Social Anxiety Support

bamboo · 07-14-2009, 07:32 AM

I think it's killing the forum. You have to PM the admin to get access, and I'm guessing that a lot of people who might contribute there just never bother. And of course, practically no straight people will ever be visiting that section. What's the good in ruling these people out? I'm a gay guy, does it mean I only ever take advice on my problems from other gays? Of course not... so allowing everyone to contribute would surely be more helpful.

Hiding the GLBT forum away in this way only furthers the idea that being GLBT is something to be ashamed of.

I'm sure there are some people who wouldn't like everyone to see that they're gay, but it doesn't have to spread to real life. I haven't posted my real name, and users can't see any personally identifiable details (this isn't a challenge!), so I'm pretty much as secure as I would be if I had only posted inside the GLBT forum.

Also, other forums I've posted on handled people who want to stay quiet about their sexuality or anything else in other ways. One of them allowed you to tick a box that would post your post through a user named Anonymous, with no way for regular users to see who the original poster was. Another one simply allowed users to send their post to a mod so the mod would post it anonymously.

So... Why is it restricted? Have there been problems before? Since its already against the rules to bash people over sexuality, it seems to me like we're already ready to have the GLBT forum open. Let's hear your thoughts.

Futures · 07-14-2009, 08:21 AM

I see where you're coming from. You can just post your issues in the normal relationship section. I've seen GLBT threads posted there from time to time and it was never a big deal. I'm sure you'd get a lot more replies as well.

Amocholes · 07-14-2009, 09:00 AM

Some of the members in the GLBT forum are not out and are not comfortable with the rest of the board knowing that they are gay or bi. The GLBT forum is an area where they can feel safe about asking questions without letting the world know about it.

leonardess · 07-14-2009, 09:04 AM

^ What's this Novius stuff?

Amocholes · 07-14-2009, 10:49 AM

Novius asks questions to which you know the answers but are afraid to say so.

bamboo · 07-16-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Futures

You can just post your issues in the normal relationship section. I've seen GLBT threads posted there from time to time and it was never a big deal.

Thanks for your good advice. I may do that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amocholes

The GLBT forum is an area where they can feel safe about asking questions without letting the world know about it.

It's true that I'm new to this forum, but I'd be very surprised if this actually works as intended. In any community I've been in online, word gets around very fast. If a poster reveals they're gay in one forum, someone who else who has access to it will gossip in no time. I'm not saying that this will definitely happen, but if I were hiding the fact I'm gay, I wouldn't feel very much safer in the restricted GBLT forum.

It seems to me that even if you're seeking only to protect closeted GLBT people, my alternatives in my original post (anonymous posting or posting through a mod) are better solutions. And that's without the benefit of allowing the GLBT forum to thrive. Or, how about having an "open" GLBT section and restricted part too? Any of these must be better than locking it up as is done now...

I'm sorry if I sound bossy and such, but I'm just trying to affect a positive change. Would it be okay with you if I made a thread in GBLT to direct users here? I'd like other GBLT people's input.

Jrock · 07-16-2009, 08:46 PM

If your interested in being part of the GLBT community why not jump through there hoops and message the admin. It's really no big deal. I have no idea how many members are there but you may surprise yourself. So give it a whirl

LNahid2000 · 07-16-2009, 11:41 PM

I agree with you 100%. The restricted-access problem is probably why that forum is so dead all the time.

gollywell · 07-27-2009, 01:51 PM

I agree with Bamboo on this one - the lack of access to the forum does seem to be kiling it quite badly. There are only two threads with significant number of posts in them - one is two years old and the other is five years old.

For those who dont want to be acknowledged as gay there are mechanisms that can be put in place for them to post anonymously. And although the poster is anonymous the IP can still be traced to identify trouble makers should the need arise.

It needs some sort of new life in it.

Amocholes · 07-27-2009, 02:20 PM

I will create a poll withing the GLBT forum and see what the members say but Drew will have to make the final decision.

Amocholes · 07-27-2009, 02:28 PM

The poll has been posted and will close in 2 weeks.

gollywell · 07-27-2009, 02:51 PM

Thank you for posting the poll.

millenniumman75 · 07-27-2009, 03:27 PM

Keep in mind that there is sensitive subject matter in there that many people could not be adequately or safely addressed in the main forum.

Drew · 07-27-2009, 04:02 PM

I'm open to the idea of opening the forum. The forum was closed when I took over the forums.

My understanding was that the forum was closed due to what has been previously mentioned in this thread and also that people who shouldn't have been were posting things that were not nice. Closing the forum off was seen as a way to make people feel more safe posting with privacy and less fear of judgment.

