Group Conscience - e-cigarette-forum.com • The place for electronic cigarette reviews, news and chat

nicowolf · 03-31-2009, 07:32 PM

When I started this group, I somehow became the moderator here for the purpose of the forum.

There are some options available to us that I need some input on.

1. We can make our group viewable only by those who join the group. Do we want to do this?

2. We can make our group public (the way it is now, anybody can join) or moderated (I am not exactly sure what this means, but can look into it), or by invite only where new members would have to contact me and wait for me to send them an invite (this is how the gay group is).

Anonymity is the issue I am most concerned with. Personally, I am an open book - nothing to hide and unafraid to answer most any question. How anonymous do we want to be here?

secondson2929 · 03-31-2009, 07:39 PM

I think we should keep it public, but make sure that it is disclosed as such (like an open meeting.) There is a fair amount of annonymity on a forum anyway and I would hate for someone to not come here if they had to go through a pm or the like. We are responsible for helping anyone who reaches out.

nicowolf · 03-31-2009, 07:48 PM

Thanks, Ted for your prompt reply.

spike · 03-31-2009, 08:34 PM

Umm, not sure. My only concern is I would feel slightly inhibited about disclosing too much if it is going to be displayed in public - but that would be my problem. On the other hand I would hate to keep anyone who needed us out.

Do you feel the gay group is in any way affected by invitation only?

nicowolf · 03-31-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike

Umm, not sure. My only concern is I would feel slightly inhibited about disclosing too much if it is going to be displayed in public - but that would be my problem. On the other hand I would hate to keep anyone who needed us out.

Do you feel the gay group is in any way affected by invitation only?

Yes, Kate was the moderator for the gay group. In her recent absence, no one can join the group - she must send the invite to any new group members. She must also keep bumping the thread that tells people whom to contact for an invite. This could make us unavailable anytime I decide to disappear or get banned. This is another consideration.

sendit2mybb · 03-31-2009, 11:40 PM

First of all NicoWolf...thank you for taking the (un)official "reigns" of being the group moderator (not sure how you got stuck with it...but it's much appreciated). If it gets too hectic for you..let me know if I can be of service.

I'm stuck on this issue as well from a group conscience stand-point. I think that we all need to ask ourselves and agree as a whole; what is our purpose of this sub-group? If it's more of a social, fun place to hang out and share tricks/ tips and common interests regarding our little e-ciggie friends; then maybe we should leave it an "open" group and if someone is in need..they can ask a member for help/ advice. As we are all aware, it is our primary purpose to help another in need.

Whereas, if we decide that this will be more of a place to share experience, strength, and hope regarding our recovery from the disease of addiction; maybe we should respect everyone's anonymity and keep it as a "closed" group. (and possibly allow visitors to leave us a private message with anything pertaining to needing assistance with recovery that we can address on a more personal level and respect everyone's privacy.)

I just wouldn't want anyone who is a supplier in recovery to feel like they could not post anything in this sub-forum because of the "stigma" attached with our illness "might" negatively affect their business for those who don't understand recovery. Let's face it...we all know the ramifications of stigma from the general public who might not understand it and that would be terrible if it negatively affects someone's livelihood.

Let me chew on this for a bit...everyone else..please share your thoughts.
~Drew

deewal · 04-01-2009, 05:25 AM

First let me thank you nicowolf for taking the lead and becoming Moderator of this Sub-Forum.
I'm David and i'm a Real Alcoholic. I've been sober since August 5th 1998. That was the date of my first Meeting with The Fellowship.
Second i think sendit2mybb has made some very good observations and i agree with what he said. I need to think about it as well although not for myself.
I don't care who knows i'm an Alcoholic but i must admit i had forgotten about the "Stigma" issue which probably is just the same as it always was.
We know that the only person who can understand an Alcoholic is another Alcoholic but ordinary "citizens" just don't understand.
We can be a very "touchy" lot. lol
I still read my "eye opener" when i wake and i still read my Big Book everyday as although I have no desire for Alcohol i know too well from experience that my disease is still waiting for me should i listen to people who say "Over 10 years sober? Oh well your better now ar'nt you"
I was born an Alcoholic and i will die an Alcoholic.
Thank My Higher Power for teaching me that. The Big Book was written but described me 10 years before i was born.
Now i've just realised that anyone who is not an Alcoholic on these forums who may be able to read this, is not going to understand anything that i have just written.
It will Definitely need some thought.
For anyone who is new to The Fellowship i would say "Keep going to meetings and Take those 12 Steps."
Oh yes and i have been called a "step nazi"

Walrus · 04-01-2009, 05:55 AM

Moderation means that anyone can click the Join button, but that you have to approve it.

