We're good for your self-esteem!

[Fino]

I'm just wondering if others agree that this forum is good for your self-esteem because all of the ratings are positive, so we are constantly receiving positive feedback. What do you think?

 

[Rasputin]

I'm just wondering if others agree that this forum is good for your self-esteem because all of the ratings are positive, so we are constantly receiving positive feedback. What do you think?

Having participated in several other forums similar to this one, the biggest difference I have seen are members are more sincere, and are more respectful of others. People help and learn from one another without any agenda. I guess in a sense members might tend to feel better about themselves, knowing there are other members like them.

 

[Binary_Bark]

100% @Rasputin. Have been on several forums over the years. Have actively participated on some for a long time. There are always trolls, people whom think it funny to degrade, bully and make things miserable for others.

Here, on this forum. There are support from other members, understanding and kindness. This I think is a result of people being on a similar mindset. We are all Neurodiverse and fall on the spectrum.
With the other forums, as mentioned, are mostly NT and do not really grasp our way of thinking, receiving and participating in things.

It can mean a lot to someone that has a down period, posting here and receiving a 'friendly' reaction or some words of help and encouragement.

 

[Callistemon]

Well, there's a few NTs and in-betweens (like me) here too that I'm aware of, in with the NDs, and overall the level of discussion and support for each other is really good - and a nice contrast to the average internet site! I think the mental/emotional health awareness and troubleshooting are especially high here compared to a lot of places, so it's a good place to come to raise our own everyday awareness, learn things, work out some puzzles, and have a genuine sense of community. We're online, but the sense of common humanity is strong here.

@Fino, it would be interesting to compare how we all see and use the feedback emojis. I primarily use some of them (amusing, friendly) to communicate the emotions I am feeling in response to a post, and others to show the perceived qualities of the content, agree when I totally agree.

The heart I use three main ways: If I'm feeling moved by someone's story and want to support that person, if I think the post expresses a lot of kindness and empathy, and sometimes just to say "I love it" - where it sits close to "winner" but is a bit more a matter of the heart than something more cerebral.

It's great not to have negative ratings - people use them on places like Reddit to try to tear others down for not thinking exactly like them, for having a different opinion, for liking something different, and even just to troll people. Personally I mostly use downvotes when people are really rude to others, in environments like this, but I think Reddit would be a better place if it only had upvotes, like The Guardian.

I like having multiple emojis to respond to a post instead of just an upvote - you can say a variety of things shorthand with that. Mostly you can think about in what ways a post is good.

The one thing I wonder about sometimes is if ratings like that, and particularly plain upvotes, run too close to giving and receiving approval rather than communicating something more human. The whole approval and intermittent variable reward conundrums are what makes social media highly addictive on purpose. I don't do social media for various reasons; it's neither very social or particularly media.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I like to use the emotional sense of some to rate how I feel about a topic. I usually use the heart with OPs in solidarity. There have been times I wish there was a hug emoji when I get the sads over a post.

 

[Callistemon]

@Gerald Wilgus, I wish there was a hug emoji too. And in posts, when there are none in the menu of a forum, I use this:

It's the closest animal I could find to convey the idea.

 

[Suzanne]

And why I keep coming back here. My obsessions tend to keep me away, but this forum is always quick to pick up and it is by far, the best forum on the internet.

I came here as a self diagnosed aspie and accepted without any questions and then, finally received my formal diagnosis.

Has a special place in my heart, which is something lol

 

[Atrapa Almas]

Its a lovely forum.

 

[Aspychata]

I'm just wondering if others agree that this forum is good for your self-esteem because all of the ratings are positive, so we are constantly receiving positive feedback. What do you think?

I think ducks are the best. Self-esteem is important. Thanks Fino for another great post. It's always nice to read your posts.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

@Gerald Wilgus, I wish there was a hug emoji too. And in posts, when there are none in the menu of a forum, I use this:

It's the closest animal I could find to convey the idea.

You need a Koala. The only huggy thing I have is a gif.

 

[Callistemon]

You need a Koala. The only huggy thing I have is a gif.

A koala is very good, @Gerald Wilgus. I have to confess though, it would be pretty handy to have eight tentacles when you are hugging.

 

[1ForAll]

I'd personally like to thank those others here that try to be positive, supportive and assisting to others not only when they feel in that better mood, but even when they themselves are not feeling the best, too, and also at times even if they could risk a snarky comment or two from those others who are not feeling that way. I mean it's good for others to share their frustrations, sadness and upset feelings too, but I think this forum needs to also see stories and feelings where we can share more uplifting, confident, content, happy and persevering moments too, during good times and not so good.

 

[Wolfnox]

Nice to know there's a fairly large pack to run with out there.

Not sure how ducks would do in a wolf pack though.

 

[Atrapa Almas]

Nice to know there's a fairly large pack to run with out there.

Not sure how ducks would do in a wolf pack though.

Everybody love snacks

 

[Darkkin]

Like puppy snuggles and a favourite blanket...(No one thinks I'm nuts for adoring Rue Dog and Potato Cat like I do.)

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

A koala is very good, @Gerald Wilgus. I have to confess though, it would be pretty handy to have eight tentacles when you are hugging.

As long as it isn't one of those species that has hooks in its suckers.

 

[Darkkin]

Like this? Technically speaking it is a squid, which has ten tentacles, not eight like octopi do. Now I have to research octopi species.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

No one thinks I'm nuts for adoring Rue Dog and Potato Cat like I do.

Of course not. Our furbabies provide such unconditional love. My cat, Mew, is generally aloof, and my spouse calls her my doppleganger. But when I am around the house she always checks to see what I am up to.

 

[Knower of nothing]

I absolutely think so. I'm generally a rather critical and cynical person but you'd probably not think it from my few posts here. The structure of this forum is very conductive to kindness, pulls it right out of you. I'm not met with a whole lot of straight forward kindness from strangers in my day to day and it does a lot to paint a brighter picture of this mess we call humanity. It makes me feel more confident about putting myself forward and contribute my share of positivity and support. (And it's also useful in letting me slowly rebuild what was torn down over a decade and a half of regular public schooling haha).

Also unrelated because it's not the rating system but these emojis are all adorable:

 

[Callistemon]

As long as it isn't one of those species that has hooks in its suckers.

I dunno, but plain suckers could be fun - could be put to all sorts of uses. This is off topic, but I did once think out loud extensively about this exact subject in my music journal. Here's a link for anyone who enjoys what-ifs like that - scroll down down down until you get to the photograph of the warthog and then go up slightly to All I Want for that particular sub-topic. (I have long specialised in writing the sorts of things that aren't out there, but should be. )