RoundTable Discussion: Group Chats vs Forums
Good day everyone. I have been on a break for sometime, but I am back. I wanted to introduce a way our community can come together and communicate, apart from during events in the rooms.
So this initiative will be called 'RoundTable Discussions' and it is inspired by @ASilentObserver. It is a way we can discuss several topics and share our opinions on matters.
Today's discussion is, Which do you prefer, Group Chats or The Forums?
I have a friend with an intellectual disability and he sometimes struggles with the fast pace of group chats. Of course sometimes the group chats may not be very inclusive and sometimes people may not be willing to explain things to him. For this reason, I think the forums are a place where he can share his feelings without feeling rushed.
I relate with this too as sometimes I get overstimulated by how fast conversations are and even by the clicking of my keyboard when I type. So the forums are always a safe place to rewind and I have time to write my thoughts without feeling rushed.
I'd like to ask, do you prefer the group chats to the forums or the forums to the group chats or even both? I'd also like to hear your reasons.
Tagging members of the disability community,
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@MyNameIsNicole
@MyNameIsNicole
That's a real good question, and a tough one for me to answer. It's definitely good both of the options exist, because different ppl definitely prefer either or, or even both.
For me, I'd pick the group chat over the forums. Well, the chat as it is these days, which is kinda laid back and not as busy as many others here. I can't really keep up when it gets too fast or I'm bombarded with too much information all at once, so group chats can get difficult. I tend to be quiet and just follow along a lot if it does get busy, unless someone asks me something.
When it comes to forums, well, that too goes to my cognitive struggles... The forums tend to be pretty long, especially if there's conversation going on. Lots of text, lots of info. Nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong. I just struggle taking all of it in to find something coherent to say. I can do it eventually with time and all, but it becomes pressuring real fast.
So, you're not getting a clear answer as your first it seems... lol
I guess I struggle with both group chats and forums. But I've found the chat easier to get involved with. Ppl asking questions and everything. Check-ins are about the only forum posts I join into, cause questions are easier for me. I dunno if any of this makes sense, but yeah.
@OneErased
Magical greetings one, I completely understand, I also sometimes have trouble with really long posts.
Have a magical journey your friend Flute
@OneErased
That makes sense. I never really thought about how forums have a lot of text that might make it difficult to follow. Sometimes I have to read a post like three times before I finally understand.
For that reason I see why group chats may be easier. Of course when the rooms are very busy it can get overwhelming- I agree.
It's kind of like a 50-50 answer haha. Thank you for sharing your opinions❤️
@oneerased
it deff makes sense <3
thank you for sharing your input as it helps alot, we love hearing other peoples opinions
<3forum supporter leader
@MyNameIsNicole
Magical greetings Nicole! That's a good question 🤔, I have to say both, the rooms can be fast paced and as you mentioned sometimes there not inclusive, but on most days I do enjoy the rooms and talking with everyone. The forums are magical because you can stop and think about what and how you want to say,it's nice to be able to reply wo being rushed.
@MyNameIsNicole Can I talk to you and everyone else?!
@dimitribelikov When does this happen? The classes.
Hi everyone! My name is Olivia and I want to talk to this Teen Group Chat about why I do the things I do, my cutting, and my ADD/ ADHD.
I prefer the format of the forums, it's where I really started to dive in when I first came here.
I tend to change the order of a sentence, and I find I can't do that easily in a chat. I also find it much easier to focus on one person's situation at a time.
My vision has decreased since coming here and it changes daily and I do find the chat is way harder to keep up with. I need to focus differently at the top of the screen than the bottom, so the chat messages moving aren't so easy to follow anymore.
That said though, I think I really connected better with people in the chatroom. We used to have a good sized group of regulars and many of them tended to avoid the forums, I got to know them in the chat
@AffyAvo
I get that Affy. Seems like the forums hold a special place in your heart. Group chats can be a good way to meet people and I think that's where most people make their friends.
Having your vision changing daily can be quite a struggle following up chats, have you considered using a narrator? I don't know how one could get access to those though.
@MyNameIsNicole There are supposed to be notifications in group chats?
If the 'vision ' part of my eyes were the issue I probably would have looked into screen reader technology with how bad it was somedays. Most of the issue is actually external eye though. Pull your eyelid to the side and you get the idea.
I probably also need glasses hopefully things are doing well enough where I can actually get it done. I tried before things got really bad and was told to use eyedrops (and figured out I was allergic to them) so a reliable vision exam could be completed.
I can almost always read easily enough (worst days I couldn't) on my phone but find it's difficult and tires me in group chats to participate with it.
@AffyAvo
Oh I get it, I thought it was more of a vision thing but now I know it's a muscle thing. How would glasses help for that if I may ask?
So sad that you were allergic to the eye drop, perhaps there was an ingredient that you're allergic to. I wonder if there's another kind without it.
I understand, keeping up is one thing but participating is another. You seem like you would be a good mod though haha (:
@AffyAvo no not notifications in group chats, I meant forums.
@MyNameIsNicole Oh yes, sometimes the forum notifications don't work probably. Lately I haven't had issues. I don't know the ingredient now that I'm allergic too - took such a long time to get in for patch testing and it wasn't fun to have done but knowing has been helpful!
Want to add, I do enjoy the real time responses in group chat.
IN the forums it used to take quite some time, I think that has improved over the years!
I'm partial to the forums. They give me time to gather my thoughts and words. But there are some learning disabilities. Dyslexia and comprehension problems.
Recently though I've been joining in some chats. They're the slower paced ones that I don't have to fight as hard to keep up with. As someone as else said I like the real time responses. It makes the days less lonely sometimes
@mytwistedsoul
Makes a lot of sense. I feel like the forums would be better if people made their posts short and easy to read. I'm beginning to understand that now, because I find myself reading a post multiple times to understand.
The group chats can make it less lonely, I agree. It's almost like you're in a conversation.
@MyNameIsNicole I'm sorry you struggle with it too. I agree - it would be easier if people made their posts shorter. Or if there was a clear break between paragraphs? Because sometimes its just a wall of words. All though - sometimes I write long ones too lol - but it takes me forever
Yes! It is like being in a real conversation 🙂
@mytwistedsoul Disability tends to be slower paced. You can also temporarily mute some people which I have done in busy rooms with multiple conversations.
@AffyAvo I have been hanging out in the disability chat 🙂 there's some really nice people there
I never gave muting a few people a thought! I'll have to try that. Thank you for the suggestion!
@mytwistedsoul I hope it helps! I haven't done it in quite a while, I should test it out again too. Sometimes a room that was quiet suddenly becomes rather lively!
