Update!
All,
Hope you are well! It has been a while since Ive been able to post with any regularity. Fortunately, I have more time - finally - to engage more on things. I wanted to take a minute to share some updates with you.
Startups are tough. Mental health startups are really tough. The thing that separates us is that we are a community of compassionate people dedicated to helping one another out. We are a small city of people aligned on this purpose. Our shared values make our startup considerably more meaningful and purposeful. Ultimately we are and always will be a place where people like you and I can volunteer to help another person by simply listening. That is something special.
One part of running a startup is paying the bills. When we first launched we had a very small team and we were running out of money. We figured out online therapy and that allowed us to keep the lights on. Universities and other organizations came on and that helped too. When we generate more revenue we are able to hire people to further build up our city (better street lights, teachers, firefighters etc.); when we have less revenue we need to let some of those people go in order to best support the city. These times are particularly challenging. More recently, we had to let some people go and this was very difficult for us and has meant less people to help in the city.
Some of you noticed the group room announcement. That is part of the scaling back. Not ideal I know, but we have limited resources at present so we have to be as smart as possible with what we do have. Everyone on the team is working hard to grow revenue so we can scale back up. We are pretty good at this, but things take time to unfold.
Ordinarily we like to give time for discussion and processing before we make a big change, but sometimes we need to act quickly. Ultimately our rooms require an adjustment to help keep them safe as possible. We understand that change can be incredibly hard when youve grown accustomed to certain features or expectations, especially sudden change. It is always your choice if you decide to stay with us and continue utilize the support our community offers. If you do stay, please remember that staff, ambassadors, and volunteer leaders are all human and all deserve to be treated kindly. Just as the rooms, forums, and messaging on 7 Cups should be used with integrity and for emotional support. This is why we do what we do. If you need emotional support and agree to follow our community guidelines we welcome you with open arms. If you would like a chatroom environment free of rules and moderation there are plenty of websites that offer that ability. We will always be here for you if you decide you prefer inclusive, moderated, and safer rooms that are support focused.
If this is where you want to be and you are open to our attempts to increase safety while also surviving the challenges of a startup, then we have each others backs and will steer into problems together solving them one at a time. It isnt always easy but it is always meaningful work and that is what ultimately matters. Thank you for supporting our community team and rallying. We are all in this together.
Onward!!!
[Jill added link]
(Edited by Forum Mentor @Emily619 to fix a typo)
@GlenM Dear glen, I think I am happy with this change. As a top fan of 7cups, i really do think that this is a great way to aid people. However, some people here are over dependent and they go here most of the time which i think is fine and not good in some ways. Some people must face reality and face tough situations and make a change for themselves such as talking to people face to face. I just think some people are over dependent. Although I am a big fan here and I am glad you created this site. I couldnt be more happier talking to people, helping them, being heard and understood. <3 <3
@snowneoonbluez43553 I hope people can actually realize not to be dependant on people here on 7cups but see it as an aid for them to act independently.
@snowneoonbluez43553 I don't hardly see anyone but a few people. Groups here was my social time
@GlenM thankyou for that very much deeper post glen as i put its hard this change but i also know why you had too its clear too see even the volunteer mods are spread thin so i know this it cant of been that easy to have to do all this too
So all chats are down including 1on1? When can I expect the resurgence?
@quintessentialRAMBLE3 1on1 chat will still be available for all members to seek support. no change to it.
@TortueDesBois
Oh it was not working when I tried just now.
Noni just pops up with memes but no offer to connect or anything
@quintessentialRAMBLE3 1 on 1 working for me.
@Fireskye13 for me too. but not the rooms
I tried completely reset my phone Still no access
seems as though 7cups is not very supportive towards those who don't fit in here. sad considering they tend to be the ones most in need of support
so.. is this the end of 7 cups?.. we just lose all of our friends and people that cared about us.. we lose all those memories.. we lose a lot of friendships.. is this how 7 cups will end?.. with misery and sadness?..
@jv13076 Yep, this is definitely the beginning of the end....this site will be the next to fall and if it stays up at all, be overrun with people who didn't really ever need the site to begin with.
@jv13076 could very well be sadly
@Fireskye13
*sigh* yep..
These times are particularly challenging.
Can we get ANY reassurance that we will get the feed and all the chat rooms back when things get better?
Are we going to have the dissability room back since I need it so much
@navySky3456 i will sometimes open the disability room when there will be room supporters to help me out. are you interested in the room supporter role?
@vivelespatates I'd like to be a room supporter but don't want the burden of being a listener/bombarded by people, as I still struggle with taking care of myself 😔
@fearlessWriter78 hey there! the member room supporter is different from the listener one. because your primairy role as a member, is always to SEEK support. as a leadership, you have to be a role model and a leader of course, a role model, as a member, it meas you show what is a good MEMBER, so seeking support and still be welcoming, friendly and respect the rules, seeking support by respecting others on the room, which I think, you already do well right now. as a member, the badge doesnt show in the room, so no one can bug you in the room for it. as a member of a team, you may be invited to give feedback on the room, share suggestions or ideas on how making the room more supportive for members as yourself, so your voice matters very much on the team. if this role interest you, you can see more informations here: https://www.7cups.com/forum/GroupSupport_168/RoomSupporter_1769/MemberRoomSupportersRequirementsandApplication_186045/
@vivelespatates Yes please
@navySky3456 more informations and application for the member supporter role here:
https://www.7cups.com/forum/GroupSupport_168/RoomSupporter_1769/MemberRoomSupportersRequirementsandApplication_186045/
@navySky3456
It will be opened for discussions, and you can always access the sub-community
After the PTB (powers that be) refused to help with the stalker situation, I already feel I predicted the beginning of the end of 7Cups - and this is just confirming it.
@Dawn04 and they shut down groupchat which is the safest place to be on this site because creeps get called out, whereas 1 on 1 is like being alone in a room with a stranger
@reliableSpring6321 That's how I felt with the feed. I used the feed more than forums because the feed was more personal, more of a sanctuary where the forums were easy for the stalker to prey and to try to drive me insane. I even messed @Glen about this and got no response.
@reliableSpring6321
Yeah I literally dealt with a creep of a listener tonight who kept talking about wanting to "see me", telling me he loved me and all kinds of other things.
Like out of the blue and everything. How low is the actual bar for becoming a listener I wonder.
Really hating group being closed really really not good
@Fireskye13
same..