# An Open Letter To Everyone Who Asked To Join Cecil's Place **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 25, 2003, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488 "2003-08-25T10:57:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/1 "2003-08-25T10:57:59Z")
This is in the BBQ Pit because the thread which inspired it is here. Overnight, I’ve had a bunch of people ask to join Cecil’s Place, a support group I moderate for depressed Dopers. I assume this is to help one of our members who’s having a particularly rough time of things right now. Folks, I appreciate the offers of help but before I go approving memberships I want to make a few things clear. Cecil’s Place was set up specifically as a place where people who suffer from clinical depression can rant, vent, and talk about this disease without worrying about others not understanding what’s going on. People can sound whiny when they’re depressed. Speaking for myself, I’m acutely aware of that which is why I don’t tend to say much in public when I’m down. It’s not something a person can “just snap out of.” I know; I’ve tried. People have revealed things at Cecil’s Place that they may not want the world at large to see. That includes me. For that reason, I won’t approve any memberships for Cecil’s Place until I get e-mails from people telling me who they are and why they want to join. I also ask that if you have asked to join and you cannot imagine what it would be like to feel so badly off that death appears to be the best or only option, please ask me to reject your membership. If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail me or post them here. Again, thank you for caring. CJ ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/2 "2003-08-25T12:38:31Z")
[brief hijack] Siege, I need to apologize – publicly – for my second post in the thread you’re talking about, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to do it there. Not at all casting blame at you, just explaining: Your first explanation for what was going on with Ryle Dup left me with my original erroneous impression that he’s an adult. I also had the impression that Ryle Dup was simply grappling with having made a damnfool post, not that he was in crisis. Had I known the scoop, I would never have written what I did – it might be okay for what I thought was going on, but was a damnfool thing to say given the true state of affairs. Again, my apologies. I’ll try to take a deep breath before posting from now on. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/3 "2003-08-25T12:41:32Z")
I was one of those who requested membership. But, probably like most who did, I just wanted to get closer to the individual at hand and offer support. Having said that, I totally understand your point of view and ask you to drop my request for membership. Maybe I’m wrong in speaking for the rest of the Dopers who DID request such membership, but it was no doubt motivated first and foremost by a desire to help. Personal note? I want to thank you much for what you’re doing. Those you are helping, I’m sure, are most grateful and will be forever in your debt. ---
**Author:** ![Aries28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Aries28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aries28)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/4 "2003-08-25T12:46:47Z")
**CJ** you are truly an angel. I hope it all works out. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/5 "2003-08-25T15:32:30Z")
**Siege** , Check your e-mail. Thanks for setting up such a mailing list. Dan ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/6 "2003-08-25T15:55:45Z")
I haven’t asked to join you over there, **siege**. But I know that there are many fine people here who are posters there who are wrestling with the black dog who are there. Onya for _your_ activities there. And FWIW, know that there are metric shitloads of Dopers who wish you all strength. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/7 "2003-08-25T17:03:22Z")
Good for you for doing this, **Siege**. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/8 "2003-08-26T06:43:49Z")
**CJ** , your reputation at SDMB is sterling. Once you said something in the other thread, I knew it was to be taken seriously. Thanks for caring and for doing something! I would have joined Cecil’s many months ago if I could make the connection work. Maybe my S.O. can help me figure it out. Bless you for this! ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/9 "2003-08-26T10:24:00Z")
**CJ** , please check your email. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/10 "2003-08-26T10:56:22Z")
Checked and responded to. Once again, I’ve underestimated folks at this board. Folks, forget I said anything; I should have realized that you would have the sense and the courtesy (talk about an understatement) this situation requires. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to ask our overworked and under appreciated moderators to close this thread. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-everyone-who-asked-to-join-cecils-place/197488/11 "2003-08-26T11:43:48Z")
All righty.