In light of the autism discussion thread...

[United Muscovite Nations]

There are literally people who post pictures of themselves crossdressing in the TDT and don't get ridiculed. I think, frankly, you're underestimating the maturity of the majority of the site's users.

wot? Where? I haven't seen pictures of anybody crossdressing in there. I haven't even seen pictures of anybody regular-dressing in there for at least a few months.

I've seen it at least 3 or 4 times. You don't remember because it's not memorable, because no one gets upset or ridicules the person for it. I won't link though because I don't want to name names.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Inversely, it can leave people open to be the target of ridicule which, undoubtedly, will exacerbate an already fragile situation. We’re talking about an open internet forum. The feel good high does not warrant opening that can of worms.

Don’t think I’m unsympathetic to your feelings, or your purpose. I understand from where you seem to be coming from. However, as a patient myself, I can tell you that it’s best if these people, yourself included, go straight to a professional, not an Internet forum to talk about it.

There are literally people who post pictures of themselves crossdressing in the TDT and don't get ridiculed. I think, frankly, you're underestimating the maturity of the majority of the site's users.

I have a therapist, but sometimes I want people I know and interact with regularly to know what I'm going through as well. I think the mindset that the only person you should talk about your mental health issues with is one's therapist is itself a kind of stigma.

If you feel it’s necessary to tell those you interact with regularly about what you’re going through, TG them.

It’s not a stigma to tell people who are having these issues to talk to their therapists about their problems, though. It’s simply the responsible thing to do.

[Cekoviu]

wot? Where? I haven't seen pictures of anybody crossdressing in there. I haven't even seen pictures of anybody regular-dressing in there for at least a few months.

I've seen it at least 3 or 4 times. You don't remember because it's not memorable, because no one gets upset or ridicules the person for it. I won't link though because I don't want to name names.

Huh, alright then...

[United Muscovite Nations]

There are literally people who post pictures of themselves crossdressing in the TDT and don't get ridiculed. I think, frankly, you're underestimating the maturity of the majority of the site's users.

I have a therapist, but sometimes I want people I know and interact with regularly to know what I'm going through as well. I think the mindset that the only person you should talk about your mental health issues with is one's therapist is itself a kind of stigma.

If you feel it’s necessary to tell those you interact with regularly about what you’re going through, TG them.

It’s not a stigma to tell people who are having these issues to talk to their therapists about their problems, though. It’s simply the responsible thing to do.

It is a stigma when you say they should only talk about them privately, away from where people can see them.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

If you feel it’s necessary to tell those you interact with regularly about what you’re going through, TG them.

It’s not a stigma to tell people who are having these issues to talk to their therapists about their problems, though. It’s simply the responsible thing to do.

It is a stigma when you say they should only talk about them privately, away from where people can see them.

Not really. It’s the responsible thing to do. People have a right to privacy where their healthcare is concerned. You call it stigma because you yourself want to talk about your situation.

[United Muscovite Nations]

It is a stigma when you say they should only talk about them privately, away from where people can see them.

Not really. It’s the responsible thing to do. People have a right to privacy where their healthcare is concerned. You call it stigma because you yourself want to talk about your situation.

Not allowing people to speak about it isn't the same thing as a right to privacy.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Not really. It’s the responsible thing to do. People have a right to privacy where their healthcare is concerned. You call it stigma because you yourself want to talk about your situation.

Not allowing people to speak about it isn't the same thing as a right to privacy.

No one is preventing you from talking about it to those you interact with through TG. Right? Your issue strives in that you want a thread for it.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Not allowing people to speak about it isn't the same thing as a right to privacy.

No one is preventing you from talking about it to those you interact with through TG. Right? Your issue strives in that you want a thread for it.

Yes, my issue is that I want to be able to publicly talk about it, and not allowing people to publicly talk about it is stigma. The LGBT community rightly said it was bigotry when they were told they could be gay as long as it was just in their homes, as a comparison.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

No one is preventing you from talking about it to those you interact with through TG. Right? Your issue strives in that you want a thread for it.

Yes, my issue is that I want to be able to publicly talk about it, and not allowing people to publicly talk about it is stigma. The LGBT community rightly said it was bigotry when they were told they could be gay as long as it was just in their homes, as a comparison.

