As far as I’m concerned, discussing about nicotine, chocolate, caffeine (there are threads about moderating caffeine) and other things that can become a problen when overused but are unlikely to kill you belong in the main forum. The black and white thinking of moderation impossible in every case cannot apply to absolutely everything people get addicted to.
I’m not saying nicotine is good. I’m saying that talks surrounding it don’t belong in seeking help.
It’s not black and white. The specifics matter.
The OP asked “how can I moderate this addiction”. The word “moderate” was there, as in, how can I be using this substance, specifically in relation to my addiction. That is “Seeking Help”. It is the exact definition of that. Using a substance that one is trying to quit.
You are not trying to quit chocolate or Diet Coke, so you are not seeking help.
I am trying to quit chocolate. And nicotine. Not diet coke, I’m trying to moderate that one. It’s working quite well as I limit myself to a bottle per week.
This isn’t even me being ironic. This is where I am with those substances, are my sending my post to seeking help?
If you want to move them there, you can. But you don’t want to.
And this is a false equivalence. You are drawing a comparison between two dissimilar things.
You are trying to quit both those things, not moderate them on an ongoing basis.
If another member approaches us and says they find it triggering, then yes, we would want to move to Seeking Help. As Matt explains, what is triggering for one, may not be for another. As I continue my healing journey, at present I find sweets and food discussions and images a challenge/trigger. Learning how to be in the world that triggers me. Sigh.
What effects one, may not another. Finding ways to compassionately support eachother ~ even as we may not struggle in a similar way ~ is a challenge. Making decisions to move is not taken lightly and may sometimes need to be reconsidered. As I mentioned, I have not followed what happened at all, so am talking in general.
Appreciate all of the collective wisdom shared. 
I was there early this morning when the OP posted. Before I could answer the thread was moved to seeking help. I wouldn’t have moved it myself, but I can see why, not because the OP was under the influence, but because they were asking about moderation. About having one 4 mg pouch daily in lieu of smoking. Which is moderation. Which in the framework of this forum is a bad idea to discuss on the open forum as this is an abstinence based forum. This goes for all addictions, but for substance based ones most stringently.
To make room to have these sort of discussions after all, last year the criteria for being moved to Seeking Help were broadened to include, among other things, talking about moderation. Sassyrocks already bumped that thread today. FYI here it is:
So based on the current rules I think moving the thread was justified. Personally I’m not happy with ‘normal’ members having the possibility to move topics to seeking help. Because of what we saw happen this morning, the thread being moved without the OP being aware of it and not knowing how to join seeking help. The mods are spread over the globe and there’s a very good chance there’s one around to immediately take care of business when a PM to @moderators is sent, asking them to look into it.
There’s also a difference between using prescription tools like the patch and gum to help fight withdrawal and taper down nicotine intake to actually quit, and using stuff of your own choice without the aim of quitting. That’s talking harm reduction which is another subject for seeking help.
Something about nicotine: it’s one of, if not the most addictive substance on the planet. All you current vapers and smokers here are a good example. You all quit your DOC’s, which is an incredible feat and for which you all have earned my utmost respect. Yet you have all forgotten about one: nicotine. Your addicted brains are fooling you into thinking you can’t quit or don’t have to quit or whatever. While it’s one of the greatest killers on the planet. I never cease to be amazed at all the smokers amassing outside recovery meetings of whatever denomination I went and go to. Their last ‘vice’ as they call it. It’s not a vice. It’s a deadly addiction.
And actually you all are under the influence of nicotine. Because you are in active addiction. Don’t smoke or vape for a little while (for a heavy smoker as I was it’s about half an hour) and you’ll notice you are. You all need nicotine to fight the withdrawal from it. You all have to keep puffing away to keep the illusion alive there’s nothing happening, there’s no influence. Or don’t smoke or vape for a day or two and see how you feel after that first hit. There’s a lot of influence you’ll notice. You’re all fooling yourselves. That’s addiction for you my friends. Sorry for the speech.
