Thread by @paulgknox

You know, I know you’re new to Twitter and all, so I’ll try to be gentle and honest. All kidding and snark aside. Really. I mean it.

Please, please never do this again. You can’t be serious because until a couple of hours ago you didn’t know I existed. That’s not enough time. 1/

https://twitter.com/drkaradenmore/status/1134909874867965954

2 Plus you’re in Kansas, or so it seems, and I’m not, and I don’t think you know where I am. So the “program” you’d be recommending would have to be online or a hotline and I can’t imagine what would be likely to help, assuming I needed help (about which you didn’t ask). 2/

3 So I’m kind of thinking your “help” post might have been just a jokey debating tactic. But maybe not. You “diagnosed” @NoLore with NPD so heaven knows what you figure I’m suffering from.

Anyway please don’t ever joke about #MentalHealthMatters on Twitter or any other ... 3/

4 ... online platform. Some people are here because of anxiety, depression and other ills; you can take a short leave from the real world. Many find comfort here among folks who experience the same things, or who just express random sympathy when someone shares their sadness. 4/

5 Anyone who’s been on Twitter for any length of time has seen people asking or being offered help, or being advised to seek help. Mostly when someone is in acute distress or has episodes, they’re already connected to therapy or other resilience resources. Sincere offers ... 5/

6 ... usually occur between people who’ve been conversing for some time, or who know each other in real life. Not the kind of generic offer you wrote, which sounds like something you’d find on a distress-line phone.

So unless you know the person well ... /6

7 ... (in which case there should be other more direct channels) or have something unique to offer, it might be best to leave things be.

As for me, I’ve talked people down from anxiety crises, intervened to make sure someone didn’t self-harm and been involved with other ... 7/

8 ... people suffering from temporary or long-term mental conditions. I’m up there in years and have a chronic illness, so I too get help, which I consider prophylaxis against the potential of low-mood consequences. You couldn’t have known any of that - but that’s ... 8/

9 ... another reason not to be firing off offers of help. You never want to be in the position of leading someone to feel: “But I *am* getting help - obviously it’s not doing any good.”

Last point: people use Twitter for many reasons. Personally, I like the discipline ... 9/

10 ... of the 280-character limit, issues I care about tend to come up here, I know many of my followers personally, it’s a way of trying out new ideas, and I feel I can contribute knowledge and experience to enrich discussions. For others the reasons may be quite different. 10/

11 The fact that one person tweets more than another in a day means nothing. Some might do a dozen or two for three days straight and then disappear for a week. Others one or two a day, steadily. Still others are trying to collect followers and retweets as part of ... 11/

12 ... a broader social-media campaign. Also, Twitter isn’t the place to look for thesis-antithesis-synthesis resolution of issues. It’s quick reaction to events, a portal to more thoughtful discussion, a way (fallible to be sure) to take a quick temperature reading ... 12/

13 ... on issues. It’s uglier things too - but I’m sure you know about that.

Anyway thanks for reading; sorry if any of this sounds condescending or offensive. I just know there are fragile people on here, and I don’t want to see anyone hurt. 13/13

@threadreaderapp unroll pls thanx