likerdup1

Most conventional routers do not have any kind of option to install VPN software in my experience. They are merely a means to convert regular Ethernet and WiFi IP traffic to whatever transmission format that is being used by the ISP. I would be surprised if any router provided by any Thai ISP would allow installation of VPN software. They are usually "black boxes" with a very fixed set of configurations.

The AA program is not left to much interpretation nor should it be because it's meant to save lives. But the literature is clear and very specific that if one who wants to do the program of AA one need not believe in a monotheistic, Judeo-Christian God, spirits of Buddhism, the Islamic God, or any kind of conventional religious God. All that is required is simply an open mindedness that a Power Greater, Higher Power, Spirit of the Universe etc etc etc of ones own understanding ( however complete or incomplete that understanding is) may be accessed through doing the Steps (this is essentially how to do step 2) and a willingness to do the steps. That is all.

So, my point exactly. Respectfully there is no point in posting made up, estimated statistics by specialists or professionals who have a conflict of interest but also in most all cases after "treating" a patient will send them to... wait for it.. AA. What we do see is there are an estimated 2 million or more people who attend AA meetings. Of those millions there are many people who have found help and enjoy recovery from alcoholism. In short, a lot of good is happening as a result of AA and that is not deniable.

Where are you getting your information? This information is very inaccurate. Respectfully there is absolutely no way to get accurate statistics. There is absolutely no way to monitor who has actually done all the 12 steps or who has just only gone to meetings. The AA fellowship does no such monitoring nor is it done by anyone else or could be for that matter. AA is anonymous after all. My personal experience is that the AA program (not necessarily the fellowship) has a success rate of nearly 95%. Men I help who do all the 12 steps as layed out in AA literature recover from alcoholism. On the other hand nearly all real alcoholics who ONLY go to meetings do not stay sober and continue to relapse.

Anyway you slice it your inhaling smoke. You won't get high unless you do. The effect on your lungs is going to be near the same no matter what. Do a little research. I believe it's been established that smoking creates many adverse health problems. Maybe you should just eat weed to get high. Pot brownies and such. If it's inebriation your after I'm sure the cannabis industry will provide you with many options.

Forgive me, I deleted that comment earlier as I saw it was not helpful and sarcastic. Please accept my apology.

Yea, by definition alcoholics cannot quit by "just not drinking no matter what". There are rooms full of them all across the world who meet every day. Respectfully whether you "buy it" or not doesn't really matter does it. I too gave up cigarettes without too much trouble. But when it came to drinking and drugs. Nope, would relapse time and again over the course of several years. Finally I did the AA 12 steps and I've been sober for 30 years and provide service to alcoholics looking for a way out. Until one has personal experience with alcoholism it is very very difficult to imagine what it is like. You sound like just a hard drinker who made a decision to give it up and did. You were never alcoholic.

Andy, wondering where you get your statistics about "a lot" of sober members? Of course membership in the fellowship is all inclusive. It has been for most of AA's existence. What do you mean when you say "believe in God"? What is your definition of the word God as it's used in AA? AA literature is quite clear that when the word God is used it is meant to be a "God of ones own understanding" The AA 12 step program does not dictate anyone believe in any kind of particular God at all. Only that if one wants recovery the AA way they be open to experience a Higher Power's help or the help of a God by doing the 12 steps. They will then experience the power of a God personal to them. That's all. To all readers, please understand that the AA fellowship and the AA 12 step program are two completely different things. Membership in the fellowship is open to all who want help with a drinking problem. To get recovery the AA way one has to practice the 12 step program of AA.

You have a misunderstanding about what alcoholism is. Do you think people who are alcoholic and want to quit have not tried most every form of self-discipline to quit or moderate? By definition someone is alcoholic if they LACK the will power of self-discipline to moderate or stop altogether even though there is a very strong desire to do so. I know. I'm one of them. I tried for several years to give it up for good and all trying every form of self discipline. No amount of will power of self discipline worked for very long. 6 months of abstinence at best. I found out the reason I could not moderate or stop altogether for very long. I had become alcoholic. I crossed the line from hard drinker to alcoholic. There is a simple way to understand it. All alcoholics are drunks but not all drunks are alcoholics. There is a big difference between a hard drinker who can give it up on will power and the alcoholic who cannot.

Have a drinking problem and thinking about AA for help? It's easy, free and anonymous online. No requirement to show video, speak or do anything. One can just "listen in" to discover what an AA meeting is like. AA meetings 24/7 online via Zoom or Skype or phone: https://aa-intergroup.org/ https://aathailand.org https://www.aathailand.info/

DT made it to president of the USA for four years. Isn't that enough to convince you? ????

I would be interested to know what your definition of God (as used in AA literature) is?

I understand sir. I try to be precise in my writings. I understand it may have "sounded" that way. But it's not what I wrote. Thank you.

