RoundTable Discussion: What Can Be Done To Make The Rooms More Inclusive?
Hello everyone!
From the last post in this series, I gathered that sometimes the rooms are not always inclusive, even if it's unintentional.
A friend of mine has shared how he often feels confused on what's going on in the rooms- and sometimes it can feel as if he's being unsupportive.
Personally, I find that the rooms can be moving really fast and it's hard to keep up sometimes. Luckily, I can always lurk until I feel ready to jump into the conversation.
I'd like us to discuss this, have you ever felt excluded from the rooms before? If you have, what could have been done to make you feel included?
Even if your solution might seem impractical, or difficult to implement- do not worry. I just want us to share our opinions!
Disclaimer: If you have any issues in the rooms, or would like to report something; please see the report forms:
Member-Member/Listener Report Form
Verified Listener Behaviour Report Form
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@MyNameIsNicole
I really love it that you bring awareness to this issue! I've actually had a hard time with chat rooms that move fast because I get overwhelmed and confused by that easily. Therefore, I've been avoiding all the chat rooms except for the Listener Support Room and Teen Listener Room but even there, if it gets too much, I tend to get exhausted quickly. I think, for me it would be helpful if the mods and rooms supporters would try to make sure that there's only one conversation going on at a time.
@audienta Have you been to any of the support rooms during a guided discussion? If so, did you find it fairly easy to follow as multiple people responded to questions?
@AffyAvo
Yes, I have, I've even hosted them. I think it depends - I mostly hosted check-ins and I think those are quite easy to follow since it's not that personal, if that makes sense. But if it's a sharing circle or a discussion in a member room, I find it challenging since there are multiple stories and reactions to it shared at once.
@MyNameIsNicole
I haven't been in too many chatrooms, as I have had trouble keeping up with the conversations. I don't really understand the rules, and I don't know when I can jump in and talk. I have a lot to say, however. My years of exerience with lots of different types of emotions and situations may help someone, and maybe just my age. Who knows?
@philosophicalAcai7803, you are welcome to jump in and talk at any time!
I'm a listener on the platform for about five years. I haven't been here for a long time until I came back recently. I noticed that there are a lot of changes and I feel like I'm still new. It is hard for me to engage in chatrooms because it makes me feel like I'm an outsider. I don't know these people, so it feels like sometimes I stepped in at the wrong time and I usually leave. If I want to be included, it would help a lot when they welcome every person from joining and encourage them to initiate a conversation. I'm sure that may not be a good solution, just thought I would put my thoughts here.
@SparklyCat, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We will try this out as we start discussions back up.
@MyNameIsNicole
From what I have learnt from leading the Huddles is someone being in the chat room at the same time same days, makes such a difference!
I wonder if a thread in disability support forums could help people reach out for what they need in the chatroom? For that the when (and age group) would be the most important part, but then also the type of chat experience they are looking for - just other people to chat with, open support, a game, or a certain guided discussion topic. If we do that I would encourage anyone who was interested in responding to those requests to do so.
Maybe we also need to link this form within our community in an easy to find spot? https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJMfFAs6M98zEqLEezqi-1J970GvjeeMQ7Jtj-1bfmFYPi8w/viewform
For people who can not follow when multiple conversations are happening, there is the option to use the personal mute. I think people think of it too often as a consequence to poor behaviour. It is a tool and can be used for things beyond that!
Hmm, typing this out I think maybe a disability support chatroom masterpost? It can cover these things along with linking scheduled activities. Room access badges would be another thing to cover on it.
Have you guys seen this thread? https://www.7cups.com/forum/DisabilitySupport_47/LearningDevelopmentalDisabilities_262/Badtimeinchatroom_284166/
There's definitely an issue that needs to be addressed. Are there any Teen Room Supporters or Teen Chatroom Mods that can reach out to the OP?
I think education goes a long way, so the interviews are a big help. I had no idea that the cochlear implant didn't "fix" deafness, until I read FrenchMarbles' interview.
@MyNameIsNicole Can you follow up?
@AffyAvo I will. I'm actually aware of this to an extent, as I communicate regularly with the OP. Although it's becoming more of an issue as of recent. I'll speak with them, and discuss with you what we can do.
@GoldenNest2727
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll reach out to them❤️
@MyNameIsNicole
Thank you!
