What is/are good message/s to greet new members?

[I_waste_everything]

I was just writing "We're glad to have you" on the profile page of someone who just joined. However, I realized before hitting 'send', considering the struggle our community's built around, that might have an unintended effect for the reader.

What are some good, honest, diplomatic thing we can say to welcome to new members?

 

[may71]

I think "We're glad to have you" is a good thing to say to welcome someone.

I usually just post something like "Hello and welcome to SF!"

 

[KM76710]

I mainly greet them, welcome them and let them know that I hope they will continue to check out the forum and explore to find support, comfort and even things that may be more light to just have some things that may make them happier, favorite food, music, tv, etc. Plenty to find and see here and no hurry or pressure.

 

[LumberJack]

Spoiler: old man story time

Back in the days of usenet, I was wandering around and encountered a group that was alt.something.something.suicide. This is where I learned the term for “catching the bus” as a euphemism for suicide. I remember reading something in there along the lines of “welcome to our newsgroup. We’re sorry you’re here.”

The little double-take in that phrase is that they are not sorry to be found by a new user (the “welcome” part) , but they are sorry that I’m going through whatever it is that caused me to gravitate to a group about suicide methods. I found that sentiment actually quite comforting and even validating. It was the first time I had encountered discussions of wanting to die that didn’t involve hysterical warnings to go call 911 or whatever.

That’s just an idea, though. I don’t use that here, but instead I simply say “welcome,” followed by any particular thoughts that came up for me in reading their intro.

Ultimately no one can always predict how a new person might react to anything another person might say. Therefore I don’t think there’s any one “formula” for diplomacy. The best I can do is share genuinely with someone. As long as I know that my intentions are benevolent, I need not feel like it’s my responsibility to make sure they don’t take it in a different way than I meant.