Show me where I say there is only one pathway? I am only speaking up for AA which does not in any way shape or form say it has a monopoly on the pathway toward abstinence from alcohol. AA does not claim to be the only path toward abstinence. This is generally understood my most all members. I think you have misunderstood sir. The original OP has his personal "interpretation" of AA which is outside the mainstream understanding of how to do the 12 step program. This is all I'm concerned with. He has every right to say what he wants. Just as I have the right to point out that it is not mainstream and is fringe opinion.

It's been "here". It's been predicted. nuff' said. It's not gonna get any better. Climate change is real and will be effecting our future in ways that can only be imagined. Water, Famine, Drought, floods ..extreme weather etc etc.

Please, any members of AA. I beg you to be considerate and understand that someone may be reading this WHO REALLY NEEDS HELP with alcoholism. These constant arguments which have been precipitated by Andy F's repeated postings of fringe and alternate views on doing the AA program are: 1) Not doing any service to AA 2) Not doing any service to someone who might find this forum looking for ACTUAL HELP. 3) Not a healthy introduction to AA for anyone reading here new to AA. I would kindly ask Mr. Andy F to consider that his views are 1) Not the norm as most people in AA find a Higher Power/God of their own understanding. 2) Have precipitated argument and dissension (this is against this forums rules!) I will reiterate what I've said. THIS FORUM IS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP and any talk of AA should be offering HELP! Not views other than what AA literature plainly states. AA literature is the foundation for our program of recovery. It is only Andy F's opinion that people "get driven" away from AA about talk of God. He in no way can know the true statistics on this. From my experience and many that have gone before this happens rarely Especially if the group is a healthy group and explains the word God is used to describe ONES OWN PERSONAL CONCEPTION. This forum is here to help people with a drinking problem. Any postings concerning AA IMHO should be generic, normal, mainstream posts designed for ATTRACTION rather than promotion of fringe or alternate methods of the AA program such as "agnostic" methods or personal "interpretations".

Let's take a look at what The AA Book (The Big Book) says about God/Higher Power/Power Greater. One thing is certain. AA literature very specifically points out the HUMAN POWER DID NOT SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM OF ALCOHOLISM. AA does not provide a method for "strengthening the human will" to fight alcoholism The 12 steps are not designed to help someone exercise greater "self discipline" AA does not provide a method for alcoholics to rely on other human beings to solve the alcohol problem. AA does not encourage using only the fellowship meetings to get recovery from alcoholism ( relying on human beings for recovery) AA does provide a method for alcoholics to access a Power Greater than themselves. This method is called the 12 step program of recovery. Where alcoholics are powerless to abstain on their own will power or self discipline they find the needed power from a God of ones own understanding by doing the 12 steps. Bear in mind that the word God is a term used to describe ones own personal conception of a Higher Power. This is supported all through AA's basic text. Bills Story: My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. He said, "WHY DON'T YOU CHOOSE YOUR OWN CONCEPTION OF GOD?" Big Book: Chapter We Agnostics Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, that’s exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral. And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about God. Big Book: Chapter We Agnostics Yes, we of agnostic temperament have had these thoughts and experiences. Let us make haste to reas- sure you. We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God. Big Book: Chapter We Agnostics Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider another’s conception of God. Our own conception, however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach and to effect a contact with Him. The ABC's (read at most all meetings are the end of "How It Works" (a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. (c) That God could and would if He were sought. Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we understood Him

When I used windows I never paid for anti-virus. There are a few good free virus protection software packages out there. https://www.avast.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download#pc I use Linux which is a free open source Operating System. Free Word Processing, Spreadsheets etc etc. ClamAV is a free anti-virus pacakge and addresses all the know Trojans and viruses. I think there are good free options. I would not pay for any "computer subscriptions"

Usually folks just leave if they don't like the music.

Computer Subscriptions? What exactly are you trying to purchase? Why not use a credit card. Paypal is dead. Ebay doesn't even use it anymore.

In this context what normal is NOT was spelled out and defined very clearly by the OP. Someone is closer to normal if they are NOT a narcissist for example, or a sociopath, or do not have mental problems.... etc etc etc.

Sadly this appears to be not too far from the truth and it appears we're headed more and more in that direction. Welcome to Carls Jr. Would you like another order of "Big Ass Fries" Brondo has what plants crave!

Yes my friend, this is a question confounding humanity for ages. I think there are many chapters in ancient philosophy texts dedicated to this very topic

Of course, my life's ambition! I finally found a place on Earth where people understand just how important I am!! The girls here are such good listeners. Their ability to understand English is incredible. When I go to the bar they all smile and nod their heads in agreement with every word!

I know what you are talking about. There appears to be is a certain Westerner "demographic" that gravitates to Thailand, especially places like Pattaya etc. Some of my more "normal" expat friends refer to it as "The Pattaya Strange" I met one fellow who was trying to rent me his condo. He invited me over for a chat. The topic? Him. Every sentence started with "I" and I tolerated about 1 hour of endless stories of his talents, accomplishments and accolades before I politely excused myself. In Bangkok there seems to be quite a lot less of these kinds personalities you describe. I find there are many more well adjusted expats in BKK than the holiday spots.