[seesaw]

I would appreciate some clarity on what kind of discussion is allowed regarding drugs in chat.

Obviously, people discuss medication, and that is not troublesome. But there has been a pervasive issue of people discussing recreational drug use, in terms of doing it while in chat. I was under the impression that since you are not allowed to be in chat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that discussing recreational drug use was also prohibited.

I find this kind of talk very troublesome. Can admin please provide some guidance?

Thank you,
Seesaw

[Gus1234U]

it seems like, most of the time, if one just suggests that drug talk is not allowed, it stops,, but of course that doesn't stop one from the first 'hit'.

{{{ Seesaw }}}

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by Gus1234U

it seems like, most of the time, if one just suggests that drug talk is not allowed, it stops,, but of course that doesn't stop one from the first 'hit'.

{{{ Seesaw }}}

Unfortunately that is not being the case.

Originally Posted by seesaw

I would appreciate some clarity on what kind of discussion is allowed regarding drugs in chat.

Obviously, people discuss medication, and that is not troublesome. But there has been a pervasive issue of people discussing recreational drug use, in terms of doing it while in chat. I was under the impression that since you are not allowed to be in chat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that discussing recreational drug use was also prohibited.

I find this kind of talk very troublesome. Can admin please provide some guidance?

Thank you,
Seesaw

It bothers me as well, when people start talking about recreational use, particularly in coffee house.

[DocJohn]

Folks, we're a mental health forum. Use your good judgement. If you want to discuss your recreational drug usage, please, there are hundreds of other communities online to do so. We're not one of them.

Having said that, different drugs are legal in different parts of the U.S. and other countries. But just like most people don't talk about smoking a cigarette, I'm not sure what the purpose is in discussing smoking something else. You do it, you enjoy it, that's cool... but not really something to discuss, is it?

[*Laurie*]

Discussion of drug use is so unclear these days. I facilitate a NAMI support group and have a couple of members who use medicinal mj as their primary treatment for psych disorders. I still wince inside when the use of mj is openly spoken about. My initial instinct is to tell people to stop using mj (immediately !!!). But I have to rearrange my thinking, because things are changing rapidly. I have to constantly remind myself that medicinal mj is completely legal here in California, in Colorado, and maybe in some other states.

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

Folks, we're a mental health forum. Use your good judgement. If you want to discuss your recreational drug usage, please, there are hundreds of other communities online to do so. We're not one of them.

Having said that, different drugs are legal in different parts of the U.S. and other countries. But just like most people don't talk about smoking a cigarette, I'm not sure what the purpose is in discussing smoking something else. You do it, you enjoy it, that's cool... but not really something to discuss, is it?

I get this, but we are not talking about medical MJ. It's one thing to say "I need to take my meds" and "I need to get high" or "Need to go roll a fatty." The fact that medical MJ exists is being abused to discuss it recreationally. And it's not like people saying they need a smoke, which people do, in passing. This has been ongoing for almost a week now, every time I go in the Coffeehouse, the same conversation. Also, if I recall correctly, MJ is still illegal federally in the US, regardless of some states having approved it for either medical or recreational use.

Regardless, the discussion going on isn't medicinal. Not by a long shot. When people come in and talk about abusing their meds, we stop them. We advise them not to do so, and the conversation is halted. If we approach people discussing recreational drugs this way, we get hostile responses. Even when politely asked for the discussion to stop. Should we report people having these discussions about recreational drug use? I have seen moderators ask them to refrain, but they bring it up again anyways. Like I said, it's been an ongoing discussion for days now.

Thanks,
Seesaw

[eskielover]

Then there needs to some consequences for those who insist on talking about recreational drug use. The problem is that You, Doc John may not see the purpose but it seems they must see a purpose or they wouldn't be doing it.

If the guidelines exist then they should be enforceable when broken....or at least a serious reminder.....just a thought.

