Post by Veritee on Dec 13, 2005 12:51:33 GMT
Dear All
I wish to tell you that due to recent events on the forum we are now monitoring all posts on the forum.
We will do this for a period of three months initially to see how it goes.
While we have always had the option to do this
- and some have said in the past that it is irresponsible when running a forum as sensitive as this not to monitor all posts and modify or delete them when necessary -
We have never yet modified anyone else’s post.
However we are just about the only forum I know that has operated this way . Practically every forum I know of, especially in the areas of subjects around individuals mental and emotional health, operate a policy of monitoring all posts and if necessary modifying posts or even removing them.
However the fact we allow people to say what they wish without censorship and rely on the atmosphere of care and consideration we encourage on this forum, has led recently to continued abuse of our policy or non- judgement and unconditional acceptance of individuals experiences as well as no direct abuse or ‘putting down’ of anyone’s point of view - so we now have no option but to monitor all posts.
Their are very few taboo subjects on this forum, the only thing we can not allow are posts that directly criticise someone else, are judgmental in a way that will cause harm , or posts that somehow make the forum feel unsafe for any of its users or potential users - all other subjects are fine.
The action we will take will vary.
The administrator and advisors will be able to directly modify posts so that anything supportive or asking for support remains but anything abusive to anyone else is taken out, this will only be done in extreme circumstances.
However all moderators will have the ability to move any posts that are unsure of, off the forum and into a safe area where the posts in question can be looked at collectively ( and by the management committee if appropriate) to decide if they either:
Previous to this we have ‘allowed’ some posts of this nature in case any abusive or otherwise unacceptable posts are in fact a 'cry for help' by someone very distressed and perhaps angry we have always allowed anyone to post what they like and only in extreme circumstances have we taken anything off the forum and this has either been direct abuse to an individual ( which rarely happens if ever) or advertisements and inappropriate postings.
Up to now if posts have been negative in any way we have tried to engage in a dialogue with the person who wrote them to see if this negativity was prompted by their PNI and to let them know that we care and would like to support them and are not going to be immediately 'put off' by their anger or criticism.
( this is very dear to my heart as when I had PNI , I was just so angry most of the time to anyone who offered to support me, as I just felt so vulnerable, i.e. that I just could not tryst anyone motives - that while I do think this was partly due to my actually experience whereby the intervention I was given by the Social Services for instance at the time was both unnecessary and destructive - on the other hand I put off people that later I realised may have helped me get through PNI.
One person who I would be angry with at times who never was 'put off' was my APNI counsellor, and I will always be grateful to her that she persevered, never gave up on me and gained my trust)
So this is what we have always tried to do on here up to this point. And of course we will still try to do this. If a new person comes on here and is negative and defensive of course we will not immediately remove or modify their posts without engaging in a dialogue, but if we have given it our best shot and tried to make that person feel safe enough to trust us we eventually have to protect the atmosphere of the forum and others who use it .
I am very sorry this action has now proved necessary
All the best to you all
Veritee
I wish to tell you that due to recent events on the forum we are now monitoring all posts on the forum.
We will do this for a period of three months initially to see how it goes.
While we have always had the option to do this
- and some have said in the past that it is irresponsible when running a forum as sensitive as this not to monitor all posts and modify or delete them when necessary -
We have never yet modified anyone else’s post.
However we are just about the only forum I know that has operated this way . Practically every forum I know of, especially in the areas of subjects around individuals mental and emotional health, operate a policy of monitoring all posts and if necessary modifying posts or even removing them.
However the fact we allow people to say what they wish without censorship and rely on the atmosphere of care and consideration we encourage on this forum, has led recently to continued abuse of our policy or non- judgement and unconditional acceptance of individuals experiences as well as no direct abuse or ‘putting down’ of anyone’s point of view - so we now have no option but to monitor all posts.
Their are very few taboo subjects on this forum, the only thing we can not allow are posts that directly criticise someone else, are judgmental in a way that will cause harm , or posts that somehow make the forum feel unsafe for any of its users or potential users - all other subjects are fine.
The action we will take will vary.
The administrator and advisors will be able to directly modify posts so that anything supportive or asking for support remains but anything abusive to anyone else is taken out, this will only be done in extreme circumstances.
However all moderators will have the ability to move any posts that are unsure of, off the forum and into a safe area where the posts in question can be looked at collectively ( and by the management committee if appropriate) to decide if they either:
- go back on the forum unchanged
- go back modified
- are removed altogether
Previous to this we have ‘allowed’ some posts of this nature in case any abusive or otherwise unacceptable posts are in fact a 'cry for help' by someone very distressed and perhaps angry we have always allowed anyone to post what they like and only in extreme circumstances have we taken anything off the forum and this has either been direct abuse to an individual ( which rarely happens if ever) or advertisements and inappropriate postings.
Up to now if posts have been negative in any way we have tried to engage in a dialogue with the person who wrote them to see if this negativity was prompted by their PNI and to let them know that we care and would like to support them and are not going to be immediately 'put off' by their anger or criticism.
( this is very dear to my heart as when I had PNI , I was just so angry most of the time to anyone who offered to support me, as I just felt so vulnerable, i.e. that I just could not tryst anyone motives - that while I do think this was partly due to my actually experience whereby the intervention I was given by the Social Services for instance at the time was both unnecessary and destructive - on the other hand I put off people that later I realised may have helped me get through PNI.
One person who I would be angry with at times who never was 'put off' was my APNI counsellor, and I will always be grateful to her that she persevered, never gave up on me and gained my trust)
So this is what we have always tried to do on here up to this point. And of course we will still try to do this. If a new person comes on here and is negative and defensive of course we will not immediately remove or modify their posts without engaging in a dialogue, but if we have given it our best shot and tried to make that person feel safe enough to trust us we eventually have to protect the atmosphere of the forum and others who use it .
I am very sorry this action has now proved necessary
All the best to you all
Veritee