That said, I'm not sure I can be a member. I am an alcoholic (recovering) with 14 years of continuous sobriety, but I did not use a twelve step program, and probably never will.

That said, I'm always willing to be an open mind for anyone who needs to talk.

spike · 04-01-2009, 10:06 AM

I would be inclined to go for the middle way; only available to those who make the effort (which is not great) to join the group - it's unlikely that many non-alcoholics will bother just to be disruptive, which might be the case if it is public. There are we all know many people whose lives have been badly disrupted by involvement with a practicing alcoholic and who have been left resentful of AA and its' teachings. Anyone involved in public information will have come across them.

I do feel that recovering suppliers should be able to join if they wish and since we know that AA does not have a monopoly on recovery (although I'm with Clancy on this - we secretly think it does - but we can't say so

- anyone seeking abstinence from alcohol addiction, whichever way they do it, should feel welcome to share their experience. We will all benefit from this interchange of ideas.

There are bound to be forum members who might be concerned about their drinking and anonymity will be their primary concern. It definitely was mine when I first went to meetings in my local community - the fear of meeting someone I knew (never mind they were there for the same reason). If this group is public and anyone can read it, I doubt we will attract them.

So in the end I'm with Drew on this - having just repeated everything he said anyway....

addhyperactive · 04-01-2009, 11:23 AM

levi, ex-drunk, former dry drunk, currently working on not being an a**.

could we start two groups? an open "meeting" style thread, and a "closed"?
if it were just one shouldn't the only requirement for being privy to the thread be a desire to stop drinking? just like with anything else that I say or write, I write, or say, with the knowledge that it could be made public?

03-31-2009, 07:32 PM	#1
nicowolf NicFiend Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: near Akron, OH, USA Posts: 1,366	Group Conscience When I started this group, I somehow became the moderator here for the purpose of the forum. There are some options available to us that I need some input on. 1. We can make our group viewable only by those who join the group. Do we want to do this? 2. We can make our group public (the way it is now, anybody can join) or moderated (I am not exactly sure what this means, but can look into it), or by invite only where new members would have to contact me and wait for me to send them an invite (this is how the gay group is). Anonymity is the issue I am most concerned with. Personally, I am an open book - nothing to hide and unafraid to answer most any question. How anonymous do we want to be here?

03-31-2009, 11:40 PM	#6
sendit2mybb ECF Veteran Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Harrisonburg, VA Posts: 110	First of all NicoWolf...thank you for taking the (un)official "reigns" of being the group moderator (not sure how you got stuck with it...but it's much appreciated). If it gets too hectic for you..let me know if I can be of service. I'm stuck on this issue as well from a group conscience stand-point. I think that we all need to ask ourselves and agree as a whole; what is our purpose of this sub-group? If it's more of a social, fun place to hang out and share tricks/ tips and common interests regarding our little e-ciggie friends; then maybe we should leave it an "open" group and if someone is in need..they can ask a member for help/ advice. As we are all aware, it is our primary purpose to help another in need. Whereas, if we decide that this will be more of a place to share experience, strength, and hope regarding our recovery from the disease of addiction; maybe we should respect everyone's anonymity and keep it as a "closed" group. (and possibly allow visitors to leave us a private message with anything pertaining to needing assistance with recovery that we can address on a more personal level and respect everyone's privacy.) I just wouldn't want anyone who is a supplier in recovery to feel like they could not post anything in this sub-forum because of the "stigma" attached with our illness "might" negatively affect their business for those who don't understand recovery. Let's face it...we all know the ramifications of stigma from the general public who might not understand it and that would be terrible if it negatively affects someone's livelihood. Let me chew on this for a bit...everyone else..please share your thoughts. ~Drew __________________

