Guidelines

Okay, so to make sure that all parties understand what isn't allowed in the Pen Pal communications, I have compiled a list.

No Tip-Sharing: Basically what it sounds like. Don't tell or ask for tips pertaining to any unhealthy behaviors. This is a RECOVERY based program. 5 points
No Glorifying/Encouragement of Unhealthy Behaviors: Do not make your problems seem 'cool' or encourage others to engage in them. Again, this is a recovery based program. 5 points
No Put-Downs or Personal Attacks: If your Pen Pal/Letter Writer tells you that they have slipped up, do not yell at them or put them down. In that same line of thinking, do not put down your Pen Pal/Letter Writer or yell at them for any reason. 5 points
No Emotional Blackmail: Do not threaten that you are going to kill yourself, self-harm, do drugs, etc. if your Pen Pal/Letter Writer does not do what you want them to do or say what you want them to say. 10 points
No Discrimination: Hey, I really don't care if you hate gays, blacks, Jews, etc. Just keep it to yourself when it comes to this program, because for all you know, your Pen Pal/Letter Writer is gay, black, Jewish, etc. 10 points
No Putting Down or Mocking of Politics/Political Figures/etc: I think that this is pretty self-explanatory. We are here to recover, not argue our political beliefs. 5 points
No Pushing of Certain Religious Beliefs: This goes for all religions. Don't try to convert anyone. When someone signs up to get a Pen Pal, they put in their form if they would like to talk about religion. If they say they do not want to talk about religion, don't talk about it. 10 points

Now, we are going to have a fairly simple system pertaining to the rules, okay?
If your Pen Pal/Letter Writer breaks any of these rules, you are not to yell at them. You are simply to inform me by writing to recoverypenpals@gmail.com, telling me what was said in the letter (please quote the text exactly, do not summarize), and I will take appropriate action.
You will notice the red point values next to each rule. Each time you break a rule, you get the amount of points specified.
Pen Pals are allowed to receive 20 points before being removed from our lists. That means four breaks of the 5 point rules, two breaks of the ten point rules, or a mixture.
Letter Writers are allowed to receive 15 points before losing their positions. Letter Writers are only allowed to receive 15 points, because they are supposed to be farther along in their recovery.

I highly recommend keeping the relationships formed strictly as Pen Pal/Letter Writer relationships. I will not remove you from the program if you do choose to take the relationship farther, but I also will not take responsibility for any fall outs that occur outside of the letters (over the phone, on IM, on email, etc).