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The mental health of this community [Read Staff Post Before Posting]
- Thread starter Jindrax
- Start date
- Status
I personally think that banning thread titles such as this one would be a good idea:
"Trump loyalist and 'Pray against HIV' nutjob to become head of Americas Covid-19 response"
Is it true? well yeah. But if someone who's already having a hard time sees something like that, it's not going to help things.
"Trump loyalist and 'Pray against HIV' nutjob to become head of Americas Covid-19 response"
Is it true? well yeah. But if someone who's already having a hard time sees something like that, it's not going to help things.
I know that communities exist in which reaching out will result in being told to kill yourself (Ironically! It's funny, right!?)
So yeah, Era really ain't doing that bad.
So yeah, Era really ain't doing that bad.
I'm glad somebody made this thread because I've been thinking the same thing. I'm not sure if its because gaming communities and forums aggregate video game players, who often can turn to gaming for the escapism it offers.
I'm really not sure what the actions should be here. Maybe a private forum where some people can air out what's really on their mind/causing them to feel this way without being afraid that it's going to get found by random people passing by.
I'm really not sure what the actions should be here. Maybe a private forum where some people can air out what's really on their mind/causing them to feel this way without being afraid that it's going to get found by random people passing by.
Are you actually trying to bait him?
You know fine well if he tries to tell you specific views that deviate from the path he's likely to get banned.
Making a sticky mental health thread with suicide hotlines and so on isn't going to work. If you're posting a thread on here about killing yourself, you're doing it because, I assume, on some level you're doing that cliche cry for help and you want some interaction, some help, some immediate human contact which a sticky thread isn't going to provide.
If they're at this low point point I can't see these users hitting a sticky thread and silently taking the advice within.
If they're at this low point point I can't see these users hitting a sticky thread and silently taking the advice within.
Oh yes I see we have the "it's because Era will attack you for not being morally perfect" narrative already fighting for prominence in here
Do more to do what?
Oh get the hell over yourself.
Clearly we need more threads about shower pooping to brighten this place up a bit.
This forum's strength is that its posters are willing to talk to and help people who are feeling suicidal thoughts.
I don't see how that is a bad thing or a danger, so long as the mods keep weeding out the trolls.
There aren't a lot of anonymous outlets for people who are feeling lost and hopeless to reach out to.
The mods here have a lot of responsibility with it. But they seem up to the task.
I don't see how that is a bad thing or a danger, so long as the mods keep weeding out the trolls.
There aren't a lot of anonymous outlets for people who are feeling lost and hopeless to reach out to.
The mods here have a lot of responsibility with it. But they seem up to the task.
I feel like I recognise this. This board, be it Etcetera or Gaming, does often feel like an echo chamber where the focus on the negative of everything far outweights any focus on positive developments, and when something positive seems to develop, it gets hype trained to expectations that cannot be possibly matched to reality, resulting in even deeper negativity. If you're already feeling isolated from your real life social life, having this place as your main source of your world view can't be a good thing. As supportive as this board can be at times, I feel it would be helpful if troubled posters would spend less time here and spend that energy seeking help in the real world, obviously like therapy but also important, a social circle they can get support from and have positive interactions with.
In short, I believe this community could help by encouraging people to find likeminded people in the outside world and maybe give less the vibe that it's the last safe space available.
Yeah, I've been thinking about this since the weekend but I'm not sure if I should make a thread or not. Sticking the mental health OT is a good start.
That said, I think we have enough fun and entertaining threads around. It's not all about negativity.
I tend to stay way from US political news, so I can't relate to how bad it is over there.
That said, I think we have enough fun and entertaining threads around. It's not all about negativity.
I tend to stay way from US political news, so I can't relate to how bad it is over there.
I mean, if you haven't noticed the discontent and cynicism bubbling up all over this place, you haven't been paying attention.
They shouldn't, and that's why you might want a mental health professional on staff. So that individuals can be given advice from an authority, like 'Here's how you can get in contact with a therapist', 'Here's who you can call'.
At least that kind of thread is good for a laugh. We actually could use more stories about people's goofy and inept attempts to deal with bodily functions and normal life stuff.
OP
OP
To help the people of our community who are having a rough time?
I don't mean this as a personal responsibility of any sorts, but I'm sure there are active members here who wouldn't mind helping out other members who are going through something? What do you think?
User Banned (1 Month): Derailing a serious discussion with insensitive and inflammatory commentary over a series of posts in this thread. History of dismissive behaviour.
Agreed, and I see the usual people are already out for your blood.
User Banned (6 Months): Derailing a serious discussion with insensitive and inflammatory commentary over a series of posts in this thread. History of hijacking sensitive topics with complaints of cancel culture.
Cancel culture is problematic.
on staff? What exactly do you think Era is?
There are plenty of people in these threads that help out OP, a lot of times the OP is already getting help or is not willing to get any. A mod telling OP what they've heard a million times isn't gonna help shit.
It's always been this way. Whether at the old place or here, it's just an inevitable part of the culture of the site. It naturally attracts lonely, depressed people who have no other place to express these feelings. I don't think there exists any effective solution as far as the site is concerned when ultimately it's up to the users making the threads to go out and seek help themselves
This forum thrives on negativity. Also the bubble effect only surrounded by the same type of comments fuel increased tension and depression. I frequent a few different forums and this place is something else.
