I'll take the plunge and help out. If they're not real then that's not my problem but when we choose to help we might lose. Go with your heart. The people with ill intentions show their colors in no time. That's what makes me sad about the drama today. It's made good people lose their faith and trust. You just share, Kristi and leave the drama where it needs to be. You already know this. This has just been a very tough day. I didn't have much on my profile when i first came here. I still don't have much.. I am who I am, however. Well, at least that's my dog, Ziggy. lol

PM them to see what kind of response you get? I don't know. I really haven't seen many new people today with all the garbage here.

Well, one of them has made it really easy to identify him in all his incarnations.

That's a really good question. I happened to join fairly recently when a similar bit of BS was happening. I was very thankful for the people who took the time to respond to me or send hugs and messages.

Yeah K, I am with you. It does make me very sceptical...one just appeared now and I am thinking 'is this person for real?'.

I think, for me, if it doesnt feel right then I am just not gonna respond.

As someone said, DS should be additional support not the only support and we can only do what we can do.

I say post away. If they are baiting or playing a stupid game then the truth will come out. Dont take it personal. Some are sicker than others. Some dont work, use public internet access, and claim to be well when they belittle, name call and bash other's attempts to get sober in manner of thier own choosing. Sadly they also expect everyone else to do the same and to disagree or question will result in accusations of suppression of ideas when the person doing most of the accusations is the one who is in favor of a blanket of suppression

i tend to take a leap of faith--unless proved wrong. then, i ignore.

The key word to me is the word honesty. No one I know got sober until they got honest with themselves. No one I know stays sober unless they are honest about themselves and others.

As far as I am concerned, if someone is not ready to hear an honest message, or have an open mind to honest suggestions, may as well got back out and do some more research.

Recovery is for those who need it, and WANT it.

I don't always respond to new people. I don't try to argue with anyone who brings a soapbox, new or not. I use the "Ignore User" feature liberally.

Sometimes I'm moved to respond to a new person. One today may or may not have been a hoax. If I treat it as real and it's fake, then I'm punked -- so what? If I treat it as fake and it's real, then I've lost an opportunity to help someone.

I never know if and how I'm helping someone. For all I know, my heartfelt posts go nowhere; but my smartass remarks may be just what someone needs to stay sober today. I'm pretty sure, though, if I'm mean or petty I'm not doing anyone any good -- and damaging my own serenity if no one else's.

I'm glad others respond with love and support when I'm silent

DogGirl's eyes sure are pretty, aren't they?.

You make a good point.I mean new people are very important to my recovery.I wish for everyone. the freedom and joy I have in my daily life.Even the folks who seem a bit warped i have hope for.I was at at 3year cake last night. If only we had before and after photos, there would be fewer skeptics. This person was white as a ghost when he came to his first meeting and now he's positivly pink...Stay in the pink!

You don't know if it's real but being a constant cynic is no fun either. I always go in with the attitude that the person is "real" and over the course of a few more posts, they will usually reveal more about their personality. It does not hurt me in any way to assume they're real...the worst case scenario is that I've wasted some advice, but that rarely happens. I've only been burned by a small number of people that I've met on this forum, so I'd say that the odds are pretty high that you're dealing with a decent person who is looking for help.

Trusting someone here costs me nothing. As long as I don't let my ego get wrapped up in it.

I wondered this same thing today, it would be really sad if someone new asked for help & someone mistakenly thought they were "he who shall not be named".

Guess there's a little paranoia but I say go ahead and respond & if it ends up to be "he who we shall not speak of" then you'll know soon enough. It's sad really.

Keep carrying the message, what else would you do?

All we have is today! yeah we alcoholics act like jerks at times. But hell you give them a big ol hug and there fine. Take care.You never know if someone is for real or not, but does it matter, see when you help someone else you are really helping yourself, will they stay sober who knows it is up to them, as long as we stay focused on the solution instead of the problem.When Bill W. first got sober and was bringing people into his house, they were not staying sober, but he noticed he was. They told me if I want to keep it I had to give it away freeling, just like it was given to me freely, so take care and keep things simple.

..by the way that avatar looks like my cat. lol!