How ethical is it...

[seashale76]

...for CF to have one of their many boards here dedicated to letting people with undiagnosed issues to revel in their delusions without getting proper medical treatment? This is exactly the end result of having a forum called Dreams and Visions. The very first time I read anything on that board it horrified me, so I stopped going there until today. It disturbed me then and it disturbed me today. Forums of that nature will undoubtedly attract people who need medical attention.

Some guy thinks he is one of the two witnesses mentioned in the Apocalypse of John. Another registered just to commiserate-I suppose that one thinks he is the other witness. People post weird dreams about random stuff and flip through their bibles (also randomly) to come up with the most crack-headed, far-reaching conclusions, ultimately meaning what exactly, I have no idea. I doubt they know. It serves no purpose. I do not recognize Christianity in what they're doing there.

I liken it all to that time this drug addict who was also diagnosed with schizophrenia started coming to my parish and attending inquirer's classes. Anyway, he made the announcement, after seeing an icon of the Archangel Michael, that he was, in fact, the Archangel Michael incarnate. The difference being, in this situation, that we didn't affirm his delusion. He was nicely told that we didn't believe that he was the Archangel Michael. (There's a lot more to that story and they contacted his family to let them know, etc.)

With my luck, this post is probably breaking a CF rule, but I needed to post this bit of frustration. What are your thoughts?

 

[david_x]

Even /b/ has it's uses. :}

 

[seashale76]

Even /b/ has it's uses. :}

What? I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're trying to say here.

 

[GigageiTsula]

I think you have a point.

 

[david_x]

What? I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're trying to say here.

It's a pretty well known useless forum area.

 

[Inviolable]

What are your thoughts?

I apologize, I haven't been to that section of the forums yet.
Do you have a link?

From what I understand, you're upset that there is a section of the forum inviting people to post their delusional problems or dreams?
But with the section being called Dreams and Visions, it sounds more like they're inviting people to be open about what they believe to be prophetic.
Which in and of itself could be indulging the fantasies of the mentally disabled.

Unless you can locate these people and get them to a place that will get them back on their medication, I don't see what closing the section of the forum will do anyway.

 

[seashale76]

I apologize, I haven't been to that section of the forums yet.
Do you have a link?

From what I understand, you're upset that there is a section of the forum inviting people to post their delusional problems or dreams?
But with the section being called Dreams and Visions, it sounds more like they're inviting people to be open about what they believe to be prophetic.
Which in and of itself could be indulging the fantasies of the mentally disabled.

Unless you can locate these people and get them to a place that will get them back on their medication, I don't see what closing the section of the forum will do anyway.

You've hit the nail on the head.

The forum is in the edification section, though I find it far from edifying.

Dreams & Visions - Christian Forums

"A subforum for the discussion of dreams & visions from God."

What is intended with the forum is far from the reality of what occurs on the forum.

Of course, everyone wants to assume that their dreams and visions are from God and have a special, significant, prophetic meaning that will be life-changing to everyone who sees the interpretations of the dreamer and those anointed few who never agree with each other but with whom God apparently converses audibly and regularly.

You're probably right about the impossibility of helping these people as the internet isn't real life. The internet is a haven for the anonymous and tracking down people with the intention to get them help would likely fall under their violation of privacy. That said, considering that board does attract some people who likely need medical help, how ethical is it to encourage that behavior?

 

[Witchy Bee]

I agree with you, though I have had one vision before. (I won't go into it since it wold probably be breaking some CF rule if I did.)

I've only read a few things there before, but it is freaky. Dreams are just what happens when our two levels of thought connect. Though I believe one can recieve certain messages through dreams, it is rare and takes time. The fact is if you think about something hard enough ebfore you go to sleep chances are you're gonna dream about it. So if you read your bible before you go to sleep chances are you'll will have a dream involving something of a biblical nature.