[s4ndm4n2006]

I have said something about this in chat and seesaw stated it accurately. I have explained to the people questioning this in pm, or tried to anyway, what the difference is. really speaking of drugs related to what it does for you medically etc or things related to that I can understand but typically it's approached as a past time like drinking which we aren't supposed to allow either.

I'm wondering if a clarification of this might help but I dont' know if Doc has the time to do something like that or if anyone is willing to? With Doc's supervision? I say this because it seems there is a bit of gray in the line between recreational or medicinal.. or at least that's what the offenders typically use as a platform to argue and keep talking about it.

[Tamster]

i agree with all of you, we need to find a way to curb the recreational marijuana discussions, the ppl doing it are few only about 3 or so and maybe they can be persuaded to use pm between each other because they don't seem to want to move to adult chat where they can talk among themselves.
Like S4ndm4n i have ask them to stop before and they do for awhile and when i come back from a break it will be ongoing again.
Many ppl are uncomfortable and some even triggered to think about just trying something or going back to something. I'd hate to see that happen , i get these folks in pm and we talk it out at least we try to talk it out.
We definitely need to make a firm decision.
warmest regards, tams

And Doc thanks for responding to this concern!!!

[seesaw]

I'd also like to add that talking about getting together and smoking out is not talking about medicinal use. No one talks about getting together and doing Prozac.

[Tamster]

i think we have been conditioned some of us to accept certain things whether or not we agree. Turn the other cheek so to speak. We are a mental health community and need to look after the whole of our membership and remember to follow the guidelines set out for us, regardless if you are "ok" with just talking about getting "high" and doing it together either virtually or irl, just move this to PM and don't act out in the chat or forums about it.
thanks,tams

[s4ndm4n2006]

I think if everyone stays on top of this and says something even if you're not a mod and if need be reports to any of the mods or admins... and we do this consistently it will be too troublesome for people to keep doing it.

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by s4ndm4n2006

I think if everyone stays on top of this and says something even if you're not a mod and if need be reports to any of the mods or admins... and we do this consistently it will be too troublesome for people to keep doing it.

The problem here that I have run into is that when you ask someone to stop this discussion, they become hostile, and then you are subjected to their attacks. I would just as soon report it to avoid the confrontation.

[DocJohn]

There is zero need to discuss marijuana use recreationally. Zero. We are a mental health forum, not a place to discuss recreational drug use. Refer people to this thread if they need clarification on this concern.

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

There is zero need to discuss marijuana use recreationally. Zero. We are a mental health forum, not a place to discuss recreational drug use. Refer people to this thread if they need clarification on this concern.

Thank you for clarifying!

Seesaw

[CANDC]

thanks for clarifying that DocJohn

[Wild Coyote]

Thank you for posing the question, seesaw.

Thanks to all thread participants.
The clarification is helpful.

WC

Thanks doc john

[*Laurie*]

I agree - unless the chat is specifically for discussion of recreational substance use, I cannot understand why people bring that use into chat.
With regard specifically to medicinal mj, that area is still grey. I know some people who seem to truly benefit from medicinal mj, but they are few. I know many more people who use the term "medicinal" as a good excuse to stay stoned most of the time. The whole situation at this point is still really fuzzy.

[DocJohn]

There's very little to talk about medicinal marijuana use unless you need to talk about how to help with certain side effects. And the chances that someone else in the room is taking the same med for the same condition with the same side effects is very slim. These are topics best discussed in the appropriate forum. Not chat.

[Michael2Wolves]

It's being done for shock factor, and to get a reaction, period. I know who is doing it, and I can imagine why. I couldn't care less, myself, because unless the chat is about something I find worthy of comment, I just ignore it.

That being said, people should move to the adult room if they want to regale each other with tales of "smoking fatties" and whatnot. I'm not impressed by it. I smoke, yes, and it's not legal where I am, but it's the only thing that will relax me physically; I just have to deal with the side effects, that, while pleasant, don't necessarily belong in chat.

The chat is there to foster healthy communication. If you don't like the topic, change it and ignore the offending person.

