Appalling!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marce4]

I just found out that Beachtowel has been banned from the forum.  I have been here since Feb. of this year and I was a truly in a very bad place!  He was a bit rough around the edges but I found that he spoke from his heart.  He HATES addiction and wants us all to hate it as much! It changes us as human beings and causes us to truly hurt to the depths the one's that we cherish the most....how could anyone not hate this!  His approach may have seemed harsh to some and I have told him as much at times but to have someone banned because a few were so upset by his rudeness is absolutely ludicrous to me! How many of you have been rude and abrasive to friends, family, innocent bystanders during our addiction!!!! You are being so hypocritical!!!!!!!!!!!  Beach shoots from the hip and tells it like it is...you don't like it...don't listen....Ignore! Don't get someone banned because your feelings may have been hurt! Oh well...this is life and we only get one shot at this!  This is my last post here because I am so tired of the self-righteous ******** that I have been hearing from so many posters!  NONE OF you are above this and you know it!  Go ahead...have at me because I really don't want to be affiliated with a place that bans people for speaking their mind and form their heart! I hope you canb all find some peace in your lives and be able to look in the mirror and know you are a good person! I know I can!
Peace Out!
Marcie

[notmenow!]

I have received many emails saying you thrive on this kind of drama, always have and always will. I have only been a member of this Forum for a short time  but I would say you definitely have issues unrelated to drugs. I hope you find whatever it is your searching for. Good Luck and don't shoot the messenger.-----------------NOAH

[tzt2lady]

I too respect Beach but didnt agree with some of his tactics.   Most of the time he was very helpful and there were times when he was abrasive, not because he was just trying to be truthful but because I believe he is just learning to counsel other addicts and is in school and around recovery.  We all try our various brands until we find what works best and when to use it.

So his brand didnt always work and sometimes backfired.  But often it DID work.  

Frankly, given his background and the environment he grew up in, it is truly a miracle he has as much compassion as he does.   He has gone out of his way to help people in his life, not just here on the forum.

I know there are rules we have to follow and we get warnings but I am still saddened.  Perhaps he will be on another forum.   I hope to see him at a NA convention someday,   He truly is a man who is grateful to have a second chance at life.

[NautyOne]

The "legal" context to get rid of someone.

[NautyOne]

Just because you get reported to med help doesn't mean you will get banned.  Once reported they probably monitor you just looking for an excuse........I remember that post and I know what beach was saying ........Poor excuse for med help to do that.  They obviously took the post out of context.  ........when none of us did.  what a joke.

[NautyOne]

The internet represents America..........Al Gore Created it ......Remember.......lol

[addictedme]

So medhelps explained what happened and thru newhope beach has explained what happened and a few are still pointing fingers. Can I suggest that for those who love beach and his passion for addicts let this go and out of respect for beachtowel and his feelings get back to what this forum is for,,,happy t day

[TimH2]

Thanks for the update. What a poor excuse that was to ban him. He was not promoting drugs and anyone who has been around long enough would know that. I have seen far worse on the forums and this is just BS.

[TimH2]

I am sickened and disappointed with Medhelp for banning you. You are probably the most real person on the forum. You never minded showing your warts and really helping other addicts to think, I mean really think, about what addiction is doing to them. I always read your posts and have taken so much away from them. I didn't always agree with you, but I never always agree with anyone. I think the comments that were brought into question were taken the wrong way. You have a certain way to approach sobriety and there is nothing wrong with that. It really stinks to think there are people that have nothing better to do than complain to Medhelp because their feelings were hurt. It is all about them....boo hoooo. This board is bias and monitered way to much. I feel that you can not say what you really feel or someone will get their hackles up. It is really a shame Beach. I thank you for everything and hope this can be worked out.

Bless you brother,

Tim

Medhelp:

I really hope you will review your decision. This has put a real black mark on the forum.

[newhope61]

I just got a message from Beach that says


"I just found out why I got banned they said it was because I told addicts that they should buy there drugs in Detroit because the drugs are better and cheaper.........

I went nuts and said this to them in big letters F*&^%^ Y*&^!!!!!"  

By the way I put the stars in , don't need to be banned also,
SOOOO, it looks like no one complained about him, no ONE got him kicked off,he did it himself!!!!!!!!!

