Member Sea & Others

[anthony]

I am going to state this very simply, and I have now changed my stance on this since earlier this morning after being enlightened to some behind the scenes matters some specific members of this forum have been rallying.

As a result, Sea will remain permanently banned. His wife has been banned, along with a couple of other members who have attempted to rally support against myself and my administration of this forum.

Quite honestly, I do not care who you are, this forum is provided for you free of charge. It is assisted by the help of premium members and those who help to financially support keeping it online, all of whom I thank deeply for your help.

When people start making shit up behind the scenes and attempting to rally support for their disgruntled purposes, and it is often the same names that are reported to me, enough is enough.

As a result I have done some house cleaning of the forum for the past 24 - 48hrs, PC's, some members banned permanently, etc. I will not hide that there are a few more who are now also being watched for their participation upon this site.

I do not have the time or inclination to be constantly battling little factions that choose to exist upon this resource. There is just no requirement for such nonsense. This isn't the first time, nor will it be the last, that I have taken such action. If you're not happy with the site, then your choice is to leave it and never return.

It really is that simple. PTSD Forum does not ask a great deal from people. Participate, meet others, enjoy and work towards healing PTSD and grabbing a better life for yourself. If you aren't here for that, then leave. I just do not have the patience to be trying to please minority groups who constantly disagree with forum policy, or my administrative methods. Nobody is being forced to be here.

It is NOT my way or the highway. It IS, PTSD Forum's way or the highway.

PTSD Forum's rules are primarily structured by existing members. PTSD Forum has a collective group of staff managing the user and content base.

I make no secret about my distaste for collusion. Collusion is any little group or coop who are discussing things in secret to present as a collective, in order to try and obtain an aim as a group instead of an individual. I have the utmost respect for individuals who raise valid views here about the forum. I have zero respect for anyone who colludes with others in order to form a collective to try and tackle me or PTSD Forum as a group.

That is what was happening here, hence my actions. I make no secrets I don't like it, I have never tolerated it, and I will continue not tolerate such childish nonsense.

 

[ericaboo]

It takes courage to be the voice and face of a decision that is intended for the greater good, but also seems hurtful to some, no matter how hard you try to frame things in a neutral way that is about keeping a safe environment for healing and not about attacking anyone personally.

I'm sad and sorry to see people having a hard time, and I'm thankful that this is a moderated site, knowing there is no perfect form of moderation, yet it is a vital function for a group of people who are trying to exist in varying levels of sickness and healing.

 

[anthony]

Forum members, once again, got to vote long ago for whether administrative action was openly disclosed or handled behind closed doors. The vote was a majority for openness, hence why such actions are posted, honouring the past majority rulings that have outlined this sites policies.

To be perfectly honest, this type of nonsense sucks and I do not like the bullshit it creates.

Yes, put a lot of people with a mental illness in one place and yes, it can and does cause a lot of crap, which then pisses me off to no end.

 

[Tinyflame]

I have never joined a forum prior to this one, and likely won't be joining one after this one.

Why I chose to sign up here, is the same reason I've stayed- the reputable info, the respectful and caring environment, the straight answers, and the sense of 'safety' provided because of it's design and moderation. In particular, this last fact is critical and without it the rest would be rendered moot.

Amidst all of this additional stress Anthony, know that many have found help, including me, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

 

[Meadowsweet]

I was a member of a forum when I was attacked and have many fears about the role collusion played in covering it up. So am greatly relieved to hear the forums stance on this type of behaviour.

It is an awful place to find your thoughts, actions and intentions decided for you by others. When others form a group in which your voice is excluded, they can make their viewpoint take on its own reality, based solely on the premise that If enough people believe its true, it must be.

I think the way to break that is to bring it out into the open and say, this is happening.

I am sorry it is happening to the admin here.

 

[Sterre]

As a result I have done some house cleaning of the forum for the past 24 - 48hrs, PC's, some members banned permanently, etc. I will not hide that there are a few more who are now also being watched for their participation upon this site.

I am also active on a Dutch forum, with a completely different subject.

These kind of practice is taking place there also once in a while.

Every forum has it's drama's, sadly enough.

One of the rules on that particulair forum is that the members and moderators, dont write in general about people.

When someone has an issue, it is communicated directly and openly towards that person.

What happens when someone writes about people in general, there is a change everybody feels challenged.

In this case, I feel challenged by the sentence about "other people being watched for their participation on this site".

Do these people get a warning of some sort, that they are being watched?

 

[Nicolette]

I hear what you are saying Sterre but the forum is generally monitored for the better part of the time - so really everyone is watched at some point in time, me included - it's out on the internet!

A greater focus has now been self-inflicted by some forum members due to their own behaviors. They know who they are. If you are not involved you have nothing to concern yourself about.

Anthony often talks to members in private about issues however we are now discussing "collusion" meaning a group of people.

I understand paranoia is a symptom of PTSD but if you are like me and don't even know Sea and have not been participating in discussions about him in an attempt to go against the decision made discreetly then there is no need to worry.

A few years ago it was voted by members to have full disclosure so Anthony's post is a result of this.

How I would also interpret it, if I was one who was getting involved in the matter, is as a WARNING to cease.

Staff give their time freely so it would be onerous to write to individuals if there is a band of members and more importantly, they are not acting in accordance to the forum guidelines. If they have a problem they should come forward and say so and not try and rally support behind the scenes before doing it.

This is my take on the situation but to be honest I know very little of what is going on as my focus is the Supporter section.

 

[Sterre]

If they have a problem they should come forward and say so and not try and rally support behind the scenes before doing it.

Was my paranoia that obviuos ?:p

Yes, I agree. It would show more integrity, and a possible constructive discussion, to come forward with any criticue, and to discuss it openly.

 

[Jen93]

I'd like to thank you guys again for taking the time to run this site. It must take so much time out of your lives, and it's just to help others. Thanks again.

P.S I'm also paranoid now. I knew sea, but I never spoke to him out of chat, and I had no idea there was some type of "rebellion thing" (Hey! This reminds me of Animal Farm sort of. When the animals rebelled, it wasn't a good thing when they won.) But yeah- they should respect the mods decisions and leave the running of the site to the mods.

 

[Srain]

I know little of what transpired but I agree that often in large groups with or without the added challenge of brain disorders, these things can happen, they are unsettling for the group as a whole. I have experienced my share of this, it's VERY disturbing and unhealthy for the group as a whole.

I'm grateful to those that watch over this Site and the members who continue to invest their time and experiences. This remains the safest Forum I've ever been to and I appreciate all the hard work invested.

It's a shame that some have had to move on and hopefully they will find help at another Forum.

Rain

 

[intothelight]

It is sad to see someone fall apart so badly. It is sad to see how much it hurts their loved ones. It is normal to feel something about this, but to direct anger towards the forum administration is misplaced and wrong.

Be angry at that there are people and institutions out there that damage others to this degree. Be angry that our mental health system is to weak that it cannot effectively treat so many that need it. Be angry that society views mental illness as some sort of taboo or personal weakness that should be hidden and swept under the rug.

Be thankful for the treatment that you are getting. Be thankful for the support and help you receive from this forum. Be thankful that you are getting better. Be thankful that maybe you can make a difference in the future and that others may not have to suffer as long or struggle as hard as you did.

Here is the hard one....trust that all who have created this site and all that work to keep this site a safe and healing place do so for purely altruistic reasons. Trust that they have the experience and knowledge to make the best decisions for the "whole", even if it seems that it hurts one. Trust that they are making the best decision for that one in the long run.

Trust is hard for people that have been hurt. Take this as an object lesson and learn from it and further your own healing and personal growth.

This community is no different in some respects than life and the things we encounter on a daily basis. Learn not to assume. Learn to seek information and answers in an appropriate manner. Learn not to be so reactive. Take something from this, find the positives, and learn from them.

What I have learned is the danger of "mob mentality"; and how easy it is for those who do not have the strength of their own personal convictions, ethics, and an open mind to respect differing opinions can cause more damage than the one damaged individual who started the issue.

From the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho:

If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own. pg. 16

All I can say is learn from this and do not repeat past mistakes. Me....I will learn to speak up. I may not be as blunt or direct as others, but do not think that I am not without my own beliefs and convictions. But at the same time, if you present a differing opinion in a respectful manner, I will not attack you. We may agree to disagree, but I will respect your opinion as I expect no less in return.

 

[Jen93]

This community is no different in some respects than life and the things we encounter on a daily basis. Learn not to assume. Learn to seek information and answers in an appropriate manner. Learn not to be so reactive. Take something from this, find the positives, and learn from them.

What I have learned is the danger of "mob mentality"; and how easy it is for those who do not have the strength of their own personal convictions, ethics, and an open mind to respect differing opinions can cause more damage than the one damaged individual who started the issue.


All I can say is learn from this and do not repeat past mistakes. Me....I will learn to speak up. I may not be a blunt or direct, but do not think that I am not without my own beliefs and convictions. But at the same time, if you present a differing opinion in a respectful manner, I will not attack you. We may agree to disagree, but I will respect your opinion as I expect no less in return.

That's what I meant by my "Animal Farm comment... just so that it isn't taken the wrong way or anything. I've sort of learned that saying things on the computer can come off differently than if you were just speaking it out loud. So just wanted to clear up my post. (Thanks to ITL ((Can I call you that? I'm too lazy to always write intothelight)) for doing that work for me because I was too lazy to change my post)