Forum housekeeping - threads with 100+ posts

[Chris_B]

Hi everyone,

Regulars may have noticed that some of our long-running threads from different sections have been moved today to the BB Social Zone. We've been reviewing threads over the last few weeks and have noticed that threads that go past 100 posts have usually drifted away from the original topic and have become more about checking in on a daily basis on any number of aspects to do with wellbeing, as well as the social interaction that has become such a great part of our community here. In some of these threads, the journey is quite incredible, where a person has started out feeling suicidal and has moved to a place where they've recognised how well they're coping and are putting those skills into practice every day.

Although the BB Social Zone is billed as a place for discussing topics other than mental health, anxiety and depression seeps into every aspect of our daily lives and it's not realistic for those of us using the forums regularly to put up walls and make compartments for what's going on.

So from now on, we'll be reviewing threads that go past 100 posts and seeing whether they are suitable for moving to the Social Zone, in order to keep our subject sections focused on specific topics where members are looking for a resolution or support in moving forward in the short term.

Hope this makes sense.

[Guest_5218]

Chris we all face discrimination and prejucide in every day life - whether we be black, white, brindle, gay, straight, of ethnic background, whatever. But also because of our mental health, or even the colour of our hair. Me being a redhead for example. I am not belittling nor demeaning anybody, I understand prejudice in the real world. I too see it, but we need to be consistent.

[Guest_5218]

Thankyou Chris B for closing off my Anniversary Thread. You're right, I no longer consider it a safe place.

[Chris_B]

Hi Sherie, I appreciate you have strong feelings about this. We have moved your closed thread back to the PTSD section. You will also see that all the Cafe threads have been moved to the BB Social Zone, and post counts have been turned on for the BB Social Zone.

Really keen to hear what others think on this issue as well.

[Guest_5218]

Thankyou Chris for moving my thead back where it belongs! I appreciate that you did that, as I was not happy with it being in the Social Zone, closed or otherwise. I note you removed my previous post to everyone on my thread. I wanted them to know that I appreciated all those who had been supporting me and explaining my reasons for taking a break. My intention for a break still applies, and I feel sick and horrible right now as I truly hate confrontation. You have helped a little by moving my thread off the Social Zone though. (-:

Good move to treat all threads the same, at least you are showing some consistency now.

Sorry to cause so much drama over this Chris, I know you are just doing your best. But yes, my feelings over this are very strong. So thankyou.

Sherie

[Emmy.]

Hi Chris

I have to agree with Sherie on this and I'm not trying to cause a conflict or anything but when I "met" Sherie I took the time to read back through her thread and this was a way of getting to know someone.

I understand why you asked me to start a new thread outside of the suicide thread but I did find that very overwhelming. Which thread to I now write on? Do I have to now only be positive on my new thread. A few panic attacks were had but I got that. I wasn't quite as suicidal.

But these threads become a part of you. Hard to explain but almost like your own little story. I wish both my threads could be merged into one. Is that possible? Under my anxiety thread would be fine. But don't think it should go into BB social zone.

like Sherie said a lot of the content is not appropriate.

Sorry to speak out I hare doing this sort of thing as I worry now that you won't like me but I've got to agree with Sherie. Thanks for considering our feedback. Emmy x

[james1]

Hello,

I hope I'm not stepping out of my place here, or too far off topic, when I say:

I feel for everyone here.

I think it just goes to show that, even for all of us who deal with and are well acquainted with mental illness, there is never a right answer.

But equally, I am glad that we do have such respect for each other. I think it shows in the responses so far.

If nothing else, I know I can take a lesson from here that mental health can be such a minefield, it makes it even more important that we support each other.

Best

James

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Chris, I agree with Sherie and James that putting these threads in the Social Zone isn't the right choice. I also agree that creating a new thread for every little thing is just confusing and uncomfortable for a lot of people here. Depression and anxiety aren't good for concentration and keeping track of so much stuff. For some of us it would be entirely impractical and counterproductive.

I also think these long-running threads, though possibly intimidating to some, have attracted a lot of new people to them and are good, safe spaces for many of us to work through our day-to-day struggles. I've noticed people meet and get to know each other in the Café and similar social spaces, then go looking for each other's personal threads, and it's a system that works. Not all or even most of what is on those threads is "social", not all of it is heavy or directed to a specific section. It seems a bit like you've looked at the length of the threads and thrown them in the too hard basket, in this case the Social Zone. A far better solution, in my opinion, would be to create a new forum on the lines of Long Term Support, separate from the realm of mere chitchat, but not required to stay "on topic" either. I don't want my thread locked, but I would be a lot more comfortable with it somewhere more appropriate than the Social Zone.

Blue.

[Chris_B]

Hi Emmy, I wish we could merge threads - it would be really useful for when we have a lot of small threads about one big topic.

What we're trying to do here is balance the needs of two different groups of forum members; long-term members who use this space primarily for checking in and letting others know where they're at daily on their journey (I use the term 'socialising' for this), and those members who are looking for short-term, specific discussions on topics (eg. "Has schema therapy worked for you?" vs "No therapy has ever worked for me" which then evolves over hundreds of posts into discussions about anything and everything).

Our user research is telling us that those users (who make up the bulk of our audience) will not read through hundreds of posts in a single thread, they are looking to find stories relevant to them quickly. If you have a look through the threads we moved today, only a very small percentage of the posts in them are actually about the original topic - it's mostly peer-based social support around daily life (very similar to the BB Cafe - Blue's, I did read through them, I read everything on here).

Now this is not a bad thing! We do have long-term members who use the forums over months and document their journey in a single thread, which will cover many aspects of that person's life, not just the subject they originally posted about. But we need to find a place for these long threads to go so as not to alienate others.

There is no compulsion to be happy when posting here on the forums - given that all of us are living with mental health conditions, that would be a very unusual requirement! 🙂 We make an exception for specific discussions around suicide, as our user research also tells us that some members find these topics distressing to read about, so we created a section specifically for discussing suicidal thoughts and how to cope with them. So the only rule about content is that you keep discussions specifically about dealing with suicidal thoughts and self-harm to that section.

What can we agree on here? There seems to be a consensus around having a section for Long Term Support. This could be a section where the 100+ threads go, and where people have the option of following the journeys of others. It could fit all the criteria described above. How does this sound?

[Emmy.]

Got to say I'm now feeling panicked by all of this. What will happen to my own threads? Can they be joined together then closed. So confused. Will I still be able to reach out to Sherie and everyone else with 100+ comments.

[james1]

I like the idea of a place for long term support. Particularly the idea of following someone's journey. And threads could be moved in there as needed.