It seems to me that you’re comparing apples to oranges there.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Yes, my issue is that I want to be able to publicly talk about it, and not allowing people to publicly talk about it is stigma. The LGBT community rightly said it was bigotry when they were told they could be gay as long as it was just in their homes, as a comparison.

It seems to me that you’re comparing apples to oranges there.

Not really. It's stigma against one community that we wouldn't allow against another.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

It seems to me that you’re comparing apples to oranges there.

Not really. It's stigma against one community that we wouldn't allow against another.

No, really, not the same. You don’t have governments going after you to deny you of your rights. Please.

If you want to publicly talk about your struggles with mental illness, may I suggest you make a blog and share it with those you want? As it’s been said, no one here is a professional nor is this a responsibility an open forum should assume. Even with the best of intentions you can end up harming someone.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Not really. It's stigma against one community that we wouldn't allow against another.

No, really, not the same. You don’t have governments going after you to deny you of your rights. Please.

If you want to publicly talk about your struggles with mental illness, may I suggest you make a blog and share it with those you want? As it’s been said, no one here is a professional nor is this a responsibility an open forum should assume. Even with the best of intentions you can end up harming someone.

You can't discuss with a blog. And I'm not asking for professional help, I'm asking to be able to have people I know understand how I see things, as it is, I have no one to talk to other than my therapist about it, and that's unbelievably stifling.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

No, really, not the same. You don’t have governments going after you to deny you of your rights. Please.

If you want to publicly talk about your struggles with mental illness, may I suggest you make a blog and share it with those you want? As it’s been said, no one here is a professional nor is this a responsibility an open forum should assume. Even with the best of intentions you can end up harming someone.

You can't discuss with a blog. And I'm not asking for professional help, I'm asking to be able to have people I know understand how I see things, as it is, I have no one to talk to other than my therapist about it, and that's unbelievably stifling.

I still can’t understand why you can’t let these people know these things through TG and you require a thread for it. *shrug*

[United Muscovite Nations]

You can't discuss with a blog. And I'm not asking for professional help, I'm asking to be able to have people I know understand how I see things, as it is, I have no one to talk to other than my therapist about it, and that's unbelievably stifling.

I still can’t understand why you can’t let these people know these things through TG and you require a thread for it. *shrug*

Because I want other people to able to see it, and also because I interact with almost everyone on the forum at some point, so it would be impossible to tell all those people.

[Cekoviu]

I still can’t understand why you can’t let these people know these things through TG and you require a thread for it. *shrug*

Because I want other people to able to see it, and also because I interact with almost everyone on the forum at some point, so it would be impossible to tell all those people.

buy stamps?

[United Muscovite Nations]

Because I want other people to able to see it, and also because I interact with almost everyone on the forum at some point, so it would be impossible to tell all those people.

buy stamps?

Imagine paying for the privilege of talking to people you talk to every day.

[Cekoviu]

buy stamps?

Imagine paying for the privilege of talking to people you talk to every day.

Ok, then just telegram me. I'm almost as good as everybody.

[United Muscovite Nations]

Imagine paying for the privilege of talking to people you talk to every day.

Ok, then just telegram me. I'm almost as good as everybody.

Sure, give me a sec.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

You can't discuss with a blog. And I'm not asking for professional help, I'm asking to be able to have people I know understand how I see things, as it is, I have no one to talk to other than my therapist about it, and that's unbelievably stifling.

I still can’t understand why you can’t let these people know these things through TG and you require a thread for it. *shrug*

Perhaps because there might be more than just him who wants to discuss these things?

[Vivolkha]

While I understand that many people with mental health issues (including myself) want to get help and understanding, we also have to accept the fact that NationStates is probably not the best place for it. It is a political simulator and discussion forum, after all. One consequence of that is that, as said before in this thread, mods as well as most players are not psychology experts.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

While I understand that many people with mental health issues (including myself) want to get help and understanding, we also have to accept the fact that NationStates is probably not the best place for it. It is a political simulator and discussion forum, after all. One consequence of that is that, as said before in this thread, mods as well as most players are not psychology experts.

People discussing mental health here are probably not wanting to talk to a psychologist.

[The New California Republic]

While I understand that many people with mental health issues (including myself) want to get help and understanding, we also have to accept the fact that NationStates is probably not the best place for it. It is a political simulator and discussion forum, after all. One consequence of that is that, as said before in this thread, mods as well as most players are not psychology experts.

People discussing mental health here are probably not wanting to talk to a psychologist.

