Oracle

[OracleDarren]

Hi I'm Darren,

I am the author of my own phpbb modified site called Oracle you can find it by doing a google search for parkweb oracle.

For personal reasons I am debating whether or not to start a spin off forum regarding drug and alcohol abuse and I myself suffered from the latter for some 10 years and have now been alcohol free for just over a year.

I would like to share that experience and knowledge of what I learnt to help others and as I have the know how in web design and software etc it would be an ideal and worthwhile activity for me to begin.

My dillema is this - if I was to start such a community :-

1. How would people come to find it

2. Being a worldwide problem how could it be managed when at the moment there would be just me

3. Can anybody see any issues or problems in running such a site

My software already has a number of religion based forums using it and that seems to be a good place to start as people have understanding and are likely to offer support with me.

I would value any comments people have on how such a forum should begin and should be run along with people who would be prepared to donate a little of their time in helping other people.

I know what a deep issue this is, being there myself it is strought we emotion and reasons some people find it difficult to comprehend or reason with. But I really do feel that is worthwhile.

Please get in touch with me, by either replying to this thread or throug my own site.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Kind regards,

Darren.

 

[Ormo]

Firstly, I would imagine there would be a number of forums already out there for people who have suffered from drug and alcohol abuse. There is very likely one on this very site. Perhaps you could share your knowledge and experience, as well as finding support, through these?

Secondly, if you decide to create your own, people will find it as people find anything on the web. Some will happen upon it, others will find it thought search engines or word of mouth. If you become associated with a recognised organisation (such as AA or something) people may find it through the recognised name. If starting something, make sure there is an opening for it out there. Do you know people from your own recovery that would value this site? Ask them about it, get them involved in planning and managing it.

Thirdly, issues and problems are the same as any message board. You can encounter trolls, spam, obscenity etc (trolls especially could be damaging in a forum for people who need support and good advice). The only real, effective, way to control this kind of thing is by regular monitoring and moderating.

If you get into this, it may be worth while writing some kind of accountability scheme into it where people, once part of the online community, could find accountability with people through a system based in the forum. Perhaps it could pair people or make groups of three or four and they can email or otherwise contact each other through the site (and possibly an option to do so directly). I just mention this as accountability is a great help in dealing with anything habitual or addictive.

I hope my comments have been encouraging and constructive!