Cafe Recovery Chat Room Information

All About The Chat Room

Chat Room Entry:

All persons wishing to enter the chat room must register with a valid email address, proposed user nickname (subject to approval by The 12 Step Café® Management), user first name, last name initial, and country. An initial password will be sent to the user at the address registered.

Guidelines for Chatters:

The 12 Step Café® Chat Room provides a safe, supportive, and comfortable atmosphere for people in (or interested in) recovery.

Most forms of recovery are represented in the chat room necessitating a heightened sensitivity to a wide variety of participant needs. We ask your cooperation in actively supporting every person who chooses to enter the chat room.

In support of an atmosphere conducive to recovery:

Profanity is discouraged.
Rude, abusive, threatening, or other disruptive inappropriate behavior is not tolerated.
Sexual harassment, sexual predatory behavior, or any other inappropriate sexual oriented behavior in any form is condemned.
Our Chat Monitors serve as the ultimate authority in ensuring a positive, supportive, and comfortable atmosphere in the chat room
Only one registration is allowed per chat room user.

User names are subject to site management approval. Email requests to change user names to the12stepcafe@hotmail.com
Only one user name is allowed per person registering for the chat room.

Disclaimer: The 12 Step Café® owner, Café Management, ChatMaster, Chat Monitors and other trusted servants are not responsible ,and will not be held liable in any way, for anyone's behavior on the message board, in the chat room, or in real life. By entering the chat room, you agree to all of the above. By entering 'Chat' you agree that you are there under your own free will and are able to leave at any time. You also agree that you are at least 18 years of age or that you are visiting the site with consent of a parent or guardian. IMPORTANT: Please note that severe violations against people and/or the site can be dealt with in a court of law. These actions may result in fines and/or imprisonment.

Chat Monitors:

Chat Monitors, as stated above, “serve as the ultimate authority in ensuring a positive, supportive, and comfortable atmosphere in the chat room.”
Chat Monitors are volunteers selected by, and primarily accountable to, the Website Owners.
Chat Monitors may, or may not, be visible in the chat room at any time during the 24 hour day.
When Chat Monitors are in the room, their names appear in Blue lettering.
Chat Monitors are helpers as well as enforcers.
Chat Monitor decisions are final.

Chat Room Transcripts:

For the protection of everyone, transcripts of chat room conversations are kept and regularly reviewed by The 12 Step Café® owner and selected management team members.

Common Questions and Answers

Q: How do I find my way around in the chat room?
A: Our chat room has several features including private conversations, icons for users, emoticons that enhance communication, ignore, redlining, and others. Chatters in the room and/or Chat Monitors will be glad to help you get acquainted with the features.

Q: What do you talk about in the chat room?
A: The conversations vary. All of life is affected by addiction and recovery. If people have something specific needs, questions, or concerns, our chatters are there to support, listen and share their experience, strength, and hope.

Q: Are there recovery meetings in the chat room?
A: Regularly scheduled meetings are conducted in the meeting rooms. Having said this, we encourage those who need immediate support via a meeting to express that need in the main chat room. Our experience is that chatters will support the need of individuals who ask for it. If an individual wishes to start a new meeting, or become a chair person for a meeting, they are encouraged to email management.

Q: If I become uncomfortable with the conversation, or with what someone is saying to me, what do I do?
A: You have several options available. We encourage you to address your discomfort in a constructive manner with the individual perceived as causing the discomfort. If you cannot do that with confidence, we suggest you contact a Chat Monitor by private conversation (if a Chat Monitor is in the chat room). If that option is not available, you can either “ignore” the chatter or “redflag” the chatter – both actions result in relief from reading the remarks of the person acted upon. If other actions do not result in satisfaction, note the time and date and email management at abuse@12steps.org with your concerns. Cafe Management will address the issue as appropriate.