Support group on FB

[LovelyBath77]

I tried and seem to have failed at having a support group for a health condition on Facebook. It just keeps going into ranting, competitive pain / suffering etc. Having a go at me as if it's my fault they are ill. Kind of wishing I hadn't bothered now. Think I might be unreasonable though, what do you think? Do they help or make things worse?

I think, like with anything on the Internet (MN included), there will always be people who hide behind a keyboard and feel a lot braver than they ever would in real life.

The idea of an online support group sounds lovely, but in practice it may be difficult to keep keyboard warriors at bay.

Does the support consist, essentially, of the opportunity to moan, rant and blame others? Sounds like AIBU.

Have you set up some "house rules" for the group? Speaking respectfully and not having a go at others, or you'll be removed from the group?

Yes I've done that, hopefully it might improve. I just had someone post on something completely different from the group and then rant at me for not being supportive when I asked how it was relevant. Quite rude and personal, said I was negative and unsupportive, and then another joined in...not sure what it is with FB, at times seems like they all kind of egg each other on and get wound up...maybe in pain / ill I suppose.