If you are thinking of leaving the forum ...

Today I'm considering whether to leave the forum.

When I was 1st diagnosed late in life (60) a year and a few months ago, this forum was a Godsend.

A really important place where I could learn and be supported and equally, give support to others.

At its best it's superb.

However, I do personally have difficulty when threads are made that offend me and I know others do too.

It isn't so simple as just not responding when these things act as a trigger for past traumas and fights you've had.

I've had quite a few fights in my life that have been long and hard and inequality bothers me - a lot.

There have been various threads and postings that simply do offend - including one with views pertaining to women set in aspic.

I do think that more could be done here with moderation, including an LGBTQ+ section as those types of threads have ended up locked due to conflict and also another section, as I suggested before, where other controversial ones could sit and people could try to avoid them.

Hopefully then those boundaries could be respected by others.

If I go, I just want to say a huge thanks to those friends I've made and for the huge fun that's been had here.

Also, if I do, I will post here to say and if people would like my private email address, I'll supply by PM.

I miss those that have already left - a lot 

I hope everyone has a good, trauma free Sunday 

Hi Debbie, I know I’m being selfish. I personally would really miss you. I do fully get how the site can sometimes become. I then weigh it up and think of how much positiveness I have seen here as well. A lot of us carry scars from our younger lives, they do always stay with us.  I tend not to get involved in triggering threads, hibernating seems to help me. I hope you are happy in whatever you decide but would love to see you stay.

Roy said:

I personally would really miss you

Thank you.

I would feel the same if you left.

Sporadic Sparkly said:

However, I would feel sad if you were to leave.

I would feel the same if you left too.

Sporadic Sparkly said:

If I think back to last year, public disagreements between members seemed to be considerably less frequent than they have been this year. I live in hope that this community can get back to how it used to be because it was (in my opinion) mostly fantastic. 

Yep.  I fully agree with this.

Thank you also to others for my kind PMs.

I've been offered some part-time accommodation in the garden so I've taken up the offer for now.

The present hedgehog shaped inhabitant said there's enough leaves for both of us.

Roy said:

I personally would really miss you

Thank you.

I would feel the same if you left.

Sporadic Sparkly said:

However, I would feel sad if you were to leave.

I would feel the same if you left too.

Sporadic Sparkly said:

If I think back to last year, public disagreements between members seemed to be considerably less frequent than they have been this year. I live in hope that this community can get back to how it used to be because it was (in my opinion) mostly fantastic. 

Yep.  I fully agree with this.

Thank you also to others for my kind PMs.

I've been offered some part-time accommodation in the garden so I've taken up the offer for now.

The present hedgehog shaped inhabitant said there's enough leaves for both of us.

I had hedgehogs in my garden, sometimes late at night, I have seen them running across - I'm surprised at how fast they can move! 

Last year, I saw a parent hedgehog slowly walking across the grass with a line of little ones behind her - that was a privilege to see.

Mist likely they came to drink from the pond, an easy source of water, especially in the summer. 

But - I didn't see them this year, maybe I missed them, but I hope they're ok.

You are a kindly and decent person Debbie. 

How brilliant is that!

We need a 'show your hedgehog house' thread!

I’ve always got a spare room if you need one. 

Hope you've got a good stash of nuts to see you through xxxx