don't seem to hear from them again.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, I am just wondering why that might be the case.

Do any of you have any suggestions?

Can you think of ways people may feel encouraged to continue posting?

o you personally feel welcome on the forum?

Connecting with others on this forum can be so rewarding in many different ways.

I also realise a lot of people just read and don't post and that is okay as well.

Are there ways we can make people feel more welcome here?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and ideas.

Cheers to you all from Dools

[Sophie_M]

Hi everyone, we do have the ability to pin threads to the top of forum sections.  What information do you feel would be most helpful to have pinned up?

As for reading long threads, think of it as a bit like a group conversation, and you've arrived when it has already started.  In real life, we don't have the luxury of being able to rewind back to the start and see what it's all about, we just have to pick things up as best we can and join in.  It's perfectly ok to comment in a thread on the most recent posts, there's no obligation to read the whole thread, particularly if it's very long.

[Doolhof]

Hi Sophie,

Thanks for your comments. My thoughts are that sometimes there are some real gems of information and ideas people have shared and they become "lost" in a thread somewhere.

I could copy and paste them and for a document of my own for my own use here at home but I forget how to find my documents again. Ha. Ha.

I am really enjoying the "Words of comfort, encouragement and wisdom" thread in the staying well section, as to me that is a bit of a snap shot of what I am trying to say here.

I also agree that it is not necessary to read a whole thread, for those who do and gain from it, that is wonderful.

Cheers all from Dools

[Sophie_M]

Hi Mrs Dools, it's true that there are many thousands of threads here with great posts that don't always get to the widest audience.  Perhaps the 'words of encouragement' thread could also include snippets of posts made by others on the forum?  Or a new 'gems from members' thread could be started up to collect pearls of wisdom?  

[Burdy]

Hello everyone,

Firstly I would just like to say to Birdy, you are one of the people that has responded to all of my posts. I'm sorry if I haven't said it but all of your responses have been warm, understanding and caring so thank you 🙂

On topic - I am fairly new and so far have found the forum to be very valuable not only the support I have felt from others but I am also finding that giving support to others is rewarding.

I do however find myself limiting posting and editing alot! But I believe this is from self doubt.

Yes I do find the longer threads to be quite overwhelming (with out even going in there, just looking at the large number of posts) so steer away from them. I think I would have nothing to contribute and everyone has it covered. So I tend to look for new people to welcome and threads that may have sat a couple days with only 1 or 2 replies.

This is because I know how it feels to not have anyone or only 1 person reply (not on the forum so much but in real life) and I don't want anyone else to feel that way. But most times I have no suggestions for them so I feel I'm wasting time.

I do feel very comfortable here and found everyone to be supportive and understanding.

Sorry I didn't end up answering the original question 😕

[Doolhof]

Hi Sophie,

Didn't we have a thread called something like Pearls of Wisdom?

It is a good idea regardless to try and correlate the gems that do appear.

Cheers from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Burdy,

I'd just like to offer you some more encouragement, same to all people using the forum, if you have been here a short time or for a while, each person is worthy.

It is a shame that sometimes a post may not receive a response in a reasonable amount of time and maybe only a few people might connect. I don't know what that is, it just happens! There is certainly no malice or intention, just the nature of a forum.

Cheers to all from Mrs. Dools

[Sophie_M]

There was this thread started by Just Sara to give appreciation to members:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/a-bouquet-for-pearls---share-yo...

I think the intention was more to say thank you to members rather than to share their posts.  

[Quercus]

Hi everyone ☺

Burdy your latest post made me think about feeling comfortable and what has helped me and also about long threads.

You raise a very important issue.

Support, effort, encouragement and care go both ways.

You're living proof right now of a way to find your feet on these forums. It was the same method I used too and it works...

• Go slowly and care for yourself by only doing what feels right to you. When you log out you shouldn't feel drained or worse.
• Only read or respond where you can. Any level of posting is ok. It's ok to have days where you read only or days where you need care.
• Remind yourself of how it feels to be new when you're doubting your post... Posts don't need to be perfect or follow a format... Just be you as if you're talking to a friend.
• If someone replies to you it helps hugely to ask if they have a thread. It makes it easier to join a thread if you have someone reassuring you.
• Many of the long threads are from longer term members. It can feel intimidating to post but remember beneath the post counts are people managing a health condition too. They need your input as much as you may need theirs.
• Sometimes we take it for granted that a member who has been here a while will reach out loudly if they need support too. But it doesn't always happen and it's easy to feel forgotten and no longer welcome.

I'm a firm believer in setting boundaries for your own wellbeing first and then searching out threads that interest you to join into. There's no obligation to keep posting... Just go with what makes you feel ok within.

Nat

[Guest5643]

Hi

Didnt know if to write it here or the thread what stops you from joining in on forums.

The answer is yes and no. Im fighting hard the last few weeks to not delete my account. What makes me uncomfortable on here is the feeling i talk the truth too much and unintentialy upset people because of that. When you have no family you speak to or friends and the only person you talk to in person is someone you see walking past when you walk your dog, so you talk back and forth to yourself in your broken head all the the time and analyse the replies and are adamant that theres hidden messages in them that ive annoyed them. Im 41 and still cant fit in with anyone anywhere. I mean seriously i can guarantee i can be the only one is this country that has been fired from volunteer work so realisticly its only a matter of time anyway before i get banned from bb forums

Lynne

[Quercus]

Hi Lynne,

After reading your post and seeing how isolated you are offline I really hope you are able to feel comfortable here in time.

Honesty is a good thing. I find it refreshing and genuine. If you find yourself worrying about making mistakes it might help to scroll to the top of screen and click on the red box marked 'community rules' so you can see what is acceptable behaviour.

Please try not to stress about being banned. It doesn't happen often and even then it.