One issue I have thought a fair amount about when developing an online resource for recovery is the principle of anonymity. "We always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films."
I'm fairly certain 12 step pioneers did not envision blogs, social networks, or the online world in general. So I guess what was the intent? MY guess is that one person helping another online would not only be allowed, it would be encouraged. Anonymity need not be broken. Besides, maximum service is the mandate. What about the blogger who reveals her identity in order to be of maximum service?
Bill Moyers wrote a book called Broken, where his 12 step membership is publicized. He states
"Not talking about my program of recovery would be like a marathon
runner not talking about training. Although I'm breaking my anonymity,
I protect the anonymity and confidentiality of others in the program.
This is everybody's story: the still-suffering alcoholic, recovering
people and families, and, hopefully, those who don't have a clue about
my disease. I wrote this book to help smash the stigma of addiction and
carry the message."
How much you want to say, do, think or feel with respect to anonymity and recovery is completely up to you. After all, this isn't a cult. The online recovery community AllMyAffairs will have first name, last initial. In addition, though there will be a place for pictures, images of anything and everything are encouraged. Your face is completely optional. AllMyAffairs will be a place of a larger message. Though individual thoughts and reiterations of group thoughts are what drive recovery, the individual is far less important than the whole.
On a slightly different note, I met a girl last night who leaves for college in a week. It is a small school in a small town with no recovery community. It occurred to me how important online recovery is.