I'm not saying those people are wrong, I'm just saying it's unlikely they actually experienced what they think they did and that you're right, they could stand to seak medical help.

 

[Autumnleaf]

I suppose there were a few people back in the day who didn't believe Jesus was the son of God. Imagine that.

 

[HannahBanana]

There are far worse things than letting delusional people share company with other delusional people. I personally don't see anything wrong with that forum.

 

[SmileAndAHandshake]

There are far worse things than letting delusional people share company with other delusional people. I personally don't see anything wrong with that forum.

Agreed.

 

[Mling]

I went there once, over a year ago, and was definitely disturbed. One person described the textbook symptoms of a relatively common sleep disorder. He believed he was being attacked by demons, and the whole conversation revolved around how to handle demon attacks. Sounds a little crazy, but, to be fair, that disorder does tend to create experiences which people throughout history have interpreted as some type of demon. So, I explained that--I described the sleep disorder, how the "demon effect" comes about, and linked to a website on it.

I was told, in cold and distantly polite terms, that nobody was interested in any explanation which didn't involve demon attacks.

 

[Witchy Bee]

I went there once, over a year ago, and was definitely disturbed. One person described the textbook symptoms of a relatively common sleep disorder. He believed he was being attacked by demons, and the whole conversation revolved around how to handle demon attacks. Sounds a little crazy, but, to be fair, that disorder does tend to create experiences which people throughout history have interpreted as some type of demon. So, I explained that--I described the sleep disorder, how the "demon effect" comes about, and linked to a website on it.

I was told, in cold and distantly polite terms, that nobody was interested in any explanation which didn't involve demon attacks.

Oh my god...

 

[david_x]

There's this other section, can't remember the name, but people go there and argue about homosexuality, divorce, abortion, and other things endlessly.

 

[Ryal Kane]

One effect of the internet has been that individuals that used to be fairly isolated in their beliefs can find others that share them.
This can be a positive thing and a negative thing.

If for example you suffered from, let's say a rare genetic skin condition then you could find the hundred or so other people in the world with it to discuss your problems and experiences.

However, on the other side of the coin, individuals with anorexia nervosa now find thousands of like minded people who, rather than offering help, reenforce that psychosis. The same is true with groups who believe in demonic posession. They create a feedback loop where they only listen to each other, feeding their own delusions.

Whether or not it should be allowed, or whether it's right to be allowed, its a far more complex question. However, I think such a board should be closely monitored and modded with differing opinions being offered as often as possible.

 

[moonkitty]

I went there once, over a year ago, and was definitely disturbed. One person described the textbook symptoms of a relatively common sleep disorder. He believed he was being attacked by demons, and the whole conversation revolved around how to handle demon attacks. Sounds a little crazy, but, to be fair, that disorder does tend to create experiences which people throughout history have interpreted as some type of demon. So, I explained that--I described the sleep disorder, how the "demon effect" comes about, and linked to a website on it.

I was told, in cold and distantly polite terms, that nobody was interested in any explanation which didn't involve demon attacks.

Ahh yes, good old sleep paralysis. Yeah, once a "True Believer" has sleep paralysis, there is no way you can argue with them. I think it makes them feel special, they'd rather feel that they are so special demons go out of their way to attack them, rather than having a simple medical explanation.

 

[Witchy Bee]

There's this other section, can't remember the name, but people go there and argue about homosexuality, divorce, abortion, and other things endlessly.

Didn't CF ban the debate of those topics? Of course I haven't visited every part of CF, partly because I'm not allowed to post on most of them and also because of forums like those...

 

[HannahBanana]

There's this other section, can't remember the name, but people go there and argue about homosexuality, divorce, abortion, and other things endlessly.

Are you talking about Ethics & Morality (the section you're posting in right now)? I don't think there are any other sections like that here on CF.

 

[Bushido216]

Obvious sarcasm is obvious.

 

[david_x]

That reminds me that jokes go right over everyones head in that section...