Group News

On Being Careful Here On DSPosted on 11/21/09, 11:29 pm Has anyone noticed there is an option to choose to keep your profile hidden from people who are not on your friend's list? This function also keeps the Internet from accessing you via the web by searching your screen name. It would also stop others here on DS who are lurking around looking for people to mess with from finding us...and we can feel free to share what we would like to in our profiles...without fear of others finding the words, and using them to harrass us.In the not-so-distant past, a male found my profile by searching the 'new members' listing for a different support group I had joined.  He invited me as a friend stating, "I have gone to your profile page and looked into your listing there.  I am sorry for all the things you have lived through."  Now, that sounds really congenial...and honestly, with him, it was.  But, just as easily, one like some of our prior problem posers could have accessed me just as easily.  I am also trying to be very careful about accepting friendships.  If I am asked...I reverse the search...I look at their profile page and learn a bit about them before just accepting.  PLUS, I ask them in a private message..."Thanks for the friends request.  May I ask what it is that would cause you to want to befriend me?  I mean no offense, but simply am trying to be careful".  So far, no one has had an issue with answering me.  NOW, based on the ability to block people from viewing our profiles unless they are friends, one of the steps from my own personal 'background check' of potential friends is blocked -- so, good with the bad I suppose.
If you are interested, the function is under the "My Account" tab (located on the left margin of your page...right under where you link to go to your journal...or your photos and such, then, located at the bottom of the page where you are able to alter your account settings, there are three options available for security/privacy settings,  (it is right above the link to the number of members you have on "ignore").   Nothing else, from what I can see, is blocked except those things that allow for individual choice (photos have a block option for each individual photo you add).  In other words, our avatars are still openly viewable.  But, this is a real improvement in my opinion.  I hope, for some of the newer members to DS, that they never have to endure some of the 'issues' that had been quite easy to perpetrate before this change.(Sorry if this bumped another news article....this was a suggestion so this info doesn't get lost in the archives). 

Dates: April 9-11 (including Thursday the 8th, for those who will want the extra day).

 

We WILL be welcoming back two-time Grammy-winning musician Bill Miller as our guest of honor!

 

The theme will be "Rising Above," and the emblem will be an eagle.

 

I have several new ideas for this retreat, and they will be cool! 2009 was awesome, but this will be even better, I think, because we will have new ideas, more people, and experience.

 

The idea of writing a collection of letters to the teen victim of rape in California has received strong support here (which makes me VERY proud of you, can I just say?). I am asking that you address your letters to "dear fellow survivor" or some other positive identification. I figure our letters will be among many she will receive, so there is no need to struggle and stress over "the right thing to say" or insecurity over writing skills. In my experience, advice and eloquence are generally not helpful, but authentic statements of acceptance, understanding and affirmation are--we call this "unconditional love" in the real world. There is no need to compose a masterpiece letter, just a card or page with some heartfelt words of encouragement and comfort.

 

Please mail the letters to:

 

Community of Christ, attn: Matt

921 Southwest 70th

Oklahoma City, OK 73139

 

I will receive them and remove them from envelopes (so your return address will not be included), and in 2 weeks I will send them as a bundle representing the RAR members collectively. 

 

I look forward to bragging about how mny letters we generate in two weeks!