Posted by alexandra_k on March 5, 2005, at 23:30:08
In reply to Re: possibly being able to do more to help, posted by Dr. Bob on March 5, 2005, at 9:28:17
>Would that be overwhelming?
I think I would prefer not to have it.
>I think *I* would find it a bit overwhelming. Feeling like if I had done something, someone might not have died. Or taking the chance of causing problems in a person's life by pressing the button too easily.
I agree with that.
The consequences of making a good call…
Even if a life is saved as a result I worry that a poster won’t be happy that another poster called the police on them.But why do people post that kind of stuff on the boards?
I guess it is a plea for help.
I am not angry that some people post that kind of stuff. But I do think it is inappropriate to post that kind of stuff on the boards. That is largely because (currently) when it comes down to it THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. Aside from inform Dr Bob and he can’t be expected to be online 24/7. That is not the message that it is inappropriate to express what one is feeling. Or that it is inappropriate to express suicidal urges. Just the message that it is inappropriate to talk about suicidal urges on the boards (or via babblemail) because THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. There are alternative places to request help from.But would it be overwhelming to change it so that there is something we can do?
If we have the choice to be able to do this (or have some say in whether it happens)
Then to ‘opt out’ is (to me anyway) the same as doing nothing.
And a consequence is that I would feel partly responsible if they were not okay.
I could have done something and I did not.So I guess it is up to you…
I don’t think I would find it overwhelming. But I would find it hard. It might seem overwhelming if one found one made a bad call…
On a slightly different note I wonder if letting people do this would escalate or reduce those kinds of posts on the board.
poster:alexandra_k
thread:466899
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050219/msgs/467195.html