@Amy30 i appreciate you starting this discussion on another thread from the op. I appreciate everyones input and its been a good discussion so far.
I agree seeking help’s definition was expanded so i dont think it was moved because they “were under the influence” but discussions of moderation.
It would make sense if we didnt just allow anyone to move a thread to seeking help but only allow moderators or original posters. Then the sitation can be addressed with poster/moderator and theres an understandin.
I sure hope OP isnt scared off by the threads back and forth and can find value in the site. This place saves lives.
I am the first to agree with you, but I do think there is room for a bit of confusion:
I have learned my lesson and will keep my finger/mouse clear of the ‘edit’ button from now on. If moderators feel that regulars being able to edit does more harm than good, it may be worth updating their privileges and notification texts to avoid any further confusion.
Moderators do not have the ability to alter system or trust settings such as the ability to change categories, nor do we have access to system notification texts. That is all handled by Robin and the system software. Keep in mind that Discourse forums (our software) are not all sobriety specific, so Robin can only work within the parameters of ‘normal’ forum software. Our community is quite a bit different than a community of engineers discussing engineer stuff or Disney lovers discussing the parks, etc.
As you are a relatively new member who is very active, thus you gained system ‘trust’ and access quickly, @Dirk you may not be aware of some of the workings of the forum, which is perfectly understandable.
One thing I think most of us have found/find helpful, is contacting a moderator via PM (or a PM to all moderators at @moderators) if there is an issue or question regarding moving a thread to Seeking Help. As moderators, we are trained to include a PM to members when we move posts to Seeking Help (as it is an opt in category). Additionally, we take into account the situation at hand, how long they have been on the forum, if they are English speaking or working thru translation and other factors. We also will often check in with the OP to see how they are doing.
Generally speaking, it can and is helpful for trusted regulars to have the ability to move an obviously intoxicated or belligerent using thread to Seeking Help
…in conjunction with sending a PM to moderators and/or a flag. Flags get quick attention.
Navigating the forum, trust levels, etc is a continued learning experience for all of us and there are many gray areas and nuance.
Our goal is always support, safety, community and sobriety for all. We learn by having these discussions when things arise as they have.
As always, please never hesitate to PM a moderator(s) if concerned, questioning, suggesting, etc. We are all here to help eachother and mods do not read every thread or post…it takes all of us. We appreciate those PMs!
One of the forum rules and guidelines I come back to often is below…
I wouldn’t worry too much about this; I would have done the same thing. You categorized the thread properly. It would have helped the OP for that thread if you had sent them a PM with instructions on how to opt into Seeking Help, so the OP could follow along on their thread when they return - the link to opt into Seeking Help is at the bottom of the first post in this thread:
@SassyRocks has the OP been sent a message on where to find their thread now?
Thank you very much for the detailed response, PM to moderators it is from now on! 
See an earlier response to Amy in the ‘Derailment’ thread, I did exactly that.
I saw that just now 
You had also posted about doing that in your early replies on the original thread; I read those earlier but forgot.
Considering how… ahem… riled up I was when I started this thread, it brought me joy seeing the productive conversations that came out of it. That’s why I love this community.
I think what sparked it for me was that the OP was new to the forum and that’s something I try to stay mindful about when interacting on here. Yes, they talked abour moderation, but someone outside recovery communities might not be aware of the word’s connotations within our little groups… if that makes sense?
Also, on behalf of every smoker/vaper I know, I agree with everything @Mno said. I don’t know a single smoker who’s not aware of how damaging and pointless nicotine addiction is… personally, I avoid thinking about it too much. Not the best but… hey, baby steps.
You have a deeply caring heart - deeply caring - and it is one of your great strengths. It is caring like a lion: fierce and tenacious.
I think that having you here - and people like you - is one of the reasons Talking Sober is the vibrant, passionately loyal and supportive place that it is. I have explored other recovery communities online and there is nothing else like it.
You rock 
Yes, they have.
I suggest a group hug 
Chocolate wasted
Better than wasting chocolate 