Group Support Room Updates
In a continued effort to increase safety and ensure that each Group Support Room is adequately moderated, we will be making some changes to some of the rooms.
As of this Friday, January 4th, at 12:00 pm ET, the following changes will be made:
- Depression Support (adult room) will be closed and become a pop-up room to be used for scheduled discussions and sessions.
- Depression Chat will remain open 24/7 and will be available for anyone needing support for depression.
- LGBTQ+/MOGII Support (adult room) will be closed and become a pop-up room to be used for scheduled discussions and sessions.
- LGBTQ+/MOGII Community will remain open 24/7 and will be available for anyone needing support for LGBTQ+/MOGII issues
- Family Support will be closed and become a pop-up room to be used for scheduled discussions and sessions.
- Disability Support will be closed and become a pop-up room to be used for scheduled discussions and sessions.
Please let me know if you have any questions about these upcoming changes.
@Kate I wish this wouldn't be happening. The room is very helpful for many of us.
this is causing a huge distress amoungst the comunity please please reconcider re arrangeing ds support , the support will lesson being so packed in depresson chat not many can follow chat as fast as it is already imagine the double influx to the one chat room ? plz plz plz dont change depression support i honestly believe this is the wrong move to make.
I was about to start this post with the notion that it wouldn't have felt right for me not to comment on the update on LGBTQ+ Support, all personal bias and sympathies acknowledged. But after writing it down and reflecting, I've realised what about this update bothers me the most: it is getting rid of places of support used by already frequently ostracised groups of people, under the guise of providing more safety (i.e. knowing better and helping them despite this being the opposite of their firsthand narrative and feedback), even if that decision is coming from a genuine and well-meant external place. This is true for both Disability and LGBTQ+ Support. There are specific dynamics that take place in the various support rooms, and connotations that come with a discussion vs support vs a community-centred room. It can be incredibly important to have a self-determited, less structured, free, but still support-oriented space to exist in and claim as your own. We can't tell people what support means and how it's most helpfully received, they are the ones who should be voicing this. There must be answers to these real concerns beyond the ubiquitous "change is hard, but". Aren't these the basic principles of active listening? Something that has always been said when troubleshooting in any areas on 7Cups, for all of the years that I remember, was providing more support. I tried to understand this as more in quantity and quality, and that ultimately, despite the need for an occasional reasonable compromise, a member should profit in terms of how much support they can receive. In my experience, this is the basic condition for even thinking about an organic community.
Here's what I understand: it's complex to elegantly resolve safety problems, and it's a pressing issue to find an answer to. And practically, it's harder to maintain the peace and safety of multiple chatrooms rather than fewer ones. I also understand that, for example, the LGBTQ+ Community chatroom may have settings in place that make it easier to contain, namely badge restrictions that result in fewer users returning on newbie accounts (and a much lower visitor turnover in total). What I don't understand is how we get from these insights to the list of decisions that have been presented here. I say this with my kindest intent: only seeing the answer makes one wonder what exactly the question was, as they look mismatched. We aren't directly discussing badgelocks and requirements, we aren't talking about member needs and dynamics, we are closing rooms in what at least from distance seems like a pretty arbitrary fashion that is out of touch with how the specific chatrooms function. We aren't discussing what's causing a lack of active mods that would step in when needed, even though there are answers to these questions that are begging to be told. There hasn't been a public, equally footed conversation about these steps prior the relevation that they will be implemented. This is not a new hopeful method, the main effect closing chatrooms has had so far was the migration of the problematic population.
I would understand if it was a way to focus on the more support credo, or maybe even if it was a truly necessary structural measure to organise discussions in a uniform way. I also kinda understand the calculation that less moderator power technically equals fewer chatrooms that can be moderated, even though that is questionable in practice (LGBTQ+ Support and LGBTQ+ Community are moderated by the same mods; Disability requires very little mod input relative to other chatrooms), and could be solved with focusing on maintaining 24/7 core support rooms above others, keeping in mind diversity and community-specific needs and preferences, relying on pop-up rooms for discussions beside the support rooms, then applying badge restrictions as needed. And as for safety, which is the actual goal named here, looking for answers where they can actually be found.
@OceanChild
Its a control-thing Ocean, and a "fixing" thing and an "improvement, perfection", thing, and an "organisational, structure" thing. I think decisions are being made without any deeper thought process concerning empathy towards the people it affects, awareness of recovery or treatment, or whats right to manage company resources to effectively HELP the PEOPLE.
I'm going to have to go because I feel myself getting angry but I think we all understand whats really going on here without even having to say, and to be honest having already presented thoughtful ideas and arguments in prior threads to previous decisions and been overruled, I doubt we have a voice at all anyway. They don't care about us, they're just going to do whatever they want; Not yet having developed the spirituality or humility to understand that they are not always right and superior to everyone else.
