Hmmm, I didn't consider that bringing up the subject of addiction around members of Alcoholics Anonymous might defeat the anonymity of some folks. Not that it's been any kind of secret as far as those who have responded thus far, to their credit.
Openness and honesty and willingness to share among friends are wonderful attributes, and I loathe the thought of such people coming under attack. If it was not meant that way, please nonetheless modify the approach, Alex. I'm still, I regret to say, a little touchy for coming under attack as a result of my
own openness and sharing.
I've said it before ... but one of the things I most like about the LoT, and other forms of non-i.r.l. communication ... is the ability to share deeper stuff than what's likely to come up in person.
This is different from previous incarnations of friendships in my life ... ironically,
because of drugs. My pals and I used to trip on LSD quite frequently ... and, roughly a third of the time, we'd end up sitting around talking ... revealing deep stuff to each other, and gaining much understanding and groking of our friends and ourselves.
Nowadays, I see my friends in the real world almost exclusively in fun, social situations. Deep discussions happen far less frequently.
To use an example ... I see Chernabog Joe less often than I'd like. And when I do, we are having a good time with a light mood ... and though I'd like to know more about his previously dire situation, I never break the mood to ask what it was like to be a depraved junkie, ya know?
I've learned more in this thread thru his candid and brave revelations of his junkie thought processes than I have in dozens of times seeing him in person.
The LoT is great for light fluff, and it's great once in a while for deep stuff. It's ok to have a back-and-forth discussion, but let's please not stifle the ability to share some deep stuff. Speaking from experience, people may be less likely to continue sharing if they perceive they are being attacked for what they reveal.
I've never done this before, but I'm going to quote from a mojo comment I received, without revealing the mojoer's identity of course.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mojo Anonymous
Haven't you noticed that we never have *really* interesting discussions here any more? Certain people don't want that to happen.
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