posted on Mar, 2 2009 @ 08:18 PM
In the interest of mankind I must say this is an interesting topic. It always is, and it can be quite complex, if we make is so.
When I originally posted I had concerns over the DATS thread, (that was way back on page 17 or 18), and I was assured that there would be no problem
and that DATS is safe. I have trust in the boss here so I don't worry about it. But I have read this thread today and have started wondering about
a few things.
Alcohol is one of the oldest know drugs to man kind. It has many uses, some legal and some not. Other than prohibition alcohol has been seen as an
acceptable means of a drug use. This is highly debate-able. I understand this completely.
Having spent many many years inside 12 step programs I have learned much. Mostly that the folks are to talk about recovery and not alcohol in
itself... that would be a boring convo for me. I don't want to know how you got drunk or high or anything like that. You can share your experience
without going into all the details.
I want to state in case any one wonders what the purpose of DATS is, why I started the thread and why it has been such a success. But I want you to
know that it has nothing to do with alcohol. In fact we have bigger squirrel problems than we have had with anything else there (a must to read, it
really is quite interesting).
It all started from the chat room. One night every online and in the chat room was having a good time. And I mentioned we need a pub and grill to
hang out it. And so I created DATS. Since the opening of DATS we have had over 17,000 posts. We have a devoted staff who put up with no crap...
especially people getting out of hand. Very little drinking is done there. In fact, as far as role playing goes- we have a blast.
We have had dances, and contests and all kinds of fun. We expanded and attached a hotel to the side of the Pub. Upstairs we have rooms for staff
members to take breaks in and sleep if they need to. We have security, cooks, janitors, and the most beautiful manager a person could want, and she
is highly devoted to DATS. We put up curtains, play music, have a guard dog, a jukebox and all kinds of stuff.
For the last few months I have been deathly ill, and the manager has taken care of DATS herself. I am very proud of her for keeping the place in
order and active. I am honored to know her, and just recently met her in person in my very own home. She is truly amazing, and so is the rest of the
DATS staff. I hope this has bearing here cause I would hate to see my employees (being as I am the owner of DATS) end up in the unemployment line.
They deserve better than that.
I am quite proud of the DATS pub myself. To know that many people on ATS/BTS come there to have fun is great. Being as I am not a drinker (in real
life) it thrills me to know that the people online at ATS can come to a place and have some relaxation. The would more than likely be at home on
their computers, than out in real life possibly drinking or drugging, getting killed or arrested. Instead they are running around ATS/BTS and
stopping by DATS to say 'HI'. It is a beautiful place.
I agree with not talking about using drugs, and personal stories here at ATS. It gets nobody anywhere. To thrive on a illicit high and chat about it
is in some ways sick and pathetic. Bragging rights cause you are being stupid is in fact nothing to brag about. Talking about the effects of any
drug is ok with me, BUT not when it goes personal. Meaning things like 'Wow I got so wasted on ???? Whatever', there are sites that are made for
that kind of conversation, and that is not what this site is about. And it is not what DATS is about either.
I can only hope that the debate and conversation on all this does not bring down the DATS thread. A lot of people have worked very hard on it. It
would mean the Fight Club Pub would close, and the little beer drinking, wine chugging icons would have to be removed. People could no longer talk
about recovery, and recovering people need a place to talk about recovery.
All drugs have some purpose, and it would be great if people were to use, and talk about them responsibly, but that may be asking to much from some
folks. I for one support SkepticOverlord in all his decisions, because I believe he knows what he is doing, and what he wants from this site.
Whatever the outcome of all his decisions I know he has the best intentions for all of us.
With that I hope that less people take things personally. In the cyber world things are said and people get confused about life. This place ATS/BTS
is a place for honesty and learning. We should be keeping that in mind. ABOVE Top Secret is cause we are tired of secrets and should be out in the
open more about what is going on, but not at the expense of other...
Hugz at ya...
Zaimy....