Post 1,000 (or is it?) for me. Here's what I've learned at MWO.
1. Type your post in word and cut and paste to the forum (especially if it's a long post) as there can be computer glitches and it's heartbreaking to lose a well thought out and lengthy post. Speaking of glitches, I have posted much more than a thousand posts but the computer got stuck and kept giving me the same number over and over. Maybe it happened for a reason (to make me stick here) as I really wanted to reach the senior member status (1,000 posts)
2. "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz is a fabulous book. He speaks of one agreement and we must remember it when we are online participants as we can't hear tone or see expressions. When we can't see facial expressions, we can't back down from saying something if someone is starting to get offended. Often times words can be misconstrued or misunderstood. Don's second agreement is "Don't take anything personally." I have definitely learned that here, that things can be misunderstood and if feelings are hurt, I will ask for clarification or send a private mail.
3. Where have all the modders gone?
We don't have the support that AFers do as people that can successfully moderate usually do not need that day to day support. A clinical psychologist in LA who has an addiction private practice stated the people who are successful with moderate drinking after having had problems with alcohol abuse in the past "must make a profound commitment to lifelong vigilance around alcohol". I personally have never understood why so many moderators that seem to be successful leave and don't stay here to offer ongoing support to each other and to newbies. I also wonder how many remain successful at moderating...do they just slip back into old bad habits and end up continuing to drink too much or do they really not need the support once they have learned some pearls of wisdom here to remain vigilant?
4. I have learned that the moderator thread is the best place for me to remain as I work my program. If I venture to other threads where people are working their AF program I tread lightly. As a nurse at a trauma hospital, I have cared for people who are dying from alcoholism with bleeding varacies, shot livers or pancreases, etc. and I do know that for some people, one more drink could literally kill them. MWO fooled me when I joined as I thought it was a site for moderating but learned that more people end up going AF than down the moderator path. With that being said, I never want to entice someone who may be on the edge of thinking they can moderate when they really can't or shouldn't, so I generally never talk about my moderating life-stlye on non mod threads. This is my personal choice but it is out of respect for those that are not only living one day at a time... but one minute at a time.
5. I have learned that when people come to our thread wondering if moderating is the way that they should go, the best answer may be "You must weigh the pleasure against the pain and problems drinking causes." It is usually not the amount that one drinks, but what happens when they do.
These are my words of wisdom with my 1000th post! Hopefully there will be many more to come!
:l
Eve11
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