Communicating On A Global Forum.

[ashdawn8287]

I feel there's a lot of verbiage issues when communicating on here. A lot of us are from different places, scattered around the global, each handling this as best as we can, only we know what we have been through, although the person who posts below me or above me or comments on this thread has no idea what I have been threw but me, I only know my world. And vice versa I don't know how the person posting above me or below me truly feels only they know it.

We try as best as we can to understand and empathize with each other. We all have different experiences, views, treatments, and the only thing we can do is cheer each other on.

I am glad I joined this forum not just for support with PTSD, but getting to know people from around the world. Getting familiar with different perspectives, views, stories, and people, but that is the thing we do have in common, we are all people.

Can we just all be friends? We are all up against the same thing and it'll be more powerful if we all stick together.

I am still new to forums and especially a global one, but I have learned because of everyone on here, we are all people and people aren't perfect.

 

[Philippa]

Your post indicates that there has been some kind of disharmony of late? I have not noticed. Am I missing something?

Granted I don't spend all my day here, or even come here every day, and I like to take breaks from time to time as well, so maybe I have not been witness to what you are speaking of? People always seem respectful here, no matter what time I log on.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Nothing major. I have just noticed there is a lot of miscommunication and we are all from different places and verbiage issues arise because of that.

 

[Philippa]

Ah.

I think that happens online wherever you are. People misinterpret others words so frequently it seems, and in real life it's even worse. I hadn't seen it here much though. On-line communicating can be so challenging at times.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Yes, I am not going to discuss this incident because it involves a friend of mine and she sent me a conversation message so I will respect her privacy and sorry I can't explain this situation any further.

I am not saying that there is lots of this or lots of that floating around, it is more of like a lot coming from one person. I understand that it is online and global, that is why I posted this. Kind of just to give everyone a refresh and a "remember why you are here" thing. That's all it was.

We are here to heal and help others and I think focusing on that than the mundane is important, especially on a forum where PTSD is the driven force of us coming together. We should come together and stick together. Not saying that we don't, but it is just a reminder. I am a very affirmation type of person.

 

[twopenny]

PTSD is also treated very differently in different places, I've noticed.

But it's true, it does happen everywhere... on another forum I use, somebody described themselves as an 'RVer'. There then followed a discussion from the British members (of a UK based forum) on what an 'RVer' actually is. And I always remember a radio story about a chap who went to work with lumberjacks in the US, and one particularly chilly day, he mentioned that his pecker was cold. Apparently it took quite a while to explain to them that in the UK, that means 'nose'. :)

 

[ashdawn8287]

Hahaha great story twopenny.

 

[Lucycat]

.. on another forum I use, somebody described themselves as an 'RVer'. There then followed a discussion from the British members (of a UK based forum) on what an 'RVer' actually is.

Oh dear - what is a RVer?:oops:

 

[Britt.f7]

Considering the wide variety of people on this site it is amazing we actually get along as well as we do. I know there are minor issues on here from time to time but I think they get worked out.

I for one would like someone to let me know if I come across harsh, or badly. I know it is never my intent.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Same Britt. I don't want to come across harsh either. Sometimes I get way too encouraging I though and I don't empathize as well as I should, but I am trying and getting use to not seeing peoples body language when they talk on here-I feed off that a lot in my everyday life.

I don't think anyone's motives are bad at all on here and I agree I am surprised we get along as good as we do! That makes me happy. It is just nice to be reminded that we are all from different places, maybe I was projecting a bit, but writing stuff down helps me remember what to focus on too so I can work on looking at different views and sitting my PTSD aside long enough to realize people here are "not out to get me" and are hurting and helping as well. I need to remember to pick and take things out that I need from different people and make it my own, based solely on my experiences.

I know I have the tendency to advocate healing and I am trying to slow down before I post and process better so I can help more efficiently.

I just thought about all this last night before I went to bed. How we are all so much alike, but also so very different and I wanted this post to just be a friendly reminder to not just me, but anyone caring enough to read it.

Thank you for the responses. :)

 

[Philippa]

I understand.

I wasn't meaning to make an issue of it, I just was agreeing that it can get sticky at times. I'm often surprised that people who all share the same experience with PTSD can get along so well, with hardly any upsets...but I guess we all value harmony and peace a bit more than people who don't know what it's like to live with this.

I had waaaaaay more incidences on personal development forums, where people were all supposedly super healthy and into positive thinking. I was constantly being misunderstood and accused of attacking people, just for not agreeing with them. Talk about egocentric.

I like it way more here. I'd much rather hang out with so-called "crazy" people than supposedly "enlightened" people anyday.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Great point! That is a wonderful way to look at it.

That reminds me of philosophy class the other day.
My professor asked said, "Often times people bring up the good vs evil debate and ask why would God or a higher power let humans suffer through evil, isn't seeing a fictional evil on TV enough? Why is their evil? If God is great and all mighty couldn't he just get rid of all the evil? "

I said, "No, it is not the same. You can't base a real experience of evil off of someone's imagination about what evil is. That's not true. If there was no evil, people would not appreciate the good things in life. There has to be a significant contrast in terms of good and evil, in order for people to appreciate it. If you see evil and experience it yourself it is different than watching it on TV, you don't know what evil really is until you see it or experience if, and after you have you are going to find a way to hopefully appreciate all the good things in life. Besides a lot of people always go to God to help them through evil experiences. I believe God or whoever created us knows that. Humanity doesn't appreciate the good things without the bad things."

Something along those lines. It was more so about why is there evil? than it was about God. It just turned into that, because that question usually does go back to God. He threw in the whole well if god is good why is there evil so I just had to keep going along with that. Not preaching religion lol.