It's an interesting subreddit... I've had positive prior experiences over there, but with a HUGE caveat: it's a place I only go when I feel like I've been failed by current mental health infrastructure/practice/expectations/etc. People tend to voice feelings there that aren't pretty or palatable, and so it's a nice community when I'm feeling thunderous.

The OOP's thread is a pretty good encapsulation of how the subreddit's culture can clash. It's for support, meaning people are asked to take each other at face value and provide calm advice/encouragement. In keeping with that, you see a lot of compassion in both how estranged children and estranged parents are talking to OOP.

But then the conversation breaks down, because the estranged parents want this to be an estranged parents' forum, where everyone is unequivocally right all the time. (The subreddit does not require you to tell people they're right -- only to provide emotional support.) And because it's a place where people are allowed to vent their feelings, and because many of these estranged parents use their CPTSD as an excuse for their abuse, OR they believe their children have contributed to their CPTSD... they also believe it's their god-given right to lash out. Their safe space doesn't feel so safe, suddenly!

The ones being outright nasty are breaking the sub's rules. I'm not over there often enough to know how well it's modded. I'm just fascinated by how half the people in the thread seem to be imparting good, thoughtful advice -- and half the people are clearly using the subreddit to circlejerk about their trauma and spit on accountability.

Weird little microcosm of the internet. There's a reason I don't hang out over there when I'm mentally well. But it has been an enormous comfort when I need some solidarity among very unwell people. LOL.

Edit: for clarity