This morning I logged in and read the "John Steed" thread with a certain amount of annoyance, but must be honest, without surprise, as I have felt this brewing for a while now.
I write this with a certain amount of trepidation, but for the sake of all members of the forum, I need to ask you all. What is it that you want from this area of the Stephen Fry Forum?
Do we want to share information about our illness? Do we want nothing more than a support base where we continually tell each other how brilliant and lovely we all are? Do we want a mechanism to rant and rave at each other? Do we want all three? Or do we want something else?
I must admit I do get a little annoyed at times, as I know other members do, sometimes seeing the same old questions from the same old members being regurgitated, without any feedback being given, on what steps were taken by the originator, with respect to the previous advice given.
How I would like to see the Forum ran is of no consequence, but I certainly feel of late, that we have had several schools of thought on what we are trying to achieve, and also differing opinions with regards to the way we are going about it, and hence the bitterness in last nights thread, and a couple of other threads, that have now been locked or have finally and thankfully fizzled out.
Unfortunately I have deleted some of my recent posts, because I feel that my approach is no longer in-keeping with the current flavour and needs of the Forum. I STRESS that I blame no-one for this. It's just the way I currently perceive things.
I understand that many people here are at the crossroads of their lives in dealing with their Bipolarity and/or straight out Clinical Depression, and I too have been to the depths many times myself, with many suicide attempts under the bridge, and I dare say, many more to come.
To see members disappear, when I think deep down they really don’t want to leave, is distressing. To see members fire shots at others without any justification is equally distressing, and cannot be defended. Sure, an apology helps. But unfortunately what's said is said, and the wounds can take a long time to heal.
Maybe we can make use of this thread to firstly count to ten, consider off-line what it is we want, and then return with some positive and constructive feedback and ideas, with both old and new members contributing, keeping it cool, and above all, keeping it to the point.
I understand that I am more than likely to be shot down in flames now, and if so, so be it. But I think we all need to consider what it is we are looking for as both individuals, and as a community, in order to make full use of this valuable, extremely rare, and very supportive resource.
Anyway, Take care,
oxo
Pete
