Becoming an asylum staffmember requires your time and patience. Please review the below and agree to our terms in becoming part of our team:

1. I agree to vigilantly monitor the asylum for problem posts.

      a. I will delete all advertisements that are posted. 

      b. Anything that is overly triggering or offensive should be requested to be behind a cut. If someone asks the poster to put something behind a cut, I will enforce it. I will ask the composer to do use a cut politely. If the composer does not respond with a cut, I can delete the post.

     c. I will monitor the asylum for people who seem to need to talk. I will try to IM them, email them and keep in touch; letting them know that they are not alone.

     d. I will occasionally post distractions and games to keep asylum upbeat. I will also create fun activities for the asylum members to participate in.

     e. I will comment to just about every post. I understand that the last thing that the poster wants to feel is ignored. I know that they are in asylum for help. I will do my best to give it to them.

     f. I will not delete posts on a whim. I will use deleting of posts as last resort to stop a downslide. I understand that conflict will arise in places like asylum, and sometimes it is best for it to work itself out. If I am ever in doubt, I will ask on the nurse station before I do anything. 

2. I will remind everyone in asylum that I am here to help, but AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL. I understand that members of asylum may really need help that is beyond my capabilities and I am responsible enough to know when to send them to others or professionals.

     a. I will never take on a person that is beyond my capabilities. If a person needs a real doctor, I will send them what info I can find online to get them the help they need. I understand that sometimes I must be strong enough to turn someone elsewhere so that they can get proper help.

     b. I will draw boundaries with the people on asylum. I understand that people may need to talk in the late hours of the morning, If that is beyond my capabilities, I will turn off the computer. I will not compromise my health/life/sanity for anyone because then I will be of no help to asylum or anyone else. I will never overexert myself and I understand that there are other members of the staff that may be able to take up the slack. I will seek help from them.

     c. I will make myself very clear with the people I am trying to help. I speak plainly because people in crisis may not be able to read sarcasm or veiled comments. If someone/something gets TOO much for me I will turn them to another member of the staff or a professional. I know when to say no and when to walk away. I understand we are all here to help, and I will be a team player and hand off that I cannot handle.

(read on in next column)

     d. I will work as a team with the other staffmembers and will offer advice when asked. I will also assist when needed. I will vigilantly watch the nurse station just as I do the asylum for posts that my fellow staffmembers need help.

     e.I will not take on suicides alone. I will talk with them, but urge them to call a crisis line that can call ambulances and real help. We are not equipped on asylum to do emergencies, and I will not make myself responsible for another. I understand that my guideline for suicides is the following: IM/email/chat with them until someone else IRL or on the phone can take over. I will get info on the city where they live early in the conversation. If the person refuses to take these steps to contact a real life person, I will draw a boundary and tell them that to keep up with a conversation with me, they must. If they still dont, I will immediately say goodbye and call their local police so that they can get the help they need.

     f. IF there is no other staffmember available and you find a crisis you cannot handle, send the person crisis center phone numbers or tell them to call police. I understand that I am not expected to monitor asylum 24/7 and neither is the other staffmembers. Staff is only required to do what they can.

3.I will never verbally or emotionally abuse anyone on asylum. I will respect their right to their opinion, no matter how different it is from my own. I understand that, even though they are a member, that I have the right to not to deal with them directly. I will immediately contact another staffmember to handle the situation.

a. As a staffmember, I know that I am in a position of service, but not of overuse. I will speak plainly. (If you disagree abruptly or feel that you are being verbally assaulted or abused in any way, tell them that you cannot help them and send them to another staffmember.) I will never let myself get in the position to be abused. I have the right to close the window and ignore the person. At no time does being a staffmember mean that you MUST help someone whom you cannot help. I can tell the rest of the staff to intervene at anytime with anyone.

b. I will be conscientious on how I word things so as to not offend or threaten the reader. I agree that sarcasm cannot be read well over the internet. I will refrain from using it unless I know the person well enough to know that it is OK. I know that there are many people from all walks of life on asylum. I agree to post with dignity and respect.

c.NO matter HOW bad a person is trying to egg me on in a post on asylum, I will never give in and post in anger.I will walk away and cool down. I will not post demeaning or disrespecting things no matter what the other person says. Instead, I will post on the nurse station and get the other members of the staff to intervene OR delete the post.

4. I understand that, even though we need to take precautions, that this is still a fun and entertaining community.

a. I realize that mostly, this site is used for getting it out, role playing and being creative. It is a distraction from reality and a place to work things through so they will not become a real problem. I will encourage all forms of creativity accordingly.

 b. I understand that the above mentioned extremes happen only occasionally, but I need to be prepared for when they do. I willl take the necessary precautions.

5. I know that the more I put into asylum, the more I get out of it. I understand that you only let people who will participate into the staff. I know that you will be reviewing my past posts as well as this application to see if I am able to contribute to the staff.

I hereby declare that I have read and understand ... and above all agree to uphold the above stated. I have a better grasp on what it means to be on the asylum staff and am now ready to take on the title.

BE SURE TO READ IT ALL. These are your guidelines and if broken will be cause for termination.

Yes