I think the worst part of a forum like this and indeed most internet group settings is that people tend to form their own opinions which aren't always correct. People do invent certain parts of their lives for the benefit of other - to fit in, to feel like one of the "click" perhaps but that isn't always the case.
The scary part I guess is that between Geeks, some very private information is shared about our pasts, our lives and such. That information is sensitive and to then find out it has been shared amongst other people for them to get a laugh out of - that is when trust really comes into question.
There was recently several groups on FB talking about SG - members from this site saying how they felt the site was to clicky, they felt almost bullied at times by certain members, they felt they couldn't post here because they were being ignored or such like.
It is awful to think that people feel like that. that they can't post because of the worry about more prominent members making them feel stupid or making them feel unwelcome.
that isn't something that stays with newer members sadly - there is, at times, a pack mentality goes on between certain members of the site. One of them feels something so they all jump on the bandwagon with pitch forks be it publicly here on the boards or between themselves in their closed discussions.
I guess Angelina is very correct about being very careful of who you trust on here. People can appear to be friendly and interested and just when you begin to feel you have made friends you get proved right that you can't fully trust anyone to keep confidential info between 2 people.
How many of you have shared personal and private information between yourslef and another Geek? How many of you can say hand on heart that your private messages stay private and are not shared amongst other people? Definitely something to think about. Don't be fooled into thinking that this is the only place you are discussed because it isn't.
I see more and more threads being started that are purposely to dig at other members, to secretly make them the topic of conversation and realise why so many Geeks have taken a step back from the site.
As for people feeling they have to "prove" themselves and what they are qualified in etc - it is a public forum. any person from off the street can join and portray themselves to be a super therapist qualified beyond their years etc but bad info is sniffed out in a flash on a site like this.
It makes you wonder though - obviously the person Angelina is talking about will read this. How do you think they will feel at the end of the thread? Knowing that their "friends" are talking behind their back, knowing that PM's are more than likely being exchanged about them and such like. I imagine that this thread will provok everyone to ponder just who, be it mods or new geeks, they can really trust. xx
