Group Support Room Updates

The disability room has always been one of the most loving and supportive places. Both as a listener and as a member I have personally felt the positive effects of the connection. I understand a new for safety, and I am aware there have been some issues with mods and such, but the disability room has never (to my knowledge) been a room that was a concern for safety. We are a community and we need a place to coexist. The sub-community page/forums are fantastic and I am so grateful but, there is something that only a room setting can offer that is just so vital to every single one of us. On the topic of closing rooms because of safety concern, I think we should redirect the focus to a room that has had more concerns. I don't want to through any room under the bus but, I know that if many of us (listeners and members alike) "sat down" we would find the more problematic areas, that I truly don't believe the disability room is. The disability room is a room where no matter where you are in your journey with a disability or if you are there as an ally or as a parent/loved one there is so much benefit of all being able to get together. A disability is tough to deal with on its own, but society makes it just so much worse. The room has always been a safe haven of love to offer refuge, information, and support in whatever ways it may be needed.

Please keep the disability room a 24/7 room

//Signed delicatdreamer16

Additionally, I would be interested in hearing some of the reasons behind closing these rooms. From my experience in the LGBTQ+/MOGII support room, it offers the same warmth as described above. The same goes for depression support and family support, albeit I have less experience in this room. Why these rooms? How is this going to positively affect 7Cups?

If I understood correctly, the point is to make Support Rooms dedicated to Support Sessions. There is one one Disability room, which seems to be loved and used by many members for perfectly valid purposes.

Would creating a Disability Chat room be a possibility? Then Disability Support would still be used for Support Sessions only, and the regulars of that chatroom would still have their place when said sessions aren't taking place.

Any thoughts?
​​​​​​

I think this is a wonderful change. If the rooms cannot be moded ( is that a word?) then they should be closed.

I have to say as a listener here and a LONG TIME DONATOR I have riden out a lot of drama and changes on this site. I will unfortunately have to DIACONTINUE my chartitable donations to 7 cups after over 2 years of constant suppport from me. This is because of the decision to close a small, well behaved, easy to mod or even not mod room like DISABILITY SUPPORT. This is a place i hear a lot of people feel safe in sharing their unique issues like diaabilities. and the room is very supportive to each other and there is minimal modding needed. Why close it? for continuity or cohesiveness to the new set up??? Are you that u i uninspired with other possible solutions?!

Step up your game 7 cups administrators and find a better answer! Someone suggested a disability chat- great idea! i only chat in compassion and depression and im still POd about this. THIS IS A HASTY DECISION MADE BY ADMIN BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO UNORGANIZED AND UNMOTIVATED TO FIX THE REAL ISSUES IN THE OTHER ROOMS. thats where the real issues are and we all know it.

As a businesa professional by trade i am sad to say this websites operational standards are SUB PAR at the best of times. Idk how you all stillhave your jobs because my boss wouldnt stand for such a miss guided fix to a much bigger issue. Kate or whomever is in charge is just trying the classic push the papers of her desk move that i deapise and let disability support stay or make a chat for them!

Honestly this is just sad. I tried to stay clean of topics related to the chatrooms since I am not active there for a over a year now and my knowledge may be outdated of them but the chatrooms are still close to my heart after a good year I have spent there.

The time I have spent in the rooms I think I have maybe gained little bits and pieces here and there from the occasional discussions and I have many amazing - and some not so amazing - memories from the people and the community these chatrooms have and, for me anyways, that is what is making chatrooms special but I know and I have seen it many times that some people look at the chatrooms only as a place where discussions are held and nothing more.

I mean, I was hopeful and even happy when I have seen this room supporter thing earlier and saw that those communities in the rooms may get a bit more structure and those who work hard to support others there may get some recognition for their work but this update just totally ruined it for me and destroyed my hopes. This suggestion to make support rooms exclusive for discussions shows me that some people still cannot see through the discussions that can be held in chatrooms and see the amazing communities and idividuals in there who will be greatly hurt by this.

Even though I am not active in the rooms anymore I wholeheartedly disagree with these changes and deeply saddened to see this post.

I really appreciate so many in this community sharing their views and speaking up (respectfully) for what they believe in. You all absolutely deserve to feel heard and the points you are making are valid and important ones. Thank you for engaging here and for being so passionate about making this a safe place for people to get support.

@Kate this is a really unconsidered decision. Please, read all of @HopefulSprings comments, they pretty much summons up all that I want to say about this topic. And do please read all of the other comments as well. It's really strange to close the most needed rooms. I for instance go to the smaller rooms not only because they resonate with my needs but also because I can't keep up with the bigger chat rooms. A room of 10 is enough for me. With more people the chat is not effective neither for me nor for several other people. You simply get nowhere with giving support or getting support in bigger rooms. Also lgbtq+ , disability and family support is very well needed all around the clock, since we come from different places in the world with different time zones. And we also stay awake late at night and have a need for talking with someone. 7Cups and these three chat rooms specifically has been the only supportive friends I've had for almost 2 years, and I've learned a lot of things that made me become more confident in life and less anxious and depressed because of effective small chat room and being able to quickly find the right people to talk to about the specific issue.

over 12 hours of non stop talking about how terrible of an idea this is please reconcider your actions

I'm reading and hearing all of your feedback.

Quick note to those asking about the LGBTQ+/MOGII Community badge lock: that should now be lifted and the room open to everyone.

Don't fix it if its not already broken, especially with the consequences it will have to the vulnerable users, nor how it goes against the entire philosophy and purpose of this site; to help the vulnerable. These rooms have never been unsafe in the first place. Really accepting communities. Thanks