ANXIETY ZONE

[jonathan123 2368]

I have no idea what happened to Anxiety Zone neither have I any desire to know, but one thing struck me when I read that someone has come on here because they have anxiety because Anxiety Zone closed!! To close down a site that is helping anxiety sufferers without giving adequate explanation is unforgivable. Now may I be forgiven if it was for some unavoidable incident that caused those who ran it to have to shut down suddenly, but surely someone could have said something. For anxious people to be suddenly deprived of any means of support, or any way to express themselves, is not good practise at all. In fact it could be regarded as a unthinking and hurtful.

In setting up sites like this and running them means you assume responsibility. The fact that it is non profit making has nothing whatsoever to do with it. How much monetary value can you put on peace of mind? I believe that those who come on here from Anxiety Zone will find a whole different attitude to the one they are used to; at least I hope so, and I would add a very warm welcome to them.

[JOYCICLE 654]

I was thinking the same. If they were no longer able or willing to run the site, they should have put a big notice up and told members to start looking for somewhere else to go. It's really strange. 

[Gilly 1086]

It's nothing more than I would expect from a person that had ZERO problems banning good people who had come to rely on a community as a valuable resource in overcoming severe anxiety. 

It's how I felt in 2011. I was anxious when all the crap went down, I even spoke to a couple of moderators because I was scared. They told me nobody had a problem with me and that I was a respected member. I went to bed, and woke up the next morning to find out I was permanently banned, along with about 30 other people. 

Thinking back, why should you be scared to be banned from a mental health site? When you are there for help, and spend time helping others? I have a very good idea why, but out of respect for the place and the fabulous members and staff that were part of it, I won't elaborate.

[Pinkie 4]

I am not sure where my replies went lol because I am not sure yet where things are posted here but that is okay I wanted to say I agree 100% that the owner of AZ should have gave a notice when he shut down chat and why and then also gave another notice stating the entire site would be closed down on a certain date he should have never done what he has done unless something had happened where someone took over for GG due to his health so I do not want to bash him if he was ill I just do not know to be honest I also can not understand why 30 people were banned that is just insane and so unfair !!! I would think a man who starts a site and claims he went through all he did then turns around and starts being cruel to others who are suffering and struggling .  I do know he could read the chatroom without logging on and he could see pm's in the chatroom and he also could see our messages to each other because He banned me for telling others that a new chatroom had been set up they would send me a message and ask I would not lie to them they needed people to talk too! He knew everything everyone was saying so he picked the ones he wanted gone. I am hurt by his actions as a Mod we did it for FREE not asking for a penny from him.  

[jonathan123 2368]

You know the more I hear about AZ the more I wonder why the heck people stayed on it. The guy must have had real problems himself. This business of banning people!! My view is that it should be the last resort having had a chat first and perhaps being able to resolve a dispute or misbehaviour by kindness and understanding.  We are dealing with folk who are usually in deep trouble emotionally, and to be banned for no apparent reason could tip anyone of us over the edge, especially if you have come to have faith in the people who are supposed to help.

I have said this before, but the old Ego sure does get in the way at times. Power is what it's about. Some get kicks from being able to control others lives and making them feel uncomfortable. They should not be allowed within 50 miles of sufferers. But you guys from AZ are now at home where you belong. No 'nasties' here I can assure you. Compassion, Empathy and Understanding are key words, and they are exercised on this site.

 

[Gilly 1086]

38 minutes ago, Pinkie said:

I am not sure where my replies went lol because I am not sure yet where things are posted here but that is okay I wanted to say I agree 100% that the owner of AZ should have gave a notice when he shut down chat and why and then also gave another notice stating the entire site would be closed down on a certain date he should have never done what he has done unless something had happened where someone took over for GG due to his health so I do not want to bash him if he was ill I just do not know to be honest I also can not understand why 30 people were banned that is just insane and so unfair !!! I would think a man who starts a site and claims he went through all he did then turns around and starts being cruel to others who are suffering and struggling .  I do know he could read the chatroom without logging on and he could see pm's in the chatroom and he also could see our messages to each other because He banned me for telling others that a new chatroom had been set up they would send me a message and ask I would not lie to them they needed people to talk too! He knew everything everyone was saying so he picked the ones he wanted gone. I am hurt by his actions as a Mod we did it for FREE not asking for a penny from him.  

