GreySheeters Anonymous (GSA)

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A general guideline for your participation in GreyNet is that GreyNet is like a GreySheet meeting - similar guidelines apply to the sharing on the GreyNet as apply to sharing in a GreySheet meeting. Just as in a GreySheet meeting, the GreyNet is mainly for positive pitches on GreySheet abstinence. Share your personal Experience, Strength, and Hope (ESH) on GreySheet abstinence. Sharing your personal ESH means using the "I" form rather than "we" or "you" as much as possible. Avoid lecturing or advising other members.

The GreyNet is appropriate for:

• Qualifying by telling what it was like, what happened, and what it's like now with regard to your food addiction and your abstinence.
• Sharing your personal ESH using the "I" form on an issue or theme raised in another member's email. However - just as in a GreySheet meeting - avoid cross talk. Cross talk means responding to a particular person's share by explicitly referring to the person or to their share. This can occur when you email the GreyNet instead of the individual, when you address your email to the individual, when you mention the person's name, or when you quote or respond to specific points in their share. (If you have a problem with something a person has said in a post, please contact the person privately to discuss it, or bring it to the attention of the moderator: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
• Referring to specific parts of the AA or GreySheet literature by quoting a sentence or two - just as in a GreySheet meeting. You may also mention other literature or resources you found useful in your abstinence. However - just as in a meeting - do not quote extensively from any literature, even AA or GreySheet literature and do not include links to non-AA or GreySheet websites. You may instead offer to send the material or the links to individual members who request it from you.
• Making GreySheet related announcements about meetings, events, resources, etc.
• Asking GreySheet related questions - although not for asking questions about the definition of abstinence. Those are for your sponsor. Appropriate questions include how to stay abstinent under particular circumstances, etc.
• Asking for support, if you are struggling, or asking for phone numbers, available sponsors, resources, etc.

Do NOT mention other members' names on GreyNet unless:

• You want to congratulate them on their GreySheet anniversaries.
• You are thanking individuals for their service to the GreySheet community.
• They specifically give you permission, and you explicitly state this in your message.

Things to avoid, which will cause your posts to be moderated:

1. Using another GreySheet or GreyNet member's name without permission, or in referring to her post.
2. Referring so explicitly to another member's post that your post was effectively a direct response to hers.
3. Replying to another member's post on the GreyNet instead of individually.
4. Including links to non-AA or GreySheet websites.
5. Quoting non-AA conference-approved literature. Quotes from GreySheet literature that is pending 2010 GSA conference approval, i.e., the Shades of Grey newsletter compilation and the "GreySheeters Anonymous: A Solution for Compulsive Eaters" pamphlet is appropriate.
6. Including extensive quotes even from AA conference-approved literature or GSA pending-approval literature. This includes poetry from known and anonymous sources.
7. Replying to the GreyNet Digest or message, including the entire Digest or the previous post in your own message.
8. Mentioning specific foods by name. Just as in a GreySheet meeting, we do not mention foods, abstinent or non-abstinent.
9. Asking questions about or discussing abstinence definitions that should be directed only to your sponsor.
10. Lecturing or advising others rather than sharing your personal Experience, Strength, and Hope.
11. Requesting that a copy of the Greysheet be mailed to you or emailed to you. The Greysheet comes with a sponsor and should not be given out by anyone other than your sponsor.
12. Posting material with no relevance to GreySheet abstinence.
13. Forwarding messages to non-GreyNet members without getting permission from the original sender. This includes GreySheet members without a GreyNet membership. Just as we practice in live meetings, shares on the GreyNet stay on the GreyNet. What you see here, what you read here, when you leave here, let is stay here.
14. Posting chain mail, virus warnings, or commercial messages including automatically appended signature lines. Including your job title or company name in your automatically appended signature is acceptable.
15. Using the addresses of other members to mail out advertising, jokes, etc.
16. Raising topics that will be discussed and voted upon at the first GSA Conference in Chicago in August 2010 such as the GSA Service Structure, the Traditions, the Steps, the literature, etc. 
    These topics are best discussed with your Group GSR, Intergroup Delegate or Board Liaison.
    The following links are provided for your convenience:
    
    • Intergroup Resources: http://www.greysheet.org/cms/intergroup-resources.html
    • Board Liaisons: http://www.greysheet.org/cms/intergroup-areas.html
    • GSAWS Board: http://www.greysheet.org/cms/board-members.html

Any member who does not follow these guidelines will immediately and without warning be placed on Moderation. This means that all of your emails will first go to the moderator for review before being forwarded to the GreyNet. You will receive an email from the moderator announcing the change in your status and identifying which guideline is involved. Moderation lasts for three months after which time you may email the moderator and ask to be removed. If there have been no further mistakes with regard to the Guidelines, you will be returned to unmoderated status. A disadvantage of moderation is that it can take up to 48 hours for the moderator to review and forward your post.

Things that are absolutely forbidden on GreyNet and will result in your membership being cancelled include:

• Attacking other people (Even if you do this privately in response to someone's post on GreyNet).
• Attacking the GreySheet food plan or program.
• Repeated violations of the guidelines.
• Attacking or harassing the GreyNet Moderator for placing a member on moderated status.

When in doubt, or if you have any questions about these guidelines, please ask the moderator before you post: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .