35 + Community Survey! Your feedback requested!
We are considering creating a new subcommunity for older adults (over the age of 50), but we want YOUR feedback! Right now, we have a Teen Only Subcommunity and a 35+ Community! Older adults would be for folks over the age of 50 and in the "2nd half of life."
Please share your ideas and feedback here!!
Learn more about our Subcommunity development plans here!
Why lump everyone over 50 together in one big bunch?
@periwinklekitty
That is a good point. Honestly though availability might be an issue. How many 80 year olds use the internet? I have no metrics on this but im guessing not many
@Persnickity So many ppl over 50 use the 'net.
give it a try. If it works out then great, if not then at least youll know
Why not make a retiree's community, anyone over 35 should b welcome here, but I acknowledge retirement can bring a raft of new issues with it, that I could simply be of no use for!
Yes I think it's a good idea. I think the 35+ group is probably the most stressful, both financially-mortgage, debt etc and personally-marriage, kids etc, so this group needs particular attention regarding external issues that affect others, not just the individual
@Laura
I don't fall into that age category, however not a lot of people realise that adults feel the same things that teens feel. It would be excellent!
@Laura
I agree. I also agree to the doing it by decades. Face it each decade brings different stresses in life.
I also believe a chat room for the decades. My experience in chat rooms has always been teens, young adults, who just have their own conversation going and no body that joins the room, not in their clique, is accepted into the conversation. I've even been told that serious talk is not welcome! So yes, there needs to be more subdivisions.
With listeners as well. There profile may say listens to adults however, 18 is an adult. I'm in my 40s, they cannot possibly relate to everything. I understand people not wanting to share their age however when a listeners profile says adult its not specific enough. Too broad a spectrum. A 20 year old cannot honestly relate to the burdens of life in 40s up.
No offense to listeners, who I believe are great for volunteering their time, however, I have been chatting with someone all the while thinking something is not clicking. I then find out they are in early 20s. This situation also can cause me anxiety that I've been spilling my guts to, no offense, a child.
I strongly agree that listeners need to be set in age groups not by teen and adult, too big a spectrum. 18 is considered an adult but just can't relate to say the 50 year old who marriage is strained, financial issues, health care options, body changes, etc...
So after a novel, yes, we need sub community's more geared toward age range, chat rooms to better match age, and listeners set in age ranges. I don't think I'm alone with this opinion. I'm anxious to see if future changes will be made!
@EnergySensitive
There is a way to use filters to change the age range of your listener. I completely understand your feelings in that matter. I think there should be a more developed system to match people. I've talked to people who are older than me that seemed judgemental and condescending. I've also had some that were very sympathetic but couldn't understand my perspective. My neighbor is 16 and I've had some amazing conversation with her (I'm 38) so while I know age can play a factor, it's not the only consideration. I'm not a listener but if you need to talk, I'm on here daily
@EnergySensitive I agree there need to be more age ranges. I think there are some of us here who are even older than the 50-somethings who identify themselves, but don't post our age out of the perception that 7-cups is primarily a young person's site. I often wonder how many older adults have come and gone feeling frustrated, disillusioned, or even exasperated by their experiences in the chatrooms and with listeners?
@Tom444 I think you are right.
@Tom444
Agreed. As I mentioned the chatrooms are like being in highschool. And browsing a listener 35+, as you said just cones up listens to 18 and older. Yes age comes with stigma on both spectrums at times. Many times I've been in "crisis" and the only available listeners are very young or end up being rude, abusing their title.
I guess with any site you will find these things.
7cups does seemed to be geared to teens or young adults and that is sad because many ages need a support site and as lonely as I feel someone's on this site it's the best one I found.
I would like to see some changes to the site. But I thank all of the volunteers tremendously. Some more than others.
@Tom444
the chat rooms and forums were a bit of a shock for me, I felt so antiquated at first! but as tools to communicate, we can get used to those, in our own style, it is like anything else, just a new thing to get used to...
@Tom444
A lot of work but have 7cups and 7cups teens. I thought of this because even though listeners aren't professionals, under 18 still need consent. God forbid angry parents in denial try to shut the site down. I know, far fetched, but under 18 yr olds can misperseve an "elders" advice and possibly do something.
As far as the site being geared towards teens and young adults I don't see that. Yes, I've tried to look for a listener and only 18 and under are available but there are a lot of people on this site who are older. I think we get discouraged because sometimes it is hard to find someone around your age. Maybe adding more teen communities would help. Ages can spread out more.
@Laura
Sounds great 
@Laura
That's a great idea
This sounds amazing! :)
I would join, if the 50+ was created.
I qualify! :-p