Hi,

I have been away a bit and not really used to using this but I did have a properly registered nickname - I thought. I got into the chat room for a very needed meeting. I was so delighted to find one in session. It was a good meeting  on Saturday morning (Sept 3, 2005 - 9 am  et) and was truly helping me... the little I was able to observe.

Unfortunately I was suddenly kicked out. I had tried to send in my nickname and it was rejected, so I was just quietly listening. Then I thought maybe I got kicked out because I had forgotten to log on.  So, I logged on with no problem and returned to the meeting. But trying to send my nickname in, it was again rejected and I was kicked out again. This time there was a message I didn't understand... actually several messages... which were totally confusing to me. I don't know what to do or even where to go to find out what to do to fix this. One message said that I needed to IDENTIFY my nickname... they gave the instructions but that included giving my password <between these marks> . But am I to know that my password would not have appeared on the screen for all to see? That wasn't explained. I was trying to understand that, pausing, when another message appeared saying something else... that I needed to RETRIEVE my nickname because it has been marked 'aggressive protection'. I have no idea what all this means. I don't understand why it is so difficult for me to find out how I can find out... where to go to get the information so I can unravel the problem and just get back to the meeting which I have basically missed by now.

I so needed that meeting and would have been grateful to just listen given the circumstances of my day... several days, which have been extremely stressful. Tears of relief had already been brought to my eyes listening and you have no idea how important it can be to be returned to the sanity and the hope of serenity possible through this program... how precious getting to a chat room meeting can be... even if one can't figure out the seeming myriad chat room details as they appear to a novice and is relegated to just listening. Please be merciful! I promise I'm not in any way a threat...on the contrary, I really needed and was so grateful for the support and comfort in the wise words (if they were few before I got kicked out). It's so odd that my nickname has been tagged 'with aggressive protection'. I don't even know what that refers to. I have reviewed the faq page and found no hints. Please help.

I know this site is all volunteer and it is such a great service. It is especially vital for those of us who live in remote locations or for some other reason cannot often get to ftf meetings. But I would like to suggest only that the chat could be made a little more user friendly for those who are not yet familiar with using it. It seems so complicated. Perhaps there is some fluke in my situation that makes it seem more complicated -yet I am not what I would describe as computer illiterate, just not familiar yet with the particulars of this chat. I would greatly appreciate some help. What is it I need to do so I can come to an online meeting? ... or have done wrong so I can know not to repeat it? Maybe someone could send me an email and direct me to the information I need. Many Thanks!

luz