Ugh I have to go x
"organising" thing sorry, not "organisational".**
@RedMeeko
and yes I did instantly feel offended that it is arguably the most vulnerable communities that are being challenged and that there is no purpose to it and the damage that it will do for these people. That they are not taxing rooms. That the safety issues in these rooms have been much lesser than the safety issues in other rooms. I've already been helped loads by LGBTQ where I am unable to access LGBT groups where I am and where mental health creates even further barriers to finding others. So coming here, they helped teach me about gender dysphoria and shame and all sorts, its really helped me. Completely wonky logic here, doesn't make any sense. Lets create an altruistic site to help those disenfranchised people, and then just cut out all support for The Most Vulnerable and therefore most appreciative of the help on the site. Watch how peoples lives spiral. Complete lack of moral integrity and empathy here. Fs. I have to go.
@OceanChild
you always have such thoughtful answers! LISTEN TO THIS
@Kate What is the purpose of having a support site, when the support is taken away? In these rooms people build a safe place to go, with familiar people that they can confide in, with, vent their worries with, and escape the real world. Closing rooms only causes stress to people, it causes more damage to people than good. The saddest part is, rooms that are closed, are the good rooms, like MCR, the problematic rooms remain open.. makes zero sense. If you care abou
@blitheEmbrace27 *if you care about the people on this site, like admins should, respect them, keep their support dont take it away. I have been around for way too long, and its sad that so many bad changes have been happening lately which drives people away from this site. Make good changes. Like reopen rooms.. the more rooms you take away the more crowded rooms get meaning more trolls, fighting and innapropriate convos.
I can't believe this. Having already seen posts letting us know about updates and to comment on the decision, and having put energy into giving ideas and creating helpful discussion, and having seen everyone completely ignored every single time and the updates going ahead anyway even if there is an overall consensus of a different decision... I'm more or less losing hope at this stage. So I vehemontely protest closure of both rooms, but I'm also competely disheartened to trust of this "democratic" process... I know you guys are just going to ignore everyone and do whatever you want anyway just on a whim, no matter who will suffer as a result.
People in charge of mental health type institutions should have some emotional depth, some form of recovery/treatment/therapy behind them, and be aware of mental health, or else those under their responsibility suffer the consequences of their ignorance to mental health vulnerabilities and needs. Its not just cups, but in waking life situations as well that I'm finding managers of mental health institutions with no emotional awareness whatsoever, making decisions based on ignorance of mental health and people suffering as the consequence. It really should be requisite requirement!
x
@Kate
If it is because we have very few mods and find it difficult why not close down Hangouts for a while, temporarily until we have more mods instead of Disability Support?
@KristieKay In the Mod Emergency Form, there is literally 0 (none, at all) submissions regarding incidents within the Disability Support room, at all. The same goes for Family Support room.
The change makes no sense.
@ItsDev
I can understand that, which is why I suggested the room notorious for requiring emergency mods.
You can't punish the ones who follow rules(Disability support room) because you need more people to punish the ones who don't follow rules(other rooms like Hangouts). Doesn't make sense.
Not Disability support please, let's be more understanding towards them. They need their family together, let's be more empathetic.
@KristieKay the problem is, when you displace people, they have to go somewhere. MH people would go somewhere. You wouldnt be solving anything. I dont think you are gaining anything by shutting down disability either. You displace them when you do that.
@MrJacob
Of course they will be displaced. Every chatroom closed will have it's mates seek other rooms.
My point is -
1. When Disability/LGBTQ people are displaced, and we know they seek support mostly, and even if they just want to hangout, they will feel more comfortable among their usual peeps. If a person from MH is displaced, we know they can cope up in any room, since their need and acceptance is different.
2. And the problem seems to be not many mods. So I suggested temporarily we can shut down the ones that are all the time in need of Emergency Mods, and we can try training more mods and room supporters.
In fact as someone revealed here, Disability room hasn't requested an emergency mod. So why close it down?
@KristieKay Then users from the modded rooms requiring mod calls will end up in the middle of other support rooms, creating the same situations. That option was explored many years ago, and failed miserably.
-J
@MrJacob
Well the story goes like this, we find a group of kids who throw tantrums and torment others in classroom A, we send our teachers/staff there to control the situation.
We have well behaved kids in classroom B who come from a background that really needs help, and trying to help each other.
The miscreants move to B to avoid the situation. So we close down classroom B?
I get your point and concern, but is this a solution?
What about badgelock? Can that help in this case?
Please note nothing personal here, my concern is Disability support, sadly they won't have that one solace they have now. Most of them maybe at home needing support anytime, where will they go otherwise? How welcomed and supported will they feel in other rooms? Sadly I have only questions.
