OT- question about a forum rule

Sorry if I should have asked this privately but I didn't know how...

I often read other forums as well as the crohns ones and try to help out where I feel I have knowledge.  I have noticed that whenever anyone mentions feeling suicidal that their post is automatically edited to take that out followed by a blanket "call this number if you are in danger of hurting yourself."  I am no expert but worked as a corrections officer with mentally unstable juveniles and had tons and tons of suicide prevention training.  I understand that it is difficult to hear someone state that they are in danger and that maybe you feel you have to delete it to avoid liability of not stopping it should it occur, but I venture to state that this may not be the most beneficial to the poster.  The poster is reaching out and it takes an amazing amount of courage to admit that one is suicidal.  If you ask a suicidal person if they are going to hurt themselves they usually say no (what they have in mind is ending pain not causing pain.)  If you ask them if they plan on killing themselves you may get the truthful answer.  It is then that you can say call 911, call a hotline, tell a family member, don't be alone, etc.  But editing out that painful admission is going to tell that person that it is wrong to say they want to kill themselves and make it that much harder for them to admit it to a 911 operator or a therapist.  I understand it is the forum rule but I highly doubt that one person feeling suicidal is going to prompt others to feel the same way.  If someone admits that on the forum, editing it out prevents other people from posting positive responses, telling the person why they shouldn't do it, offering support, an ear, and ways to get further help.  If just the magic words (die, kill, suicide) are edited out, they may still think their post makes sense to readers.  They will feel further isolated an alone when no one responds, when no one cares that they want to end their life.  In reality we do care, but if it is edited we do not know that, and can't offer the proper response.

Finally, on another note... the proper term for a female attracted to other females is edited out as swear word.  I kind of feel like that is disrespectful to our female homosexual members.  Is there a way we could get that word allowed?

Sorry I'm on a tangent today but those two things have bugged me for awhile and after reading a post on IBS I felt I needed to speak up.

Hi FitzyK23,
This is Kitt and I am going to try to answer your concerns but also I will bring them to the attention of administration.  I am only speaking on my behalf and how I believe the site is set up the way it is.

I do know that we allow teens on the site so we do watch closely to follow the rules and guidelines set up by Administration.  
You are right some of us could talk with the members in distress that state how and what they want or are going to do to harm themselves.  Some people would find these topics very distressing and not know how to handle them.  Others would know how to talk to them but the risk is very great to the suicidal member as  the written word can be so easily misunderstood.

I feel these members in crisis need to be directed to a hotline or immediate help.  They need the help of a professional.
The HealingWell rule is: Discussions of suicide or self-harm that are deemed negative and therefore potentially injurious to others are also not permitted. Mods do edit out parts if it is only in conversation but all posts are copied to Administration so they are not ignored. We don't just delete them completely. We just remove the serious threats from the open forum. Yes we do replace with the crisis numbers.

Due to the anonymity of the site and the fact that this is a peer support group and not responsible for calling any authority on any member that threatens suicide, we strongly encourage members to call the hotline , 911, a family member or a friend, or to check themselves in to the local hospital emergency room. We truly care for all the members and it may seem unkind but again I would never want to cause harm and if the situation calls for professional help then I would follow the rule and refer them to the Crisis Numbers and/or 911.

I know you are thinking of the members too and I do understand where  your coming from.

Now your other concern, I am not sure which word but I think I know, I will send this question to Admin and I would guess it is a word that is in the censored list for the site.  I do not know how that list was chosen.

I thank you in advance for your understanding of where I am coming from with my response. You are all kind and caring members.

Respectfully

Kitt

Hey Fitzy, Glad I was able to shed some light.  I worked ER for 26 years so I know what your saying, but I usually had the patient in the ER so I took it from there.  The ER did not take direct patient calls.

Thanks again for asking your questions.
Kitt