http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=936179


in reply to Re: How to help?
in thread How to help?

Nice reply, great links! I've bookmarked the post. Thank you :)

 “Occasionally I will even be a bastard, when I think it will be helpful, but I try to avoid Dealing with Internet Trolls, even using the the Cognitive Therapy Approach

 http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/blog/matt-s-trout/on-being-a-bastard/

However, I'm not certain how informative or overall helpful including notes on dealing with problematic posters is in this context. I also disagree with the approach prescribed since (AFAIK) while cognitive behavioral therapy can succeed when practiced by well trained professionals, I'm not aware of it's effectiveness when practiced by an online community. Even in an ideal scenario where members had training and could agree on methods, this does not address the effects such an effort (ie: time spent away from the site's purpose) has on the rest of the community.

I appreciate the intent to help an individual who may be suffering from mental/social issues but I think we should leave practicing therapy to the therapists. Discretely directing an individual to resources could help but it assumes the person —wants— to follow through with getting better.

As for some of the arguments against certain methods pointed out in the link you provided (punishment, ignoring etc.) some teachers may not completely agree:


"...the adversities born of well-placed thoughts should be considered mercies rather than misfortunes." — Don Quixote