tips

Here are a few tips worth keeping in mind for when chatting on a buddi bench™. These ideas are offered as helpful suggestions not rules. As buddi bench™ is only for adults we respect your ability to handle any issues that arise. But of course adults can be vulnerable & some find chatting to new people & being assertive harder than others. Some worry they may say or do ‘the wrong thing’. We hope the following ideas will increase the likelihood of any interaction on a buddi bench™ being a positive experience & mutually beneficial.

keeping safe

Your own wellbeing is always the priority. 

Boundaries are important. The 10 minute time boundary is there to keep us all safe & comfortable - never feeling obliged to be more than a kind stranger for a short while. Be upfront & assertive if you don’t want to talk for more than 10 minutes or about a particular topic. You don’t need to give any reason for ending the chat or changing the topic of conversation - the 10 minute rule helps us all to keep things manageable & simple.

Consider keeping your private details private. Only give out a mobile number, for example, if you feel absolutely comfortable doing so. If you both want to continue chatting beyond the 10 minutes, do so in a public place such as a nearby cafe.

Trust your gut. If you feel uneasy while chatting please feel free to politely end the conversation & walk away.

If you consider yourself vulnerable or would like some additional reassurance about safety, message a friend before & after using the buddi bench™ so they are aware of your location & wellbeing.

buddi bench™ isn’t a dating service. Please be aware of the possibility of mistaking kindness for romantic attraction. Of course it is possible that buddies go on to be more than kind strangers but this is not our focus. There are plenty of other resources for these kinds of connections.

Keep the following in mind when chatting on a buddi bench™:

Be willing to understand someone else’s point of view, even if it’s different from yours. Talking with people that have a very different take on life is part of the goal of a buddi bench™ interaction. Be courageous & curious. Try & listen non-judgementally & without interrupting wherever possible. Try not to discriminate against anyone for any reason, including gender, race, sexuality, disability or political views. Live & let live.

Be respectful of any information you're told, and as much as possible, keep the chat private. If you share details of the conversation, please maintain the anonymity of the other person. Gossip can be hurtful. As much as possible: what’s said on the bench, stays on the bench. This keeps us all safe. The only exception to this is if you have any safeguarding concerns: advice for tricky chats & resources click here.

Seth has condensed 25+ years of his expertise in the fields of addiction and mental health & uploaded hundreds of his articles & presentation notes to this AI model.

This tech uses models like ChatGPT but takes it to the next level.

Topics you might like to explore:

mental health

- anxiety - anger - bipolar - depression - sleep - schizophrenia - trauma - OCD - & lots more

addiction issues - ANY substance or behaviour including:

- alcohol - food - sex - narcotics - internet - gaming - relationships - smoking

So Virtually Seth (VS) gives you:

- free 24/7 (365) access to Seth's brain

- the benefits of working with a buddi/coach/mentor sharing information & tips, on your terms

- no judgment

- no cost

- 100% confidential (your conversation is only read by AI - no humans are involved)

- no catch

Disclaimer

Virtual Seth (VS) is an artificially intelligent model ('trained' on Seth's knowledge & experience) and not a real person. We cannot be held responsible for any advice given. As a rough guide, treat this service as if you were having a chat & a coffee with Seth in a cafe. Insightful yet informal. Seth suggests you ALWAYS consult several professionals before taking any significant actions that might effect either your physical or mental health. This service is meant to be used in addition to other professional services, not instead of expert advise. Please exercise due caution. 😊