Rule Change Required?

[MyNameIsTerry]

Hi NMP,

I was reading the forum rules again recently and thought it was time to raise this:

No More Panic is not equipped to deal with certain subjects and as such any posts/threads relating to these may be removed. The links section of No More Panic contains a wealth of links to other sites that may be able to help. These subjects include, but are not limited to:
Threatening suicide, hinting you may attempt committing suicide, and describing attempts/methods. Members are free to post their worries about the subject.
Paedophilia. No More Panic acknowledges that OCD can include upsetting thoughts about paedophilia. Members may seek advice about coping with these thoughts but must not describe them in detail.
Harming others whether physically or mentally.
When discussing self harm members must not graphically describe the method by which the victim self harms.
Eating disorders. However, posting about unintentional weight loss or gain caused by anxiety/depression is acceptable.

I realise that a lot of the content may be dated and OCD wasn't really part of the site years ago but do you think this should still be the case? Whilst NMP itself, and maybe the admins, may not be overly familiar with it (has that changed thesedays since it was written?) but I don't see admins actively guiding the boards anyway so the same level of input is seen across all the boards. I could understand this more if you were more active in promoting support to people in the forum as you would feel less able to help without gaining the understanding first.

I think that the rule in red needs to be reconsidered in light of Harm-based OCD. The same rule could be applied as to POCD thoughts in that they are described in more general terms and violence is far less emotive than paedophilia as we are surrounded by it in the programms/films we watch, books we read, etc as well as the fact it isn't necessarily an unlawful act e.g. self defence, contact sports, government sanctioned occupations that include force, etc.

Otherwise it marginalises those with HOCD on here already or joining and I know thats definately not how NMP is ran.

Its also a fact that HOCD is discussed on the OCD board anyway. I know there isn't the resource to police this forum the way you would like to but is this even an issue anymore?

Given the fact there is no rule about discussing sexually intrusive thoughts, other than POCD and the rule about sexual comments which is not the same, maybe even the POCD issue needs a tweak? I don't see people sticking to it anyway and that includes threads that I have seen admins actually posting in.

I would be interested to know what you think about this.

[Magic]

I don't like to read any posts on here that concerns suicide.
Having gone through a member of my family attempting this.

Self harming. I could say more about this but it is to upsetting
to talk about.

I know someone who is on the paedophile register.
He as actually been to my house several times.
I feel like screaming, but what can I do???

You are right to point these thing out Terry

[MyNameIsTerry]

I'm sorry to hear that, Magic. I wouldn't dream of bringing up a subject that could affect you. I've known 2 people, one of which was my best mate years ago, who have had those traumas in their lives and it took some getting over.

In this case I just wanted to raise the issue of what I see as an out of date rule that no one is following anyway but wanted to state that its unfair given more emotive subjects are ok.

Are there options for people to ignore certain tags or keywords so you can avoid seeing threads along those themes? POCD is only ever going to be on the OCD board from what I have seen, HOCD mostly is too but the suicide issue can be anywhere and I know you aren't the first person saying that as MrAndy raised a question over it to the admins on this board not long ago.

Paedophilia is a very emotive subject but POCD is nothing like that and is recognised by medical professionals & charities as intrusive thoughts that the sufferer is disgusted/ashamed by and not that they will act them out in anyway. Its a bit of a specialist area I guess and not for everyone.

[Magic]

Yes Terry, It is true about the subject of Paedophilia.
I do believe the person in question has done wrong, and has paid the price
by loosing his wife and children and getting beaten up.
I only wish he had thought about what he was doing in the first place!!
I cannot help thinking about what he did
All the best Terry.

[nomorepanic]

Terry

I believe we stole/borrowed some of those rules from other online forums.

I am not quite sure what you are saying the rules should be though???

[MyNameIsTerry]

Hi Nic,

What I mean is that we have forms of OCD related to physically violent imagery and the part in red could be perceived as related to these. Especially given its presence near to a statement about POCD.

What I think it may mean is that domestic violence or other acts of violence are not what NMP is about. Is that more what is meant by this? If so, could it be made clearer so that HOCD can't be perceived as part of it and if you need to cover yourself (as with the POCD) just state that the actual images shouldn't be detailed so as not to cause offence? I can't say I would be easily offended by violence, its everywhere, but I'm thinking people who have experienced trauma due it could find graphic discussions a bit too much as with POCD?

[MyNameIsTerry]

I've read the forum rules for OCD Action and OCD UK and not found them making any restriction in the discussion of POCD or any form.

There have been threads on here where posters have mentioned sexual urges and even masturbation. These may have not been seen by an admin.

I'm wondering whether this is still a valid rule given we had quite a graphic discussion thread last year were there was an admin presence and it didn't ask users to refrain.

I'm guessing that there is an issue with how some may perceive this as obscene. However, I can't see a rule about other sexually graphic intrusive thoughts that involved adults and these could involve incest or religious figures that could also be seen as obscene by some. The latter could be by anybody religious and we do have international members, some of which from countries that are known to be more religious than the UK.

So, should it apply to all sexually intrusive thoughts? Or perhaps not where they could be seen as incestuous or religious or against minors?

If the last statement becomes valid then I think you need to consider the sexually graphic threads on the other boards. Couldn't some of them be perceived the same way? And we do have minors on here.

Have times changed since the rules were instituted? I was reading the sticky on the HA board about asking for medical advice and noticed you stated this forum is primarily for panic & general anxiety. I think this can be seen as a historic situation because the majority of people posting are on the HA board and its been like that since I joined as far as I can see. So, I've always viewed this place as a bit broader anyway and OCD doesn't seem to have many people posting hence why these old rules might be there.