Originally Posted by
Babescake 
No offense, but this forum is one of the worst they can read. It is families at their worst points and don't think alcoholics/addicts can make it. Other threads are far more positive and there ARE good stories.
No-one has the right to come in here and lecture us on how we ought to feel about the addicts in our lives or addicts in general, especially an alcoholic.
We are here to support others and generally I have found that most people on this side of the forum have VERY similar experiences and feelings. While there may be what you consider to be "good stories" in other parts of the forum our REALITY is different.
Many of us have been abused by the addicts in our lives verbally, emotionally, financially and sometimes physically. And if we haven't, then our loved ones' addictions have broken us and our families.
Would you consider it appropriate or helpful to march into a support group for abused women and tell them that what they think, feel and hope for is wrong and that they ought to be more supportive of the person who abused them and turned their lives upside down simply because it is possible for abusers to manage to change their ways?
Many of us have spent many wasted years, decades even, attempting to have our feelings, and needs heard by a drunk before we realized that it was pointless and we needed help. We are here to help each other with ESH. Therefore we don't find it helpful when an alcoholic comes in to tell us we are wrong and need to be more supportive of alcoholics.
On this side of the forum you'll often see many quote "The Al Anon 3 Cs": We didn't cause it. We can't control it. We can't cure it. We can only cure ourselves and that often happens when we stay on our own side of the street.