Discussion Is depression and optimism contageous in the context of echo chambers?

[Forever Sleep]

The echo chamber criticism is frequently levelled at this forum. I think in some ways it's fair. Some members used to even complain if the suicide section became too positive. However, it's not like differences of opinion aren't tolerated at all. Plus, there's the whole recovery section for more positive outlooks. Just organically speaking though- this forum is likely to be more pessimistic about life.

Similarly, social media platforms out there seem (to me) to display an exaggeratedly positive representation of life. I watched a YouTube video criticising Linkedin this morning. About how everyone was so fake there. Many social media platforms are about selling the person. Really as a comodity. They're maybe hoping their profile and masses of followers will land them a job. But, where social media is maybe excessively positive- still an echo chamber but, a positive one, forums like this are more negative or, simply just realistic in representing our experiences.

Can either be contageous though? I think the pro-lifers worry that (especially young) people will be sucked into the negative environment here and given no hope to get back out. Does that really happen though? I've witnessed plenty of people move over into recovery or, leave the forum all together because they felt their perspective no longer quite aligned. Or, that the negativity may hold them back from really giving recovery a chance. I think a lot of people are very self aware and aware of how their environment affects them.

I tend to believe it not only echoes amongst the members here. It echoes those seeking it out to begin with. Maybe sometimes we look for environments to challenge our own ideas but I'd say, most of the time, we hunt for a place we feel we most belong. Where our ideas don't seem too strange.

I also wonder if the people on the more positive platforms actually feel all that positive! Personally, social media made me feel miserable. It was horrible to constantly feel you were in competition with people who were living better, more successful and happier lives (supposedly.) Plus, the pressure to big-up achievements on sites like Linkedin to try to remain appealing to employers. Plus, just the feeling that so much is fake and exagerated but- even if you don't believe in it, it's still expected of you to do the same.

I truly think those that oppose sites like this ought to be working on a safer alternative. One where people can talk freely but possibly not have access to method information. They could even make it more pro-life if they wanted. To try to activey support people and prevent suicides. I wonder if many people would use it though. Or, would it just be irritating to have people there determined to cheer us up? It's irritating here sometimes so, I imagine it could be there too. Do we even want to hear positive perspectives necessarily when we've reached this point? Most especially if they are empty platitudes?

 

[Darkover]

neglecting personal hygiene, cooking, and cleaning due to depression can negatively impact those living with the person. This can lead to a decline in overall living conditions and affect the well-being of everyone involved

 

[Forever Sleep]

neglecting personal hygiene, cooking, and cleaning due to depression can negatively impact those living with the person. This can lead to a decline in overall living conditions and affect the well-being of everyone involved

That's a good point. Perhaps that's another reason it may appear throughout generations. Not just nature but, nurture and learned behaviour.

That was one of my main fears in thinking about having children. Not that I ended up needing to choose, having never had a partner. But, as an idea, I would worry that any child of mine would pick up social anxiety, worry, pessimism, cynicism, sadness from observing me. I couldn't just pretend to be full of confidence and joy the whole time.

So- not just the physical environment- which is awful on my own but would likely be better around others but, also just learning from me as a person. That would have been my biggest fear- replicating myself in them and watching them suffer as a result.

 

[Pluto]

 

[Holu]

I'm just gonna simply say, I don't think someone comes here unless they are already in a pretty bad spot. This isn't a.s.h, and the mods here are extremely proficient at ensuring the users here aren't malicious or children.

I think most of the targeted hate is generally fear mongering. That said, I will say, we are an echo chamber of sorts. Pro life rhetoric is pretty swiftly attacked, not necessarily by mods but by the community. It's not inherently bad to be an echo chamber, so long as you acknowledge there is an echo.

So long as SaSu doesn't become a full blown pro suicide cesspool I'd say that 99.99% of the criticisms levied against this forum are invalid. Personally, the way I see it, it's more of an effective group therapy for people with more severe problems, especially compared to how censored and terrible group therapy is actually practiced in mental healthcare.

 

[PrettyWhiteFlower]

I think the reason a lot of us are drawn here is that we can be listened to. You try and talk to people irl but how many of them are truly listening and how many are just waiting for their opportunity to talk.

Out there are too many people with savior complexes, they only offer help to boost their ego but here even if no one can offer help they can relate.

 

[quins]

I think this reflects a "vibes-based" view of the social contagion, "law-of-attraction" rituals in which exposure to bad thoughts can manifest in reality, or that a person can be cleaved off from bad outcomes by "thinking, being good."