Messaging between memebers
There should be private mesaging between members, you can't really talk to someone you want to help without everyone reading it... What do you think?
@TheVivianRose
Hey there! I think it's awesome that you want to help others and it lifts my heart knowing that there are members who are looking out for other members :)
The concern with member-member messaging is that it can inadvertently lead to negative consequences, especially when members are casually chatting with each other in private. As a mental health platform, I believe that there needs to be extra emphasis put on ensuring that members are safe.
However, I do encourage you to become a listener so that you can message and support others! No rush, and please do focus on yourself first. But when you feel like you're ready to reach out, I can't wait to have you become a listener :)
@TheVivianRose
Hey there. I appreciate your suggestion. It would definitely be nice if a member could message a member. There are some flaws to allowing us the ability to message each other. But it is very easy to just get a listener account if you want to support someone one-on-one. Or go to an empty chat room. This suggestion I believe has been brought up several times. I see an alarming amount of interest in it. I wonder if one day, some type of messaging will exist for us?
@HalliwellSister How do you go to an empty chat room?
@TheVivianRose
Well basically, you check the rooms right? And see which ones have been inactive for longer and then ask the person if they'd like to chat in that group support room.
For example, let's say you were chatting with someone and you checked the family support room and it was empty. You could then invite the person to join you there.
@HalliwellSister
Why is it alarming? I understand the safety issues, having been stalked by someone I met online, but from what I've seen so far (I'm a fairly young member) this community is supposed to be about connecting with others, helping people through hard times, being empathetic to their situation, and offering support.
If a private messaging system is ever used, it could have options like having people request to message you, (sort of how now we have the option to require people request to follow our feed,) or have an option to automatically reject any personal message requests.
I don't believe having people sign up to be a listener just so they can talk privately to someone (as someone else suggested) is a very good idea. If you're a listener, you should be there for the purpose of helping people who need it. Not just so you can chat back and forth with someone.
There have been times I've wanted to say something to someone but didn't because anyone could read it and I don't need or want everyone to know my business.
Again I'm fairly new, so I apologize if I'm missing something obvious. It just seems to be the site is evolving the way it naturally should. Members want to connect with each other. There are ways to make it as safe as possible and having to say everything publicly stifles communication or support that would have been offered if there had been a way to do it privately.
@Autumnsprings
hey. "Alarming interest " means lots of people wants this 😂
@HalliwellSister
I understand that. I just don't understand why it's a cause for alarm.
@Autumnsprings
i didn't say it was a cause for alarm tho... :) alarming doesn't mean what you think it means in that sentence.
@HalliwellSister
Um. Isn't that what alarming means? Off to a dictionary site to learn a new definition.
@Autumnsprings
thats not what it means in the context that I used it. It is another way to say there is large or loud interest in something. Sorry for the confusion.
@HalliwellSister
Okay. Sorry I misinterpreted it.
@Autumnsprings
it is okay. :)
@TheVivianRose I agree. There are people I have met in forums or chatrooms that I would like to be able to continue talking to. Is there a way that we can add this feature?
