PLEASE READ "TRIGGER ISSUES" AND "FORUM GUIDELINES"
Brothers (and I do mean all of you this is not directed at any one person)
I wrote the Forum Guidelines and the Trigger Issues in an effort to address the problems that arose with the conflict of several recent posts. I felt it was important to put them out for all of us immediately rather to allow the negative aspects of the conflict to continue. The process of drawing up permanent guidelines is moving along with the Moderators but as with any volunteer organization, it takes time. That is why we have chosen to publish these so that we will have a standard that we can all respect right now.
While I appreciate that the way we handle it causes some ruffled feathers on both sides of the conflict, I think it is important to look at the downside of allowing it to continue.
This is a site that has to be safe for people many of whom are very sensitive to or triggered by conflict. We have to resolve our conflicts in a way that minimizes the fall out to those who come here out of need for a safe place. Since the conflict arose:
A number of us have clearly stated that they question whether they feel safe posting
At least two non-participants in the conflict have talked about leaving and not coming back
At least one newbie had expressed concern about his first impression of our site
Several Moderators have spent considerable time sorting out the pms, reviewing the posts and agonizing over how to handle it fairly, and burn out would be an issue if it continues
And if it was allowed to go on any longer we would be looking at more division and harm
I dont think anyone intended to cause a problem with their posts. And I truly believe that their opinions are honestly held and deeply felt. But the fact is that it has created a problem which has seriously effected innocent people who come here for safety. We can not afford to lose any one of us.
The guidelines were approved and posted so that we have an interim way of dealing with this. We are asking that everyone follow them. Discussion about revising them is invited through private messages ONLY. The Trigger Issues are reasonably drawn to exclude only what we can not resolve here and discussion of which will only create more division. There are other places to discuss these issues.
So, PLEASE, no more public discussion of these issues or our taking this action. This is a plea to get back to the reason we came here, a safe and supportive place to discuss our recovery issues.
I wrote the Forum Guidelines and the Trigger Issues in an effort to address the problems that arose with the conflict of several recent posts. I felt it was important to put them out for all of us immediately rather to allow the negative aspects of the conflict to continue. The process of drawing up permanent guidelines is moving along with the Moderators but as with any volunteer organization, it takes time. That is why we have chosen to publish these so that we will have a standard that we can all respect right now.
While I appreciate that the way we handle it causes some ruffled feathers on both sides of the conflict, I think it is important to look at the downside of allowing it to continue.
This is a site that has to be safe for people many of whom are very sensitive to or triggered by conflict. We have to resolve our conflicts in a way that minimizes the fall out to those who come here out of need for a safe place. Since the conflict arose:
A number of us have clearly stated that they question whether they feel safe posting
At least two non-participants in the conflict have talked about leaving and not coming back
At least one newbie had expressed concern about his first impression of our site
Several Moderators have spent considerable time sorting out the pms, reviewing the posts and agonizing over how to handle it fairly, and burn out would be an issue if it continues
And if it was allowed to go on any longer we would be looking at more division and harm
I dont think anyone intended to cause a problem with their posts. And I truly believe that their opinions are honestly held and deeply felt. But the fact is that it has created a problem which has seriously effected innocent people who come here for safety. We can not afford to lose any one of us.
The guidelines were approved and posted so that we have an interim way of dealing with this. We are asking that everyone follow them. Discussion about revising them is invited through private messages ONLY. The Trigger Issues are reasonably drawn to exclude only what we can not resolve here and discussion of which will only create more division. There are other places to discuss these issues.
So, PLEASE, no more public discussion of these issues or our taking this action. This is a plea to get back to the reason we came here, a safe and supportive place to discuss our recovery issues.