Poll on sub boards

[NariaDreaming]

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to stop in because there have been a few requests for sub-boards. As proposed, there would be a sub-board for birth parents, a sub board for adoptees, and a sub-board for adoptive parents. We don't envision them taking the place of the main adoption board, but rather a place that's a bit less "in your face" for those sensitive issues that come up. They would not be password protected.

So I'd love your thoughts before we move forward. I have the answers set to be blinded until after the poll locks on Saturday.

[nobb14]

Great idea. I would like the ability to have specific questions asked and answered on a sub board with the opportunity to still have open discussion on the main board of adoption.

[persianmaman]

I like the idea in concept, but our board is so much smaller and tight knit I think the traffic would decrease. Rather than separate all these members of the Triad, I think its better than we recognize the whole as one community that have equal opportunities to have their own voices among the others.

I think in general our community has handled sensitive topics particularly well.

[theatrepal]

I agree with persianmaman,. We do a really good job of being sensitive and I enjoy hearing from all sides of the triad when topics are discussed.

[theatrepal]

I agree with persianmaman,. We do a really good job of being sensitive and I enjoy hearing from all sides of the triad when topics are discussed.

[lizblue]

I'm not opposed to subboards in theory but I don't know how populated they will be. Although, there is the "build it and they will come" philosophy. If the website content includes good resources for all members of the triad, the boards may become more popular as a result and it might be nice to have a structure that reflects that. I picked "good idea but might not use them."

[badgergirl66]

Apr 8, 2015 11:00:46 GMT -5 theatrepal said:

I agree with persianmaman,. We do a really good job of being sensitive and I enjoy hearing from all sides of the triad when topics are discussed.

This.

[badgergirl66]

I'm on the app. What are the poll options?

[gnomesweetgnome]

Apr 8, 2015 12:53:03 GMT -5 badgergirl66 said:

I'm on the app. What are the poll options?

It's a great idea & I'd use them
It's a great idea but I wouldn't use them
It's a bad idea, I'm worried it'll slow down the main board (paraphrased)
I like clicking things.

[carolinah]

I think Persianmaman hit the nail on the head. Also, there are only 2 active birth patents on here and I belive 1 adoptee so it would feel like on more plave I don't truly belong. I already kind of feel that way now, especially since I'm pregnant now. But that's just my opinion.

[Captain Serious]

Apr 8, 2015 9:49:03 GMT -5 persianmaman said:

I like the idea in concept, but our board is so much smaller and tight knit I think the traffic would decrease. Rather than separate all these members of the Triad, I think its better than we recognize the whole as one community that have equal opportunities to have their own voices among the others.

I think in general our community has handled sensitive topics particularly well.

I agree with this. I also think it helps us all to be better aware of and more sensitive to issues affecting other members of the triad when we come across them here.

How did the idea of subboards come up? Are there some members who feel unable to share here? If so, maybe there's another way to address that.

[persianmaman]

Apr 8, 2015 15:04:21 GMT -5 Captain Serious said:

How did the idea of subboards come up? Are there some members who feel unable to share here? If so, maybe there's another way to address that.

Apr 8, 2015 14:28:28 GMT -5 carolinah said:

... it would feel like on more plave I don't truly belong. I already kind of feel that way now... 

Both of these make me even more certain we need to stay together and this board a place for everyone. People like carolinah and @bookworm92 are ladies I want to hear from on a normal basis.

[carolinah]

persianmaman thanks

I love hearing from you all and seeing your perspective. I should add that it's nothing anyone says or does, I just feel like an intruder sometimes by nature. I've also felt a lot of pressure to be "over" my placement since I'm pregnant, but being pregnant after placement is wonderful but hard on so many levels.

[irismorning]

I think that a wonderful thing about this board is that all members of the triad interact. This is typically done in a caring and sensitive manner. In society, the members of the triad are typically seen as all separate and having not much to do with each other (other than the fact of adoption). I think that by having open dialogue between all members it makes us all more well rounded.

I am both an adoptive parent and an adoptee and honestly, my interactions on this board (and the former place) have brought me to a whole other sensitivity to birth parents. I think that it is important that we be able to "ask the hard questions" of each other to get honest answers.... Just my 2 cents.

[Captain Serious]

Apr 8, 2015 22:43:18 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

I actually brought up the idea of sub boards. I love being a part of this board, I just thought that maybe something where perspective adoptive parents or expectant parents could go and ask the super sensitive questions may be a good idea. Then we would still have the main group to hold most discussions. I'm hoping in the future that the board will grow even more and we can include more people into our community.

carolinah you always fit in

This makes sense.

I have to admit I'm somewhat torn on this issue.  I am afraid subboards might lead to an "us vs. them as opposed to them" feel when sensitive topics come up.  I want everyone to be able to discuss issues openly here, so that we can build a better understanding of one another.  But I also understand that my position might be a little selfish, because the result of having only one board means that sometimes people will feel like outsiders, issues might not get asked/addressed, and feeling sometimes get hurt--and I realize that maybe asking this "to build a better understanding" should take second place to building a board where all members of the triad can come to for support, and not to feel like they need to justify or explain their feelings to the others.

[redandblue]

Apr 8, 2015 22:43:18 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

I actually brought up the idea of sub boards. I love being a part of this board, I just thought that maybe something where perspective adoptive parents or expectant parents could go and ask the super sensitive questions may be a good idea. Then we would still have the main group to hold most discussions. I'm hoping in the future that the board will grow even more and we can include more people into our community.

carolinah you always fit in

I agree with this.  I don't know if I'm the only person, but I do wander to different boards.  I don't think that having sub boards would necessarily reduce the traffic, as I would imagine most people would still come here, but it might allow people to open up and ask specific questions, particularly if you are new to the process.  It can be a difficult journey to learn and the more places that people perhaps feel comfortable to speak in, might help with their own journeys.  Just my two cents.  

[redandblue]

Apr 11, 2015 8:16:45 GMT -5 Captain Serious said:

Apr 8, 2015 22:43:18 GMT -5 @bookworm92 said:

I actually brought up the idea of sub boards. I love being a part of this board, I just thought that maybe something where perspective adoptive parents or expectant parents could go and ask the super sensitive questions may be a good idea. Then we would still have the main group to hold most discussions. I'm hoping in the future that the board will grow even more and we can include more people into our community.

carolinah you always fit in

This makes sense.

I have to admit I'm somewhat torn on this issue.  I am afraid subboards might lead to an "us vs. them as opposed to them" feel when sensitive topics come up.  I want everyone to be able to discuss issues openly here, so that we can build a better understanding of one another.  But I also understand that my position might be a little selfish, because the result of having only one board means that sometimes people will feel like outsiders, issues might not get asked/addressed, and feeling sometimes get hurt--and I realize that maybe asking this "to build a better understanding" should take second place to building a board where all members of the triad can come to for support, and not to feel like they need to justify or explain their feelings to the others.

This too!