More attractive to "outsiders"?

[Merlin]

Hello SJ, IanH and Michael,

Maybe it's a strange idea, but recently one newbie hesitated to introduce him/herself (don't know if he was a male or she was a female) because P didn't take such a dominant role in his/her life and that  -because of that-others on this forum might look to him in an ignorant way (to put it in an expressive way).
These were not the exact words, but the person in question was somewhat afraid of this 'theme'.

I was just wondering if this anxiety could be prevented.
The reason I come to this question is that yesterday, on another forum, a kid asked "How worse is it?" and started a kind of opinion poll about the coverage % as the only indication of how worse you are... (and if you draw the line further, also etc etc)

My point is this:
If people look to anything that involves "ranking" in any kind of way, they could withdraw from a forum that could be helpful for them, because they might feel that they are on the bottom of the ladder.

[Cleophis]

I was worried when I first came into the forum because everyones P sounded so much worse that Alysia's, but no one make me feel that I was not "qualified" to be here.

Maybe there should be someone that checks every day and makes a point of welcoming newbies to the forum.

[Mrs_Sheepz]

I dunno - I have not much coverage of p and certainly feel that there are people worse than me.
But I do have p and it is a problem in my life (even though not controlling my life completely).
I never felt that I did not belong here, especially as this forum does not make the impression of a community where people want to "win" a "competition of the worst afected" :-/
It's just fun to be on here - because I love all of you guys (no matter what extend you p has )
Also when I joined I received an extremely warm welcome

But if there are people who have made a differing perception from this when they joined (especially when they joined recently) I'd love to make everything possible to make EVERYONE with p even more welcome.
The more the merrier .... and honestly - I feel that there is not better place for a p sufferer in the world than this forum

sheepful

[SAUCY]

this forum is for all p suffers, no matter how much coverage they have.....

i have never seen in any threads or posts.. mine is worse than yours !!

i have always found the members very supportive,and welcoming  

most of the older members always post a welcome hiya or glad 2 have u aboard, to any new member who posts

[Michael]

Hi Merlin

Could you clarify what you are trying to say.. Sorry of I am a bit slow on the uptake but I'm not sure if you are referring to particular members or particular posts or way the forum is setup...?

Sorry that you felt you needed to delete your membership..

Thanks
Michael

[folic]

Hi all
      When i joined i got the impression that it was for people with P and who new somebody with P , and that it did not matter to what extent the coverage was or is ." it does what it says on the tin".

[SJ]

I do think I know what you are getting at, Merlin.

Thing is no one person suffers with P in the same way...and not just physically/psychologically. I know I am considered a severe sufferer, but if I am only say 10% covered I think that is pretty managable. Others here who suffer 5% think it is really is terrible.

Whether you have a bit on your elbows and knees or are covered head to foot (and I am pretty certain we have people here who suffer each end of the extreme and others who run through the middle!), the forums are for all and those who care about them.

SJ

[IanH]

Merlin

I have to agree with the others. I have always made it clear that this forum welcomes all people with p, the family and friends of people with p or people who have an interest in p. I am not aware of any threads and certainly no polls that ask how bad your p is. Unless someone posts about their coverage it has never been raised nor would it be. As SJ says, the extent of coverage is only one factor in how p affects people and their lives.

As for welcoming new members; There is no official welcoming committe but I believe all newcomers receive a warm welcome even if it takes several days (I sometimes don't notice a newbie for a day or two due to the large amount of posts on the forum) and indeed even those who have turned out to have an ulterior motive (people advertising 'cures') have generally  received a warm welcome initially.

I hope you will read these replies and if you think there is a particular problem on the forum please advise myself or one of the other moderators. I would say the same to all members - if you think there are any problems with the forum please inform one of the moderators, as we can't do anything about it unless we are aware of it.

Ian

[MJFoxy]

A week old topic maybe but i just got here so please excuse the digging up again.

I have to say my P is worse. But to be honest i like Xena so whats a guy to do? Oh wait does P mean psoriasis? Yeah i bet it does - it doesnt mean picture at all does it?

Failed humour aside i have been here a couple of days and got some warm welcomes all round.

It is a little intimidating when reading stories of people who's life is drastically altered. That can help me to slap myself into place at times but i wouldnt see it as a rating system. Where is a rating system going to get you? I mean who is the best footballer on the planet, who is the best looking person? Impossible questions to answer because the world is as each of us see it.

Compared to other people my psoriasis probably falls in the middle but to me personally mine is worst. My P affects me more than anyone elses affects me. I really dont mean that as selfish as it sounds just suggesting that ratings wont work because nothing anyone else experiences compares to what we experience ourself.

Hmm...

Anyway i think it is a real shame that the person couldnt stay because someone who has P and doesnt let it bother them too much is someone i would look up to and would want to know more about.

Neil

[asuris]

I think many of us will recognise which thread is being referred to here, and that it appeared on this forum.  Well, one very similar anyway.

I feel a little bit guilty because I probably expressed some of the more extreme comments on the subject (being in a particularly vile mood that day).  I think I said something to the effect that if I had less than 5% coverage then I probably wouldn't feel the need to use this forum much.

I apologise if this might have been interpreted as a "don't bother coming here unless you've got it really bad".  I would not want to discourage anyone from using the site.

I would, however, like to point out that although my comments may have been a little heavy-handed, my voice is only one among many hundreds expressing their views on the forum, none of whom you will notice agreed with me!!  

The difficulty here, comes with defining what the forum is about.  I guess that when I made that comment (and others on different threads) I had hoped that the forum would be a place for letting it all hang out, even if its sometimes unpleasant to read.  But I think I am learning that I have been a little unrealistic in this respect.  I don't mean that in a sulky way!  Its just the way it is, I think.