Why are so many people ignored in this forum?

I feel a little like an invader here, but the post caught my eye, so I thought I'd put in my 2 cents.

I agree with a couple other posters to this thread that it's hard to think of anything to say, and if you're depressed (or a "languid" schizoid), you don't have a lot of energy. Just putting a subject and verb together can be an enormous effort. That's especially true if you really want to offer some valuable insight. So many responses on PsychForums are simpers and pats on the wrist, and like someone here just said, those are almost worse than no response at all.

I've tried to respond now and then on the Living With Mental Illness Forum when people there have seemed especially desperate, but they didn't so much as say "Thank you", so I wondered whether all my effort in doing so, and yes, it was an effort, was totally unappreciated, maybe even unwanted. I'm not good at wrist-pats and simpers. I don't think my advice is mean, but it's not sugar-coated either.

Here a number of people have responded to the OP, and I don't see a response from her at all. Looks like she's ignoring us.

heracles wrote:Here a number of people have responded to the OP, and I don't see a response from her at all. Looks like she's ignoring us.

"Irony is an insult with a smiling face"

I love irony.

Good Eye Closed wrote:Most likely because the only thing there is to say to most people is words of encouragement, which I've heard throughout my life and they haven't ever really helped my depression, so why bother saying them to other people.

Indeed sometimes words sound so empty.
What does a stranger knows about me when they say" you can make it"?Maybe I can't.

I just assumed it's because the only people reading the forum would be depressed and depressed people don't really have it within them to help other depressed people, unfortunately.

I just had an amusing thought: make a mixed forum - manics can help out depressives, aspies can help out schizoids, overeaters can help out drug addicts, etc.

Okay maybe it was funnier inside my head.

i think it might be because people dont read other ppl entry or maybe they just dont care or i feel like sometimes its because the person who wrote the entry didnt really explain their situation or im thinking other members dont know what to say ^ i guess... im ignored too and its really sad because i came here thinking i would feel less alone and i would at least get one reply. anyway... i learned one thing in life, its to never expect anything at all bc you will be dissapointed if you do (well for me, its how it it, sadly) So i never expect enything and once in a while i get pleasantly surprised... well rarely but still... it happens anyway hey btw can you read my post and maybe reply i would really appreciate it if u dont know what to say just say something encouraging ... its better than nothing at all

I don't see you replying on any posts here. It's not your obligation, but it seems a bit hypocritical.

This is a forum about depression and most people come here to vent. It's hard to help someone or just tell them it'll be okay when you're going through the same thing. It's also full of users who post once in a fit of desperation but never actually come back.

Also, it's not easy to have a community when the mere act of posting is hard on its own. Its hard to spare your energy on other people when you don't have enough for yourself.

Awesome post, vinylvanilla!
Good question

heracles wrote:Here a number of people have responded to the OP, and I don't see a response from her at all. Looks like she's ignoring us.

Most people in here took more than TWO WEEKS to respond.
Do you guys really think I access this board everyday and that I refresh this page every minute?
I have many other things to do in life. I was depressed, wanted some help at THAT moment, nobody said $#%^ so I moved on.
What I find weird, though, is having to wait 2 weeks to obtain a response with a board with so many members who access this site all the time.

"I have many other things to do in life. I was depressed, wanted some help at THAT moment, nobody said $#%^ so I moved on." That's how a lot of people here feel, so yeah.

How many members are on this forum? Thousands? How many are clamoring for help at THIS moment? We aren't all "help machines" that crank out sage on device on demand.