@KristieKay I hear your concerns, and agree that the room should be open as it is a benefit to those who are in it. However, as the room is closing, it will need staff to keep it open, and to transform it back to a 24/7 room under the new guidelines. I have not seen these guidelines, but if you are not already plugged in to group support teams and feel passionate about it, I would suggest you apply.
@MrJacob
Sure Jacob. Will do. Thanks.
I still can't accept that fact that MCR has been closed yet here we go again with this kind of update. I'm not sure when and how closing 24/7 rooms become a solution to increase safety and widen moderator coverage.
If moderation is the problem, why not focus on finding solutions to encourage listeners to apply for mod or at least discuss and identify the root of lacking mods. Why does it have to be the members who already have their company in certain rooms have to suffer and be pressured to transfer to other rooms? Members aren't responsible for the lack of moderation. Members shouldn't feel obligated or pressured to look for support themselves. After all, this is a support site and support should be given at all costs.
I admit that when MCR was closed, it's never been the same for me. In fact, I deactivated my account for the entire month of December and just came back to reply to this post because I felt the need to speak up.
Please, reconsider things. I wouldn't want anyone to undergo the same hardships I've gone through in looking for support. I hardly visited the rooms mentioned above and I'm speaking from my experience. I totally understand where they're coming from, though.
Against the LGBTQ+/MOGII Support Room being closed?
You can participate in my challenge/memory sharing at:
https://www.7cups.com/forum/LGBTQMOGIISupport_58/GettoknowusIcebreakersFun_220/HelpSavetheLGBTQMOGIISupportRoomandParticipateinthisChallenge_189395/
Sign the petition at:
https://www.7cups.com/forum/GroupModZone_168/KatesCave_1395/KeepLGBTQMOGIISupportRoomopen247_189385/?notifyID=221195362
(I dont like forums and I dont use these rooms but feel the obligation to help these people out.)
Please keep these rooms open. Right now you remove a place and community for people to receive support and talk with friends, and for disability + family support you dont offer any alternative rooms.
As far as I heard the listed rooms are used by genuine struggling people, who may not have the privilege of support or trusted people in real life. By closing these rooms you punish these people for no reason and possibly remove their only opportunity to discuss potentially emotional or socially ostracized problems and get support and companionship from people who understand.
Popup room isnt a solution because people need support now, not in 6 days for 1 hour in a preset and possibly unrelated discussion topic.
Because you officially ban offsite contact, these people will not only lose a place to discuss difficult situations that are unfairly ostracized or not understood by the general population, they will also lose contact with their friends and the ability to have casual and meaningful chats that most people in average situations take for granted.
These rooms dont cause problems and dont generate more workload for the website. As many people have said, the communities are calm and kind to each other and there is anyway no need for mods in these rooms (no need for mods anywhere else either). For mods less rooms may look like less workload but it is a false assumption since these rooms dont cause any drama or stress. Less users is not an argument to remove a room, considering that less people generate less workload and even if there are only 20 regulars, that is still 20 people who depend on this website as a platform to find needed support and friendship. This means that closing these rooms wont have any benefit for the mods but cause disproportionate difficulties for the regulars in these rooms and any new people who seek group support for disability or family issues.
This website claims to provide support for people in bad situations. For many people this website is the only place where people can find support, friendship and be able to discuss sensitive and private topics that due to the unfair conditions in the world would be dangerous or not possible to discuss in real life. It is irresponsible now to remove this support and community from people who need it and who use it regularly, especially without offered alternatives in the case of family and disability support.
If you are determined to remove support from people who need it and are in worse real life situations than you are, the least you could do is to provide a list of other places where they could receive support and talk with friends (yes, this will break your no competitors + no offsite rule, but the alternative to keep these rooms open is still there!).
font is too small and cant edit it, sorry
@plibonavivo2 I fixed it 
@AffyAvo thanks :)
@plibonavivo2 thank you for your support in this, it means a lot!
@plibonavivo2
Very well written post and well-presented arguments Plib, I hope they will listen to you. x
We need your help everyone
www.7cups.com/forum/GroupSupport_168/KatesCave_1395/GroupSupportRoomUpdates_189355/
www.7cups.com/forum/GroupModZone_168/KatesCave_1395/KeepLGBTQMOGIISupportRoomopen247_189385/
www.7cups.com/forum/GroupSupport_168/KatesCave_1395/Keepdisabilityrooma247room_189381/
www.7cups.com/forum/GroupModZone_168/KatesCave_1395/KeepFamilySupporta247Room_189388/
www.7cups.com/forum/LGBTQMOGIISupportCommunity_58/GettoknowusIcebreakersFun_220/HelpSavetheLGBTQMOGIISupportRoomandParticipateinthisChallenge_189395/ reply to all 6 of these dont let them close the rooms!