Talk about it, even anonymously. Let’s start a dialogue.
In the „Offene Plattform“ there is an extra category „chronically ill“. Anyone that has something to say on the subject can blog it there, if they so wish also anonymously. Positive feedback to this offer has come from a couple of patients forums and selfhelp groups. Many feel it is important to discuss certain taboo subjects outside the safety of closed forums, though there is generally a large reluctance on the subject of illness an the public. But only in a dialogue with healthy persons, colleagues, acquaintances and friends can understanding and solidarity with each other grow.
Patients associations are welcome to open their own accounts on the open platform, where they can post articles (like news letters). Those that do not yet have experience with the dialogue oriented web can gather those there. Through our personal contacts to members of patients associations, formed over a long time, it was possible in the last year to build trust. This makes it possible for us to publish articles anonymously without dispensing with authenticity. This was very important to us. Also we were keen on not being a forum for whining, fakes or cyber-hypochondriacs. Our goal is to build dialogue, also with healthy persons. The open platform with its wealth of subjects seemed to be a well suited format. We are happy about all kinds of guest posts to different subjects like world music or internet radio, or whatever you like.
Stefan Waidele was also thinking about anonymous blogging, if in a slightly different (Postsecret) way:
For whom would it be interesting? For all those that want to write about the private in public, without being associated with it. This is often not cowardly but wise.
Who does not stand by what he wrote, should not write it” is not allowed. Sometimes it would be good to have a “sensitive subject” out in the public discussion.
Apart from the positive feedback, there is expressed again and again the opinion that blogs aren’t read by anyone anyway and that people are flooded with all kinds of information already, so that nobody that isn’t doing it anyway would voluntarily think about illness.
We believe that through the interconnectedness of the internet more people can be reached and made sensitive, compared with self help groups at home. There the same people meet over many years. There is little exchange with other groups. People stick together, at most bringing their family and thematically it is always about the own illness. An exchange between groups would be very interesting, e.g. about problems with institutions, in the workplace, or about positive experiences. The internet can help here if it is understood as a two way communication. And in any case: online connectivity does not exclude real life meetings. To that a current tip: dedicated onliners meet regularly in the context of established Socialbars with dedicated offliners to exchange and learn from each other. This would also be a good place to go for active members of associations and self help groups that want information about online-connection possibilities. The next socialbar will be in Berlin on the 7.4.
How are the posts connected?
All postings are linked on our twitter account and are often taken up and spread on thematically relevant blogs, thus the chances are good that many will learn of it. I mention it, because one of the objections was that these postings would grow mouldy in some obscure thematic blog. No, we do our best to provide the posts with attention. Every support in this direction is appreciated. Should members of self help groups or patients associations read this, we are happy to receive hints on how to do better or differently. Where do you see the possibility of advancing a constructive dialogue.
I would also like to, after almost a year of experience with the blogsponsorships, thank everyone that has personally or in chats and closed forums taken part in the intense discussion and also those who supported us by retweeting our posts, or passing them on blogging and especially those first brave ones that wrote about their everyday experiences, regardless if on the open platform, or in their own blogs.
Vielen Dank an Paula für die Übersetzung ins Englische!
Hier der deutsche Text.
Verwandte Artikel
Diesen Artikel kommentieren oder den Feedreader abonnieren.
Die Trackback-URL zu diesem Beitrag ist: http://www.bloggerpatenschaften.de/talk-about-it-even-anonymously-lets-start-a-dialogue/trackback/
[...] the original post: Talk about it, even anonymously. Let’s start a dialogue. Share and [...]