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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Toph on November 3, 2004, at 12:59:22
What with the latest changes in posting rules, the new research study, and the addition of the relationship board, maybe no one wants to hear a proposal for another change at Psycho-Babble. But I have given this some thought and I hope you will give this idea some consideration. Even though we have anonymity on PB, and most of us have fictitious posting names, I know I have a strong identification and ownership with my name Toph. If someone criticizes or offends the cyber Toph, the real me gets upset. I think that most posters here have a strong identity with their cyber personas as well.
There are many topics related to psychiatric illness that I might want to discuss that I would be too embarrassed to discuss on this public forum. Some here are comfortable discussing embarrassing topics while others do not for personal reasons. Many of us taking medications experience such side effects as impotence and other libido issues, incontinence, halitosis, body odor, balding, amenorrhea, urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, the list goes on. Also, posters with psychiatric illnesses may be reticent to discuss the emotional effects of sensitive illnesses such as AIDS and other venereal diseases, breast cancer, testicular cancer, hysterectomy, cholitis, Tourettes - I'm sure I'm missing other conditions that may be hard to openly discuss. Morover, there are people who have been victimized by rape, incest, and even embarrassing fraud who may not want these experiences openly known.
I would like to see a board created where others and I could post anonymously to discuss sensitive topics. Toph could be given on this board only a random number as a temporary name for a day to discuss sensitive topics and be able to share anonymously my experiences with other posters. Bob would be the only person knowing our true identities. Civility rules would apply, of course. I don't know how violators are blocked without identifying them on PBA, but I'm sure someone could figure something out. I don't know what people think about posters sharing anonymously criminal behavior like someone asking for help as a rapist, pedophile, incestuous family member or physical abuser. This will be up to Bob. Anyway, despite the many problems anonymity may bring, I strongly believe that the benefits of an anonymous board would outweigh the problems. I am anxious to here what you think.
-Toph
Posted by Dinah on November 4, 2004, at 10:04:11
In reply to Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by Toph on November 3, 2004, at 12:59:22
I've talked about this with Dr. Bob before, and he's always been opposed, I think. There are certainly topics that I am reluctant (believe it or not) to bring up on the board, and would prefer to bring up anonymously. I pretty much have made myself vulnerable by bringing them up anyway. But bringing them up anonymously would be appealing. And not everyone is willing to make themselves as vulnerable as I am willing to do on occasion. They might never discuss those things under their regular posting names.
But I see some downsides too. First of all, people might be so busy trying to figure out who is who that they lose sight of the reason for the post. :) And they might guess incorrectly, causing a lot of needless speculation. If people post frequently enough and have a unique enough style, anonymity may be a thin disguise. And if anonymity does work well, there is still the problem that people would be responding... Well, part of the reason Babble is helpful is that posters get to know each other over a period of time and answer with that base of knowledge. You'd lose that if people weren't able to put the post in context with their greater knowledge of the poster, and the resulting replies might miss the mark more often. And it's still possible, maybe even more possible, to be hurt when disclosing something sensitive when it's done anonymously.
So I see pros and cons.
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 5, 2004, at 9:16:18
In reply to Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by Toph on November 3, 2004, at 12:59:22
Hmmmm....It's hard to address hypotheticals, sometimes.
I think there are some real opportunities in what you suggest. Some concepts hurt the vessel they're stored in more than the vessel they're poured in. Some challenges we face are very corrosive to the psyche.
Anonymity within anonymity. Hmmm. You suggested the assignment of a number for identification purposes. That works, I guess, but it might be hard to keep track of individuals, to not confuse one for another. Also, I don't think that an anonymous identifier should expire after one day. Again, continuity issues.
Now, if one has a unique posting style, or perhaps has issues that might have been hinted at on other boards, then I see that to be something that the individual would need to weigh for themselves. The risk of being identified versus the risk of remaining silent. That's a very personal decision.
Just to use you as an example, Toph, I have no way of linking that name to a real live person. Nonetheless, I do tend to attribute certain characteristics to that name, based on what I have seen you post. I can understand the desire to not have that "character" tainted or distorted or embarassed or vilified....etc.
The main impediment to such a board would be technical, actually. Keeping track of registrations is already quite a responsibility for Dr. Bob, I would think. Having more than one posting name per registration could be technically or managerially burdensome.
I think the idea has merit. I think that the management issues need some serious thought, though, if it is to work.
Lar
Posted by Toph on November 5, 2004, at 10:27:21
In reply to Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by Toph on November 3, 2004, at 12:59:22
Thank you for your comments Dinah and Larry (whomever you really are). To be honest I BabbleMailed them when no one else responded. Confidentially is important to me because I am not an "out of the closet" bipolar. No one at work knows of my illness and I think that is best for me. I tend to be an emotional person by personality, and I'd hate to think that if I were sad or agitated that others would dismiss these moods as "that bipolar guy."
