Posted by Toph on November 3, 2004, at 21:07:47
What with the latest changes in posting rules, the new research study, and the addition of the relationship board, maybe no one wants to hear a proposal for another change at Psycho-Babble. But I have given this some thought and I hope you will give this idea some consideration. Even though we have anonymity on PB, and most of us have fictitious posting names, I know I have a strong identification and ownership with my name Toph. If someone criticizes or offends the cyber Toph, the real me gets upset. I think that most posters here have a strong identity with their cyber personas as well.
There are many topics related to psychiatric illness that I might want to discuss that I would be too embarrassed to discuss on this public forum. Some here are comfortable discussing embarrassing topics while others do not for personal reasons. Many of us taking medications experience such side effects as impotence and other libido issues, incontinence, halitosis, body odor, balding, amenorrhea, urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, the list goes on. Also, posters with psychiatric illnesses may be reticent to discuss the emotional effects of sensitive illnesses such as AIDS and other venereal diseases, breast cancer, anorexia/bulimia, testicular cancer, hysterectomy, cholitis, Tourettes - I'm sure I'm missing other conditions that may be hard to openly discuss. Morover, there are people who have been victimized by rape, incest, and even embarrassing fraud who may not want these experiences openly known.
I would like to see a board created where others and I could post anonymously to discuss sensitive topics. Toph could be given on this board only a random number as a temporary name for a day to discuss sensitive topics and be able to share anonymously my experiences with other posters. Bob would be the only person knowing our true identities. Civility rules would apply, of course. I don't know how violators are blocked without identifying them on PBA, but I'm sure someone could figure something out. I don't know what people think about posters sharing anonymously criminal behavior like someone asking for help as a rapist, pedophile, incestuous family member or physical abuser. This will be up to Bob. Anyway, despite the many problems anonymity may bring, I strongly believe that the benefits of an anonymous board would outweigh the problems. I am anxious to here what you think.
-Toph
poster:Toph
thread:411337
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041026/msgs/411337.html