Honestly, I could care less. It's like any other online chat--there's always going to be a few who want to act out, but whatever. You don't have to respond. By choosing to respond, you're continuing the controversy. That this thread even exists only adds to the controversy.

The Simpsons had the right idea, and even got Paul Anka to write a little ditty for it.



EDIT: And to be fair (mostly because I have detractors out there who will jump all over this if I don't put this disclaimer in), I have on occasion made a joke about it, but usually in the form of *Bob Marley's Jamming playing in the background* but yeah, I get it, and will refrain myself.

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by Michael2Wolves

It's being done for shock factor, and to get a reaction, period. I know who is doing it, and I can imagine why. I couldn't care less, myself, because unless the chat is about something I find worthy of comment, I just ignore it.

That being said, people should move to the adult room if they want to regale each other with tales of "smoking fatties" and whatnot. I'm not impressed by it. I smoke, yes, and it's not legal where I am, but it's the only thing that will relax me physically; I just have to deal with the side effects, that, while pleasant, don't necessarily belong in chat.

The chat is there to foster healthy communication. If you don't like the topic, change it and ignore the offending person.

Honestly, I could care less. It's like any other online chat--there's always going to be a few who want to act out, but whatever. You don't have to respond. By choosing to respond, you're continuing the controversy. That this thread even exists only adds to the controversy.

The Simpsons had the right idea, and even got Paul Anka to write a little ditty for it.



EDIT: And to be fair (mostly because I have detractors out there who will jump all over this if I don't put this disclaimer in), I have on occasion made a joke about it, but usually in the form of *Bob Marley's Jamming playing in the background* but yeah, I get it, and will refrain myself.

It is not even appropriate in the Adult Chat room. Adult Chat is not for controversial topics. It is for topics that are not light-hearted but the guidelines still persist. DocJohn has clearly weighed in here and said in no way is drug use an appropriate subject matter, and medicinal marijuana is only so in discussing side effects, but he has even clarified he does not see when that would even be appropriate.

I'm glad that you don't care, but I do. Chat is supposed to be a safe place. It triggers more than just myself to hear these continued discussions of drug use that have been going on for awhile now. Continued discussions of drug use are not conducive to creating a safe place for people to get support.

And if this post bothers you so much, then maybe YOU should ignore it.

Seesaw

[s4ndm4n2006]

Originally Posted by Michael2Wolves

It's being done for shock factor, and to get a reaction, period. I know who is doing it, and I can imagine why. I couldn't care less, myself, because unless the chat is about something I find worthy of comment, I just ignore it.

That being said, people should move to the adult room if they want to regale each other with tales of "smoking fatties" and whatnot. I'm not impressed by it. I smoke, yes, and it's not legal where I am, but it's the only thing that will relax me physically; I just have to deal with the side effects, that, while pleasant, don't necessarily belong in chat.

The chat is there to foster healthy communication. If you don't like the topic, change it and ignore the offending person.

Honestly, I could care less. It's like any other online chat--there's always going to be a few who want to act out, but whatever. You don't have to respond. By choosing to respond, you're continuing the controversy. That this thread even exists only adds to the controversy.

The Simpsons had the right idea, and even got Paul Anka to write a little ditty for it.



EDIT: And to be fair (mostly because I have detractors out there who will jump all over this if I don't put this disclaimer in), I have on occasion made a joke about it, but usually in the form of *Bob Marley's Jamming playing in the background* but yeah, I get it, and will refrain myself.

In many cases where the subject at hand does not break the rules that are established for chat, that works. Many people disagree on chat subjects and the best bet in those cases are to ignore the other person but this really is not about one person taking issue with someone just because they disagree but about clarifying what is actually allowed in chat.

The adult room, I believe has the same rules about the use of recreational drugs too. I believe doc can confirm this but I do as stated this is a site about mental health and recreational drug use really has no place here.

[s4ndm4n2006]

@Michael2Wolves: I also recall even as you say you know who the person is that is being talked about here, that you were actually the one who brought up going to the adult room and lighting up a fatty.