Cyber Alkies Don't Forget Traditions 10 & 11

[Camel]

Greetings to all my cyber alkies,

Tradition 10 & 11; don't forget it.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.

Recently I was looking through youtube, and found a bunch a anti-AA propaganda. IMO there will always be haters, and if they want to strike up a campaign or create propaganda against AA, they can do so till there hearts content. I don't care what they do. Besides how much support do you think these people get? Not much because no one really cares wether or not AA is cult. I would like to say that AA is no where near the identifying charecteristics of a cult. First of all we have no leader; cults usually have a zealot leader. Meanwhile these people who are leading the anti-AA movement seem to be particularly zealot themselves.

Here is a link for a cult characteristic check list:
http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

I couldn't check one box...:rolleyes:

Anyways, I have no problem with these people, if they want to be ignorant a-holes so let it be. I do pray for them however.

That is not the problem. The problem is IMO AA members getting in debate with these people, leaving text comments on there videos.. Have you forgotten our tradition? All we need to worry about is our sobriety and getting our behind to the next meeting without a drink, we should stay out of public controversy. It draws negative attention on AA. I rather see these videos, with a million hate comments, then to see the comments mixed AA members defending the AA name. There is no need for us to defend AA. AA will take care of itself. Besides, as long as I am sober and I have my Big Book; I will always have Alcoholics Anonymous and so will the millions of others.

Please share about this topic...

Camel

[geoff 1030]

Camel, I feel as though I have to add a thought here. Through my involement with my wifes' ongoing recovery, just about 11 months now, and my involvement in Al Anon I have come to know many wonderful people in both progams. There are some people here on this site that I have never even met, who mean the world to me and help daily.

I have also seen those around the programs that uninformed people could possibly construe to be part of a cult type culture. These seem to me anyway, to be the people that are not truly working their program, only hiding in it for now. There are those who talk the talk, but do not walk the walk. For what ever reason, they are not yet ready to find what AA is offering them. I now know enough to understand that they are on their own path and that only in their own time will they find their own way.

I at first had some of these same thoughts when my wifes recovery began stagnating, the first six months or so she made great progress, our lives were improving dramaticly. For whatever reason things changed and quickly. Thankfully she is still not drinking or using.

Yet somewhere underneath it all she quit working the steps. She confined her self mostly to other newcomers, people that were having their own troubles and could not, or would not move forward. This group she spends so much time with is almost like a fringe group of AA, they seem to gravitate to each other and cosign each others bull**** about what recovery is. I even found myself in a similar group in Al Anon. It finaly hit me that my lack of progess was my own from not putting in the work, and wallowing in just the fact that there are others out there that share my experiences and feelings. When I found that I did not want to stay stuck in that spot, that I wanted progress, and reapplied myself, things began to go forward again.


I don't believe for one second AA is a cult in any way shape or form. Yet I can tell you that to those who feel as though they are losing their loved ones to these fringe type groups and do not truly understand that it is their loved one that is behaving this way, not AA as a whole. It can be a devestating , angry time when they are looking for someone or something to blame. It is easier for those who do not understand working the steps to blame AA as a whole, rather than understand it is just where their loved one is in their own journey.

Most of those I have come to know would not even be bothered by such talk of AA being a cult ,let alone reply or rebut it. I would guess the people leaving comments are not those that are truly working the steps, but only reciting them. Or family members and loved ones of those that have seen what AA truly offers all who want it. I pray to one day be among the people that witness the miracle when it happens.


Any way just offerng some thoughts from my perspective. Thanks everyone for being here and listening.

[Victoriana]

With every group there will be those that either misuse it or denigrate from without. This is not just recovery groups, it can be anything. So, I look for the people that are using a group correctly, learning, sharing and growing within it and simply ignore the antics of the rest.
When I join a group, be it a book club or a debating circle or AA, I have a purpose in mind. I keep that firmly at front of my mind. I know why I am there and those that want to ruin my chances can just move on I'm afraid.
AA is a life saving concern for those that use it in the proper manner. Those that wish to verbalize otherwise have the right to their opinion I guess but for those of us struggling and receiving help.............we know the truth.
Interesting though that anyone would even be bothered to take such strong stances against AA. Something to hide perhaps?