Changes proposed to the forum - Feedback wanted!

[Saffron]

Isi - your post about your son dismantling your laptop made me smile My son has done exactly the same before!
S x

[frankgallagherwasere]

Interesting point IS why would either want to go into the others camp (forum section) but maybe its not because of the reasons some might think, or not all of us see it as others might do.

Personally I take an interest in both and the assault/rape to a point because having known quite a few who have been a victim I know the damage it can do to someone. It isnt something one gets over easily and many are scared for life, but sometimes I think its nice to know others do care and listen.

I guess all I can say is we try to understand

[Rights Fighter]

I am sure that somebody on here said that there were no online support forums for victims of sexual assault.

I typed: rape, victims, support, online forums, into Google and found these
on the first page...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rape+victims+support+online+forums&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&client=firefox-a

http://www.aftersilence.org/ known to some people here

http://www.pandys.org/

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/539759 a discussion about groups

http://www.rainn.org/

http://www.curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=409

http://www.18u.org.uk/ for 18 and under

http://www.inconfidence.org/

http://online-support-group-for-survivors-of-rape-and-sexual-assault.victoriaplaceo.aidpage.com/


So you see this is not the only place true victims can get help and support. Some may be in the USA (not had a chance to properly surf them) but sexual abuse is sexual abuse whichever country it takes place in.

I have an idea that these few are just the tip of the iceberg and I bet there are far more support groups for victims of sexual abuse than there are for those protesting their innocence.

[friday]

i should have started reading this thread before it got 4 pages cos now my eyes hurt from concentrating.

anyways, perhaps i like the fact that falsely accused and rape victims have to live in harmony on here cos thats life. in life we cant shut groups of people out completely. i mean what would a man who joined the forum beacuse he had been raped or a man who joined to support his partner who had been raped do if men couldn't reply to rape victims?

i choose to keep coming to this forum because it seems to have some fight in it. more fight than any forum for only victims i have been on (i have no experience of being falsely accused so never been to any forums for f/a).

the other reason i came to this forum was for practical advice and i think thanks what makes it such a good forum, you get advice and people who care. i think links to other things could be useful (like opsi.gov etc i spent so long looking up legislation i think i could be a lawyer, except i have morals so i cant)

i think the forum has too many subdivisions but i don't actually think i ever notice which one i'm in (oops) i tend to just look for all new posts irrelevant of the topic.

i like to think of online people as friends (even though they only exist online) and i would support my friend whether they suffered rape, were falsely accused, lost their job/dog...... everyone on here has suffered, no matter who caused it, and we can all offer advice on things that kept us going or made us feel just a bit better.

[Saffron]

Well said, Friday!

I think this forum is different to others because it has guts. And a core of dedicated people who keep coming back.

S xx

[webmoo]

friday and Saffron - Thank you, I think! I like the sound of this forum "having guts".

[frankgallagherwasere]

well said Friday, especially about the lawyers !!

i too look at online friendships as the same as any other and some are far more important than others i real life, I even help parents out who allow their own kids into chat forums by moderating, and yes they know who I am !!!

There are many advantages to the net, one is the potential to keep yourself private the other is to actually be able to say what you want but potentially dare not in the real world - too afraid of being misundertood perhaps?

Anyway I just wanted to say good on you !!

[webmoo]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

As you can see, I've made the changes as planned. Unregistered users are no longer able to post and I've done the jiggling around of the forums.

There's more updates to come - rules, FAQs, warnings, all to be covered by new threads and all in good time.

Re the current round of changes:
I've made a few more changes to the descriptions of each forum. Have a read and let me know if you think any more need changing or if you have any suggestions.

Thanks!

[webmoo]

Oh yes - re the splitting up of the sections and restricting people to one side or the other, I'm mulling ways and means. I'll start up a new thread about that too when I've come up with some practical suggestions about what I can actually do with the vbulletin system and what I'm prepared to implement.

For the moment, I'm keeping it open to all as planned, but I've not forgotten the discussion!

[littlemoo]

i know this was debated a long time ago, but looking at RF's response to isi's poem, "hope", i think is one of the best reasons not to segregate who posts on which forums and a is actually very positive "crossover".

just a thought,
Jo

[Saffron]

I agree, Littlemoo. I think that, without any troublemakers, we can provide support and guidance to both sides!

S x

[Rights Fighter]

I thoroughly agree.

I know that when somebody who has (genuinely) been falsely accused of abuse the best barrister they can get on board is one who prosecutes as they know what will come.

By the same token, I am in a very good position to help Isi (and others who are genuinely in her situation) in her quest for justice as I know "what will come" and how to tackle it.

I must add that for me to do this, I would have to be very much persuaded that that person has been abused.

In the same way, when I take on an appeal against conviction, I MUST be persuaded that this really IS an innocent person. I cannot be persuaded by the person who needs my help, though, but by the facts of the case.