I Need Your Opinion

How would you describe the effectiveness of an online WLS  support group when compared to a real life WLS support group?

I'm gathering your opinions for a University of Baltimore, graduate school course (PUAD 626) presentation about Virtual Communities of Interest.

I'm planning to show your answers to my classmates during my presentation.


Thank you for your help!

Hi there ;o) I think personally BOTH can be a very good thing.
                               I will say from experience that when you get a lot of different personalities on a message board there are bound to be disagreements or even arguments. I myself dont get caught up in all of that because I am past that Jr High phase of my life. But if you look for help, there are always plenty of people on the OH message board to help you get through what your facing. I do see a lot of caring and sharing on this board. I see a lot of bickering too which is a shame because this isnt myspace its a virtual support group. But some people will argue no matter where you stick them. IMO!
                                        I know that most people lean more towards real life WLS groups because you are not as judged and everyone can be themselves without feeling the need to walk on egg shells. If you are typing an opinion one can not decipher your tone via a typed message. If you are sitting in front of them they can very much decipher how you are projecting your views. 
                                              So I think both are very good and I myself with stay a part of both. I like the feeling of being able to come onto this message board and help someone or be a shoulder for someone who just needs to vent. Im a great listener and I have had my share of vents too. And I have met some very special people on this board that I hope to continiue a friendship with. 
                                     Hope you get the information  you are looking for and good luck. (((Hugs)))
~Jilly~

For me this board is a wealth of knowledge.  The dr's and nuts can tell you what you are supposed to do, but since most of them have not been through WLS themselves they can't tell you the intimate details and the emotional issues.  Also, since I live so far from most places that hold support group meetings, I can always jump on here and ask a question or see what's happening with other people at different stages of their journey.  Don't get me wrong, I love seeing the participants in person at my once a month meeting, but there's nothing like this board for some advice 24/7.

Despite the common experiences amongst WLS folks, there are also differences. I think it is important to have a variety of resources available as each of these provides a different level of support and reinforcement of the WLS life concepts. I find that the more types of connections I have with other WLS folks, the more I learn and the better equipped I feel as I go forward.

For the bottom line specifics of your program and medical conditions, your MD and his staff are the primary resource.

For daily living concepts, we have a variety of choices. Each of these have value and I would not choose one over another.

1 - Online support group - the daily connection to living the WLS life. Any question big or small as well as the knowledge that there are others who can relate to what you are going through.

2 - In person support groups - this really depends on the size and manner that the group is run, but in general I think this is quite similar to online groups, except that you get the face-to-face connection with fellow WLS.

3 - Coming out of the 1 and 2, are the closer friendships that evolve. I find that there is a certain level of depth that I can go into with a smaller, in-person group than a larger forums.

Debbie

Hello

I think at times both can be helpful

Online support- when you get past all the negative things that have happened on this board it can be the best support in the world. Everyone is in different stages so it can help anyone along the journey

Real life support group- I myself love this one because I started one not long after my surgery. I have met some great people from it and we do things outside of group. To have a group of people to see twice a month for 2 hours and be able to share your feelings and concerns is a great joy

Hope this helps and good luck

Can you clarify Liaazul??----- When you say online WLS support group--- my thought is you may  mean more than a message board and postings but an actual scheduled online meeting - in a chat room for instance.  That is very different than a messagboard.  I have done online meetings in the past (non WLS) and they are password protected/entry, timed, moderated and structured. 

I have never participated in an online WLS support group- so I can't comment to its effectiveness.  I would imagine just as some folks may be more lurkers in an online group and not speak up readily (type)---others may tend to monopolize an online chat room-----but these aspects are evident in  face to face support groups too- which can be moderated or facilitated more easily if in person.

My thought is it's more difficult to be spontaneous with your thoughts and comments if you have to type them.  Typing has limited dimensions whereas face to face is 3-D and then some.