The Haven

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I was wondering if perhaps the Haven forum wouldn't be better off members only.

Members discuss some very delicate issues and vulnerabilities or difficult times and I'm not sure its entirely appropriate to have that open to the entire passing web. I know there is already a members only discussion forum but it doesn't seem to be for sensitive subjects and I've spoken with a few users who are reluctant to post more emotional stuff in there as it seems out of place.

Just wondered if it was a possibility really and what others thought.

I can see this as legitimate.
I know that several websites (like ED, though 'twas funny) that poke fun at "disabled" people/autistic people come here without necessarily registering (and they usually get banned if they do register and post), and I don't think having all of those raw feelings and delicate subjects out in the open for any old Googler to see is really a good idea, either.

Hmm...

Never really thought about it.

Yeah, it makes sense. Why it isn't already arranged that way is beyond me.

That is a very good point. I guess one would have to ask the owner why it was setup that way in the first place. In trying to figure out a reason why it might be setup up that way, the only thing I can see is that some of the people that might not feel comfortable enough to become a member or to post here, may get a benefit from reading the advice that are given to others that post.

Comparing the number of people that are online at any time on this site to the number of members that are actually present in the forums, the number online that are here just to read, vastly outnumber the actual members. Some of those people may gain a vicarious feeling of support as much as those that actually come to post or sign up as a member.

I guess, if the haven was listed as members only it might be an additional motivation to become a member, if someone just wanted to read instead of post, but I don't know if they would do it.

Purely speculation on my part, might not be as much of a consideration in the general population, but I'm sure there are many people that come here that would never feel comfortable joining and interacting. And also, writing is not easy for some people that have Autism.

I am torn on this one. It is obvious this site has a lot of lurkers who are not registered. People online now says: visitors=1156 and members= 211. Yeah, some stuff that is posted in the haven is very delicate in nature... but some of our lurkers might just be people who are no shy or apprehensive to go all out and join. I know I lurked for a little bit before I had the nerve to join and some of the things I read that prompted me to join were in the haven. As personal as some of these things might be, it might give comfort or encouragement to some of our visitors. Besides, the members only section is not restricted in such a way that you cannot post haven themed posts in there... if you are concerned about it being in the wrong forum, simply state that it is of a more private nature and that is why you posted it there. I can understand the sensitive nature of a lot of haven posts and yeah, those things do deserve to be treated with decency and privacy to some degree, but at the end, anything you put on the internet is not private. We have currently 49,784 members. Even the shelter in members only still allows nearly 50,000 people access. I get what you all say about the haven and privacy, but in the end, I do not think I agree that it should be private because I think what is posted there might actually benefit someone out there and even if it only happens once or twice, to me it is worth it.

I actually was thinking about this just an hour or so ago, but I thought of what dossa thought of, and she puts it best.
A lot of people may be too scared to participate or wouldn't want to talk about it (particularly if they're fairly new members) - as a person who had major anxieties in the past, as much as I wanted to, posting was a real no-no for a while.

I guess it would be out of the question to have a Members Only Haven? (half serious, half joking there)