The OEOTS thread raised some issues with the eating disorder support board, and this concerns myself and others. So, I thought it might be a good idea to get some more details on what these issues are and if there are any ways to deal with them. Some things that were raised:
Find the board clique-y?
Feeling unwelcome?
Not getting the support you want and need?
Trigger labels confusing?
Are you being (accidently) triggered by threads?
Anything other issues you want to raise?
Everyone deserves to get the right level of support and to feel comfortable in the board.
I think the ED forum is very bubble wrapped, but just for my own personal liking. I am not in recovery, and do not hope to be, or want to be, so, ignore that statement if needs be.
There is nothing we can do about the board being clique-y. These members spend most of their time centered around the ED Forum, what are you gonna do about it? But they are very welcoming, and kind to new people, I have found from my own experience. If you are a new poster there, don't expect to have the support a regular poster does, because they simply do not know YOU and YOUR problems, like they do with regular posters.
Never unwelcome. Not once into my trips to the ED Forum.
As I said in the second paragraph.
Trigger labels are very confusing. How do you differentiate between severely triggering and mildly triggering? Can you not have a triggering AND a positive post at the same time?
No. Never. Too bubble wrapped for that. We are not even allowed to use the terms, 'ana' and 'mia' in the R&V forum anymore of all places. R&V is practically BUILT to be a trigger zone.
No. Minus, less bubble wrap, more articles/advice/ways to get help.
I understand that people seem to think there are problems with the ED board, but it was changed and now people seem to have the opposite problems from before.
Eg. Before posters felt they were too easily triggered (not enough bubblewrapping of posts) but now posters feel they can't post what they want (due to too much bubblewrapping).
It's really hard to say what's right and what's wrong as it differs for each individual.
For me personally i do believe the board has become a little too "bubble wrapped" as it's stopping people from feeling they are able to express themselves. However i do not feel as strongly about this as i do about the changes made in the r&v forums to do with ED's.
Ranting and Venting is a forum where you can express everything. It's there so you can just get out everything you need too. Of course it will be triggering, because it's people's personal rants etc. I just think it's inappropriate to change the rules there in correlation to ED's. Because you don't tend to see posts altered if someone talks about how much they self harmed etc etc.
I don't know if i'm expressing myself clearly, but it's the only way i can put it.
Also, like mentioned above, of course the board is cliquey, there's many different boards all over ryl that are cliquey. It's just because people spend the most amount of time in that board and therefore know each other and each others problems better. And if you try to post more often then you become involved in that group.
I have never found the ED forum offputting for that. Infact they are very welcoming to all new comers.
Thats all really i think.
"I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay"
I think there is a definite close knit group of members in the ED board (that I'm not a member of) but that's never made me feel less welcome or as if I have less of a right to support people in there or make a thread of my own. Although people will make more of an effort and be more affectionate with their 'friends' in that board, it is to be expected. That's just the way life is.
I don't find it triggering at all. But I just don't get triggered by other people's stuff at all. I don't even pay attention to trigger labels in any of the boards.
For those who don't liek the current trigger labels, what do you propose we change them to?
I'm not sure exactly. Obviously being the ED board, the issues will largely revolve around that, so maybe just have a general trigger label? The lines between slightly and severely triggering is what confuses people, what is hugely triggering to one won't be to another.
I'm probably not making any sense. There could be a simple *triggering* label, and if people wanted maybe ones as well for SI, abuse, whatever.
For those who don't liek the current trigger labels, what do you propose we change them to?
Quote:
Originally Posted by The One Who
I'm not sure exactly. Obviously being the ED board, the issues will largely revolve around that, so maybe just have a general trigger label? The lines between slightly and severely triggering is what confuses people, what is hugely triggering to one won't be to another.
I'm probably not making any sense. There could be a simple *triggering* label, and if people wanted maybe ones as well for SI, abuse, whatever.
I've really not liked the trigger labels in that board for that reason. How am I supposed to know what "level" of triggering material it is? I don't understand it.