So is taking a thread about concerns regarding suicidal users and using it as a springboard to whine about cancel culture on the forum for the nth time. Which is actually just whining about people talking negatively about celebrities on a forum than actual cancel culture and harassment.
Clearly the cure for that is to allow mild to moderate levels of bigotry! JFC.
Also my post was chuckling about a case of pot calling the kettle black, if you hadn't noticed. If you had, way to swerve?
Yeah, I think the structure of EtcetEra is an issue. I think it would be better split into two - Entertainment and World News. As it stands the same place you visit to hear about the latest James Bond trailer is also the place where you're reminded the world is terrible.
That would also make it less of a miscellaneous pool of everything that isn't about games. So hopefully mental health or relationship discussion would firmly find its place in those threads.
I refrain from answering to those topics as I don't want to hurt anyone by accident, or even worse make them hurt themselves, but I read them often to see if there's something I could do.
I feel like most of the people posting threads like those have something in common: loneliness.
Maybe Era could host some events on games or whatever to help people feel included, secure, and most of all to enable them to talk casually with some other people, even if it was with strangers ?
I feel like giving people having personal issues the possibility of engaging with others could help, as it would maybe create some nice friendships and make them feel like they are part of a real community instead of just a bunch of strangers that happen to post on the same forum.
EDIT: also this:
I agree. Which is why i'm really sceptical about keeping those threads open.
If someone wants to talk about their problems i have no problem with it but i think these 'i'm gonna end it tonight' threads are not good for the community.
There's a huge amount of negativity and aggressiveness in Etcetera, so much that I no longer feel very compelled to visit it.
People have actually committed suicide because of cancel culture so this runs deeper than celebrities.
From where I sit, the atmosphere of this forum (general discussion) is often times dark, depressing, heavy, and even oppressive. There's no shortage of bad stuff happening outside, but it feels like all of it has to be shared here. Cynical as it gets.
Sometimes I have to dip, or chance having my day ruined by Resetera threads.
Sometimes I have to dip, or chance having my day ruined by Resetera threads.
That's what's called a cry for help. Close those threads and very bad things could happen.
Indeed, that was precisely what I was suggesting! Thank you for clarifying my thesis.
You whine about cancel culture in almost every sensitive thread from Contrapoints to this.
User Banned (3 Months): Derailing a serious discussion with insensitive and inflammatory commentary over a series of posts in this thread. History of infractions for insensitive commentary.
I agree that threads should be locked as soon as possible. No need to keep them around. Honestly, I just ignore them as they pop up and if someone keeps doing it I put them on my ignore list.
There definitely has been an uptick in suicide threads and just overall negativity in this community lately, it really has been concerning. Negativity thanks to social media and current events is everywhere but it's definitely been super focused here.
Really wish people could see the value of it being OK to disconnect once and a while. Everyone needs a mental break here and there.
Yeah it really makes you wonder if we should really have all this access to this stuff overloading us. I don't even want to know what it's like being a young developing teen in this day and age of social media/constant connectivity. I see news of kids under 10 having depression and everything. I can't imagine being that young and already having such a negative outlook on life already.
Really wish people could see the value of it being OK to disconnect once and a while. Everyone needs a mental break here and there.
Yeah it really makes you wonder if we should really have all this access to this stuff overloading us. I don't even want to know what it's like being a young developing teen in this day and age of social media/constant connectivity. I see news of kids under 10 having depression and everything. I can't imagine being that young and already having such a negative outlook on life already.
I see exactly what you mean, OP, and I'm fairly certain it crossed a lot people's minds seeing these threads and their recurrence. I don't know that a forum mod could or should do anything, in the sense that the most sensible course of action is to talk to professionals trained to deal with this.
Also, I really don't think people should hijack the serious issue of negativity and its mental health effects to settle their beef with moderation. But hey, when trans people and other marginalized group expressed how uncomfortable they felt, and why, even that was hijacked with bullshit hivemind posts, so idk.
Also, I really don't think people should hijack the serious issue of negativity and its mental health effects to settle their beef with moderation. But hey, when trans people and other marginalized group expressed how uncomfortable they felt, and why, even that was hijacked with bullshit hivemind posts, so idk.
Curious as to why you think locking threads and ignoring cries for help is the solution?
I like this suggestion. When I'm trying to find the NFL OT on Sundays I don't need to read the sixteen Trump threads that pop up every day.
Also, maybe we can just have a Trump OT? It overwhelms EtcetEra at times
Mental health is such a complex thing that it's difficult to diagnose why. And every person is obviously unique.
One thing that is a good sign is that people do feel safe to ask for help.
I personally think it's a wider problem in society. Increased loneliness, lack of support, generational issues (student loans, underemployment), a dearth of physical community.
Online bullying is also a huge problem and suicide rates with teens is increasing. It's a wider scale problem than we think.
One thing that is a good sign is that people do feel safe to ask for help.
I personally think it's a wider problem in society. Increased loneliness, lack of support, generational issues (student loans, underemployment), a dearth of physical community.
Online bullying is also a huge problem and suicide rates with teens is increasing. It's a wider scale problem than we think.
Forging bonds with people outside of Era can certainly help. While I know that can be difficult for a lot of the types that congregate here, having a safety net of friends you can rely on in your life is vital and will help way more than any forum can. That and therapy.
Whatever we can do, I think we should do something because it seems to be a bit recursive.
Whatever we can do, I think we should do something because it seems to be a bit recursive.
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