Bruce (roommate) is sick again, another cold. I have the runs. I almost got kicked out of my chat 12 step meeting last night because I was being "disruptive". I had had to leave the room for just a moment because my computer was acting up. I apologized to the leader, told her about the tech problem and she did not answer my pm. She did not say, "Carol, it's okay; don't worry about it." she just ignored it. I felt really bad.

I have seen around me, in that 12-step-meeting-chatroom, people being accused of being disruptive or a threat to safety in the room, when they didn't mean to be that way; even when they have explained that they had tech problems.

The leaders of this group (chat 12 step meeting, not here at PC) are granted the power to kick ppl out or to de-voice them just for being annoying or for causing what they think is a disruption.

I have never been kicked out of a face to face 12 step meeting before and I almost got kicked out of the chat room meeting. Just for a stupid misunderstanding.

Also, the ppl in those rooms are unstable. Unpredictable.

I think I am making a new rule for myself---no more chatrooms. Anywhere. Internet misunderstandings happen and when they do and I cannot communicate with anyone because of their attitudes or behavior or having too much power over the rooms (right to kick ppl out summarily, without a "12 step group conscience") I don't feel safe there anymore.

Message boards and face to face groups are what I will now tolerate.

I have also been reading here on this board at PC about how some ppl here have had bad experiences in the chatrooms and that bothers me. I don't see so much of that in the message boards. That's sad---that PC chatrooms are like that. I heard at least 2 stories about that.

I went to my usual face to face meeting, then another one in the evening.

I am not running anymore, but I do think I am realizing when it's appropriate to run and when it's appropriate not to.

thanks,

Carol