Giving Advice

[Moloch]

When I became a Moderator here, this was my first topic of responsibility. Since then, I have struggled to find a way to word a caution to prospective commentators on these threads, without turning them away. I think I may have it now.

The people who post threads here do not always know what they are dealing with, and many times, nor do we. We must take into account here, especially here, that we do NOT know everything. PLEASE, be responsible and honest with your advice. Be kind with your skepticism - if you have any. Remember that many things; especially where they intersect with the psyche or health of a person, may in fact have mundane causes. Our FIRST piece of advice should ALWAYS be to eliminate the mundane possibilities in those instances. In an old thread in another topic area, a young person advised a group of boys who were still younger than they themselves were, to go into an old growth forest bearing torches in the fall - in the middle of a drought to find and fight a Wendigo. Why this person thought this was good advice is completely beyond my scope of comprehension. This is just one example of what not to do here in this area. I will remove truly egregious errors in judgment from this topic area entirely, others will remain in place, probably with my censure.

Bottom line, please, remember that folks will inevitably follow your advice. Even if the member making the original plea does not, another may see themselves mirrored there and take the advice you proffered. Your advice here ripples through time. Please, keep this in mind as you advise each and every reader for time immemorial.

Moloch
Guardian of the Monstrous Forum