Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

[Wyatt Earp]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

Too much inflammation. You might say.

[WOM]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

Eczemactly.

[Otto Katz]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

Nothing more to see. Get your psoriasis out of here.

[Hofzinser]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

I can spot what everyone's doing here.

[JtS]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

There are some really acne'ed puns going on here.

[Otto Katz]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

Yeah, this thread has really gone off the boil.

[Anton Gramscescu]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

I don't get it. Can someone boil this down for me?

[Gangster Octopus]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

You've been itching to post that.

[Anton Gramscescu]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

Damn.

[ad hoc]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

This is all a bit corn-y isn't it?

[Hofzinser]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

I don't know wart you're talking about.

[Bored Of Education]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

Impetigo mad when threads turn all punny so lepers end it here

[Ginger Yellow]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

I can definitely see where Wyatt is coming from, but I don't really object to the "confessional" threads being there. I just don't tend to post on them and I definitely don't post them myself. I don't feel comfortable talking about this stuff, especially in print, in a public forum. I'm happy to discuss it with friends and family in person or on the phone, but in a setting like OTF it feels odd, and half the time I've nothing useful to add after everyone else has had their say. So please don't take it the wrong way if I don't respond on one of those threads. If you want my input or help, ask me directly.

[Anton Gramscescu]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

I've completely missed GY's pun. Does anyone else see it?

[nefertiti]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

Are you saying it wasn't up to scratch

[Guest]

Navel-gazing thread about the confessional mode

The trouble I always have with it is the balancing out of the prurient gossipy tendency (which is something I hate myself for having, sometimes) with the genuine hope of being of some help to someone. Like, what would be my motivation for reading/responding? Can I guarantee there's no nosiness or gossipyness involved? And if it wasn't purely a feeling of wanting to help then, well, that's awful.

But then again why should anyone feel they can't discuss what they want to just because some other people might have inappropriate reactions to it - so long as they're aware of this possibility? These days people seem happy to blog about every detail of their sex lives or their illnesses etc. In the name often of let's encourage openness and stop people being ashamed of problems, etc. Is this even healthy though. Should people be encouraged to be less confessional in general, for their own protection?