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Some Random Thoughts about the Community at GBT

Blog Last Activity 11 years ago 685 views 16 comments
Over the last few months, there have been some recurring themes that trouble and upset me. We have been and are a small and supportive community of all ages and backgrounds. And as a member of this community, there are three things I hold true and dear.

First, discussions of suicide and pleas for help and guidance have become common posts. We have lost friends from here and some from our lives due to suicide brought on by many factors. In that regard, I treat any post that speaks to someone feeling the desire or need to end their life as true until other facts are presented. I realize that this is an alternate cyber world and that people do play games. But anytime I see such a post, I will hold out my hand in friendship and support. While none of us here are the professional answer to such issues, the ability to support someone to find the help they need is my first reaction. If it should happen to be a game, shame on you for playing with my and perhaps our emotions. But I will continue to hold out my hand when I see a person in need.
Also, the discussion that suicide is a cowards way out, or that you should grow a pair, is unacceptable in any time or place. And any person that chooses to spout such view should be shunned until they leave or learn.

Second is the issue of sexual abuse and exploitation of children, youth, teens and young adults. The objectivizing of children for someone sexual enjoyment is wrong. Pure and simple it is wrong. The abuse of anyone by virtue of a person’s power over them to achieve sexual gratification is wrong. It is not a subject to be debated. It is sick and wrong. This community has many members that have been abused by trusted people. These discussions bring back every memory and every experience. These experiences do not go away. The memories stay forever. I know all too well. It has been over fifty years and I can still see his face, smell him, and it bring terror to me. It does not matter to me what your excuse or reason is, it is wrong. And anyone that brings these discussions to this place should be shunned and removed. This is not a question of legal age; it is a question of a person using their power and authority to use another human being. And the exploitation of children, youth, teens and even adults is wrong. And should not, and at least by me, will not be tolerated.

This site works hard to insure that the images and videos are legal and appropriate. When you find ones that do not meet that standard they should be removed. Be warned and be aware.

Finally, we are community made up of many different people. And is the case everywhere, we will not always agree about everything. But we can disagree without threatening or abusing other member of the community. I realize all things are not private here, nor am I suggesting that they should be. But disagreements can be handled without name calling and personal attacks. I will not tolerate that in my life here or in the real world.

Just some thoughts I felt I needed to share. Thanks for listening.

Comments

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Monkeyjoeboys
11 years ago

Thank you, I feel very safe knowing that you are here.

11 years ago

About Anthony Stubbs, it is really a tragedy! Hope him rest in peace! struggling about sexuality and immature inability in sociality, there has to be someone in school to support teenagers!
“There was no one there for Anthony. I just feel sorry — I feel like I let him down.”
WE ALL DO.

11 years ago

my heart goes out to Anthony Stubbs family and friends. May he rest in peace. http://youtu.be/Jecsz5HpFOw .... http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/real_life/4783015/Tragic-story-of-Anthony-Stubbs-who-killed-himself-after-being-hounded-at-school-about-his-sexuality.html

11 years ago

"The pen is mightier than the sword", Edward Bulwer-Lytton 1839

11 years ago

Thank you Thomas, well said

11 years ago

Thomas, thank you for sharing all of this with us. I join the others in total agreement with you, and also added thanks for having the nerve to share an unpleasant part of your past.

onlyinvegas
11 years ago

well said thomas very well said

nate88
11 years ago

Thanks Thomas - wisely said and I'm in 100% agreement. We do stand as a mostly tight community and games shouldn't be played about serious issues - either by the Blogger or the member who makes a post. Thanks Thomas and time to move forward.

11 years ago

Wow. I had no idea the site had issues like that with member committing suicide. That's really disheartening to hear. I hope I can be an ear or shoulder if someone needs it but I really hope that we can get someone help if it's for real.

letsGO
11 years ago

kudos to you Thomas, just got thru paragragh 1, suicide, for all you out there... i tried 2x , 14 and 18 and still here which i;m very happy about now, fuck the family and just live for your life...22 years later i'm still here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11 years ago

Well stated and agreed.

11 years ago

Yes hond1.....I agree....I'm following the blogs (especially the suicide)..and I had already expressed that GBT is'nt a psychriatic clinic or a professional psychological institute what I have learned though is that GBT is growing and the admin is aware of what is going on...an important fact is the generation developement...we are a very mixed community and whilst going through the blogs in the past (what i mean is since I joined GBT) I have discovered that the growth is positiv in any way...many thanks to those users who have recently joined us ..and great thanks to those who are great friends (no matter about their profession)..every contribution is good value to the community.

11 years ago

Sorry for the formatting...I keep saying this, but I'll bring it up again. Unless you are a trained medical professional, be very careful about trying to manage people at risk for suicide by yourself. By doing so, you can exacerbate a bad situation, delay necessary treatment, and miss clues about the gravity of a situation. Mayo clinic puts out guidelines on what yo do, so I'l c

lagayable
11 years ago

hear, hear my friend. nicely put, agreed with much of what has been written and thank you for it! xx

11 years ago

I also agree to what you have said but I wish to add one more reason to why these two topics attract maximum attention. I am a professional working a a very grassroot level. If I view this community as a representation of real population that exists outside in the real world I find a clear discrepancy here. From this community I get an impression that a world is a better place to live where people are friendly caring and worry about each other which unfortunately does not exist outside. To be fair, i feel that discussion over both these issues binds people and connects them in some way but I feel that this is also used as a bait to attract peoples attention. My worry is that community will burn out if these are brought too frequently into discussions. More appropriate way to handle this can be a a separate side link dedicated to these two issues. Clear irony here is that each one of us has so many names in friends list but hardly people communicate with each other.

Dufster
11 years ago

Thanks you for your words, eloquently stated, I second your sentiments and values .