Dos

Be anonymous

This site, unlike other social networking sites that you may be involved with is a closed and private group. What you post on this site will be seen by other older Australians (and a few staff on the research project) but will not be accessible by the general public. Despite this it is still important that you protect your privacy. When you sign up you will be asked to choose a user name and avatar/picture and it is best that you choose something that doesn’t identify you in any way. User names must not be offensive or likely to upset other members so please choose something that is relatively neutral. Additionally, while you use the site do not post details of your real name or any other details that can identify you including address and phone number.

Be yourself

While we do suggest that you protect your privacy on the site, we do encourage you to be yourself. You will get the most out of Breathing Space if your posts accurately reflect your current situation. There is no need to pretend that things are going better or worse than they are (if that is not the case), in fact being open and honest may leave others in a better position to comment on your experiences, offer suggestions and give you support. We do acknowledge that discussing personal stuff about yourself and your situation can be really difficult, however most people find that it feels good to share information in an anonymous way, particularly when other members have shared similar experiences. The other benefit of sharing information with others is the realisation that there are a lot of other people experiencing similar challenges to you. People tell us that sharing your experience can help you feel less alone or isolated.

Own what you post

While your anonymity is assured on Breathing Space it is a really good idea to “own what you post” particularly as it applies to comments that you make in response to others. In our experience the anonymous nature of these sites means that people often feel more comfortable disclosing information and posting feedbacks and/or comments than perhaps they would do with strangers face to face. However, the anonymity of the site does not mean that you can just post anything you like, without any consideration to others who are using the site. Remember that what you post can impact on those around you, and while you may not be aware of the impact because you are unable to see their face or witness their response, it doesn’t mean that it hasn’t had an impact. A lack of a reply does not mean it hasn’t been read or affected someone so it’s a good idea to post up comments that you would be prepared to say to someone face to face.

Treat people how you would want to be treated

The purpose of the site is to provide a safe space where you can obtain support and encouragement from people who are in a similar situation to yourself. All users have a right to have their posts respected and for their comments to be responded to in an appropriate manner. Sharing information about your experiences can be difficult and it is made easier when you don’t feel judged or receive unhelpful feedback. Be helpful and encouraging when you comment on other people’s posts as people might be sharing information that they haven’t shared with others before.

On the Breathing Space site you may encounter people on the site who have different opinions to your own. Sharing a different opinion doesn’t mean that you should keep quiet about your own view, rather if you disagree with someone’s opinion please express yourself and your opinions in a respectful fashion. You never know, it could lead to an interesting interchange and you might learn something different too. Rather than posting “I think you are wrong”, consider “that’s an interesting way of looking at it, I see things a bit differently….” If you disagree with someone we encourage you to limit arguing because arguing back and forth can be upsetting to other users on the site and can be unproductive too.

Moderators will be regularly checking the site ensuring that all posts are in accordance with the group terms and conditions. The Moderator will have the power to edit or delete posts if they are in breach of the rules. Those participants who are in breach of the group rules will be contacted by the Moderator. Depending on the severity of the breach, you could have your participation suspended for a period of time. A breach could also mean that you may be unable to post to the board directly (all posts may need to be reviewed by a moderator first which will make them delayed posts).

If you are concerned about the content that someone has posted, including content that is offensive, is overly negative, or mentions self- harm, then use the “report post” function. While the Moderator checks content regularly, if you think a post may have been missed and may be in breach of the group rules we would like you to let us know. Reporting a post is anonymous.

Code of conduct

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