Does the social needs forum feel like it’s changed?

[Anonymous]

This used to be my go to place for advice about my child with SN over the last 4 years. The replies were universally wise and supportive.

The last year or two though I feel the replies have gone way down in quality. They are much less helpful and much more likely to contain snark.

The general rule of this website seems to be that most replies eventually turn on the OP, but I never thought that was the case on the SN forum. Not anymore.

I just wonder if anyone else has noticed the change or if it’s just me?

[Anonymous]

Yes re: this forum and the whole board has gotten nastier and more trollish. Still, am grateful for the SN forum

[Anonymous]

I have a theory that threads that don’t have an obvious SN title tend to get people from recent topics who are nastier than the people who come here on purpose.

Although there are a few topics that will set off SN parents (medication, masking, ASD definitions, etc).

[Anonymous]

I rarely post here anymore because more because the misinformation and posts that seem "anti" the special needs person. I have been on this board for many many years. The Advice used to center around what was best for the child. Now it seems there is still some of that but more and more there are so many posts that support "parental prerogative" or to do what makes the parent feel good in the moment. There is also a poster who I hope is only one very active person, and they seem to take every opportunity to make disparaging comments about special needs people.

But the main reason I don't post here or read this board at all very much, is because there is almost never discussions about new ideas. It always seems to go back topics that have been asked and answered many times. You could just search for your question and read the archive .

[Anonymous]

Do you think there are more people getting to it from Recent Topics (ie who don't really care or have any experience/expertise to offer on these issues) and hence are just being ignorant jerks?

I feel like that about the infertility forum - you can tell who decided to come in and offer their totally uniformed mean opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a theory that threads that don’t have an obvious SN title tend to get people from recent topics who are nastier than the people who come here on purpose.

Although there are a few topics that will set off SN parents (medication, masking, ASD definitions, etc).

+1

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is to remove the forum from Recent Topics. You will reduce the chance that random people will reply.

[Anonymous]

I've been here more than a decade. The SN forum was instrumental in getting me started with neuropsych, what I could ask for in the IEP, etc. My son worked extraordinarily hard and clawed his way to a good college, in part thanks to the years of advice and support on this board.

What I've noticed generally is that the internet is a more aggressive place than it used to be, but this is not confined to the SN forum, or DCUM. I believe it may be the natural evolution of messages boards and social media, as people grow with it, find their niche and echo chambers, learn to fight with those who have even the slightest difference in opinions, and lose what remained of their face-to-face courtesy filters.

[Anonymous]

Two of the things that frustrate me are:

1. Instead of talking about the child and their needs and ideas of stuff to try, I feel like NO MATTER WHAT there are posters that want to hone in on what I have done and not done and criticize my every move. It’s not even about figuring out next steps, it’s about figuring out all the ways I have screwed up as a parent of my SN child.

2. There’s this demand that I post EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of my child, every issue, every doctor we’ve seen, every diagnosis, every therapy, and exactly where I live. I can’t just ask a question about one thing without opening myself up to a comprehensive review of my child’s entire medical and academic history.

[Anonymous]

I no longer am on here enough to see it, but there were waves of it before. On every board here when I see trolls I report it. I am all for respectful differences of opinions and presenting different views, but not nastiness.

[Anonymous]

While I agree, I still think it is still one of the friendlier and more useful forums on the site. But maybe that says something about some of the other forums…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My suggestion is to remove the forum from Recent Topics. You will reduce the chance that random people will reply.

Removing the recent topic forum completely would get rid of a lot of useless troll posts.

[Anonymous]

I feel like when I first started posting about a decade ago, there was a cohort of parents who were further along in the dyslexia/ adhd journey than me. They were hugely helpful in navigating FCPS etc.

As my child is in HS now, I expect many of those parents have moved on into the college years and beyond. I find myself spending less time here, but I do try to check in to help out others who are following the same journey.

There is definitely a more combative feel to diagnoses particularly. And more people seem to wander in from Recent Topics. Perhaps those posts were reported more aggressively before.

[Anonymous]

I think some people also view differing opinions as negativity. Just because someone has different advice or a different experience, doesn't mean they are being snarky. Or, what I've seen the most recently, is people trying to correct misconceptions about special education. I think that's helpful to hear, even if it isn't what you'd like to hear.

[Anonymous]

Spelling has gotten worse.