51A wrote:ErnstRemarx wrote:I'm pleased that we've got new posters here - rather than the spambots we've been getting - but I get a horrible feeling that the political antennae of the newest posters isn't quite as sharply developed as some of the more established contributors.
I think it is difficult for some of us Newbies: Firstly, we don't know you and you do seem to know each other quite well so we have to find our feet. Secondly, it is clearly left-wing and I don't have a problem with that, I am a committed and active socialist, probably more so than the current leader of the Labour Party which I left in 1998 having worked very hard to get it elected only to realise that the prefix "New" meant "Not Really". Lastly, I hope no-one is put off joining by the idea that they may not have sharply developed political antennae - I don't want to discuss politics day in and day out but I care deeply. I have a history severe depression to such a point that I led myself and my children into homelessness due to my incapacity to deal with what was happening. Sometimes I am so depressed and anxious about what the tories propose if they're elected again I just think that if they are I don't want to/can't live through it again. In that case, I go light and silly, talk about something and anything else. Sometimes I just can't stare at black and shout into an abyss. I hope you can understand that.
(I don't think there's an appropriate emoticon for not feeling terribly welcome right now but glad you're here anyway.)
51A - first off, let me say welcome to FTN if I've not done so. It's fab to have you along, and you are utterly welcome here. You'll find the kettle on the table, the teabags and coffee in the corner and the milk dangled in a bucket of cold water (until we can afford a fridge - we've not been here long).
My comment was meant to funny, as the posters dfhodges and NickRobinson are clearly not quite who they say they are, as subsequent posts attested. It was rather more meant to be a 'mods eye view' as posted from a rather peevish moderator, rather than a participant in this afternoon's frivolities.
We have disagreements here quite frequently and people say what's on their minds, but there's no hierarchy of presence. If you're an FTNer, you're an FTNer and you will be listened to. You may well be expected to defend your corner if challenged, but this isn't troll central - myself and the other mods see to that.
There are plenty of other people on FTN who can and will relate to your experience with depression and other mental illness. Everyone gets it. That is FTN; people who post here are the people the Graun drove away, they are the conscience of that once fine organ; there are plenty here who'll nod their heads and silently intone "me too".
Stay and post. I think you'll find that this is a good place to be.