oy vey 7
what are you saying about to open a yiddish thread?

I just want to share a feeling I've been having lately.

Recently there's been a movement on the forum to suggest that a newcomer should immediately start calling people. Many people are writing, that the only real way to kick this habit long-term, is by actually picking up the phone and opening up to somebody. It is a suggestion at the tip of many tongues (fingertips?).

Whether that's true or not, I feel it may be detrimental to suggest that to a beginner. Initially when starting to post, we were all slightly hesitant, and weren't sure if what we were doing was the smartest move (at least I was). Eventually after receiving warm welcomes, and starting to grow utilizing this site, we realized that GYE is a safe place and the proper answer.

In my experience, when I joined, were everyone to immediately suggest that without calling someone, there is no chance of true recovery, I would have just left the site. If whenever I posted about a difficult moment, the response would have been call, call, call,  I wouldn't have thought myself ever capable of exposing myself like that, and would have given up. Until a person hangs around for a while, learns the many things GYE has to offer, and creates relationships, imagining opening up to a live person is unfathomable.

I think that maybe when a person initially joins this site, we should first welcome them, share with them the knowledge we have, and eventually, at a later date, if they need a little bit more help, it can be explained to them how speaking to an experienced member, (or actually even meeting face-to-face) can be extremely beneficial.

Just a thought.

                                 Grant