Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
Ok, I'm gonna just get this started. Not meant as a complete picture, but an outline. Can you add your thoughts?
Generally speaking, any topic is OK on DS unless:
1) COMMERCIAL MESSAGES: Users are posting messages promoting products from which they materially benefit.
2) INTERFERING WITH THE FLOW OF CONVERSATION: We had a problem a few weeks ago when a member posted hundreds of topics within a few minutes. It destroyed the flow of the community. Not OK.
3) PERSONAL INFORMATION: DS strongly advises against the posting of personal information (email addresses, phone numbers, addresses) and may delete that if posted. This is done only for your safety.
4) RELIGION: DS is non-denominational and while we think religion is an important part of healing, imposing your religious beliefs on others is not ok. As an example, we do not permit religious folks from entering our Gay and Lesbian forums with the intention of "curing" or otherwise fixing the members there.
5) PERSONAL ATTACKS: Now this is where most folks get tripped up, so let's see if we can come up with something useful. A threat of violence against another member is unacceptable. Example: "I'm going to kill you" or "you should die". Debate about all kinds of subjects is fine, but attacking an individual is not. As an example, if you and I disagree about abortion, we can attack each other's position and claims, but it is NOT acceptable for me to say "You're an idiot! You deserve to die!"
6) ATTACKING A GROUP: Obviously, attacking or insulting a group (race, religion, etc) is also unacceptable.
7) WHAT'S OK WHERE: Forums are public places and require the strictest interpretation of our rules. Journals are more oriented towards personal communication. Journal comments, hugs and private messages are the place where we often see personal attacks, and that's obviously not OK.
8) OBSCENITY / PROFANITY: Generally speaking, we're not sticklers for curse words, though we ask folks to remember that anyone 14 and older may be on the site. Where folks have gotten in to trouble is when they post an obscene word in their avatar (which can be seen by anyone across the entire site) or post the F-word in all caps in the middle of a discussion. Obscenity in the course of a valuable discussion is one thing...just saying it for the shock value isn't really helping anyone. Thoughts? Unfortunately, nudity is generally not allowed on the site because, well, frankly many other members complain about it when they see it. We can get more technical about what consistutes actual nudity, but I thought I'd just get this started.
9) COPYRIGHTED CONTENT: We can get in big trouble if we don't take down copyrighted content, when notified by the copyright holder. I think you all get that.
Ok, that's just a start. Thoughts?
doug
Generally speaking, any topic is OK on DS unless:
1) COMMERCIAL MESSAGES: Users are posting messages promoting products from which they materially benefit.
2) INTERFERING WITH THE FLOW OF CONVERSATION: We had a problem a few weeks ago when a member posted hundreds of topics within a few minutes. It destroyed the flow of the community. Not OK.
3) PERSONAL INFORMATION: DS strongly advises against the posting of personal information (email addresses, phone numbers, addresses) and may delete that if posted. This is done only for your safety.
4) RELIGION: DS is non-denominational and while we think religion is an important part of healing, imposing your religious beliefs on others is not ok. As an example, we do not permit religious folks from entering our Gay and Lesbian forums with the intention of "curing" or otherwise fixing the members there.
5) PERSONAL ATTACKS: Now this is where most folks get tripped up, so let's see if we can come up with something useful. A threat of violence against another member is unacceptable. Example: "I'm going to kill you" or "you should die". Debate about all kinds of subjects is fine, but attacking an individual is not. As an example, if you and I disagree about abortion, we can attack each other's position and claims, but it is NOT acceptable for me to say "You're an idiot! You deserve to die!"
6) ATTACKING A GROUP: Obviously, attacking or insulting a group (race, religion, etc) is also unacceptable.
7) WHAT'S OK WHERE: Forums are public places and require the strictest interpretation of our rules. Journals are more oriented towards personal communication. Journal comments, hugs and private messages are the place where we often see personal attacks, and that's obviously not OK.
