Hello @Flax 

@Sophia1 @Oaktree @Appleblossom @Shaz51 

and all the other members of, and visitors to this thread,

I am sorry that I haven't been able to address your earlier post from yesterday before this time.

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I really enjoy Sooty's reflections on what's happening, possibilities, mischief making, in anticipation and action and the adventures into which he projects himself, with bravado and action. Consequently, I am very much in favour and appreciative of his, and your continued presence and involvement.

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Your observations about why you joined the website are somewhat different to my own. I joined the website more for the development of my own knowledge about MI/D's and mental health issues. And, hopefully being able to contribute, in some useful and mutually beneficial and rewarding ways, to each other's progress as members of the site in considering and addressing common issues.

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Your intention, as you express in the following statement, all of which appeals to me, appears to be more for finding some support, light hearted relief, diversion and lifting or distraction from personal problems and the day to day drama, grind and pressure of the more serious aspects of living with MH issues. I believe that these are among the valid reasons for being a member of this site.

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“Sooty confession - he joined SANE to link to people with MH problems, occasionally share, but find an outlet, find some support, and meet interesting people; support meaning diversion from his own problems and not too serious. He doesn't need support ticks (too similar to being 'liked' on facebook). Ugh, social media popularity is such a parasite. A Sooty rant for another day”
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As a result of these, and other differences, we contribute, each in our own varied ways, to each others benefits, 'rewards' and pleasure, from this site. Consequently I benefit from reading the light hearted creative stories, developments of ideas, and creativity in this thread

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What I hope is that I contribute, in my own different way, with thoughts and ideas that may be useful for others also. Another wish that I have, is not to compromise the well-being of any other member. The only rider to that is, as I have expressed in another post, that we give each other a little leeway and flexibility with regard to minor clashes. But in some ways, these reasons are why I have not been projecting myself into this thread very often, despite, and possibly, because of the fact, that I derive great enjoyment from reading the stories people have written here. I, for the most part, do not want to interject, with more serious and heavy thoughts, thereby disrupting the creative flow of enjoyable activity on this thread.

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I also allocate quite a lot of time to preparing and posting responses and comments on this and other threads.

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Concerning the infamous “Support” issue

• I, selectively, use the support function as an acknowledgement to a comment or response of someone else, when I have read their post.

• Positive posts, I generally support, in any thread with which I have some connection.

• Comments, the content of which i consider, that I am in strong disagreement, and against which, I have no strong countering arguement, may simply be provocative, without substance, or are generally just plain negative, I normally avoid and do not place a support.

• I, sometimes, find it difficult to support someone's comment when they are declaring distress, if I am not in a position to offer any thoughts that I feel may be appropriate or helpful.

• Normally, as a courtesy, I avoid supporting a comment before the person to whom the comment is addressed. So, I will often come back, to support a comment, after the person to whom it was addressed has done so or, if the comment hasn't been supported by that person after some “reasonable” time.

• While I often skim, what I refer to as, courtesy or social threads, I generally don't interact, or place “supports”. Unless a comment, or response, has been directed to me through Notifications, or is intended for general interest, or there is a stated or implied request for comment or response. In this case, I will then support the original comment and post my own.

I do hope, that what I have offered, is of interest and may be useful for other members of this and other threads.

With My Best Wishes

@HenryX