Room Usage Guide: 35 & Over Age Group Support Room

This post was written in collaboration with the wonderful 35 & Over Support Team Leader, @Halogen. Please read the following information carefully to better understand the purpose and correct usage for the 35 & Over support room.

As we all know, this room was started in the early March of 2016, to focus on the support of people who belong to the age group of thirties and older. This was because after and during a certain age (thirties), people face various issues which are somewhat separate from the general ones and need some special attention to address with. The purpose of the room is, and always has been to support people in their thirties and older, and make them feel included in an environment where they come and speak to peers of that age group and do not end up feeling isolated or lonely or lost. The people in that room have managed to find support in a genuine way by connecting with peers of the same age group which wasnt quite been happening in other rooms, for them. So we can say that the purpose of the room has been achieved in numerous cases.

But it has also been seen that from the past two months or so, the room is witnessing a lot of disturbance. A lot of people, who are regulars and use the room to get support, have brought forth complaints of mistreatment, abusive demeanor, chat controlling and monopolization, clogging the room, rumor spreading, sniped insults and so on by some of the general people, who visit the room on a regular basis. While we allow people of all adult age groups to visit all rooms, this also should be kept in mind while visiting a room that every room has a specific purpose to serve. Acting against it will only lead to the defeat of the noble purpose, which is dire saddening.

Now a few guidelines will be discussed keeping in mind the current, recurring issues, so that future problems can be avoided.

Guide-Lines for Chat Room Usage

Prioritizing Support

As mentioned in the above points, every room has a specific purpose and while using the room keeping in mind the purpose for the same, makes is easier for others to seek and get support. So here, the prime point that will be mentioned is that the purpose of the room is ‘supporting people in their thirties and older' with the issues that they are going through. A lot of times it is seen that others using that room, became so absorbed with their issues that the people for whom the room is made for, got dejected, angered and left the room. Even arguments take place because of it, leading to more issues, bitterness and subsequently the sad exodus of members who really need the room to help themselves. So keeping this issue in mind, a general user who is accessing the room must understand that they can hang around and support the people there for whom the room is made, may ask for advices at times but for long term support, they will have to access other rooms which they find fit for the issues they are dealing with. Clogging the room while people are waiting or getting support is not a justifiable or fair act and hence must allow the age group people to get their support in a proper and systematic manner.

Chat Monopolization Issues

This is a common problem of every other chat room in this website. This problem can be understood as either a deliberate or unknowing way of clogging the chat room with ones own issues in such a way that people who are there expecting support tragically end up waiting or even leave the room because they find themselves unable to voice and express their issues. And that is a very unfortunate thing to happen. Mostly it is advised that members be welcoming to the ones joining the room and be inclusive and supportive to everyone. Monopolizing the chat only creates in more unfavorable outcomes, like tension, altercations and so on. So kindly use the room in such a way that others too get to participate in the chat and get to express their issues and get the support that they deserve.

Being Respectful and Supportive

While using a room, a member must be kind, respectful and supportive towards all the other members, listeners and moderators. The support room is supposed to be a place where people come, seek support and get help. There always will be situations where people will end up disagreeing to some topics which are discussed or talked about in the rooms. And the resultant mostly in such cases come out as insulting, name calling and in some cases, threatening too. One must understand that delving into such acts only creates more tension and pushes other members off the place. Also it is sometimes seen that when moderators try to intervene, they are lashed out at and hated. It is highly needed for the members to understand that their acts not only affect the ones they are engaging with but also the others who are witnessing it. Therefore, it is highly recommended for the members that they drop arguing over such topics which can lead to tension, agree to disagree and move on and use healthy conflict resolving skills to settle down the matters as the rooms purpose is not to witness such tension but only to support and make others feel better.

Dos And Donts

Dos

- Be kind and respectful
- Understand the priority of usage & support
- Respect the moderators
- Use English as communication dialect
- If you are a listener, then be professional and supportive
- Use conflict resolution skills to calm down any quarrels
- Use Mute button, to mute the ones who are bothering you

Donts

- Insulting and disrespecting
- Using inappropriate languages, swearings, graphic detailing
- Rumor spreading
- Monopolizing chat
- Discussing topics, unfit for the purpose of the room
- Engaging in conflicts

We hope the people visiting the room, find this guide useful and understand the points that have been mentioned and explained. Please ensure you are using the room for its intended purpose.