I don't want to bash him either. I don't agree with how he went about it but anyone who knows me knows I don't cause trouble. I know why I was banned and I just didn't get a chance and it is not all his fault. I didn't even put the pieces together for months.

Teeps was mod, she disagreed with treatment of certain members, so she stepped down. He banned her, idk why for sure but she was an aussie, so this was all happening when I was in bed asleep. I woke up to find myself banned, despite talking to the mods. I didn't understand why. Teeps had started a forum, and it was all crazy the next few days, I was hoping I could still use AZ as I had friends there, and go on Teeps site too but as I was banned from AZ I had no choice. She asked me to mod for her so I did, and as it turns out she registered her site, and domain and everything in my name!!! I didn't even know. Seriously I have learned a lot, I was so naive and gullible

I think GG created a great site but it got so big, when that happens the costs can greatly increase. Servers, licenses for software etc, these things are costly. The more traffic, the more members, the bigger the costs. At the end of the day it can be all about money for some. 

[JOYCICLE 654]

I'll bash him all day.   Maybe not for anything recent but surely for how things were handled way back when.  I can remember emailing him after I was banned and asking' do you even HAVE anxiety yourself ?  I  cannot see how you can treat anxious people this way if you understand the condtion yourself'   I got no reply and re banned so my guess is he does not have anxiety himself.

Worst case scenario GG became ill or worse of  late and could not keep up.  If that were the case, woudlnt' the site have kept running itself until no one paid the bills? It seems it had to have been an intentional act to tear it down. But I'm not really clear on how that kind of thing works. If you perish while driving a car the car will keep going until something stops it. Given this I think he pulled the plug on it himself.  

[Pinkie 4]

Yes the cost is high I have talked with many who have wanted to start sites and just can not afford it and having a chatroom cost more money. I also agree that people should not be banned for life unless they continue to rip the site apart or the chatroom and also attack others but only if they really need banned but I think everyone deserves chances and understanding that when someone acts out it is because they are dealing with issues within them and do not know how to handle things so they take it out on others I am guilty of anger issues then I get over them within a few minutes and take my accountability but sadly many take no accountability and continue to lie and hurt others just for kicks .  

I think it was nice she picked you Gilly to help on this site and take over you are very kind and caring I am very sorry you were treated the way you were on AZ.

[JOYCICLE 654]

Also the mods and GG were reading our PM's   

[Pinkie 4]

I was a mod and never read any Pm's and I don't know who was but it was not me. I do know as I stated in my one post that GG read them .  If I could have read them I would have lol...

 

[JOYCICLE 654]

Just now, Pinkie said:

I was a mod and never read any Pm's and I don't know who was but it was not me. I do know as I stated in my one post that GG read them .  If I could have read them I would have lol...

 

Laaaaaaaaaaaa 

[JOYCICLE 654]

I think someone said Laaaaaaaaaa left a long while ago though so you may not have known her. She was instrumental in the hoopla at the time.

[Pinkie 4]

I didn't know Laaaaaa but some did talk about La but I can not remember what was said exactly now I did join once and went into the chat and met someone named Lenore she was very nice to me but I didn't stick around because there was some drama going on so I left and didn't go back until Midwest Center shut down. 

[Gilly 1086]

22 minutes ago, Pinkie said:

Yes the cost is high I have talked with many who have wanted to start sites and just can not afford it and having a chatroom cost more money. I also agree that people should not be banned for life unless they continue to rip the site apart or the chatroom and also attack others but only if they really need banned but I think everyone deserves chances and understanding that when someone acts out it is because they are dealing with issues within them and do not know how to handle things so they take it out on others I am guilty of anger issues then I get over them within a few minutes and take my accountability but sadly many take no accountability and continue to lie and hurt others just for kicks .  

I think it was nice she picked you Gilly to help on this site and take over you are very kind and caring I am very sorry you were treated the way you were on AZ.

