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In terms of the serious forum... why not make it accessible by everyone. Not just support leaders... and instead, tighten up the moderation in that forum. Posts can also have a minimum length to it, like in the intellectual forums, so you can't have any short replies...? Then again, I can also see that failing miserably and many people complaining about having posts removed... I mean, otherwise, the serious forum and e-helps don't have much of a difference.

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How would this be different than the regular support forums?

 

Anyway.

As I stated in my topic, I agree with the trashing The Serious Forum. It's too spread out, and harder for us to get to everything. It'd be much easier if we had everything in the eHelps, and if it ISN'T an emergency, we'll just vote to delete and the topic will be moved to the main forums.  

I agree with Sabrina that there should be SOME requirement for support leaders, although I do believe one eHelp reply is a bit too tight. I was thinking, maybe twice a month. Just to make sure you're still here.  

Another idea -- this may confuse things, but would it help to split the support leaders into two categories, and you can only apply for what you want? eHelp PSL's and forum PSL's. Maybe this will take the pressure off, and we won't feel like we're forcing people to support? eHelp support leaders would have to submit some amount of eHelp replies per some amount of time as discussed, but this way it's something we choose (to what Nikki mentioned).

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The forum and eHelp PSL's may be a little too confusing because I can guarantee you that there will be many, many more people applying to be a forum PSL as opposed to an eHelp PSL.  That's just my assumption.

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I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you.

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I agree with the fact that we should separate all of the interested Support Leaders into different categories to cover different issues - just like the way the Moderators are each responsible to moderate different forums.  But, on the eHelp page, there is a link to access a list of all of the Support Leaders.  However, I really like the idea of separating all of the Support Leaders into groups.  I think this would be beneficial.  However, I do not really agree with the fact that we should make guidelines to eHelps.  I do agree with the fact that we should limit the amount of eHelps to one per person per week.

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When already do have some sort of guidelines for e-helps.  And I know full well that a problem for someone else may be something that wouldn't bother me in my life.  I'm not saying to undermine how important an issue is to someone or to limit them from asking the questions.

They still have other options (The forums, the serious forum, individual PMs to SLs)... why do questions about whether or not you are pregnant, how to lose weight, what is love? need to be in the e-helps?  We don't even need to delete them, but to maybe direct them as to where it can go?  I suppose that already exists and it still doesn't work... I dunno, just a thought.

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I think that's always possible. I mean, I like the idea of people applying to eHelp supporters, I think that could help, as when a lot of people first applied to become support leaders (especially the older members), the idea of eHelp was never in existence.

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But there will be a lot more applications for the forum PSL as opposed to the eHelp PSL.

Don't you agree?

-------
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you.

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The forum and eHelp PSL's may be a little too confusing because I can guarantee you that there will be many, many more people applying to be a forum PSL as opposed to an eHelp PSL.  That's just my assumption.

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Yeah, but it'll definitely minimize if not eliminate our frustration with the large amount of support leaders and the few of us that actually answer eHelps. As Nikki is mentioning, it would also solve the problem of having SLs who prefer to reply on the forums, and therefore are unable to submit the hypothetically required quota.

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Depression support on Myspace
Add my: Purevolume | MySpace

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Quote: from Define Your Line at 12:58 pm on July 9, 2008

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I agree with the fact that we should separate all of the interested Support Leaders into different categories to cover different issues - just like the way the Moderators are each responsible to moderate different forums. But, on the eHelp page, there is a link to access a list of all of the Support Leaders. However, I really like the idea of separating all of the Support Leaders into groups. I think this would be beneficial. However, I do not really agree with the fact that we should make guidelines to eHelps. I do agree with the fact that we should limit the amount of eHelps to one per person per week.

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When already do have some sort of guidelines for e-helps. And I know full well that a problem for someone else may be something that wouldn't bother me in my life. I'm not saying to undermine how important an issue is to someone or to limit them from asking the questions.

