A gentle reminder about what this site is supposed to be about - What are your thoughts?

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I would say that primarily this site is about having a community with people with similar afflictions. A place to have friends for people that often have trouble making them in real life. A place to belong. A place to socialize.

Secondarily I would say its a place for finding out information on schizophrenia. God knows how much Ive learned over the years between the old forum ,the articles posted and my own research prompted by what I learned here. It is really a shame we seem to have lost @everhopeful , as he was a source of constant research. Please help us to encourage others who post useful articles here like @firemonkey and make them feel welcome.

And finally its a place for trying to help those with scizophrnenia/schizoaffective recover and offer them support. This is not always an easy task because non of us are professionals and we can only try to help as much as we can and try not do harm.

What else do you believe this forum is about? Do you disagree with me on my points? Let me know what you think.

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When I was alone, this forum was there for me. So many years

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I hope it continues to help you @Om_Sadasiva .

The main reason I posted this was I started thinking sometimes admin and mods can get obsessed with enforcing the rules, I mean that is our job and its important we do it to keep some kind of order here.

But I think its good to remind ourselves once in awhile what we are here for.

This is one of the reasons I dont like having people suspended here ( except like trolls and such) until its a last resort.

Some people need this place. And we should take cutting off people from their friends and support seriously and only do it when absolutely necessary.

Anyway, this post was as much for myself as anyone else. It’s easy to get involved in the day to operation of the site and forget what the point is.

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I agree with your interpetation fully, and it’s a good way to go about things.

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I totally agree about @everhopeful. I spent far less time on the original site than I used to, and posted less research articles. He has done a first rate job of narrowing the gap. I can’t praise him highly enough.

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I agree with everything you said @SzSupportAdmin

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I credit the members here for allowing me to understand things better

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Site is good for idly viewing content and killing time…

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I think that is something to be concerned about. That said, being a mod is often a thankless job, but if moderation is too strict it creates an us v them mentality and weakens the overall feeling of community. If it’s too lax, users feel unsafe. I think consistency is key. And if feelings are hurt, mods should do their best to smooth things out so that the user doesn’t leave the community.

I think we should consider taking a more holistic approach to schizophrenia support by adding topics such as cooking 101, ways to make hygiene easier, how to write a budget, finances 101, SSI/SSDI, relationships, etc. We may not need more categories, but I think we need dedicated threads that are easy to find.

Some ideas (copy and pasted from AI Overview):

Kitchen & Cooking Hacks:

Many people with chronic mental health conditions struggle with “executive dysfunction”—the energy it takes to plan, shop, and cook.

“One-Pan” Mental Health Meals: Simple, nutritious recipes that require minimal cleanup. Budget-Friendly Nutrition: How to eat healthy on a fixed income (SSI/SSDI), focusing on bulk staples like beans, rice, and frozen veggies.

Sensory-Friendly Cooking: Tips for those sensitive to smells, loud kitchen noises, or specific textures.

Ingredient Substitutes: Simple hacks for when you realize you’re missing an item but don’t have the energy to go to the store.

Practical Finance & Independence Financial stress is a universal burden, but it’s especially heavy for those managing healthcare costs or limited work capacity.

The “Low-Energy” Budget: Simple automated systems to ensure bills get paid even during “brain fog” or hospitalizations.

Navigating Benefits: Clear, jargon-free guides on Social Security, ABLE accounts (tax-advantaged savings for people with disabilities), and housing vouchers.

Micro-Investing for Beginners: Using apps that round up spare change to build a small “emergency fund” without needing a large starting sum.

Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention: Protecting assets from scams, which can be a risk for vulnerable populations.

Home & Environment (The “Sanctuary” Concept) A chaotic environment can lead to a chaotic mind.

Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants: The psychological benefits of “greenery” without the stress of difficult care.

Decluttering for Mental Clarity: Small, 5-minute tasks to keep a living space manageable.

Creating a “Quiet Zone”: How to set up a corner of a room specifically for decompressing from overstimulation.

Digital Wellness & Tech App “Hygiene”: Cleaning up social media feeds to remove triggers and focus on positive or educational content.

Assistive Technology: Using smart speakers (Alexa/Google) for medication reminders, grocery lists, and “find my phone” features.

Leisure & Creative Outlets Curated Playlists: Music for focus, sleep, or grounding (something your history suggests you already value).

Gaming for Cognition: Discussing how certain video games can help with memory or problem-solving.

Low-Cost Hobbies: Introducing things like adult coloring, bird watching, or podcasting.

Why This Works: This “holistic” approach treats the user as a whole person.

It attracts: Caregivers looking for practical ways to help their loved ones live independently. General Seekers who find your “budget cooking” or “digital wellness” tips useful via search engines. The Community, who feel less “medicalized” and more seen as individuals with lives, interests, and goals.

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This is great. But we mods are not licensed therapists. These would be difficult to moderate.

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I like the community here, I’m glad its still here.

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Come back @everhopeful

I love this site btw.

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Yeah I love this place. No matter what kind of day Im having, good or bad, I feel a sense of security here. I agree with all points.

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As long as we have no more zombiemombies I’m 100% in favor of the way the forum is moderated. To me, she was “the militant moderator.”

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She would lock so many of my threads

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‘Please dont discuss farts. This is toxic.’

:sweat_smile:sorry i have no idea why i need to say that.

I dont remember much