Exactly, people with issues have issues! It's about tolerance and compassion and being adult and sorting it out! I do not like to ban people who need help. I think in the 5 years I've done this I can count the people I have perma banned on 1 hand, not counting spammers and pure trolls. That don't mean any cheeky ones can take advantage, I ain't soft! LOL 

She didn't pick me to help on this site Pinkie, her site was called Anxiety retreat, I helped on there until she shut it down. What happened was it was free software, and out of date. the chat room was chaos and for us as Mods, it left us pretty much helpless to keep it all in check. People stopped going on, in the end there was only about 6 or 7 of us that used the site, everyone went back to AZ or elsewhere. Members had been asking me to do something because well, tbh Teeps was a little intimidating, she even intimidated me and we were supposed to be close. I tried to show her the light, tried to show her you simply cannot make it work without putting anything into it. She said she would give it until Christmas and if it didnt pick up she would close it. Having already lost AZ I panicked and went and bought the basic package for this community, to show her how much better it would be, and it was inexpensive to start. She didnt want to do that, closed AR and buggered off. She accused me of stabbing her in the back which was nonsense, anyone here will tell you. She owed me money, she owed joy money. 

I'm a nerd and I like to help, and I knew we needed somewhere so I built AC from scratch. It's been hard and it's cost me a lot of money I don't really have lol But I'm stubborn and don't give up easy  We have GREAT people here and have been nominated for an award 2 times! Not bad eh? 

I think we are going to have a wee party in the chat room tomorrow, to celebrate AC's 5th Birthday. I'll try and be there most of the day, if anyone wants to drop by and have a chat, in a less formal manner (were grown ups were allowed to swear, we don't have to but its nice you can  ) 

[Pinkie 4]

I am so sorry I misunderstood . Congrats on doing all you have done and Thank you I will have to post on Facebook about this site and get some people to come here I have a lot who are missing chatrooms and forums so maybe just maybe some will come I will do my best!!!!    I still have yet figured out how to get to the chatroom lol but I will try again .  I am not a real bright person ya know lol. 

 

[Gilly 1086]

7 minutes ago, Pinkie said:

I am so sorry I misunderstood . Congrats on doing all you have done and Thank you I will have to post on Facebook about this site and get some people to come here I have a lot who are missing chatrooms and forums so maybe just maybe some will come I will do my best!!!!    I still have yet figured out how to get to the chatroom lol but I will try again .  I am not a real bright person ya know lol. 

 

LOL thanks for that here is the chat room http://www.anxiety-central.com/index.php?/chat/

If you want we have a FB page too https://www.facebook.com/AnxietyCentral/

[Orangecounty 1]

I'm also another former anxietyzone member. It really stinks that the site shut down, it was a huge resource for me and I do feel a little lost without it. I realize there is other anxiety communities such as this one but anxietyzone just seemed to have such a wealth of info and posts, as it had been around for numerous years. I was kind of wondering where everyone else headed.

[Cuchculan 17]

Sweet memories. LOL. GG done one massive ban of everybody he assumed had broke away to the other forum. No other reason at all. He even censored some names. Teeps would come out as Pineapple. LOL. It was like a blanket ban. One goes, they all go. Nobody else had a say in it at all. 

 

I remember the original Mods. Tigerpaw and Laa and Sixpack. Forum began to change and Tigerpaw and Laa quit and a few of us took over the Mod roles. Fair to say we never knew what GG was going to do next. This includes banning me when I was still a Mod. I disagreed with him after he appointment Ash as a Mod and within 5 hours said he made a mistake and banned her from the site. We argued over it and I was next to go. 

 

As for reading PMs? No. Mods could never do that one. Trust me on that one. Some words are filtered. So if a site is on the filtered list I am sure GG would know if a person was trying to post a link to that site. Or just take a gamble and assume they were posting links. What was another ban to him?

 

As for the site going? Myself and Katie did kind of guess it was going. I did begin posting a link to AS. GG removed it more times. I would continue to let people know it was about to close down. It was just a hunch we had. He had removed the Mod section of the forum. Had removed the Mod shoutbox. Had broken all forms of contacts with the few mods who remained. Then the site vanished. Just like that. 

 

Enjoyed reading this thread. Still meet people on various forums who remember me from AZ. Is an easy way to get talking. Or else they call me a bollox and leave it at that. LOL 

[MARC 431]

Glad the site was shut down.