They still have other options (The forums, the serious forum, individual PMs to SLs)... why do questions about whether or not you are pregnant, how to lose weight, what is love? need to be in the e-helps? We don't even need to delete them, but to maybe direct them as to where it can go? I suppose that already exists and it still doesn't work... I dunno, just a thought.

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I agree with what you're saying - there are some questions like that in the eHelp system.  This is why I really liked your idea of sorting the Support Leaders into categories to cover different issues and creating a public list of these people that are accessible to all members on the eHelp page.

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I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you.

---

Quote: from hithere at 8:38 pm on July 9, 2008

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i think we should give the serious forum more time...it's only been back for 5 months...

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But the reason it was scrapped before is because no-one used it. Over half the topics in there have no replies.

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in other issues, i'm completely against forcing people to make ehelp replies, if only because i think people like me are valuable to ehelp. i can't answer most ehelps to any extent that is above anybody else, so i don't. even if it doesn't seem like my reply would be bullshit, i just decide not to answer because i feel they wouldn't get anything out of it besides something that's probably drilled in everybody's brain. there are only a few topics about which i feel i can really give exceptional support. i don't neglect ehelp, not even close, i just rarely see something that really sparks my interest. i expect that there are many other support leaders like me, and each one of us, although hardly contributing to "stop the flashing" that we care so much about, contribute to the system in a valuable way.

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koopatroopa is my e wife and she is kewler beanz than you k

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The forum and eHelp PSL's may be a little too confusing because I can guarantee you that there will be many, many more people applying to be a forum PSL as opposed to an eHelp PSL. That's just my assumption.

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Yeah, but it'll definitely minimize if not eliminate our frustration with the large amount of support leaders and the few of us that actually answer eHelps. As Nikki is mentioning, it would also solve the problem of having SLs who prefer to reply on the forums, and therefore are unable to submit the hypothetically required quota.

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But, by doing this, there will be a lot less applicants to be an eHelp PSL.  Therefore, it really won't help the situation with the large amount of eHelps remaining unanswered.

-------
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you.

---

They still have other options (The forums, the serious forum, individual PMs to SLs)... why do questions about whether or not you are pregnant, how to lose weight, what is love? need to be in the e-helps? We don't even need to delete them, but to maybe direct them as to where it can go? I suppose that already exists and it still doesn't work... I dunno, just a thought.

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Pregnancy is an emergency, in my opinion. It may seem easy to solve, but it definitely belongs in eHelp -- and hey, that makes it easier for us!

You know, I don't think the main problem is people submitting eHelps that belong in the forums. If they're "easy", they shouldn't take long for us to answer anyway, and therefore the only issue would be sorting them out -- but that's really not THAT big a deal.

-------
Depression support on Myspace
Add my: Purevolume | MySpace

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Quote: from Nikki at 12:40 pm on July 9, 2008

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Quote: from hithere at 8:38 pm on July 9, 2008

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i think we should give the serious forum more time...it's only been back for 5 months...

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But the reason it was scrapped before is because no-one used it. Over half the topics in there have no replies.

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oh okay, i didn't know that...

in other issues, i'm completely against forcing people to make ehelp replies, if only because i think people like me are valuable to ehelp. i can't answer most ehelps to any extent that is above anybody else, so i don't. even if it doesn't seem like my reply would be bullshit, i just decide not to answer because i feel they wouldn't get anything out of it besides something that's probably drilled in everybody's brain. there are only a few topics about which i feel i can really give exceptional support. i don't neglect ehelp, not even close, i just rarely see something that really sparks my interest. i expect that there are many other support leaders like me, and each one of us, although hardly contributing to "stop the flashing" that we care so much about, contribute to the system in a valuable way.

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I understand that there will be some topics where you feel that you cannot provide your input on and I totally understand that.  However, I'm sure in a span of a month you will be able to find at least two that you can reply to.  And if not, you can explain why you felt that you could not meet the quota and therefore will be excused for that particular month.

