where are the brain talk nerds?
 

one of the most helpful things on OBT was the brain talk nerds.

these were people with excellent understanding of computer problems who also understood the computer problems faced by neurologically handicapped users.

dorry and zombie slayer, of course. also for the epilepsy forum our very own howdydave. there were others from other groups, who really understand the problems because they HAVE the problems.

perhaps if a group of brain talk nerds was availble for consultation about how changes in the software and TOS will affect people with neurological challenges we would have a forum that can be used by people with neurological challenges.

what i see happening here are many changes that are going to make it physically impossible for me and many other members with serious neurological and physical problems to use this site. if this is delibrate, so be it, i will leave you to god.

if it is simply ignorance, i suggest talking to the experts before excluding them from braintalk.

Hi Annie
from what i have come to know about docjohn and kimmydawn, they care very much about the members and your concerns would never be ignored. docjohn has already demonstrated a really flexible attitude when it comes to accomodating member's needs, so I feel confident he will address yours in a way that will reassure you of his ongoing care for this community.

could you maybe elaborate on this thread exactly what you are concerned about in terms of changes in the software and the TOS so that those specific issues can be addressed by docjohn when he checks in.

thanks for putting forward constructive ideas re the braintalk nerds too! It is so helpful to get this kind of practical input as it helps everyone to work together to make things better for all of us :)

Hi, Annie, what are some of the changes that you're finding that will make it impossible for you and others to use the forums here?

I was one of the BT nerds, along with a couple of the people you mention.

If there is something I can do to help, I'll be more than happy to. And, if I just don't know the solution or have an answer, I'm not afraid to say so... but that won't stop me from still doing my best to find someone who will be able to help.

If you prefer, you can PM Kimmydawn, DocJohn, ZS, Chemar, etc.


P.S. Please skip what I noted above, Annie, asking you about the changes. I just picked up where I left off reading in the thread Community Guidelines Discussion .

Kimmydawn, DocJohn, Dorry and others are likely to see what you've written, Annie:

http://forums.braintalk2.org/showpos...9&postcount=41

http://forums.braintalk2.org/showpos...0&postcount=45

http://forums.braintalk2.org/showpos...3&postcount=50


Having people - who have already turned off graphics - turn on trigger graphics to warn of possible triggers could be the very thing that triggers. Please give Kimmy and DocJohn some time to read the Guidelines Discussion thread. (They might have read the posts and could have also been doing additional things for the forums.)

Thank you for your kind offer, Bobbi. :)

Hi, Annie, it's good to meet you. It would be good to know some of the issues you're facing here that are software/guideline related so that we can help as much as absolutely possible. This issue is one of the main reasons for the discussion thread. :)

You can place them here, in the discussion thread, or PM me/Doc John.

If I understand correctly, one issue for you is the usage of the trigger icon itself. I'm sure we can work with that. For example, you could use the word "trigger" in the title of the post you might make that you feel could contain triggering content. However, that wouldn't keep you from viewing it in a thread when it's being used by another. Another possibly is to change the trigger icon itself. Just thinking out loud initially.

We are still working on getting things as comfortable as we can. It might be that we have to remove the trigger icon and replace it with something else, or use the word "trigger" in the title.

There are several possibilities, and we will certainly help as we can.

KD

Thank you again, Bobbi. You edited at the same time I posted.

I would like to say that Doc John has said many times that guidelines are just that. They're not hard and fast rules and they're certainly something that can be worked with on an individual bases when a special need is there.

Also, the discussion thread is there to discuss these guidelines for improvements, things that needs changed, etc. We're still working on this...

We'll work this the best we can for the comfort and safety of all.

KD

My apologies, Kimmy. I edited as I read more :o.

hi bobbi

specifically, my number one problem is being required to use the trigger icon. which will trigger my seizures.

yes, i remember you as a braintalk nerd, and i remember how kind and helpful you were.

we were fortunate in epilepsy to have both howdydave and david H. as nerds. in order to use the internet at all, photosensitives have to get pretty computer savvy pretty fast, and we understand the problem as no one else can. because we had homeboys as nerds, we didn't need to go outside the forum very often for help. once when i needed to go to the computer fourm, you may remember a couple of years ago a long thread on when i was trying to set up firefox, i remember you helping with that.

i am a strong believer in transparancy. i would much prefer to have this entire discussion out in the open.

thank you for understanding my problem and for taking the time to try to solve it. i remembered how helpful you are, and i was right!

two things
 

1. what is a trigger in a post?

2. I think the preferred term, these days, is geek, rather than nerd. :)

LizaJane

i want to think some more before posting a reply to kimmydawn. if the software will allow me to edit, i will edit this post tomorrow.

in general, i think a discussion of the differences between a board designed for people with psychological problems and a board designed for people with physical problems might be a good place to start.

specifically, i need a cheat sheet for the guidelines. i am not allowed to discuss cutting? cutting what? i assume it is some new music, but i am an old lady and not up on the new trends. explanations of this sort of mysterious stuff would be very much appreciated.

hi lizajane, and thanks again for your very helpful spreadsheets.

the OBT used nerd, so i went along with it. we now have politically correct terms for nerd? perhaps i need a spreadsheet with all the up to date terms i should be using.

Hi, let me see if I might be able to answer some of your questions and cover some of your notations, LizJane & Annie:

Typing the word "Trigger" in the subject line or using the "trigger" icon (whichever method is used) would indicate that something could possibly be triggering to another person.

Triggers can include the following:

- images that are flashing or present movement (such as animated graphics)
- topics (such as suicide, abuse ... like about child abuse, domestic violence, etc)
- cutting, as in skin

Others may add more. Those were examples.


About the Nerds (no, I don't mean the Willy Wonka candy, which I love, BTW), you're both right. Geek is more in speed with contemporary times, only Nerd was the term used at OBT. Both terms: Okay by me.

:)

Just floating an idea out....

What if the trigger icon was used only for psychological triggers, and for physical triggers (such as graphics that cause seizures) the word "trigger" can be used.

That not only solves the problem that annie mentions (not being able to use or see the trigger icon when the graphics are turned off), but it also would allow for people to be able to tell the difference between an emotional trigger and a seizure trigger.

Just an idea - feedback is welcome :)

I'm looking below this message box as I type, and I can't find anything looking like a trigger. Where is it?

I don't think the icon has been added to the line-up - yet.

For now, I would suggest typing the word "Trigger" in the subject line.