It certainly does to me, both in its positive and negative aspects. Some things come with the territory: the confessional nature of many of our posts infuse proceedings with a spurious sense of intimacy and familiarity which at times can be quite cringing. Personally I dislike the AA vibes of many an intervention on the site, the way genuine generosity and concern becomes conflated with vigorously prosocial moral hypocrisy
Also, the rules will inevitably favour certain traits and personality types over others, which is a constant source of friction for some of us. Resulting from these restrictions, both written and unwritten, I’ve always run into difficulties when posting about my unusual beliefs. In fact, it’s a great deal easier on szcom to discuss your dog’s lumbago or to share almond blanching tips than it is to discuss your actual delusions. Probably time to take another break.
It is a weird kind of community, for sure. You can get to know someone every day for years, then suddenly one day they are just gone with no warning, and you never know if they died, or just left, or lost internet for a while, etc. Then months later they might like one of your posts and you’re just like “Huh, guess they’re still around”
I am seeking help, but you can’t reduce help to a one fits all formula. My strategy is trying to learn to live with my symptoms while gradually increasing function, which actually I’m on my way to achieve. Communities have rules of their own which after time will appear self-evident only to those members best predisposed in the first place to fully integrate in the community. I am seeking help, but on my own terms.
There is also something else, a secret weapon of sorts that keeps me sufficiently grounded no matter what. But it’s personal and I’d rather not discuss it.
I think you will find this in any gathering of humans. Ours has wildly different social protocol than most places, but we still have one. There is still a hierarchy and in-groups and people who are more respected and less respected within the community. Those are basic foundations of living in a community. That is just human nature, ascribed to a unique demographic.
Studying is a great strategy. I had to give up on a sociology PhD but my cognition has recovered to a point where I can read proper philosophy books once again.
I do feel badly for the folks who are so embroiled in their delusions that they keep getting suspended for trying to convince people they are true. I wish we could make this a safe space for them, as well as a safe space for those of us who are actively working to stay grounded in reality. But the two groups have mutually exclusive goals, and allowing one group to achieve their goal will invariably drive away the other group. We had to make a choice about whose needs to prioritize. We chose the pro-medication, pro-psychiatry route, since that causes the greatest amount of improvement for the greatest number of people.
I don’t disagree, but those of us who are worst equipped to navigate through societal conventions will inevitably develop a different take on those conventions. Obviously all human groups will have rules, but it’s also true that some societies are more open and diverse than others.
It might depend on what you’re trying to get out of it.
In my experience it’s not really helpful to get into philosophical discussions about delusions. Plus there are plenty of other places you can do that on the internet, if that’s what you really want.
Here we’re focused on recovery. Even if you feel like your beliefs aren’t causing you any harm, discussing them here at length in that way might be causing harm to other members.
I am seeking to improve my functioning, medication is just one tool. Maybe we should discipline ourselves better to ignore posts we find triggering. Unfortunately there is no site where you can easily combine sz and philosophical discussion. I do participate in other types of forums, but obviously I’m not going to share with them the things I share here. As you see it’s not an easy situation.
It is the internet and should be treated as such in that you should prepare yourself wisely, by wearing a thick armour and not taking it too seriously.
Real life is much more important and even if you are alone in it, enjoying mindfulness of a cup of tea is far more rewarding than any internet argument.
I agree with the utilitarian principle (greatest happiness for the greatest number of people), in fact I’m a fan of utilitarian ethics partly because people like Stuart Mill are painfully aware of the dangers of failing to accommodate difference and individuality.