Posted by Dr. Bob on January 21, 2006, at 17:07:01
In reply to Re: feeling uncomfortable » Dr. Bob, posted by Toph on January 21, 2006, at 11:46:37
> > IMO, however, the larger the community, the greater the potential disruption.
>
> And IMO the larger the community, the greater the community's ability to handle such disruptions through such dynamics as peer pressure, conformity, social norms, etc.I disagree that dynamics are sufficient. They help, but aren't always enough even in small groups that meet in person.
> >You see bigger waves in an ocean than in a bathtub.
>
> I love it when you wax poetic Bob. You also see a greater variety of sea life in an ocean than in a bathtub. I'd rather be in an ocean with a shark than in a bathtub with one.Me, too! :-)
IMO, an online ocean is different from a real ocean. Because it's more connected. The sea life can support each other more easily, but they're less safe from sharks, too.
Anyway, I think a question is whether it's possible to have the best of both worlds, the diversity of an ocean and the safety of a bathtub. Not as diverse as an ocean or as safe as a bathtub, but a mix of the two.
> > it can be hard to make everyone happy. If they're looking for big waves, maybe they've come to the wrong place?
>
> I come to Psycho-Babble not to agitate but rather to associate with others like myself.With sharks?
> It disappoints me greatly that this is more like an aquarium with select fish than a mental health ocean
If someone's looking for sharks, maybe they also have come to the wrong place.
> > > My struggles with authority go deep
> >
> > It's an interesting question, why people stay somewhere they feel uncomfortable. What is it they hope to gain?
>
> I stayed here because of two main reasons, 1) because after managing to control my bipolar illness with medication I sort of denied my chronic mental illness identity for years which I rediscovered here. I enjoyed coming out of the closet, if you will.Coming out of the closet *and* being accepted. Maybe some people stay, even though they feel uncomfortable, because they hope for acceptance. They see how accepting in general it is here.
And others know what it's like to be rejected. To be treated like a shark. So they empathize.
> 2) I have met some fascinating people here (I'd include you in that group, but I think that intriguing would be more apropos adjective for you). Maybe I'm wrong, but I do not think I am here to fight, my deep authority issues notwithstanding.
Maybe some are here to defend. Maybe to them I'm the alpha shark. Maybe they accept feeling uncomfortable because they consider it to be for a good cause.
Bob
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:596210
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060111/msgs/601564.html