This place is different, I can speak about personal things and, for whatever reason, I don't care if someone thinks, "there goes that bipolar guy again." But lithium gives me diarrhea and other side effects that I should be able to discuss here. I don't for fear that I will be remembered as "Toph that diarrhea guy." I maintain that there are many people here (the poor response to this post notwithstanding) with embarassing symptoms of their disorder, dual diagnoses and disconcerting medication side effects that despite annonimity do not seek support here who might otherwise if they had another level of anonymity.
But if nothing changes there's always, "I know this guy who takes lithium and gets diarrhea..."
-Toph
Posted by cubic_me on November 6, 2004, at 12:21:23
In reply to Re: Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by Toph on November 5, 2004, at 10:27:21
>
> But if nothing changes there's always, "I know this guy who takes lithium and gets diarrhea..."
> -Toph
I love your style Toph! But that might not be a good thing if I recognised it in an anonymous post! I'm all for an anonymous board if it could work, but I fear that the technicalities would be difficult to overcome.
Posted by Toph on November 6, 2004, at 18:34:18
In reply to Re: Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by cubic_me on November 6, 2004, at 12:21:23
Posted by Toph on November 6, 2004, at 19:03:08
In reply to Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by Toph on November 3, 2004, at 12:59:22
Dr. Bob I was wondering what you thought about the utility of this concept of double anonymity:
1) Is it techically possible?
2) Despite the problems with people discovering posters through there posting styles or misidentifying people, do you believe that there may be posters here who are reluctant to share sensitive things about themselves because they want to protect their PB pseudonom's identity?
3) Is it not possible that posters also are reluctant to lend empathic support of someone with sensitive symptoms or conditions for rear that they their cyber personas be exposed?
4) If you agree with me that this new board is a clever idea, worthy of a trial run, will you name the board Psycho-Babble Toph?
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this matter.
-Toph
Posted by 1234 on November 6, 2004, at 20:38:03
In reply to Re: Toph's request for determination, posted by Toph on November 6, 2004, at 19:03:08
Do we all have DID?
How divorced are our babble identities from our other selves? Who is 1234?
Posted by Toph on November 6, 2004, at 22:51:13
In reply to Re: Toph's request for determination » Toph, posted by 1234 on November 6, 2004, at 20:38:03
> Do we all have DID?
>
> How divorced are our babble identities from our other selves? Who is 1234?Probably,
As much as you'd like, and
Exactly.
Posted by 1234 on November 6, 2004, at 23:18:51
In reply to Re: Toph's request » 1234, posted by Toph on November 6, 2004, at 22:51:13
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 8, 2004, at 2:27:41
In reply to Re: Toph's request for determination » Toph, posted by 1234 on November 6, 2004, at 20:38:03
> Who is 1234?
I'm not saying, but please don't post under more than one name at the same time.
If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#names
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 8, 2004, at 2:42:21
In reply to Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by Toph on November 3, 2004, at 12:59:22
> There are many topics related to psychiatric illness that I might want to discuss that I would be too embarrassed to discuss on this public forum.
>
> I would like to see a board created where others and I could post anonymously to discuss sensitive topics.Sensitive topics can be a problem even here, I agree, but I'm not sure anonymity is the answer...
Bob
Posted by sunny10 on November 8, 2004, at 14:20:55
In reply to Re: Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by Dr. Bob on November 8, 2004, at 2:42:21
I agree with Dr. Bob.
Are we here to just "listen to ourselves talk", or are we here to fully utilize a "group" type of support?
We love to support one and all, but most of us cannot do so on a "professional level". We are not all T's- we are all patients.
I hope that Toph or anyone will feel free to reach out for some kind of help, support, or validation on ANY subject you'd like- warts, runny bowels, and all.
Haven't you been reading the Babble posts? There are all kinds of gross experiences that we all have from time to time. Gosh, I wish I could "convince you all" to just let it all out.
We are non-judgmental co-patients here, for the most part. Those who aren't can stuff it- sorry, Dr. Bob...
-sunny10
Posted by Toph on November 8, 2004, at 14:23:29
In reply to Re: Psycho-Babble Anonymous, posted by Dr. Bob on November 8, 2004, at 2:42:21
> > I would like to see a board created where others and I could post anonymously to discuss sensitive topics.
>
> Sensitive topics can be a problem even here, I agree, but I'm not sure anonymity is the answer...
>
> BobOh, OK, but I still think it's an intriguing concept, double anonymity. You can't tell me, Bob, that you wouldn't be tempted yourself at becoming an anonymous poster - a real Babbler, if you will - and seek support for some emarrassing problem you have. After all, I think I recall you assuring us that you are human and have human frailties. But, it's your website, so I will drop the idea of a safe board for fluids, fetor, fetishes, foibles and failings.
Thanks for giving it some thought, even if only cursory.
-Toph
This is the end of the thread.
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