@MyNameIsNicole
Rooms can be very very overwhelming, the chat moves fast and there are always several different conversations going on its hard to follow and process. Sometimes I will message asking for support or just a general message and no one sees this, likely because of so much else going on, which makes it seem unwelcoming. Or it is hard to jump into conversation because it feels like everyone else already knows each other and know what is being joked about and I can't include myself in this as it's not something I'm part of - it just feels more like a private group chat rather than a public one for all. I often feel left out, or that what I'm saying is wrong, or that I'm being ignored. All which I know likely isn't intentional, but it is what it feels like. Certain groups are worse than others for this, some I have found are always welcoming and inclusive, some I have never felt welcomed in. I don't know a solution for this, no one is doing anything wrong really so idk
Then there's a separate issue I have - sometimes the room can feel unwelcoming because triggering topics are being discussed which means I have to leave. And I know this cannot be avoided sometimes especially if we're all here for support, but it is difficult. There is one topic I find extremely triggering and I know it can be a common trigger for others too, and I have found that in the rooms it is talked about a lot, often without trigger warnings. And that can be very difficult. I am leaving rooms lots. I know there is a function to mute people, but I do not think it is necessarily a solution to mute someone if its something they're only talking about in one or two messages here and there. I think it would be helpful if there was a way to filter out specific words so that the message would automatically be flagged up to me as triggering (even if the person did not give a tw) and so I can avoid it without being suddenly and unexpectedly triggered. I don't really think that's possible though, but it would help so much if I could just list words x, y, z and then cups flags those messages for me as a potential trigger. I know there are other apps that do this - you put in your triggers or even the person sending a message ticks a box that says this is a triggering message, and then when it is sent the whole message is blurred, and people have to click on it to read, so others who want to avoid don't have to see it at all. Not sure if that is possible here, idk. It's just a frustrating issue for me and probably bad timing on my part that somehow 80% of the time I enter a room I'm being unintentionally triggered, so have to leave, when I wanted to use the room for support or connection.
I feel guilty for complaining though, so idk. I don't think anything is intentional I just feel like I don't belong here because of whatever reason I'm not sure. The rooms sometimes are good, but often make me feel super uncomfortable and unwelcome or excluded and I'm not 100% sure why or what can be done
Guided discussions are always so much more welcoming than the general groups though, everyone is included and the conversation topic is clear
@SleepyShyCat
Hello, Cat! I'm a Room Supporter in the Newbie Hub and the Academy Chatroom, but if you see me in any room, please say hi. I'd love to chat with you! No pressure, though, of course.
@GoldenNest2727
I didn't know either of those rooms existed, I don't think I've ever seen them?
@SleepyShyCat
The "Newbie Hub" isn't a chatroom. The name covers the three chatrooms, which are the Sharing Circle, the Member Community Room (lighthearted chat), and the Support Room 24/7. It's nice to add new voices to the rooms. I hope you'll give it another try.
The Academy Hub chatroom is only open to Academy trainees/interns and graduates. The Academy is free at 7 Cups, and the programs are incredibly useful. You should check it out. https://www.7cups.com/academy/
@SleepyShyCat Thanks! That's helpful.
We can't do much for the trigger censor, but that may be a possibility on the site. Have you ever made that suggestion for 7Cups using the constructive feedback form?
@AffyAvo
No I haven't, I didn't know I could do that
@SleepyShyCat It can be a slow process, particularly if tech changes are needed but changes do happen with it!
@SleepyShyCat
Hi. I understand you completely. I think a possible solution in making sure everyone feels welcomed can be through the mods. To me, mods feel like the central person in a room- and them spotting that someone doesn't feel included and bringing them into the conversation would be really helpful. That's why guided discussions feel more inclusive I think, because the RS or mod leading the discussion is attentive into making sure no one feels left out. Our community mods are awesome, but in my opinion the chatroom mods do a better job at this sometimes.
Regarding the triggers, I think that's a brilliant idea. As @AffyAvo mentioned you should definitely fill out the suggestion form to share that idea. Although, I don't think it's a bad thing to say you feel triggered. This is also where the mod thing comes into place again- I think we should be able to message a mod and say hey I feel triggered right now because of the current topic being discussed.
If it's a topic one can not avoid (like a room discussion, or a common thing) then they can advise to step out of the room, and join another- or connect with a listener. But if it's something that can be avoided (e.g explicit details about the trigger) then for sure they should accommodate.
All in all, this comes down to the mods facilitating an inclusive environment- perhaps I should be more involved in the mod meetings.
@SleepyShyCat
Hello! I've really enjoyed chatting with you a bit in the chatrooms. It's good seeing you around. I'm glad you gave the chatrooms another chance.