-------
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you.

I think this PSL/eHelp PSL idea is just too complex, though.

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.:Faut souffrir pour etre belle:.
He still gives me the butterflies - [06.07.07] ♥
She was everything beautiful and different

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Yeah, I know. I agree with you. I think that could be a good idea, but again it might be a bit awkward to implement. Like, would we all have to re-apply to get various statuses (sp?) or what? I think it may be a bit too complicated for what it's worth, at least in the short-term.

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Yes, I agree with you here.  I mean, it may be too much to actually do right now.  I am not sure if it will really work out the way that we intended it to work out.

-------
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you.

---

---

In terms of the serious forum... why not make it accessible by everyone. Not just support leaders... and instead, tighten up the moderation in that forum. Posts can also have a minimum length to it, like in the intellectual forums, so you can't have any short replies...? Then again, I can also see that failing miserably and many people complaining about having posts removed... I mean, otherwise, the serious forum and e-helps don't have much of a difference.

---

How would this be different than the regular support forums?

 

Anyway.

As I stated in my topic, I agree with the trashing The Serious Forum. It's too spread out, and harder for us to get to everything. It'd be much easier if we had everything in the eHelps, and if it ISN'T an emergency, we'll just vote to delete and the topic will be moved to the main forums.  

I agree with Sabrina that there should be SOME requirement for support leaders, although I do believe one eHelp reply is a bit too tight. I was thinking, maybe twice a month. Just to make sure you're still here.  

Another idea -- this may confuse things, but would it help to split the support leaders into two categories, and you can only apply for what you want? eHelp PSL's and forum PSL's. Maybe this will take the pressure off, and we won't feel like we're forcing people to support? eHelp support leaders would have to submit some amount of eHelp replies per some amount of time as discussed, but this way it's something we choose (to what Nikki mentioned).

---

I suppose there's not much of a difference.  But if there's a length requirement put on it, and possibly the need to write things properly and not with slang, then you can still get quality responses from other members.  Some people just don't want the bickering of others, or they otherwise just want some kind of support that comes in a serious matter... My thoughts behind this is that there may be some members that AREN'T support leaders that sometimes want to help, and they may be more likely to browse that forum... it may or may not do anything, it's a thought.

In terms of e-Help SLs (eSLs) and forum SLs (fSLs)... what would happen to an eSL that didn't meet their quota.  Simply put, if I don't have time, I don't have time.  I love answering e-helps, but I don't want to feel 'forced' into doing it.  As soon as you put a restriction on me, that's the moment that my level of support will drop.  The freedom of doing so on my own time is important to me.  I feel enough guilt when I can't answer many... I think it would only make the strain worse.  And personally... I wouldn't want someone giving me advice just because they ~had~ to.  As it is, there are already some members that have clearly stated they have no interest in doing e-helps, but didn't mind other things (like the serious forums).  So while you can still split up the groups, I would strongly go against putting any kind of ~requirements~ for how many e-helps or responses you need to do.

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Quote: from Nikki at 4:18 pm on July 9, 2008

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Yeah, I know. I agree with you. I think that could be a good idea, but again it might be a bit awkward to implement. Like, would we all have to re-apply to get various statuses (sp?) or what? I think it may be a bit too complicated for what it's worth, at least in the short-term.

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Yes, I agree with you here. I mean, it may be too much to actually do right now. I am not sure if it will really work out the way that we intended it to work out.

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I just think it's not the easiest way to go about things, that's all. I like the idea, but it's too complex to be implemented. I love the idea of a list of support leaders with "specialist" areas, though. Maybe they could be assigned to forums, or something? And there could be a list of those online when you go to eHelp, too.

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.:Faut souffrir pour etre belle:.
He still gives me the butterflies - [06.07.07] ♥
She was everything beautiful and different