Posted by S. Howard on December 5, 2000, at 0:25:07
Dr. Bob:
Writing to thank you. While this is absolutely my favorite BP website, I ocassionally surf around. As I had posted earlier, the Harbor website has beautiful graphics, but the chat regulations were daunting. No talking about cutting/self-mutilation, no talking about drug or alcohol abuse, no talking about drinking,
no talking about self-medication, no talking about suicide or suicide attempts, etc.etc. Apparently the mere mention of any of these subjects will ban you instantly and permanently.Then, member or not, one must read through and acknowledge multiple disclaimers such as: I swear to God and on my mother's grave that I will deny all knowledge of this website in case I do something foolish; that if I have ever considered suicide or if I might consider suicide in my entire life,or if I know of or have ever read about someone who considered suicide I will never enter this chatroom, and yadda yadda. (Incidentally this isn't just the Harbor I'm commenting on.)
There's a detailed registration (where you went to first grade and so on) and more disclaimers, member or not, believe it or not...like, you know this isn't professional medical advice; you know not to take advice from members; the website isn't responsible for anything you read or take or do. You agree to these conditions every time you sign in.
Lawyers get $200 an hour to read this crap. I was surfing around out of sheer boredom; I can't imagine having to go through this every time I logged in, trying to remember all the rules when I'm distressed or, worse, pathologic or suicidal. Of course, they said right up front that this door is closed to me unless I feel like Dick Van Dyke dancing around in "Mary Poppins". And there are links for suicidal patients, which are helpful for those not in crisis, or people concerned about a depressed family member or friend. In my opinion, they're useless for
people in crisis. Because a person in this frame of mind needs help/relief immediately or sooner, it's not unusual, in this day and age, to turn to the computer at 3 am. Often all they need is someone to talk to, as in a chatroom, or even a bulletin board where they can post their thoughts that others can read. Having to go through pages of disclaimers is almost akin to wanting a particular sandwich at your favorite deli and then discovering there are 20 people in front of you. You decide that you're just not that hungry.I hope you never find it necessary to make these adjustments. While I can understand all these disclaimers and rules and signed acknowlegements in a sue-happy world, the easy access and "free speech" on your website is apparently somewhat unique and surely a lifesaver.
Thanks again,
Gracie
poster:S. Howard
thread:56
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20001124/msgs/56.html