Not necessarily.

[United Republic Empire]

While I understand that many people with mental health issues (including myself) want to get help and understanding, we also have to accept the fact that NationStates is probably not the best place for it. It is a political simulator and discussion forum, after all. One consequence of that is that, as said before in this thread, mods as well as most players are not psychology experts.

People discussing mental health here are probably not wanting to talk to a psychologist.

So does that mean they would prefer unprofessional, possibly non-factual, and unsafe help instead?? Similar to how some groups use crystals and essential oils as alternative healing within the medical field.

Okay so they don't want to talk to some creepy old guy while laying on a couch. Understandable, but an online political simulator game forum isn't the best or safest ways to seek out help. There are plenty of online accredited professional support forums catered to this delicate and specific type of ordeal.

[Grenartia]

People discussing mental health here are probably not wanting to talk to a psychologist.

So does that mean they would prefer unprofessional, possibly non-factual, and unsafe help instead?? Similar to how some groups use crystals and essential oils as alternative healing within the medical field.

Okay so they don't want to talk to some creepy old guy while laying on a couch. Understandable, but an online political simulator game forum isn't the best or safest ways to seek out help. There are plenty of online accredited professional support forums catered to this delicate and specific type of ordeal.

You're missing the point. The intent of the thread isn't to "provide a replacement for professional help", its to discuss the issues that affect people with various mental illnesses.

[Frisbeeteria]

We appreciate everyone's patience during the discussion of this sensitive matter.

While we believe that this dialogue was initiated both in good faith and with good intentions to provide a place for discussing mental health issues and for possibly providing assistance for people undergoing mental health issues or crises, it is the decision of the Moderation Team that NationStates is simply not the place for such a thread.

NationStates is first and foremost a political simulation game, as nebulous and give-or-take as some of its mechanics may be. Due to the nature of the game, political discussions and discussions of current events, trends, and topics of social importance are welcome - including potentially sensitive topics which some may find distressing, offensive, or unpleasant, such as autism and gender identity.

Even so, neither of those threads are actually intended to provide a sacrosanct community for those who are, for the cited examples, on-spectrum or are questioning their own gender identity. They are, in fact, discussion threads, open to all individuals - including those who may disagree or have beliefs which question the fundamental nature of the topics of either of these threads. This means these topics can, on occasion, become exceptionally heated, replete with posters who may be belligerent in the expression of their opinions - even if they still do adhere to the rules.

Secondly, while the forums require someone to be thirteen years of age or older to participate, in practice, that does not stop people from under that age accessing the boards. Given NationStates is present in schools - including elementary schools - it is not impossible that minors well below 13 may stumble into the forums. A thread dedicated to mental illnesses/disturbances, therefore, would not be difficult for someone under 13 to find, and in the event they themselves are undergoing a crisis, while we like to think they may immediately find benefit and remedy, Moderators are not omniscient nor omnipresent; those minors can just as easily run across unprofessional advice, at best, as they can run across a troll telling them to kill themselves.

Unfortunately, we handle these sort of reports regularly. Creating a thread which may invite them, and potentially endanger an individual already in a compromised state is not a risk we are willing to take.

Lastly, as has been cited before, the NS Moderation Team are not professionals, and we cannot assume professionals are active, able, and willing to provide assistance among our users, either. While we do not doubt there may be mental health professionals in the community, it is also not our place to put that burden upon them. We have specific protocols and procedures in place to address individuals who may be undergoing a crisis, which includes providing avenues to outlets equipped to provide professional and immediate assistance.

While we apologize for the length of this post, we felt it was necessary to provide something of a greater explanation than what one might expect, considering the nature of this discussion and the topic itself. Moderation is not unsympathetic, and understands the wont of a community space, but still ultimately feel both the risks associated with such a thread are too high and that, fundamentally, NationStates is neither the place for it nor institutionally equipped to handle such matters, and instead to follow the procedures we currently do with regards to urging professional assistance on venues equipped to handle such sensitive subjects at a time when they are particularly precarious.

On a more personal note, we know friends are made through NationStates, including friendships that have a profoundly positive effect on our players. We do encourage this, and hope that in the event a friend is in need, help can be found among those friendships that have been fostered here. Regardless, however, if you or someone you know is having difficulty or undergoing a crisis, please urge them to seek professional assistance.

Again, thank you for your patience.

— NS Moderation Team