5 Principles of 7 Cups
Ive been doing a lot of research on AA lately to try to see what we can learn from their experience. We have a lot of parallels with them. We are both free, anonymous, peer, volunteer, support systems. We have listeners, they have sponsors. They have the 12 steps, we have the 7 Cups. (As a caveat, this is not at all an endorsement of AA. I've also compared us with the Samaritans in the past and those posts are not equally not an endorsement of the Samaritans. These are just organizations that provide free support to others and we do that as well, so it is good to learn what we can from them).
Ive also been thinking a lot about community governance. i.e., spelling out clearly what the values are that guide how we govern the site. We write about this in our values, the book, and our community guidelines, but we didnt yet have anything like their traditions. Ive added these because I think they will provide more clarity to what we value.
5 Principles of 7 Cups:
7 Cups is greater than any one of us. Our ability to grow and help others is contingent upon our unity. If 7 Cups is harmonious, then we provide more effective support. If we are divided, then we provide less effective support.
7 Cups helps people find relief and personal growth through both the giving and receiving of compassionate care. All other goals, projects, and ideas are secondary to this mission.
7 Cups is an open and accepting organization. All are welcome. The only requirement is to want to give or receive compassionate care.
7 Cups requires those in leadership positions to be highly empathic, open-minded and humble. Openness and empathy keep leadership aligned with the mission of 7 Cups.
7 Cups will always be a volunteer-driven organization. Professionals will play a role, but, fundamentally, 7 Cups will remain a volunteer driven organization.
well this is amazing, bcuz i have just join OA and i have started to tell them about u guys :D at least in the meetings that i attend and i did that bcuz i really noticed a lot of similarities
Hi, I think you have hit the nail on the head with these five, but I would suggest a couple of minor amendments :
1. I suggest that you most basic mission is to connect people that require human compassion to people that are able to offer it, in an anonymous and safe way. That doesn't really get expressed explicitly anywhere, perhaps in point 3. But I think that's really what you do well, and if that didn't exist, it wouldn't really be 7 cups any more. So maybe make point 3 explicitly that.
2. Point 2 says that anything else is second to this. That doesn't make too much sense if you have 4 other principles, and you haven't made this number 1 ! So I'd suggest say that these are the 5, and that's it, or say these are the 5, and one of them is the most important. And if that's the case, make it the first one on the list.
3. Point 1 has a contrary, contingent tag. I think it's a mistake to put "if" into a mission or governance principle, because it's too specific a contingency and sounds more like a reaction to a recent discussion.
@MikeMadrid sorry, meant to sign off with "Hope this helps" :)
all the time talk about postive and optimism ....it's great
@GlenM I am glad that you did this. This is only going to improve 7 Cups.
Totally agreed with these principles. But sometimes principle no.2 is taken lightly and all other secondary tasks become priority for some listeners.
P.s. Please, I don't mean to offend anyone. Just expressing my thoughts. 😊
I'm trying to make amends to people I hurt
@Lostinnyc10458 - Good for you! That's a brave and important thing to do. *hugs*
I know there's people who might not like this site because of the anonymous part, but for those like me who are just looking for someone to talk to when no one's around, or just feel too shy to ask for help, this site it's a blessing.
The principles of 7 cups as posted by Glen are basically what I was looking for and what I found, and I'm glad my friend sent me a link to this site.
just new on this and find it hard to open up but the 1on1 s am not sure if am talking to a bot or person think it just me over thinking not sure could be little bit more open than descret a think just my opion ppl
@brightlight1983 Hi :) If you ask a couple of questions, and the answers make sense, it's definitely a person.
@MikeMadrid, as a member only, your comment tells me that I might often be assumed for a bot by some listeners! since my interactions are rarely long. Funny, because when I started in this site I set my mind to assume an AI response. Nowadays, my assuption is that listeners are for real, and I am thankful for that.
Happy listening, ^5
Remember the time that you thought you will never survive? You did, and you can do it again.
@GlenM
I hope mods will be more alert and active in the chat rooms. I've seen some really bad behaviour in there, people calling women bitches, swearing, acting completely inappropriately. And in at least one case I observed a mod ignoring everyone and just chatting with one person, seemingly oblivious to their role. I understand we have a mute and report button, but I wonder what else can be done to foster respect in chat and to help people feel more supported. I have done my best to try and listen to people, but people who are hurting have come into chat rooms I was in to say that they had been attacked in another room. I have also had this experience.
Why aren't these offenders banned from the site out of curiousity.
@ButterflyHelix, Thanks for letting me know. We have zero tolerance for that sort of behavior. Looping in @heather here so she can get more details.
@ButterflyHelix - Hey! You can check out our Group Support Member FAQ here to learn more about the reporting system and what to do in certain situations.
You can also PM me directly if you have names of those involved. The behaviour you have described is certainly not okay.