I don't think it's too bubble wrapped.
But maybe that comes with looking at things from a different perspective; I very much do not want to know that someone with anorexia considers ("insert weight significantly lower than mine") to be disgusting. That's just, not helpful.
I don't think it's too bubble wrapped.
But maybe that comes with looking at things from a different perspective; I very much do not want to know that someone with anorexia considers ("insert weight significantly lower than mine") to be disgusting. That's just, not helpful.
this >.<
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
I just said it wasn't helpful for me to read the specific details, when really, I don't think support has decreased since numbers have not been posted.
Surely, having mildly/severly triggering wouldn't be much different from having jsut a triggering label? it just gives people that little bit more information about what they might be about to read. Mildly/severly is only a guidline, and peopel can use there own discression to label appropriatly.
"I would be almighty in my own world of art, even if I had to paint my pictures with my wet tongue on the dusty floor of my cell." -Picasso
"No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war." - Picasso
'I have scars becuase I have a past; but they, like my past, do not define my future'
But I think the using discression bit is very difficult. I mean when weights and numbers aren't allowed what is the line? Is talking about purging mildly triggering or severely triggering? Is talking about physical damage done to the body by ED's severely triggering? What about talking about self disgust, is saying I feel fat and hate myself severely triggering or only mildly?
And what's mildly triggering to one person may be severely triggering to others. I guess I always think that people who put that their post is severely triggering are going to be more ill than those who are only mildly triggering, so it might even encourage competitiveness.
I dunno I just think those two labels are entirely obsolete unless some specific guidelines are issued over what falls into each category.
I don't think it's too bubble wrapped.
But maybe that comes with looking at things from a different perspective; I very much do not want to know that someone with anorexia considers ("insert weight significantly lower than mine") to be disgusting. That's just, not helpful.
I didn't mean with numbers & weight. Thats the only change i truly understand. But i do remember a conversation a long time ago about people saying "I'm so fat" in posts and instead they had to say "i feel so fat". Just little things like that, when your feeling low and you feel like you do, you have to change things. Also i'm sure there was something else but i can't think straight to write it down.
I'm not putting myself across well enough , i'll have to write later when i'm more coherant.
"I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay"
I think it depends on how much detail is gone into, and how much emotion involved etc. As I said, it's just a guidline. peopel generally edge on the side of caution, so only the true mildly triggering posts get that label, which could mean they get more support.
Idk. It wasn't oen of the issues brought up when we had the new rules review thread, so I thougth people were happy with it.
"I would be almighty in my own world of art, even if I had to paint my pictures with my wet tongue on the dusty floor of my cell." -Picasso
"No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war." - Picasso
'I have scars becuase I have a past; but they, like my past, do not define my future'
Your not going to get rid of the board are you *feels paranoid*
Find the board clique-y? I have to say I dont find the board a clique at all, I mean every part of RYL has certain members that stick to one board just like SI discussion - But I have seen a lot of ED members around in other areas of the boards..and if it was a clique then surely the board wouldnt like it when new people come along - But the board always trys to make new people welcome - even though we dont know much about them and thats expected. Feeling unwelcome? - I always feel welcome, sometimes when Im not feeling too good I feel like everyones against me, I just think thats me though. - The board always tries to welcome new people and help them as much as possible. Not getting the support you want and need? - I have always recieved the help and supprot I want..I think it all depends on what the mood of people is as to whether you get the right support or not, which cant be changed. Trigger labels confusing? - I dont find them confusing, although I have to say, I have gone onto many threads that are "midly triggering" and have left crying, because they really should be labelled differently. I really do think something needs to be done about the labels. I mean hmm I have no idea what..Ill have a think about it. Are you being (accidently) triggered by threads? - I think no matter what people are always going to be triggered, its jsut the nature of the board. Anything other issues you want to raise? - DONT GET RID OF THE BOARD *FEELS PARANOID*
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, i'll have to write later when i'm more coherant. 
