What can I do to help? - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people coming out

boilingintexas · 29th Jul 2012, 11:19 PM

I joined Empty Closets so that way I could have people that were in similar situations as me to talk to, but I found the Support and Advice section and just couldn't help it. There is a lot of pain and panic that is associated with coming out that I knew happened but I have never actualy seen. I just want to do something to try to help out, but I don't know of anything to do. I firmly belive that no advice is better than bad advice, and I don't have any experiances to draw. My life, while not perfect, is not that bad, I've never had to deal with hate or contempt, and everyone I know is really open to the idea of more tham just heterosexuals.
Even though I have little to no experiance with almost anything on S&A, I can't help but want to do something. Anyone have any advice or sugestions on what I can do?

Bobbgooduk · 29th Jul 2012, 11:39 PM

Being able to listen is a valuable asset. If you can offer people a willing ear, it can make all the difference to someone who feels they are banging their head against a brick wall. And listening is easy, provided you don't get sucked into others' problems and make them your own by obsessing about them "outside work" - a feverish mind seldom works well.

Also, not having experience can be an asset too - it gives an unjaundiced and fresh perspective -so don't underetimate what you can do.

29th Jul 2012, 11:19 PM	#1
boilingintexas Member Regular Member Gender: Transgender - MtF Orientation: Questioning Out Status: A few people Location: DFW Texas Posts: 14 Join Date: Jul 2012	What can I do to help? I joined Empty Closets so that way I could have people that were in similar situations as me to talk to, but I found the Support and Advice section and just couldn't help it. There is a lot of pain and panic that is associated with coming out that I knew happened but I have never actualy seen. I just want to do something to try to help out, but I don't know of anything to do. I firmly belive that no advice is better than bad advice, and I don't have any experiances to draw. My life, while not perfect, is not that bad, I've never had to deal with hate or contempt, and everyone I know is really open to the idea of more tham just heterosexuals. Even though I have little to no experiance with almost anything on S&A, I can't help but want to do something. Anyone have any advice or sugestions on what I can do?

29th Jul 2012, 11:39 PM	#2
Bobbgooduk Banned Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Age: 54 Posts: 703 Join Date: Jul 2012	Re: What can I do to help? Being able to listen is a valuable asset. If you can offer people a willing ear, it can make all the difference to someone who feels they are banging their head against a brick wall. And listening is easy, provided you don't get sucked into others' problems and make them your own by obsessing about them "outside work" - a feverish mind seldom works well. Also, not having experience can be an asset too - it gives an unjaundiced and fresh perspective -so don't underetimate what you can do.