About the Addiction/Recovery Group.

[Skinner]

I'll make it clear right up front that I don't know anything about addiction or recovery, and I don't know anything about AA. I have seen some ridiculous stuff on this website during my time as an admin, but I must admit that the last place I expected there to be any problems is in a group dedicated to providing mutual support for people recovering from addiction. I'm finding this whole situation to be somewhat absurd.

So you know where I'm coming from: I have no intention of mediating these problems, and I have no interest in educating myself about AA or any other addiction-recovery program. I don't care what anyone thinks about AA. I have no intention of picking sides on any pro-/anti-AA brouhaha. All I care about is that this stupidity ends now. And if it doesn't, the easiest way I know to make it stop is to block people out of this group if they insist on keeping it going.

Here's how I think this group should work:

A bunch of people who are dealing with or have dealt with addiction come together and provide support to one another.

Perhaps I am naive, but I think it is possible for people-who-love-AA and people-who-hate-AA to set aside their opinions about AA and focus on providing each other some mutual support. After all, this isn't an AA meeting. And it's not any other program, either.

If there is something that should be obvious to all thinking people, it is this: People are different. Something that works for one person might not work for another. AA works for some people. AA does not work for others. It's not a particularly difficult thing to understand.

If you have had success with AA: GOOD FOR YOU.

And if you have had success with some other approach: GOOD FOR YOU.

Regardless of what you think of AA or any other treatment program, I think we can all agree that if a member of our community can find ANY APPROACH that works to help them recover from addiction: THAT IS A GOOD THING.

If you don't like AA, and a fellow member of this community is an AA member and wants some good vibes because they just successfully finished step-number-whatever, it's not going to kill you to say, "Good job."

If you are an AA member, and a fellow member of this community is having success with some other approach, it's not going to kill you to say, "Good job."

And if you express contempt for any member of this community because of the treatment program they follow to get sober: That's messed up.

[NMDemDist2]

1. thanks Skinner!!

I think there are many paths to whatever your destination may be and I hope everyone finds one that works for them.

Thanks for weighing in and give that baby a kiss from a grateful DUer, sorry you had to take time away from him for another silly fight, but I appreciate you doing it. :loveya: :yourock:

[RetroLounge]

2. Thank you Skinner!

:yourock:

RL

[KitchenWitch]

3. Thank you Skinner

and sorry you had to do this.

[Why Syzygy]

4. Is it going to be okay

for members to refer to people who have problems with AA as "bashers"?

[Skinner]

7. I don't think you quite get my point.

And I think the fact that someone is asking this question is not a good sign.

No it won't be okay for people to refer to anyone as "a basher." But that shouldn't be an issue, because there will be no more fighting about AA. So there won't be any reason for anyone to refer to anyone as a "basher" or a "terrorist" or part of a "coven" or "cult" or whatever.

Don't like AA? That's fine. Learn to say things like this:

"AA isn't right for me. But I'm glad it's working for you."

And learn NOT to say things like this:

"Let me tell you why AA bites, and why people who participate in AA are dumb."

The same thing goes for people who like AA. Don't take it personally if someone is following a different path to recovery. Learn to say things like this:

"I understand that AA doesn't work for you. I'm glad you found something that works."

This is not the "argue about AA" Group. This is the "provide mutual support for people dealing with addiction" Group.

[FloridaJudy]

5. Thanks, Skinner

:yourock:

[Lilith Velkor]

6. Alright

Sorry if I got a little freaked out there. I'm still stunned that those Midtown creeps were finally exposed. They sent a lot of girls to the nuthouse and the grave, including a friend of mine.

I appreciate you taking the time to clarify this.

All I had to do in order to stop drinking heavily was to heal up from injuries from a car wreck, but I've experienced some very dark mental states, and certainly sympathize with addicts.

[wildeyed]

8. Thank you!

and good job to you, too :)

[Kajsa]

9. Thank you so much, Skinner!

:yourock:

[Justpat]

10. Sounds like a plan to me.

:loveya:

[bridgit]

11. straight-up!!

:thumbsup:

[libodem]

12. Well said

makes a lot of sense.

[Kajsa]

13. a big kick--

for the people who failed to read this.


:kick:

[RetroLounge]

14. Some people in this forum still haven't read this thread

apparently

:eyes:

RL

[Kajsa]

15. Hi Retro!

That is quite obvious, isn't it?

:hi:

[idgiehkt]

16. kick n/t