Real life distress in a virtual setting

Discussing personal crises on a forum

[encyclo]

Some forums are business-like, others are more relaxed, more personal, more intimate, and sometimes become a kind of support lifeline to certain members.

On a community forum I run, we have a case of one member who posted in extreme distress in a private forum, relating the story of a very serious crime which had been committed and asking for help. Members have rallied round, attempting to encourage the person to report the crime to the authorities and take other vital steps to ensure personal safety.

As a forum administrator, what do you consider your role to be in such cases? I have found that it highlights how important a forum can become for some members, but brings along other problems: of security, or responsibility, even of liability. Even the thought of unplanned downtime scares me: what if the forum was unavailable when the member most needed it?

But how far does your responsibility stretch? Do you simply support and encourage, or do you intervene more strongly, breaking the boundaries between "online" and "offline", when you think that someone is in danger?

[rogerd]

That's a tough one, encyclo. When a community is strong, members will seek out help from each other, even in dire personal circumstances. Barring stuff like a member stating their intent to commit a crime or commit suicide (where reporting to the authorities makes sense), I think the appropriate role for the owner/admin/mod is to urge the individual to seek appropriate real-life support while letting the discussion (if helpful) run its course.

It's kind of like members who solicit legal advice. You simply have to refer them to appropriate counsel, but they may still derive benefit from the input of others who have experienced a similar problem. You can help the situation by clarifying the difference between forum suggestions from helpful strangers and seeking help from a professional who can take the time to get to know the person and the facts.