WOW Pam this is a really great post. Let me tell you (and everyone else choosing to read) something. I quit in April and our little CARE group- well it started out strong but it faded as more people came and went, I suppose that is how quitting goes. Sometimes it takes a few tries to nail a success. A few I think grouped up with the May quitters, possibly a few in June, I really have no record of who came and went so fast, I only know if they are here by their active posts. But that is not my point. I was so excited to be here and posted alot and made some really great friends. Then I saw a shift in the postings and how some of the opinions really felt a bit heated more than just normal conversation sharing. This was mainly in regard to the choice of quit method. A thread had been started by a member who was debating taking gum or something after going cold turkey and posted for help. I had a very good intentioned response by referring them to something about it being dangerous to introduce nicotine back into the body after going cold turkey etc. Well my response, it seems, was misinterpreted and taken as cold turkey was the right way to quit. I was so very horribly misunderstood. And I could do nothing about it. That post made me want to smoke. But I did not. I held onto the skin of my teeth on that one. I was actually in such a tizzy that at one point I actually thought that a member had lashed out at me about it, but of course after regaining my head back on straight I realized they really had not and made a public apology to the member but the name got censored, so I will leave the name anonymous as well. (I've been censored alot BTW! LOL.) Anyway, I have a big mouth and I know how to use it and I do not really excersize it here for that reason. It will only be censored. I was very discouraged in coming here, feeling that I would be misunderstod, or by this time members would think I was lu-lu for getting in that tizzy, or that I would just be plain ol' censored, so I decided to get my butt off the computer and go outside and really live my life. Being outside more now has shown me that I was missing alot. But my point is that I am not here as often as I would like to be for that reason. I do not enjoy being censored. But I will be for su

Dear All ~ I must add my two cents as well. I really LIKE that everyone here is different in their personalities and opinions. While I do not always respect all opinions, I do at least respect the fact that this site is for everyone and they are allowed to offer up an opinion like the rest of us. If I think their post is just crazy talk, I try to see their point of view or "the good side of the situation"). This is my upbringing, and it also falls under the category of free speech. If someone decides not to participate in debates, that's fine by me, if they do go away, that's just how life is sometimes. The man upstairs has different plans for us all. Be happy for what you have, the people in your life. People come in and out of your lives for a reason. Just don't GIVE them a reason to go, and your conscious is free. That said, I am glad all of you are in my life because of your individual personalities and energies.... you're all so interesting ~ And I'm sure if I get a little fiesty over a debate, that I will still have my friends. One does not deserve friendship, one EARNS it. Peace Out........ CobenFan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 93 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,588 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $325.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22

Shevie- that was PERFECT!!!! Now hit the linoleum! :eg: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 128 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,135 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1152 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 21 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21

Good post Pam! I always have enjoyed a good debate. I know that surprises you. But the internet really sucks as a medium for one! Oh well. Sunshine expecting an eventual site explosion was almost as good a visual as (on a different thread)-Shevie's "having a linoleum"....(I swear I have never heard that....priceless).There's always something good. Still , sometimes the internet is not exactly the best place for a bunch of addicts to debate. I'm guilty as anyone, so don't take this as anything other than it is! Help with this addiction, that's why we're here. It does help to be here, or else I wouldn't bother. I'm sure all can agree on that. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 127 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,110 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1143 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 20 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0

Great post, Pam - thanks... I think it's very interesting how few responses there are to this post and who chose to stay away :) Perhaps you hit a nerve? :) I so agree w/Sunshine. This site is clearly here for a reason and each of us, every single one of us, brings to the table something that is significant, whether it's our fist Quit day or our 10 year anniversary of our Quit. It's time for all to be respected... And like Sunshine says - using this website for attention is sad and it robs energy that we need for our Quits... I wish those that need attention so badly would find it elsewhere, as each of us needs all of our focus and energy to take care of our own addiction each day. I may not agree with each and every post here, but I do respect the opinions of others and I would be grateful for the same respect in return... And when I am 'tested' by others here, I am one who will stand up for my truth, but people - there are some who will just quietly leave w/their head down. What about those people??? What goes around comes around, that I know... And I am doing my best to help others as I was supported and helped when I came here. The rest, well I will leave it where I found it :) People, when you read a post here and don't agree, stop and ask yourself, how attached are you to being right? And WHY? Blessings, Light and Love- Healer [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 112 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,946 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $520.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 14 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 29

Pam, I'm so glad that you posted this, this has been on my heart for three months or so. I have been watching and waiting for this site to explode one day. And I feel sure that is the reason we lost one last week...It seems as though only a few people's opinions count. My feelings have not been hurt, but I have seen others hurt really bad. When I see other people hurting that hurts me. I have noticed that they stop posting. They don't feel comfortable posting on certain threads, afraid of being put down again. Another thing that bothers me is using this site for other personal choices that people make other than smoking. I think they do it for attention. There are other places to go, to get help for those kinds of problems. I'm not talking about surgery, deaths, or any other traumatic experience. Right now I'm in a group therapy session four days a week. I don't want to bring that to the site, because it has nothing to do with my quit. And I know that I had to have professional help. If they have a pastor, or good friend that is the place to go....Not here. You're right Pam, debating is fun and can be useful up to a certain point. Like you, I saw it going past that. I have been playing around with a post similar to this but just had not finished it. So thank you for doing such a wonderful job. I agree with you 100%... Sunshine [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 169 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,885 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $591.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 24 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 52 [B]Seconds:[/B] 15

Pam Thanks Casey Thanks [quote] lets get back to making this site the best that it can be - a safe, welcoming, nonjudgmental place for everyone, no matter what stage of their quits to share both the highs and lows of quitting. [/quote] Peace Phillip [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 124 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,498 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $930 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 20 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20

Amen [IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f190/cuddlebug230/images_31.gif[/IMG] Cuddles It's better to be a non-smoker with an occasional desire for a cig than a smoker with a constant desire to quit...... [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 61 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,225 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $219.6 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5

That is one of your best and most insightful posts ever, Pam, It's been a joy to watch/read your progress. You have had some difficult times with your life and your quit but you are just getting better and better as a person. Sweet are the uses of adversity :p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/23/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 334 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,681 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1670 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 44 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 11

Sunshine and HealerWithin, I agree that this is a smoking cessation site and as such needs to be related 100% to smoking cessation. However, quitting is not always about not smoking. Quitting is a life-changing experience for most, if not all. You do not simply "quit smoking" but rather learn completely new ways of living life. Through virtually every experience we experienced and through every emotion we felt throughout most of our adult lives (and for some, youth and adolecence as well) we smoked. Therefore when we quit, we have to literally retrain our minds to not smoke anymore. This is a very difficult transition for some and since smoking was almost always THE coping mechanism when it came to ANY situation in life, quitting smoking, and more importantly staying quit, gets intertwined with other aspects of life. So while yes, it is important to keep the site completely related to smoking, that doesn't mean that if people post about problems in their lives outside of quitting, that their posts are not ALSO related to quitting at the same time. Sometimes, people need support in order to not smoke, when the underlying problem is not smoking related at all... it just might lead them to smoke if they don't post about it, and therefore becomes VERY quitting related. As I said earlier in this post, however, I completely respect both of your opinions and agree, in part, to what you are saying and am so glad that you both did take the time to respond with your opinions. That's what is so great about this site! :) Crave the Quit! Pam [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/28/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 240 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,022 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $991.2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 35 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21