.006 Δ ["Anonymous" Text]

[ratherbelocky]

[Or, well, actually, this text isn't anonymous. It's simply that the ID number it displays doesn't match anything in anyone's previous contacts--as if someone's perhaps got his meddlesome paws on a brand new 'Gear.]

So there's a thing I've noticed, in the months I've been here. These anonymous posts, the ones asking for advice? They get a lot of answers. Seems we've got a lot of folks willing to help out around here, or at least to talk and commiserate, but it always seems to be a one-off deal; the person who's anonymous, most of us don't get to hear from them again, see how they're doing, and if we're anonymous ourselves, they can't contact us, either. It's like dancing some kind of intimate foxtrot and then never seeing your partner again.

But I found out something interesting. If you go to any Pokémon Center or PokéMart and tell them your Gear's broken or missing, they'll just hand you a new one free of charge. And if you happened to be lying, well. Then you've got an extra Gear unconnected to your main one.

What I'm saying is, there's an easy way to maintain privacy and anonymity on both ends while still checking in with someone you've spoken with before. Obviously, this is great to know for prank calls - and you're all welcome in advance for the April Fools idea - but I'd like to pose another option to those guys who want to help:

What if there were some kind of system in place for people to just talk about what's eating them multiple times with the same person, without ever having to know who's on the other line?

Now, I'm by no means a professional - not in this field, anyway. I'm not qualified to be a therapist and I haven't yet heard of anyone here who is. That's not what I'm suggesting we do here. But there are people willing to just listen, and to share their own experiences without judging, and that can be real useful to people who are working through tough things.

Here's how I'm imagining it'll work.

1. Folks who are interested in doing the listening contact me here by filling out the form at the bottom of this post. I vet them, and if it seems like it'll work out, then they grab an extra Gear, send me the number, and come up with their own codename.
2. I make a list of who's available and their numbers.
3. People looking to be listened to without exposing themselves, they contact me anonymously, and I'll redirect them to one of the folks on the list. After that first contact, they can just get to their listener directly without going through me as a middleman.
4. Conversation happens, everybody profits.

"But, mysterious and probably handsome anon," I hear you ask, "why do the people interested in helping have to out themselves to you? Who are YOU, even, to ask that and put yourself in charge of this whole thing?" And my answer is, there's got to be some accountability here when things this heavy and private are on the table, and I'm willing to be that guy. I'm also happy to reveal my identity privately to anyone who asks; I'm only maintaining anonymity here for those who don't want to know who they're talking to, for whom talking is easier like that.

Anyway. If listening to other people's problems sounds like your calling, I'd like you to fill out the following little survey:
<b>1. Name</b> <b>2. Age</b> <b>3. Do you have your own support network here?</b> <b>4. What sorts of things are you cool talking about?</b> (For example: war, change of species, coming back to life.) <b>5. What sorts of things are you NOT cool talking about?</b> (See above examples.)

If there's enough interest, I'll set something up within the week. In the meantime, let me know what you guys think.

And I guess you can call me Nathaniel.

Comments

anonymous text;

[ratherbelocky]

Well, I was hoping that part went without saying. Making sure the people on board actually do want to help, I mean, and aren't just...I dunno, being manipulative for whatever reason.

That's why I want people's names. So at least I can hold myself responsible for knowing who's on my team.

anonymous text;

[doitrockapella]

And, apparently, in case someone on your team ultimately can't handle the pressure.

What happens if you let someone through your vetting process who later can't keep up with the stress of playing therapist to someone else?

anonymous text;

[ratherbelocky]

They talk to me. I tell 'em thanks for everything they've done, and I check in with anyone they're talking to, either get them someone else or enter the conversation with them myself.

I gotta say, though, I really want to emphasize that I'm not meaning this to be a replacement for real therapy or anything. It's just...a first step, sorta. Something so people don't come in here thinking there's nothing, or that they gotta put themselves out there to get any help at all. Someone to just talk to. Especially with so many kids coming in from places where they couldn't trust people.

anonymous text;

[doitrockapella]

Then in return, let me emphasize that I'm not opposing the idea in any way — merely hoping to ensure its success by testing for possible weak points well in advance.

You seem to have put a fair amount of thought into this; I approve of that.

anonymous text;

[ratherbelocky]

Well, I appreciate it. Both the poking and the approval. This isn't ordinarily my wheelhouse, but I'm a puzzle guy. I see a problem and I like to find the most elegant way to crack it. The smoothest way forward and all that.

Anything else I should shore up before I start letting people go wild thinking up codenames? I'm a dialogic thinker, the back-and-forth approach works for me.

anonymous text;

[doitrockapella]

How very Socratic of you.

Then let's say that I'm a hypothetical candidate for this program. I'm quietly distraught and looking for an outlet. How do I find you, and more importantly, why should I trust your service as opposed to the network at large?

anonymous text;

[ratherbelocky]

Once I get things set up - assuming enough people sign up to help out - I'll aim to send out periodic public reminders, so new arrivals get to hear about it pretty early on. Also, if new arrivals turn up in obvious distress, well...probably I'd get in touch with them without the paper bag over my head, but later on, I'll also let them know this project's a thing, in case the anonymous setup's more comfortable for them.

As for the other thing...well, knowing there's a structure in place can be reassuring. Some people get anxious about putting things out there even if they don't have to put themselves out there, so it's nice to know there's a designated group to take this particular problem to. Then there's oversight. Even if an anonymous supervisor doesn't engender trust, I'm A-okay letting people know who I am, if they have concerns about me or how things work. They can't get that accountability from anonymous responses on the network.

anonymous text;

[doitrockapella]

And I assume these advertisements will include instructions on how to set up a dummy account in the interest of full anonymity. Will you be keeping records of those dummy identities at all?

anonymous text;

[ratherbelocky]

Oh, well I figured the people calling in don't need their own dummy accounts. They can just be your garden variety anonymous. Once they connect with one of the listeners, they'll be able to contact them again directly while still anonymous, right?

anonymous text;

[doitrockapella]

So for example, let's say you vet and approve of listener Franklin. Listener Franklin then registers an account under the username Hamilton. Later, when an anonymous person in need of assistance — Thomas — gets in contact with you, you refer him to the Hamilton account.

Now, for the duration, whenever Thomas has a problem or concern, he's capable of contacting the Hamilton account directly, where Franklin is tasked to respond to messages that it receives. Correct?

anonymous text;

[ratherbelocky]

That's the idea. I'll be encouraging people to set specific times with their conversation partner that they're both comfortable committing to, and checking in with Franklin and the rest of the Cabinet regularly to make sure he's doing all right.

Which I guess makes me George?

anonymous text;

[doitrockapella]

It's fitting, from where I'm sitting. As far as I can tell, an experiment of this nature hasn't been attempted here before. You're not just leading by example; you're defining the field for those who might someday succeed you.

anonymous text;

[ratherbelocky]

No pressure, right?

That sounds pretty good to me, though. Leaving something behind for others to build on later. Not that I got any intention of ducking out in the near future, but it's still kinda nice to think about.