04-01-2009, 05:25 AM	#7
deewal ECF Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 523	First let me thank you nicowolf for taking the lead and becoming Moderator of this Sub-Forum. I'm David and i'm a Real Alcoholic. I've been sober since August 5th 1998. That was the date of my first Meeting with The Fellowship. Second i think sendit2mybb has made some very good observations and i agree with what he said. I need to think about it as well although not for myself. I don't care who knows i'm an Alcoholic but i must admit i had forgotten about the "Stigma" issue which probably is just the same as it always was. We know that the only person who can understand an Alcoholic is another Alcoholic but ordinary "citizens" just don't understand. We can be a very "touchy" lot. lol I still read my "eye opener" when i wake and i still read my Big Book everyday as although I have no desire for Alcohol i know too well from experience that my disease is still waiting for me should i listen to people who say "Over 10 years sober? Oh well your better now ar'nt you" I was born an Alcoholic and i will die an Alcoholic. Thank My Higher Power for teaching me that. The Big Book was written but described me 10 years before i was born. Now i've just realised that anyone who is not an Alcoholic on these forums who may be able to read this, is not going to understand anything that i have just written. It will Definitely need some thought. For anyone who is new to The Fellowship i would say "Keep going to meetings and Take those 12 Steps." Oh yes and i have been called a "step nazi" __________________ "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

04-01-2009, 05:55 AM	#8
Walrus Manufacturer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 2,213 Blog Entries: 8 Tweet this post!	Moderation means that anyone can click the Join button, but that you have to approve it. That said, I'm not sure I can be a member. I am an alcoholic (recovering) with 14 years of continuous sobriety, but I did not use a twelve step program, and probably never will. That said, I'm always willing to be an open mind for anyone who needs to talk. __________________ http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...-sigbanner.gif Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-31-2009, 07:39 PM	#2
secondson2929 Manufacturer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina Posts: 150	I think we should keep it public, but make sure that it is disclosed as such (like an open meeting.) There is a fair amount of annonymity on a forum anyway and I would hate for someone to not come here if they had to go through a pm or the like. We are responsible for helping anyone who reaches out.

03-31-2009, 07:48 PM	#3
nicowolf NicFiend Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: near Akron, OH, USA Posts: 1,366	Thanks, Ted for your prompt reply.

03-31-2009, 08:34 PM	#4
spike Supporting Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 108	Umm, not sure. My only concern is I would feel slightly inhibited about disclosing too much if it is going to be displayed in public - but that would be my problem. On the other hand I would hate to keep anyone who needed us out. Do you feel the gay group is in any way affected by invitation only?

04-01-2009, 10:06 AM	#9
spike Supporting Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 108	I would be inclined to go for the middle way; only available to those who make the effort (which is not great) to join the group - it's unlikely that many non-alcoholics will bother just to be disruptive, which might be the case if it is public. There are we all know many people whose lives have been badly disrupted by involvement with a practicing alcoholic and who have been left resentful of AA and its' teachings. Anyone involved in public information will have come across them. I do feel that recovering suppliers should be able to join if they wish and since we know that AA does not have a monopoly on recovery (although I'm with Clancy on this - we secretly think it does - but we can't say so - anyone seeking abstinence from alcohol addiction, whichever way they do it, should feel welcome to share their experience. We will all benefit from this interchange of ideas. There are bound to be forum members who might be concerned about their drinking and anonymity will be their primary concern. It definitely was mine when I first went to meetings in my local community - the fear of meeting someone I knew (never mind they were there for the same reason). If this group is public and anyone can read it, I doubt we will attract them. So in the end I'm with Drew on this - having just repeated everything he said anyway....

04-01-2009, 11:23 AM	#10
addhyperactive Full Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: fritztown texas Posts: 33	levi, ex-drunk, former dry drunk, currently working on not being an a**. could we start two groups? an open "meeting" style thread, and a "closed"? if it were just one shouldn't the only requirement for being privy to the thread be a desire to stop drinking? just like with anything else that I say or write, I write, or say, with the knowledge that it could be made public?