Where Did Everybody Go?

problem wrote:The ideal AVPD forum would be open to everyone interested, & would not require registering to post (allows anonymous posting).

To be honest, the forum is a very friendly and open place, I don't think anonymous posting would be good because some of us wouldn't be so open, and we would connect less.

(sorry if that make little sense im tired lol)

Snowbunny wrote:I don't know where everyone went

Aren't you on avpdnet?

I'm lurking...

problem wrote:um, after reading this forum for 2 years, I don't think I've ever seen a "troll" here...

I believe that creating an "invite only" forum for people with AVPD is very unfortunate... people with AVPD are the very people who don't feel comfortable negotiating for admittance to a private club. The ideal AVPD forum would be open to everyone interested, & would not require registering to post (allows anonymous posting).

I feel the same way. I've been reading this forum for awhile but have never felt the need to post. I registered today just so I could ask for an invite. This made me feel very uncomfortable--both having to register here and getting up the courage to ask. By definition alone, anyone who has AvPD is going to feel strange asking for permission to belong.

I can understand people wanting a private place to chat, but there is no way to verify anyone has a specific disorder. Most of the people who post here have not even been diagnosed with AvPD (at least according to a older thread in which the question was posed).

I've never seen any trolls on this subforum, and hardly anyone spams. If there is a problem the moderators are quick to take care of it. Sorry to vent, but it just seems this new site goes against the concept of having AvPD. I'd still like to be a member if it means getting in touch with others who can empathize.

There have been what we call "trolls" in this forum and other around the site. People who cause problem posts, that seek out arguments etc... all sites have them (minus mine thankfully lol) This site it's hard to keep people out who want to cause problems because anyone can just register on here... so we can only get them later on when they start to post.

I do appreciate all your hard work in moderating the forum, and I realize you do preen troublemakers. I suppose it's just a difference of opinion. There are going to be people on the private site who don't have AvPD as well as people who do have AvPD that will be unwilling to take the steps necessary to join.

Another issue is that by making a community closed, you are basically judging people upfront. Access becomes a privilege, which is already a struggle for anyone suffering from AvPD.

I don't mean to sound argumentative, I just felt it was important to share my sentiments in regards to problem's post. I doubt we are the only two people that feel this way.

Thanks for listening.

You're welcome. Thanks for the quick reply as well as being open minded and diplomatic.


(btw, is my browser broken? your cool anime avatar isn't showing up for me anymore...)

It happens a lot on forums where a group of regular posters breaks away and forms their own group. It's just the natural way things work sometimes. Anyways I was a longtime lurker on psychforums before I started posting more regularly, and since I've been here for like a year and a half now, there's been quite a bit of turnover in membership. There were completely different regular posters when I first joined than there are now! So give it time and this place will become active again as new people find it through googling avpd.

And it's not like we're trying to keep people out on the new boards, aside from trolls. I know avoidants can be irrational and find things scary when they shouldn't be, but I don't think it should be too hard to send a short pm saying "I'd like an invite to AvPDnet please." It's not like you have to defend your case or anything. All it is is a place where we're allowed to be as off topic as we like but know that the people you're talking to share your issues and know where you're coming from.

hanna wrote:

Snowbunny wrote:I don't know where everyone went

Aren't you on avpdnet?

Yes, but nothing happens there either. It's like people are too scared to say anything except a given few.

Snowbunny wrote:Yes, but nothing happens there either. It's like people are too scared to say anything except a given few.

Why would people be scared to talk? I thought the whole concept of the forum was to alleviate fear so people could talk openly.