Posted by Twinleaf on July 5, 2013, at 17:25:48
In reply to Re: posters who could use support » Dr. Bob, posted by Dinah on July 5, 2013, at 16:07:50
I also feel a deep appreciation for Babble as it used to be. I think it played a limited but very positive role in my recovery from depression, both by providing good ideas of medications to try, and, even more, by providing a warm and empathic community to share experiences with.
I think Scott is right in saying that we felt safe in Babble, although some of us felt threatened and hurt by the extent of the PBCs and blocks given for very small, often unclear infractions. I think I experienced an unjust degree of such punishment to an extraordinary degree, but it did not prevent me from feeling a sense of community here. What did eventually damage that sense of trust and community was that the board became unmoderated. This has resulted in a loss of emotional safety, and also just a simple loss of enough posters to form an interesting community. Dinah is describing a situation where she feels that Babble is no longer supporting her growth towards mental health; I feel exactly the same.
If the positive aspects of Babble aren't restored, posters are simply not going to want to be a part of it. Old posters are going to continue to disappear, and new ones are not going to find it worthwhile to join.
Since you once had a vital community, why not restore some of the things that made it work? PBCs can be given at times (not every time), and for as many times as you want. They don't have to be immediately followed by blocks, although you may want to give a short block occasionally. I would strongly suggest not doubling blocks. Providing this minimal degree of oversight should not take too much time. There seems to be so much extreme, "either -or", black and white thinking about this entire issue. It would be so much better to institute a minimal, flexible version of the administrative policies which made Babble a success in the past.
poster:Twinleaf
thread:1046098
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20130702/msgs/1046564.html