Hello. I am only putting this in the Pit in case your response warrents it. My thread will not.
I don’t have the time or the energy to keep at it like this. I will henceforth attempt to leave AA or other 12-step groups out of my posts.
I’ll simply say that I, like you, have some problems with AA. And while it is none of my business, I am disheartened that so many people still go to AA even when they have problems with it. There are options.
Also, I won’t address any of the insults you tossed my way here. I assume they were meant in the same hot-headed spirit that my posts toward you were and are, therefore, totally understandable.
I did bring your sexual orientation into this, but I only meant it as a prodding. I thought the idea I suggested would offend you about as much as if you had told me to go off and have a happy fucking session (or some such). If it offended you greatly, I apologize for that.
To many people the only thing that matters is their sobriety–at whatever cost. And sobriety is a precious thing, so good luck with it any way you go about it.
Scott’s been sober for about six months. It’s a very important thing, and AA is a good program to make sure that a support structure exists on the road to sobriety.
Not only were you aggressively pissing in his cheerios, you were being vile and loathesome.
You are not Goo Fee. Phlegm like might start to cover it. Phlegm has a purpose… so I think we need another term for you.
DGF, I noticed that you have a problem with the “powerlessness” aspect of AA. I’d like to point out that powerlessness is only ever mentioned in the first step. It’s “we had become powerless over alcohol”, not “we are and always will be powerless”, as you seem to think. The idea is to regain power over alcohol and over your life.
Doctor Goo Fee, simply because the program doesn’t work FOR YOU in no way means that it doesn’t or shouldn’t work for others. I’ve been quite happily sober for almost 13 years now with the help of AA, and I am in no way brainwashed or pathetic. Other programs exist because AA doesn’t work for everyone, and I cannot recall a single instance either on or off these boards where anyone has advocated AA as the only way for alcoholics to stop drinking. Many AA members have misgivings about the effectiveness of some of these other programs, but that is their opinion, which they are absolutely entitled to as human beings.
You are an evangelist in exactly the same way you accuse AAers of being, attempting to shove your viewpoint down our throats at every opportunity. If it works for me, and for scott, and for a whole bunch of other people, why the hell does that bother you so much? We’re sober and happy and healthy and productive, why does that gall you so much?
Your personal attack on Scott was absolutely uncalled for, and as others have already pointed out, your half-assed “apology” looks to me like nothing more than another chance to push your agenda. Prick.
Doctor Goo Fee, you are disgusting. Disgusting. I’ve never hated a poster so much. And before you make your assumptions, I am not an AA member, nor have I ever had a problem with drinking in the first place. But I know about the program, and I know about the people in it and I know enough to know you are a disgusting, vile, foul example of a human being.
Why don’t you let go of some of the superiority you fell right now reading this? Asshole.
Fuck you, Doctor Goo Fee. AA has made a huge difference to two family members of mine, that I can name. Fuck off.
(Sadly, my favorite aunt and godmother died six months after finally getting sober-her body was only starting to recover from years of alcohol abuse and then she got sick…)
Goo Fee is entitled to his opinion as it seems he’s speaking from experience. I’ve had next to no contact with AA, but there are many NA members working in my industry, they call it ‘the firm’. And I can barely describe the horrible sinking feeling I get whenever I’m doing a 12 hour nightshift with someone who starts mentioning ‘behaviours’ or ‘keeping the faith’: it usually means I’ll spend the next twelve hours listening to honest testimony about all the bad things these people have done in their lives, and how hard they’ve worked to make amends. Whoohoo for them, but I counsel my clients at work, I do not need to be doing it for my collegues as well.
I know NA and AA do wonderful things. I know NA is currently the best program available at the moment for keeping people clean and sober after one year (17% IIRC). I know all this and will continue to encourage my clients to attend. But NA members still creep me the fuck out in exactly the same way fundementalists of any religion manage to. Which is my problem, and not something I’d ever say to someone’s face as someone who’s managed to remain sober a week, let alone years, deserves all the respect in the world. If it keeps people clean, it’s good. Doesn’t mean I have to enjoy the apparent side effects it has in some people.
people are entitled to their opinions. HOwever, telling some one newly sober using AA etc that AA adherants are mindless drones etc. isn’t merely expressing a negative opinion on AA.
Lots of people have differing opinions on AA. Works for some, doesn’t for others.
It’s been a loooong day!!