He is still messaging me so must be still allowed to do that!!
I'm the one he told, "if I was going to play with the big boy drugs, going to have to go through the big boy w/d's", BUT he also had been messaging me, so he knew I was used to his "rough" edges, as he calls them. He also spent time messaging my husband, who has no idea what addiction is, and answered his many questions, so that was cool!

So, lets all chill, get over this, and have an awesome holiday (I, by the way am at work while you are all holidaying),
Lauren

[wait2long]

WELL...when i first came here, all i did was argue with beach, all the time...but mostly over the suboxone debate...well over the past few weeks, he has been coming around on the issue, which means alot to me, because i NEVER felt really accepted because of this, but not only due to just to him... maybe my own insecurities?? who can say...but when i WAS having issues with beach...the things said then were "ok?" then...now all of a sudden what he says is not welcome??   WTF???   i dont get it...it sounds like major hypocrisy to me....i would have to say someone or a few someones...all of a sudden thought what was ok a few months ago, is not okay now??  just a guess on my part...and i really think he had softened up quite a lot, compared to when i came here, which i see as growth and improvement in his part, he has said numerous times, that he was working on his "approach"...he admitted that numerous times that he was working on this...we ALL  have things to work on...he is not alone when it comes to this...but he has always been completely open about his addiction, core issues and his difficulty in approaching people...Stacey79 is probably right, lol!!!!  

i still dont always agree with beach or his approach...but hey i dont think everyone here agrees with me either 100% of the time either...does this mean i should be banned also?   maybe......?
we are all still learning how to deal with our own issues and life in general without the almighty  "high" there to back us up...everyone needs to be more accepting of each others misgivings...just my 2 cents...i also need to add that i dont know the circumstances behind his being banned, i havent really been here much and obviously missed something...

[Savas]

Actually, this isn't America. It's the Internet. :)

And you don't have free speech on these boards. The rules are fairly strict about content and behavior.

[Stacy79]

From what I've read, Beach has had a few negative interactions with many people, not just one person.  It could have been anyone.  People just don't want to hear sarcasm when they are asking for help.  I realize that he's helped a lot of people, and maybe those people have tougher skin than others.  Since I've been coming here, I've witnessed nothing but angry responses from him that would scare anyone off.  The newer people haven't had the opportunity to see him the way the older people have.  But just because you don't like what he says, doesn't mean that he should not be allowed on the forum!!!  That is bullsh*t.  What happened to free speech?  Whoever you are, you're probably a right wing, Republican who voted for George Bush.  Loser.

[Savas]

From an advertising dollar point of view negative publicity is almost as good as positive publicity. :)
But to much has a backlash effect.

The only other thing I'll say on this is in the six months to a year I've been here (fuzzy on length of time) I've seen this sort of explosion around his comments rime and again. There comes a point when if you're getting that kind of response, you should evaluate what you're doing. I've seen about 15 of these "explosions" before I stopped paying attention to them, and that's only the ones I've seen.

So perhaps these people were being to sensitive to his comments. But statistically...well...if it was a few people I'd dismiss it. But Over and over?
I've commented that tough love isn't about making possibly sarcastic or hurtful comments to someone. It's about taking hard actions, not using hard words.

[lashamummyof2]

Hi Kit10
I just noticed you said you have two kids and a disabled husband. Me too: I have a four month old, a three year old, and my husband has one arm. My brother just died from alcoholism a few weeks ago. I have been to hell and back too. Maybe you can talk to me if you need a friend or a shoulder? I hope you get this post. We all need help. I can understand where you're coming from AND I have nooo idea about this beachtowel drama, so I can't comment.
contact me.

[NautyOne]

Interesting post.......hmmm?  I agree and disagree with you on this, but what a Crock!!!

Nauty..........................

[kit10]

I DIDNT POST THE COMPLAINT!!!!!! PLAIN AND SIMPLE. HOW IS IT MY FAULT? I dont have to prove my wd to anyone. I have been through hell and back for the last days while taking care of two children and a disabled husband. U know what I am just about finished with this forum, or wait is that what you want me to do? You sent me a mean im I responded respectfully and you sent me another dirty im_ then I blocked you. Now you are harassing me on here. Complaining about drama while you're stirring in it. From now on you can type away sweetie but Ill not respond back. FAIRWELLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!1

[flmagi]

Please everyone read NOTMENOW's post above. He is absolutly correct on the reasoning for MedHelps decision.
Now stop pointing accusing fingers at innocent people.
Anyone wanting to talk with Beach can still private message him on this forum. He is just not aloud to post on the open forum. So you have not lost him totally.
It's time to bring back to the forum what little sanity we have left.

