Banned from soberrecovery.com

guardian · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:50 pm

I think that unless you can mask your ISP or have never been banned under a different user name, it is best that we not post over there. I think it sends the message that we are deceptive and dishonest, whether or not that be the case.

As more and more people become aware of TSM and our site, we will have plenty of recruits willing to articulate our message on their site.

I think they'll ban everyone of us :lol:

until support developes among the veteran members over there. At that point, the administration and moderators of the site will be forced to allow TSM related conversation because banning well-known, popular members for discussing it would seem tyrannical and overly restrictive.

minneapolisnick · **Joined:** Tue May 19, 2009 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1793

Don't worry 8, we can re-duplicate the wheel. I haven't signed up over there yet. I can head over with someone else on another day and have the same conversation all over again.

lena · **Joined:** Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:07 pm **Posts:** 929

Hello guardian -- Please introduce yourself.

eight days a week · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:04 pm

minneapolisnick wrote:

Don't worry 8, we can re-duplicate the wheel. I haven't signed up over there yet. I can head over with someone else on another day and have the same conversation all over again.

I'm not sure it's worth it Nick, for the time being. I wonder how many members they have there, and how many would have read the threads before they were wrongfully (by their own rules!!) deleted. I'd guess we'd only be scratching the surface of that site, which in the grander scheme of alcoholism around the world must be more or less nothing.

Word will get out, I'm sure. Obviously not through that site though, I feel terribly sad for their members (many of whom posted good questions, and seemed open-minded, as one should be).

bob3d · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:16 pm

{content deleted by user}

~Q~ · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:47 pm

I received a response from the soberrecovery.com administrator to my question asking what I did wrong that deserved banning:

"You are one of several new members in the last couple of days who posted about the Sinclair Method on many forums. That is an indication of trolls or spammers using the forum for free advertising or pushing an outside agenda. These same members are sneaking in as new members. One posted a rude remark about the moderator.

Your thread wasn't against the rules except for the part about promoting the ability to continue and control alcohol. We don't promote the use of drugs or alcohol on the forums. It is a matter of life and death for some of our members and many try to moderate and don't make it back.

The Sinclair Method is considered a commercial site so links are not allowed.

We have many threads discussing different methods and different programs. When a group comes in like that with numerous threads on their first post about a service or product they are banned as trolls or spammers.

Thank you,
MG
"

My response:

"MG,

Nothing I posted in the tread I started would be considered spamming or trolling by any common definition. The only reason there were several responses to the thread I started was because prople on SR were posting and asking questions.

thesinclairmethod.com is not a commercial site. It sells absolutely nothing nor does it promote any type of paid for treatment method. It is nothing more than a group of Sinclair Method users who banned together. On of the members of this group pays for the hosting fees for the site out of his own pocket.

There is no rule on your site terms and rules that says one must be abstinent otherwise they will be banned. In essence what you are doing is saying you do not condone anything except a traditional 12-step program. Sadly, less than 15% of those who participate in these programs succeed long term (AA's published survey data).

The use of Naltrexone to treat alcoholism is approved by the FDA, therefore The Sinclair Method is just as medically valid as any 12-Step program.

Your own site rules say you will warn someone before banning them. I was nothing but respectful in my comments. You have absolutely no valid reason to have banned me from that site beyond you don't personally agree with the treatment method I was successful at."

minneapolisnick · **Joined:** Tue May 19, 2009 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1793

So much for freedom of speech and the free exchange of ideas. How pathetic. Never mind you weren't promoting anything, just sharing your personal success. And never mind the fact that our message board doesn't generate one penny. And never mind the fact that thousands who could benefit are being deprived of critical information. This all makes me very ill.

Just over three months ago I had never heard of naltrexone. If my mom hadn't emailed me the Times article, I'd still be a hopeless drunk right now. And these close-minded censors at soberrecovery are literally ruining lives by censoring this critical information. Before I'm done in life, I'm going to do something about this ridiculous injustice. Count on it.

In reflecting upon this matter, it struck me that we need media attention that will prevent any third party from filtering our message. We need to get a group of the cured together, and get on some sort of public forum. When I'm cured, this will be next area of focus.

houtx · **Joined:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:39 pm **Posts:** 872

~Q~ wrote:

I received a response from the soberrecovery.com administrator to my question asking what I did wrong that deserved banning:

"You are one of several new members in the last couple of days who posted about the Sinclair Method on many forums. That is an indication of trolls or spammers using the forum for free advertising or pushing an outside agenda. These same members are sneaking in as new members. One posted a rude remark about the moderator.

Your thread wasn't against the rules except for the part about promoting the ability to continue and control alcohol. We don't promote the use of drugs or alcohol on the forums. It is a matter of life and death for some of our members and many try to moderate and don't make it back.

The Sinclair Method is considered a commercial site so links are not allowed.

We have many threads discussing different methods and different programs. When a group comes in like that with numerous threads on their first post about a service or product they are banned as trolls or spammers.

Thank you,
MG"

Interesting. Apparently if you post of there and they disagree with you, then you are considered a Troll.

houtx · **Joined:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:39 pm **Posts:** 872

UGH - (sorry! I can't do the highlighting parts of quotes thing - LOL)

Anyway, I find all this soooooo unbelieveable!! Crazy really.

dreadnought54321 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:08 pm **Posts:** 55

Ok Im new here. I saw the thread and was part of it. I just would like an answer to my question before. Can you stop taking the medication and go back to drinking normally?

Banned from soberrecovery.com

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