Texting at Recovery Meetings

[CD BUCKBERRY]

:162:I would like feedback on the subject of text messaging with a AA or NA meeting is going on.How much recovery are you getting if you are texting?Are you bothering the other people by distraction of what you are doing?It does say in our meeting formats to either shut your phone off or put it on vibrate.I have heard of people texting about how good or bad the speaker is.Is this a good image for a newcomer to see who is trying to learn to accept our ways of recovery.I know some of the younger generation can't go anywhere without that phone.Please give me some feedback .I am going to use feedback at AREA and Regional group meeting.No names will be used just your feedback. :162: CD BUCKBERRY

[Victoriana]

Well, I had my mobile phone stolen at a meeting last week. I can only pray that whoever took it is using it to call their sponsor!
It is terribly rude to text at a meeting and I'm surprised it goes on frankly. I think it should be pointed out that it is disruptive to the group and that there is a rule against it.

[annalittlebit]

I find it most annoying and am sometimes surprised at who does it---And as if it's not bad enough that they text, most often someone will laugh when they read one and add one more disturbance to a meeting----Just my thoughts but am glad to see someone else agrees.........

[bluidkiti]

Well, I can tell you how my grandsponsor is about meetings and that is if you are her sponsee or grandsponsee and so on then you best have all your business taken care of before the meeting starts do you'll get one of her looks. :-) Once the meeting starts, you are to pay attention to the meeting.

We are powerless over others. No matter what we do or say, there will always be someone somewhere who will not follow direction. How much we let it rent space in our heads is up to us.

Maybe after the meeting, you could take the person aside and talk to them quietly and calmly about it. I suggest praying beforehand.

[BIG AL]

I hOnestly dont see a problem.I do I see other people do it.We have to remember there are no rules no matter how much we like to put some there.If someone isnt paying attention its not the phone.Its them and phone no phone they arent going to get it.Not the phones fault.It is rude to have your rigger go during meeting cant get much ruder.I keep sayin we have much more to focus on at these meetings than if somneone is texting.But you know you have to pick your battles so if this is yours get it done BE BLESSED.

[CD BUCKBERRY]

I hOnestly dont see a problem.I do I see other people do it.We have to remember there are no rules no matter how much we like to put some there.If someone isnt paying attention its not the phone.Its them and phone no phone they arent going to get it.Not the phones fault.It is rude to have your rigger go during meeting cant get much ruder.I keep sayin we have much more to focus on at these meetings than if somneone is texting.But you know you have to pick your battles so if this is yours get it done BE BLESSED.

:29:BIG AL,Thanks for your feedback.We all have different thoughts about this issue.Some of these people who do text at meetings I have seen come and go or read there name in the paper.No doubt like you wrote its not the phones fault,its the phones owner,some never get what they came for anyway.We don't have rules but suggested things we like to follow.:29:

[Joplinfrk]

I see people knit and do crossword puzzles at my meetings as well as texting back and forth. Not to mention getting up and leaving early..while people are speaking. Now THAT is rude.

[skyhook]

If you want a laugh, find the twitter website and check out the intro video.
I wanted to know what the hub-bub was about,,,my opinion but its a joke.

(sorry to any twitter fans, but we all can't follow blindly into the lemming sea of conscious labotomy) :mrgreen:

Twitter site says something about finally being the "interpersonal link", the next wave of higher culture that people and families and friends have needed...far superior to cell phones, tv's, txt msg, emails, etc...ppppppfffftttttttt.

We need another gadget for enhanced communication, like a triple root canal.

We need more picnics with our kids, more dinner with family and friends , more dates with our squeezes and meetings where people tune in to each other...face to face.

end of rant... :wink:

[skyhook]

:162:I would like feedback on the subject of text messaging with a AA or NA meeting is going on.How much recovery are you getting if you are texting?Are you bothering the other people by distraction of what you are doing?It does say in our meeting formats to either shut your phone off or put it on vibrate.I have heard of people texting about how good or bad the speaker is.Is this a good image for a newcomer to see who is trying to learn to accept our ways of recovery.I know some of the younger generation can't go anywhere without that phone.Please give me some feedback .I am going to use feedback at AREA and Regional group meeting.No names will be used just your feedback. :162: CD BUCKBERRY

No meeting would tolerate members bringing guests with them and then proceeding to have a conversation, giggling, whipering back and forth. Unheard of.

What, a zombie gadget, grafted to someones opposable thumbs, now makes a difference in ettiquette.?

Ridiculous.

[sioux]

We are talking ONE HOUR here folks. I left a meeting last week because three people sat, before and during the meeting, playing games on their cell phones. I could have a better meeting alone in my car.

[flick]

Sounds to me like some folk are missing "basic common courtesy"; and that brings us to "judge them not for they know not what they do".

If someone isnt paying attention its not the phone.Its them and phone no phone they arent going to get it.yes, well put Al!

[janbear]

. Do to someone texting during a meeting yesterday caused my close friends who were not even at the meeting to be overly concerned about me. He was texting my friends during the meeting asking, "Is Jan's husband dead?" He heard bits and peices and began texting Instead of talking to me personally at the meeting, it created alot of drama for me to clean up later. Maybe if we put our phones aside at meetings we would have better communication with each other. Talking and listening does wonders.

[skippy]

Our group has included a please no text messaging during the meeting so as not to disturb your neighbor in the intro to the meeting. We have a mixed morning meeting of upwards of 60 -70 beach people. NOW there is a movement to rescind the no phone texting during the 1hour morning meeting.
This has brought on controversy as the younger set of members have grown up withthe texting snd give it little consideration as a threat to anyones sobrity during the meeting. Many of the members have been bothered by the antics associated with the gadget and the attention span of the people using them as disruptive to the meeting.

I am trying to form an opinion as to what the founders of the program would say and I cannot think that paying attention to a phone gadget during a meeting instead of giving undivided attention to the person sharing their experience, strength and hope to remain sober would be considered as appropriate during a meeting. Does his detract from the primary purpose?
Is this self will run riot?
Does supporting the notion of texting instead of paying attention to the person sharing display a ego driven display of individualism?
Does the person who does not have a cell phone feel contempt for the individual asserting their right to have a personal conversation on a phone during a meeting?
Does texting help keep the group sober as a whole?

If the answers to these questions proposed mean that the group benefits as a whole towards promoting soberity than individuals texting during a meeting is a good thing.
If individuals texting during a meeting does not support the groups soberity than the answer should be clear.

I would think that if everyone was texting during the meeting (we are all equal in the meeting as alcoholics trying to stay sober) and the primary purpose is being achieved than we are continuing on the tradition that AA has set as a way of life to live sober.

My only rebuttle to who is dusturbing anyone and they would otherwise be distracted anyway would come from an example of does someone picking their nose for several minutes sitting next to you draw your attention away from the meeting or are you oblivious because you are concentrating on the person sharing, so much so that you do not notice an action occuring right next to you and others???
Or has the cell phone got your attention and what is going on next to you does not disrupt the text that is being read or sent?

[greenflash1775]

To me texting is like talking while another person is talking, just rude. I feel the same way about the crosswords and the knitting. You don't see me fishing during the meeting! Leave your hobbies at home and bring some hope to the hope fiends. BTW if anyone knows of a fishing meeting please let me know the where and when. :) Until then I'll be politely staring into space and waiting for MY turn to talk instead of listening, you know the old fashion way.