Room Supporter Member Survey: Feedback Needed!
Since launching the Room Supporter role about two months ago, we have had almost 100 Listeners apply for the role! This role was created to help create an opportunity for Listeners to go through additional training on how to support members and other listeners in their rooms through active listening skills and de-escalation. Room Supporters work to build community in their chosen rooms and to create a kind, compassionate and supportive environment.
We would like to open up the conversation about potentially having this role be available for Members as well as Listeners. We have listened and heard your voices on wanting leadership positions in group support for members. We want to offer this opportunity, however we are very mindful of what purpose member accounts are used for. We do not want anyone to feel they are not able to receive support if they undertook a leadership position in group support or put anyone under additional stress or pressure or make receiving support more difficult. Although we do think this role could present an opportunity for members to grow and feel more involved/contributing to the community.
We can talk more about what the requirements for Member Room Supporters would be and the details as we move forward, but for now we want your opinion as to whether Members want to see this role as an option!
Please review the original Room Supporter Role Description and then let us know your thoughts and comments regarding opening up this role to Members here!
@fluffyunicorns84 @supportivemonkey46 @sweetlily41 @Erato @Rose @RaCat @MonBon @Anomalia @MelAllyouneedislove @Jenna
@Kate
I'd recommend adding a question to collect usernames so you can prevent duplicate responses
@Kate
In the anxiety support group, we have anxiety of losing our voice because frequently, there is no 'official' check in for the day. There were 13-14 peole yesterday on the unofficial checkin that I put in yesterday morning, who needed to talk, be heard and be a part of the community. The anxiety daily check in shoudn't itself actually be creating anxiety.
I would like to volunteer to setup an official thread each morning, unless I am sick. I'm willing to commit for a month at first and then see where we go from there. This would be good for me to think of something positive each morning to post. Thank you.
@Darkseed
The anxiety team does have official check-ins! If you are wanting to get involved I would recommend pming @bunnypants
@MonBon
How do I PM Bunnypants? Is she a listener that I contact directly?
@Darkseed
Yes! https://www.7cups.com/@Bunnypants
Anyone else interested in taking on a check-in should message them as well ^^
Really glad to see this post - I think that finding ways for members to help create and build the communities they are a part of is crucial and an excellent step forward! And I can say - I've been consistently impressed by the dedication, compassion, and professionalism of our member forum supporters and forum member leaders!
I'm pretty sure I already posted my comments somewhere? So you know my opinion on the areas where this fell short / didn't live up to my original idea. I feel like, with the experience I've had, it feels more like "Crowd control", or secondary rule enforcement -- In the UK, we have "Police Officers" who have the powers, and then we have "Community Police Officers" who are volunteers who have a few limited range of powers, who just "fill in the gaps" for the lack of police staff avaliable and then if they run into trouble they can control the situation until the Police Officers arrive.
I feel like thats kind of what this situation is a bit like, but just less intensely so. The Police Officers being Mods in this metaphor and Community Police Officers aka volunteers being the Room Supporters.
My original idea of what this should look like is Room Supporters LEAD by example and by their values, just talking as a normal human being and chatting but being strong in their opinions of the highest good or with loving supportive intentions, then they would have a ripple effect in the room. People generally pick up the vibe in the room and it rubs off. Before long, everyone is being supportive and loving or talking to each other engaging, or having real conversations and being good to each other. Because a strong lead example is doing that and people naturally follow suit.
They can de-escalate situations just by their influence, calming people down and making resolutions. When they talk about things properly, they are respected for the values and understand at least where they're coming from.
Thats what my idea of it looks like... But I feel like instead of that, Room Supporters just say just saying "You broke rule 3, Please can we not break this rule" and act like Crowd Control or backup Rule Enforcement, without the depth or philosophies to back it up and be respected. Or without the greater ideal being for the greatest good.
So... All in all obviously I can't give the most positive of feedback however I do hope that me writing this feedback again, that people will read it and try to be more meaningful in their interactions or presence, and less just waiting for people to break rules to tell them off. I don't really think that goes anywhere to be honest.
Thanks,
Meeks x
@RedMeeko
Thanks for that feed back and sharing your thoughts!
I hear you. That is not the intention of the role. In actual fact, leading my example and gentle deescalation is exactly what this role is all about - being a positive presence and offering support while helping to create a welcoming environment and build community.
Giving verbal reminders and "crowd control" as you described here is not the goal and not where we want to go - I agree!
If you do come across situations like this, like moderators, I urge you and others to report this through the appropriate channels so it can be handled accordigly and we can be moving forward on the right track.
Again, thanks for your feed back and input 
@RedMeeko Have you seen room supporters doing things like that? My experience with seeing room supporters has only been positive, although obviously I'm not everywhere at all times :) Just curious if this is what you see as a potential issue, or if it is an actual issue at times.
At least one moderator shud b available in room to talk to activate depression ppl . Sometime talking doesn't helps.. getting bad fed back about lisyelist creates bad impression on new users n depressed ppl
I wish the people in the rooms respond as well as on the forums