Just wanted to toss some thoughts around here, see if anyone ever thought of SF this way, or just in general. Interested to here anyone's thoughts on anything on this topic.
Doesn't it seem sometimes, that when you look around SF, that you feel limited to help people?
I've observed this thought, in and out, some days and on others. Really, what can we really DO? We can talk it out through forum posts. But that takes effort on both sides. Extreme effort, in some cases.
There are people who struggle, but we can't really be there for them. The closest you get in Instant Messaging. But in reality, I think the people who do a great deal of suffering (The ones who are slightly lower than most) could use someone in person with them. Ofcourse, SF cannot meet this standard.
I feel as if we're bonded. That we all talk through a wall we cannot break. I find it almost more painful to see that fellow human beings withering in such a matter. For the serious cases, I can only sit and think, and can never find anything to say. Where there's just not really any shed of light in their situation, what can we say to help them?
Surely it's common for a :hug: and the like, but after a while I don't think much of it gets through. Alot of us can grow tired of it, and we just don't feel it anymore. How are we to help someone then?
I see in a few situations, if only we could be there with them in person, it's different. Sure you can see the words that someone types on the internet, or even the emotions expressed. But sometimes simple things, a *real* hug, a real 'I care', with a human's voice, just a touch. Maybe not.
I'm at a loss, I feel I can only do so much. We all can only do so much. But, if we really care, should we not aspire to do more? Just keep trying, be persistent. It seems like the best extent we can help people is to agree, to relate to someone's loss, to someone's life.
Some how, I don't feel that 'normal' or 'happy' people may be able to assist one who is depressed (with the helper never having been that low themselves). We are all depressed here. Or we were at one time. While people who have been down and out like a lot of us, we do understand that it's hard, and we can't beat it alone. But, even if we want to help, we can only do so much.
SF is a connection. We feel close to people here. We can't leave, because it has fixed us to a degree. We KNOW people here, we love them. And only to see, some of them in pain, is not easy. SF is a way out, a way to get that voice inside some help. A way to ease the pain. But it only helps so much. It's like we build an immunity for help from SF. This doesn't make SF any the less helpful.
But it's hindering. We only feel the connection so much. We can't thrive off it. Maybe some who are not very deep down, the ones who aren't too bad can pick up and be alright. But some, and it's turning into more, cannot. We're here, but we're not.
Senior members here watch as new people come in, and some leave. Fades away. SF suddenly seems lonely. But what can we do? Who are we? When you think about it, even through a forum, even through an IM, can we really stop someone from committing suicide?
No. There human beings. If SF tries to stop them, they could easily just close the window. Close the IM. And it's that easy. SF's attempt to save someone was shut out. Because that person has the right to.
I'm not badmouthing SF. But only acknowledging that all we do, there's a limit. I've only heard stories that some members have had the police called on them, in attempt to help each other. But that of course, is just maybe in a few special cases.
But, at the same time, we cannot expect SF to improve. We do alot here, no doubt. But when it comes down to it, we can't save people. SF is a good place. No, a great place. It's not easy to do what SF does. It's not easy to, stand up, as a community to try and help people. That's really rare, and it takes heart. And that's what SF is, a loving heart.
But it really bugs me that I, you, we, SF as a whole, can only do so much.
It's hard to be here. But it had to be hard to find SF.
Doesn't it seem sometimes, that when you look around SF, that you feel limited to help people?
I've observed this thought, in and out, some days and on others. Really, what can we really DO? We can talk it out through forum posts. But that takes effort on both sides. Extreme effort, in some cases.
There are people who struggle, but we can't really be there for them. The closest you get in Instant Messaging. But in reality, I think the people who do a great deal of suffering (The ones who are slightly lower than most) could use someone in person with them. Ofcourse, SF cannot meet this standard.
I feel as if we're bonded. That we all talk through a wall we cannot break. I find it almost more painful to see that fellow human beings withering in such a matter. For the serious cases, I can only sit and think, and can never find anything to say. Where there's just not really any shed of light in their situation, what can we say to help them?
Surely it's common for a :hug: and the like, but after a while I don't think much of it gets through. Alot of us can grow tired of it, and we just don't feel it anymore. How are we to help someone then?
I see in a few situations, if only we could be there with them in person, it's different. Sure you can see the words that someone types on the internet, or even the emotions expressed. But sometimes simple things, a *real* hug, a real 'I care', with a human's voice, just a touch. Maybe not.
I'm at a loss, I feel I can only do so much. We all can only do so much. But, if we really care, should we not aspire to do more? Just keep trying, be persistent. It seems like the best extent we can help people is to agree, to relate to someone's loss, to someone's life.
Some how, I don't feel that 'normal' or 'happy' people may be able to assist one who is depressed (with the helper never having been that low themselves). We are all depressed here. Or we were at one time. While people who have been down and out like a lot of us, we do understand that it's hard, and we can't beat it alone. But, even if we want to help, we can only do so much.
SF is a connection. We feel close to people here. We can't leave, because it has fixed us to a degree. We KNOW people here, we love them. And only to see, some of them in pain, is not easy. SF is a way out, a way to get that voice inside some help. A way to ease the pain. But it only helps so much. It's like we build an immunity for help from SF. This doesn't make SF any the less helpful.
But it's hindering. We only feel the connection so much. We can't thrive off it. Maybe some who are not very deep down, the ones who aren't too bad can pick up and be alright. But some, and it's turning into more, cannot. We're here, but we're not.
Senior members here watch as new people come in, and some leave. Fades away. SF suddenly seems lonely. But what can we do? Who are we? When you think about it, even through a forum, even through an IM, can we really stop someone from committing suicide?
No. There human beings. If SF tries to stop them, they could easily just close the window. Close the IM. And it's that easy. SF's attempt to save someone was shut out. Because that person has the right to.
I'm not badmouthing SF. But only acknowledging that all we do, there's a limit. I've only heard stories that some members have had the police called on them, in attempt to help each other. But that of course, is just maybe in a few special cases.
But, at the same time, we cannot expect SF to improve. We do alot here, no doubt. But when it comes down to it, we can't save people. SF is a good place. No, a great place. It's not easy to do what SF does. It's not easy to, stand up, as a community to try and help people. That's really rare, and it takes heart. And that's what SF is, a loving heart.
But it really bugs me that I, you, we, SF as a whole, can only do so much.
It's hard to be here. But it had to be hard to find SF.