8) OBSCENITY / PROFANITY: Generally speaking, we're not sticklers for curse words, though we ask folks to remember that anyone 14 and older may be on the site. Where folks have gotten in to trouble is when they post an obscene word in their avatar (which can be seen by anyone across the entire site) or post the F-word in all caps in the middle of a discussion. Obscenity in the course of a valuable discussion is one thing...just saying it for the shock value isn't really helping anyone. Thoughts? Unfortunately, nudity is generally not allowed on the site because, well, frankly many other members complain about it when they see it. We can get more technical about what consistutes actual nudity, but I thought I'd just get this started.
9) COPYRIGHTED CONTENT: We can get in big trouble if we don't take down copyrighted content, when notified by the copyright holder. I think you all get that.
Ok, that's just a start. Thoughts?
doug
I like the idea of being able to delete your own posts/comments. (similar to MSN)
But, then again there are a couple of adults like that as well...
My thoughts on how the Depression Forum could work.
I would start by saying that I appreciate all that you do for we depressed and diverse community.
1. the Crisis category is not working as effectively as it could. It is isolated and cannot be easily assessed as urgent or not when viewed from the main Board. From the main board one can only see the author of the crisis and how many minutes since it was last addressed. That means that an old thread only needs for someone to comment on it and it goes to the top of crisis and causes false alarms. No one can see a cry for help that may have just been posted before that thread 'obliterated it' It makes monitoring 'crisis' difficult for many. Disheartening for those who need help also. Hence my thread to wait 3 minutes and then shout for help on the main board.
2. Fun and laughter, this is of amazing importance. Many people who are depressed would not think to go to the 'fun' category, they stumble on a fun thread and start to join in, this can be a) all they need to cheer them up, b) get them feeling they are more confident to confide in someone how they truly feel. c) allow the timid people a feeling of being a big part of the community as a whole. Laughter is the best medicine, you make need to be drawn into it.
3. The trouble makers People want ignore buttons. I personally don't see this working as people who have ignored someone, would be so curious and fretful if they then can't read what is being written about them on the main board. I think a 'warning button of bad behaviour' would be of more benefit, so someone could intervene immediately who has the ability to hand out a warning that their behaviour has been reported. That may stop some of the verbal fights and abuse that takes place.
My proposals.
ICONS
Beside each Topic, there should be an Icon that shows if the thread is:-
FUN
CRISIS
GENERAL DEPRESSION TOPICS
TLC NEEDED
TOTALLY OFF TOPIC
ADVICE NEEDED
THE 'CRISIS' NEED 2 ICONS. 1 FOR HELP HAS BEEN FOUND AND 1 FOR STILL WAITING
still waiting crisis calls should stay on the front page until help is at hand and then the icon can be switched to a non urgent topic.
People then have a wide choice, can access everything,have fun or help etc: depending on their own abilities or needs.
I hope this has contributed in a constructive way
all these things were put like they were because of suggestions given a loooonnnnggg time ago, these things take awhile to be put in effect.
more suggestions, then changes, then somebody doesn't like it.
I agree with the ignore button. I know how to ignore when I want/need to.
In keeping with my anal and organized nature, is everybody aware of using the "tab" function in your internet browser window, which allows multiple window views to open from just one, single window on your screen?
This has helped me immensely in keeping track of simultaneous threads.
I operate the Safari browser on Macintosh OS 10.4.1 on my PowerBook G4.
The first tab I open is for my Profile page, where I can refer to all messages and hugs. The second tab is for the first page of the main Depression Discussion Board. All subsequent tabs are for individual threads. And Safari notes the name of each thread within each tab so that, at a glance, you can monitor up to 10 different tabs easily.
So, for example, utilizing only ONE BROWSER WINDOW, I can have three tabs for three different board front pages, and seven tabs for seven different threads.
It's great for eliminating multiple windows and the confusion that comes with opening, closing, moving backward, forward and refreshing them.