[grievingwidow]

I am just sick!  I love Beach - he was so good to all of us.  I can tell you who caused this, it was that Kit person and another person who joined in with her.  I was so afraid this would happen.  Well, I hope she is satisfied.  She made a big deal over really nothing.  I still say that if I were in the middle of withdrawal like she supposedly is, I would not have enough sense and surely not enough energy to make such a big stink and post a million times - I received several PMs from her on the subject. She must be doing better than I ever did the few times I endured the agony of withdrawal.

I do not have Beach's email.  If anyone here has such, I would appreciate a PM with that info if you feel that he would not mind.

Love, Cindy

[lexigirl]

How many of you have been rude and abrasive to friends, family, innocent bystanders during our addiction!!!


^^^I FOR ONE HAVE. That's all I have to say about that. :/

[red_1986]

GO NOAH

[notmenow!]

MED HELP DID NOT ASK BEACH TO WRITE THAT FORUM INVITING EVERYONE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT OR TELL ME I AM DOING THINGS THE CORRECT WAY .
MED HELP ARE ABLE TO TRACK HOW MANY NEWCOMBERS RETURN AFTER THEIR FIRST OR LAST CONTACT WITH SOMEONE. AND IF THAT PERSON DROPS OUT THE ADVERTISING DOLLARS DROP AS WELL. THE TOTAL NUNBERS WE HAVE ON A MONTHLY BASIS MEAN SOMETHING TO THE ADMISTRATIVE STAFF THAT OVER SEES THIS NON PROFIT OPERATION. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FORUM ON THE INTERNET.
IT WAS AS IFF BEACH OPENED HIMSELF UP TO A VOTE, AND BY DOING SO HE WAS EXPOSED TO THE POWERS OF MED HELP BY ALL THE NEGATIVE POST THAT CAME IN, ITS FUNNY THOUGH I DO NOT SEE THE SAME RESPONCE TO THIS POST AS THERE WAS ON HIS POST WHICH WAS WHAT GOT HIM BANNED, HE EXPOSED HIMSELF, PLAIN AND SIMPLE

NAUGHTY WHY IS THAT ALL OF US AS ADDICTS, WHEN WE GET BUSTED FOR SOMETHING
WE ALWAYS BLAME THE OTHER PERSON OR THERE MUST BE A SNITCH OUT THERE???
WAKE UP ITS ABOUT NUMBERS AND DOLLARS AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE ON THIS FORUM. FOR THE LIMITED OPERATING BUDGET THAT THIS PARTICULAR WEBSITE HAPPENS TO COUNT ON EACH AND EVERY MONTH, THIS IS THE REAL WORLD PEOPLE
YOU DONT THINK HE WONT GO TO A FRIENDS COMPUTER AND SIGN UP UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME. I GIVE LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE HE GETS BACK IN, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER WEBSITES OUT THERE, STOP WINNING AND FIND ONE

[addictedme]

From meds post it sounds like this was his decision or at least he had a say in it.

[Savas]

I've always liked the fellow and we've seemed to get along, regardless of some philosophical differences. I did try to warn him in a casual way that he should beware that instant semi-hostile response. Make sure it's coming from a desire to help and advise, and not redirected anger at someone or something else.
There is a difference between tough love and being cruel or sarcastic.
     I don't think he ever said anything that terrible but I'm fairly casual and thick skinned (also haven't been about for everything...just what I've seen).  

I always felt that at times I could count on him to say something in situations I wouldn't comment on. Perhaps that's a loss, only others can say. But I'm sure whether he's truly gone or not is based on a violation of some type, and I've yet to hear that this forum has enforced the rules in an improper fashion.

[IBKleen]

MedHelp has been here since 1994. They have established a set of rules and regulations for us to follow. When we don't, we get warned. After several warnings, we get banned.

No one is powerful enough to get someone banned. MedHelp monitors these forums. They decide what material is within their rules and regulations.

Although I don't wish anyone banned, once we get a warning...we need to take a look at ourselves. By all rights, we are representatives of this forum every time we post. I am no angel, I know that. But, I do try to have the community at heart when I post. Believe me, I fall short.

We have to respect MedHelp's decision in this. I am certain it was not an easy one for them.

I wish everyone a Happy Holiday!