Let's see how the poll comes out.

07-14-2009, 07:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
bamboo Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 5	Why is the GLBT forum restricted-access? I think it's killing the forum. You have to PM the admin to get access, and I'm guessing that a lot of people who might contribute there just never bother. And of course, practically no straight people will ever be visiting that section. What's the good in ruling these people out? I'm a gay guy, does it mean I only ever take advice on my problems from other gays? Of course not... so allowing everyone to contribute would surely be more helpful. Hiding the GLBT forum away in this way only furthers the idea that being GLBT is something to be ashamed of. I'm sure there are some people who wouldn't like everyone to see that they're gay, but it doesn't have to spread to real life. I haven't posted my real name, and users can't see any personally identifiable details (this isn't a challenge!), so I'm pretty much as secure as I would be if I had only posted inside the GLBT forum. Also, other forums I've posted on handled people who want to stay quiet about their sexuality or anything else in other ways. One of them allowed you to tick a box that would post your post through a user named Anonymous, with no way for regular users to see who the original poster was. Another one simply allowed users to send their post to a mod so the mod would post it anonymously. So... Why is it restricted? Have there been problems before? Since its already against the rules to bash people over sexuality, it seems to me like we're already ready to have the GLBT forum open. Let's hear your thoughts.

07-14-2009, 09:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
Amocholes Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hello my freaky darlings! Gender: Male Age: 49 Posts: 12,599	Some of the members in the GLBT forum are not out and are not comfortable with the rest of the board knowing that they are gay or bi. The GLBT forum is an area where they can feel safe about asking questions without letting the world know about it. __________________ In the kingdom of the blind, the one legged man is king.

07-14-2009, 10:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Amocholes Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hello my freaky darlings! Gender: Male Age: 49 Posts: 12,599	Novius asks questions to which you know the answers but are afraid to say so. __________________ In the kingdom of the blind, the one legged man is king.

07-27-2009, 02:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
Amocholes Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hello my freaky darlings! Gender: Male Age: 49 Posts: 12,599	I will create a poll withing the GLBT forum and see what the members say but Drew will have to make the final decision. __________________ In the kingdom of the blind, the one legged man is king.

07-27-2009, 02:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
Amocholes Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hello my freaky darlings! Gender: Male Age: 49 Posts: 12,599	The poll has been posted and will close in 2 weeks. __________________ In the kingdom of the blind, the one legged man is king.

07-14-2009, 08:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Futures Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Midwest Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 1,904	I see where you're coming from. You can just post your issues in the normal relationship section. I've seen GLBT threads posted there from time to time and it was never a big deal. I'm sure you'd get a lot more replies as well.

07-14-2009, 09:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
leonardess Status: wheresthefire?inmyeye! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WILL you people please leave me alone?I'm supposed to be working lol Gender: Female Age: 45 Posts: 1,231	^ What's this Novius stuff?

07-16-2009, 08:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jrock Status: Inactive - User Requested Join Date: Dec 2008 Gender: Male Age: 29 Posts: 653	If your interested in being part of the GLBT community why not jump through there hoops and message the admin. It's really no big deal. I have no idea how many members are there but you may surprise yourself. So give it a whirl

07-16-2009, 11:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
LNahid2000 Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Waterloo, ON Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 192	I agree with you 100%. The restricted-access problem is probably why that forum is so dead all the time.

07-27-2009, 01:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
gollywell Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 15	I agree with Bamboo on this one - the lack of access to the forum does seem to be kiling it quite badly. There are only two threads with significant number of posts in them - one is two years old and the other is five years old. For those who dont want to be acknowledged as gay there are mechanisms that can be put in place for them to post anonymously. And although the poster is anonymous the IP can still be traced to identify trouble makers should the need arise. It needs some sort of new life in it.

07-27-2009, 02:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
gollywell Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 15	Thank you for posting the poll.

07-27-2009, 03:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
millenniumman75 Status: Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dayton-Cincinnati, OH Gender: Male Age: 34 Posts: 38,668	Keep in mind that there is sensitive subject matter in there that many people could not be adequately or safely addressed in the main forum. __________________ millenniumman75 You are a success story waiting to happen! Live and let live VACUUMS more than a Hoover.... Live and HELP live is better!

07-27-2009, 04:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
Drew Status: Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Gender: Male Posts: 1,381	I'm open to the idea of opening the forum. The forum was closed when I took over the forums. My understanding was that the forum was closed due to what has been previously mentioned in this thread and also that people who shouldn't have been were posting things that were not nice. Closing the forum off was seen as a way to make people feel more safe posting with privacy and less fear of judgment. Let's see how the poll comes out.