Bluelight and a New Sub-Forum

I was very suprised to see the site's co-owners announce a forthcoming sub-forum dedicated to rehab and sober living. One would probably think that it is a natural evolution and that it makes perfect sense. I beg to differ. Harm Reduction is the antithesis of the "Sober Living" mentality. I admit that I have no subjective experience with that whole mindset and way of life. Still, I have come close to it.

When I was released from prison I attended NA Meetings to assure my family members that I was not going to go apeshit. As those who have read my blog at length know, I became an addict as a result of medically prescribed opiates/opioids. Moreover, I was compelled to begin Opioid Substitution Therapy/Methadone Maintenence Treatment at a very young age. I became addicted at the age of 17, to morphine, and by 20 I was on Maintenence.

There have been points at which I also consumed illict substances, especially heroin, but for the most part it has been smoothe sailing as far as my addiction goes. Ironically, my experience with the American Justice System had to do with a relative's cocaine business and not my own usage.

I say all this as a means of full disclosure so that noone should think my views on rehab and "Sober Living" have anything to do with some personally traumatic experience.

I find that the whole "Sober Living" hyperbole is a crock of shit. I think that people- obviously- are not carbon copies of one another and that as such, it is impossible to implement a "one size fits all" method of dealing with addiction. The problem with "Sober Living" is that its proponents swear it is a cure all. It has a dismal success rate and comes all too close to a cult of personality revolving around whichever big kahuna is running the house.

Aaaah, "running the house," therein lies the largest problem; "Sober Living" is a huge moneymaker in what has become a huge boom industry. I resent bloodsuckers who profit off of the misery of others. If your life's work revolves around my life imploding I am not going to cotton to a fucken thing you have to say.

I realise that there is a significant segment of the population who sees nothing at all wrong with paying $300.00 an hour to sit in a plush chair and talk about bullshit for 45 minutes with a Psychoanalyst. Buying friendship has always struck me as a waste of time, energy and money. Yet others do not see it that way. For such people "Sober Living" might be just what the doctor ordered. Pay $5,000 a week to have someone stare at your pupils and interrogate you if you dare to return "home" at 8:07 PM instead of your 8PM curfew. No thanks.

Still, as long as such people do not try and impress their preferences upon me it is all good. Returning to Bluelight's decision...People that are gung ho for recovery cannot stomach alternative viewpoints on the subject of intelligent use of psychoactives, or ANY use of them. There are umpteenth sites in cyberspace catering to the quasi-Fascist tendencies of the whole "Sober Living" crowd. There are only a handful of sites however, that cater to intelligent consumers. In fact, most sites only focus on the using aspect, and not Harm Reduction at all. Bluelight is a one of a kind.

I think that the sub-forum we have already, devoted to healthy lifestyles, should suffice in that regard. Adding an entire sub-forum will attract a different type of member. I guess it sounds elitist but I just don't see the point and can only visualise negative results. Such people are already served.

 

Well said i could not agree more.

 

Opinion noted.

HR is the antithesis of prohibition, not sober living/addiction recovery. One can become and/or live sober and still not have any problem with other people doing drugs. I've been functionally sober for years, other than the occasional drink and my morning coffee, but still hang out here.

Ignoring the fact that addictions happen, and leaving addicts without support simply because they no longer want to do drugs, is unkind and counterproductive.

 

Dave, are you really imagining that should BL NOT create that envisioned space that people in Sobriety would suffer from a lack of support? I applaud your ability to co-exist, as a non-user, with active users but really, are you claiming that THAT is the norm? Go to any site or forum devoted to Sobriety and express your support for say, Needle Exchange, then sit back and let the fun begin. Most adherants to that perspective simply will not allow for co-existence.

As for Prohibition, I disagree. What is the direct opposite of "use," non-use of course. Prohibition would oppose legalisation, right? The belief that one CAN safely use psychoactives is in direct opposition to the belief that one must be physically isolated from people, places and things that serve as triggers. Imagine a person who thinks that way seeing teenagers in "Other Drugs" bragging about how much hydrocodone and Jack Daniels they knocked back last night. Let's just say, the 2 perspectives are NOT a match made in heaven.

 

Crimson: If more BLers expressed their opinion perhaps it might make a difference though I was saddened to see it announced as a done deal without an iota of debate. BL is the sum of its membership. It has evolved over the years to reflect the change in membership. IF enough of the "Sober Living" constituence takes root this site will eventually mirror their perspective. It is like the vampire story, they cannot get to you if you do not invite them in. Sounds alarmist but seeing as how this is the only site of its kind and there are tonnes of sites devoted to Sobriety, I see the move as terrible.

 

You're thinking in binary, man. The real world isn't black and white, and you of all people should know that. The new forums are basically just TDS with an expanded mandate and a couple more mods. TDS has been around here since fairly early days; has it diminished the site's harm reduction mandate at all? I would say no.

The reason why places like OD and TDS/the new forums are separate is precisely because of what you've mentioned. You don't want to hang out with people who are or are trying to get sober, then don't go there. You don't want to hang out with people who brag about hydrocodone and JD, then don't go there. Simple as that.

 

So if Dark Side already serves this demographic why waste bandwidth on a new forum? I don't know you well enough to make such a judgement call Dave but is it possible you have a subjective bias due to your lifestyle choices? You are telling me I'm not thinking out of the box and agreeing with me that such a demographic is already served. Yet you aren't adressing the issues raised, that there are umpteenth forums devoted to that demographic and only one devoted to intelligent users. THAT is a big problem as I see it.

I want to add, your belief that people will simply ignore other BL forums if they don't agree with them has been proven wrong. I'm not sure when you joined but when PhreeX thought of OD in 99 this was basically devoted to MDMA. Those of us talking about opiates/opioids were made into pariahs over elitist nonsense. As more opiate/opioid users joined BL the site began reflecting it. It really is the sum of its membership. Bringing aboard a sub-set of forums (it isn't going tpo be just one forum) WILL change BL. I hope I am wrong and it is changed for the better but I don't believe that will be the case.

 

I agree with you Rach. And Dave sure, the world isn't black and white, but AA and NA take a black-and-white view on the recreational use of substances. I wouldn't so lightly dismiss his opinion. He's seen how the introduction of new groups change the forums.