Thank goddess for separation of church and state and all those freakie nekkid freespirits in the rainbow tribe.

I ment no disrespect to anyone or to any sanctuary in my previous posting.

And I never saw the original posting that the first posting in this string reference.

So perhaps an error of context and association.

Still Im all about appreciating charity, generosity and gifting one another on all sides of give and take.

I'm sorry to have seemed dismissive. It sucks to have things stolen.

On the other hand, it also sucks to have one's entire community dismissed or judged or labeled, as a result of the actions of a few. I can't keep people from stealing, I've never stolen (well, not in a long time, and never from another faerie,) and yet I get the sense from conversations like this that we're all supposed to feel guilty, because some among us lack ethics. Our borders are porous, and I, for one, have learned not to bring anything to a gathering that I wasn't willing to lose or see ruined by mud, etc. It sucks, but things leave us.

And I will repeat what I said before to you, Harold: I have no idea who you are, or what your connection to the faeries is, but I don't care for the strong and largely judgmental/self-righteous opinions you post. That's my right, just as it is your right to speak from behind a veil. You can state whatever reasons for doing so that you care to state: go ahead. But I don't trust masks, or people who hide behind them, just the same way that I don't trust everything I read on the internet. That's my piece.

And furthermore, seeing as how we're "talking," I'm a firm believer that AA works if you work it, and I don't like the way you dump on that constantly, either. Anything that anybody can do to get and stay sober is of value, to me. Again, just my piece. I'm not starting a flame war here, I just feel like balancing the floor a bit.

Not that I believe anybody is really reading this anyway.....

To disagree about something does not equal a flame war. It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.

If AA works for you that is great. I take issue with them because for a group that teaches "rigirous honesty" they seem to be dishonest about the fact that they are indeed a religion. They should stop denying that. A federal court has decided that AA is a religion and becaue of it's religious nature people can no longer be forced to attend AA www.newrecovery.blogspot.com/200...html

I am glad that you realize that what ever hepls people to remain sober is valid. If somebody quits on ther own and abstains from booze for five years they are just as sober as someone who has attend a meeting a day for five years. IMHO abstinence IS sobriety. The term "dry drunk" is meaningless. It is an oxymoron. Abstinence is and end in itself. Sobriety is a one step proces. People can and do decide to quit--not for one day at a time, but for the rest of their lives. We all have the power. I deny we are powerless. I affirm my power to not drink.

I dislike that AA presents themselves as the one and only way to stay sober. There are many alternatives like SMART Recovery, Rational Recovery, Secular Organizations for Sobriety and Women in Sobriety that work for tens of thousands of people.

I am glad it works for you. You are lucky. One study showed that after a year only 5-10% of people who joined AA were still sober. Those who quit on their own have a better rate of success after one year.

My feelings run deep about this because I did not stop drinking until I left AA and accepted that I was far from powerless. I want other faeries who may be dealing with the pain of addiction to know that alternatives are out there. There are many paths to recovery. You have many choices. Pick one that resonates with you. For too long people were made to feel that it was their problem if AA failed them. I want to validate the idea that they do have choices.