Category: Let's talk
I found this site last night. I encountered it a couple years back and joined. I never went back & now I know why. I find their focus on depression and illness well, depressing. I get a weird stifled feeling while visiting. I know it's just a website but people designed it and run it, so the intention has to come out somewhere. This seems to be the most neutral blind web-community. many of you have happy productive lives that work for you. We need more of that. We shouldn't have to explain ourselves and feel like outsiders in life. rather than promoting independence and mobility this site emphasizes a problem without defining it. I want to know what you all think. It's important to have the right image in the world. Am I wrong about this site? I'm willing to be so. I pass the hat to whoever wants it. Tiffany
Well, I looked at it in brief, and I was kind of amused. The various titles for the links wer, well, cheesey, and I'll look at it a bit more just to see what it's all about.
the "Ask a therapist" thing was weird.
lol
yeah the site seems dedicated to pissing and moaning.
Oi! I guess I was right.I find these things hoping I'll be impressed and sadly, no. Ah well.
The lady who runs the site, Julia, is a therapist which would explain why that angle is emphasized. I used to go there daily before learning about zonebbs. Their message boards on the e-pals link are sooooo boring compared to what is available here. Several years ago when I was a member, there were more active contributers, but I think everyone I met on there is now on here instead.
I see we have yet another classic post from Margorp--a post full of insensitivity and bitterness, yet lacking any hint of thought-provoking substance, such as a theory as to why Eyes2Eyes may be set up the way it is or suggestions on how it could be improved. Libra Lady has answered the question of why the site is full of information on psychological challenges. That being said, I think Tiffany has a point in that people who visit Eyes2Eyes, not having been exposed to blind people before, might get the impression that blind people constantly feel sorry for themselves. I think the woman who runs the site is doing a good thing in giving blind people a place to get help and support for psychological challenges, but I think she'd do well to put some more positive things on the site as well.
Namaste,
Becky
Perhaps certain so-and-sos are offended by something I have said. If this is the case, wouldn't it be best to privately bring this up?
We have a great quicknote (qn) system which is capable of transmitting private and public messages.
That is all.
now then:
eyes2eyes could be improved in several ways:
It has been said that there message boards are nothing compared to we have on the zone. The zone has an active chatting system (quicknotes) whereas eyes2eyes does not. At least, I didn't se one.
In short, my friends, the zone bbs is far superior to eyes2eyes.
I will now address the comment about insensitivities in my posts:
I am not currently, nor have I ever been (outright) insensitive. I certainly wish to come accross as such.
I didn't create this post to compare the zone with eyes2eyes. I'm not a big fan of therapy I think it's done a lot of harm. Take your personality conflicts to another thread. Therapy has increased the victim mentality, ruined families and a whole host of other ills. Therapists should take a serious paycut and learn to help real people. I vowed that I would not spend years in councelling because of my poor upbringing. This sight seems geared towards people who need to be cured of something. I'm sure Julie has good intensions. I just don't understand the motive. Is she trying to help us improve our outlook, make us feel better? Save us from the wounded child. Shaking head. Tiffany
After seeing this thread, I thought I'd run over to e2e to check it out. I use to visit over there quite often.
It definitely isn't as active as this site. That is the main reason I made the switch over to the zone. One is much more likely to get a responce to a forum post over here. The forums and games are my fave part of the zone.
On e2e, I liked the recipe roundup, the household helper, and sometimes the scam I am. Oy, it drove me crazy how no one seemed to answer the tech talk questions! Far more geekers over here...grin!
Well, Margorp, I'm not sure how you define "insensitive", but I can immediately think of a couple of your posts that many would find to be so. And I don't see the need to address this in private. But Tiffany makes a point in that this is not the topic for this argument.
But Tiffany, I do disagree with the rest of your last post. You shouldn't dismiss therapy just because you don't think it would benefit you. While you and I may not feel the need to spend years in therapy because of our undesirable childhoods, other people might need more help. I don't agree with all types of therapy, but some kinds certainly can be good, even if you only have it a couple times.
Namaste,
Becky
Bitch, bitch, bitch, all they ever do is bitch!!!
Hmmm. I've never heard of Eyes2Eyes, so I can't comment as of yet. You guys have me curious though, so I think I'll have to at least go look at it and see what all the fuss is about. I never was one for joining sites geared toward blind folks until I found the Zone. So, I'll go look at this E2E, and then maybe make a comment.
Tiffany, I have to heartily disagree with your comments on therapy. Yes, the victim mentality in our culture is increasing, and I can certainly think of people who use therapy as a crutch, not because they want to make progress. Still I don't think therapy is solely responsible for the problems in society. Someday, you might understand, when you tackle a problem bigger than you are.
I certainly believe that therapy has many benifits.
One can find plenty of success stories to back up that statement.
However, we do seem to have sort of a "poor me" mentality now a days.
True statement? Insensitive one? You
I think Julia's therapy is geared toward helping newly blinded individuals adjust to their new problems. But I think she does this via phone or e-mail, not necessarily on the site itself. It was more active at one time, but the last time I visited the e-pals section, it didn't look like some of the forums had been posted to in months or even a year. The zone is much better in terms of variety of people and topics on the forums.
I guess I should have defined my parameters more clearly. What I object to is the wrongheaded use of therapy. I've done a great deal of healing on my own and with the help of my husband. We've both worked to reach out and tackle other problems besides ourselves. I wouldn't say there was never any benefit to anyone who took advantage of various therapies. We like things that make sense and in today's culture it's simply more acceptable to be a victim before you can be whole. If a therapist approached you as a whole person and gave you the tools to help yourself you'd need his services a few times and then off you go. What I got when I went to therapy was a seventy-five dollar an hour listening ear. What happened once I left was there was nowhere for the feelings to go once they were up. If I were a therapist I'd want to understand a patient's goals in life for the future not just what makes up there past. People who are newly blind need all the support they can get. There's a gentleman in our town that I pointed to our local agency. All he really needed from me was to know there was help available. I'm sory if I came off a little too passionately. You can't deny that like much of the medical industry therapy has become just another cash cow. I hope this helps you understand why I feel as I do.
I for one can certainly understand your angle!
Everything these days is becoming a "cash cow." but it's good to know therapy is available.
I see your point, Tiffany. There are several things wrong with the therapy systems today. Also, it doesn't help that some people will choose to be victims for years when all they have to do is exercise a little will power and choose to make their lives better.
And Margorp and I are in agreement about this, at least. When therapy is used for the right reasons, it's a good thing.
I personally prefer holistic remedies and therapies for everything, as they are a natural alternative to conventional medicine and therapies (which are most often harmful).
Namaste,
Becky
I actually have found some of the writings interesting like the one about sleep. Its a different cite foresure, but I don't think that's is necessaryly a bad thing. maybe if it helps a few persons, then its done its job? I don't know.