open meetings

[Darren]

I don't like open meetings. You can't force visitors to follow the anonymity
of AA. on more than one open meeting I've known the visitors. Now they know
I'm a former piss head.

ooops

-
Darren

[Gregg Fowler]

On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 02:20:04 +0000, Darren wrote:

> I don't like open meetings. You can't force visitors to follow the anonymity
> of AA. on more than one open meeting I've known the visitors. Now they know
> I'm a former piss head.
>
> ooops
>
> -
> Darren

Darren, that really never bothered me too much. I figure better they know
that I "used to be" rather than that I am currently. I really used to be
self conscious about things, but now my attitude is take who I am or leave
it. I am the one that really needs to be happy with myself as I am.

Gregg

[David M]

Gregg Fowler wrote:
> Darren wrote:
>
>> I don't like open meetings. You can't force visitors to
follow
>> the anonymity of AA. on more than one open meeting I've
known
>> the visitors. Now they know I'm a former piss head.
>> ooops

> Darren, that really never bothered me too much. I figure
better
> they know that I "used to be" rather than that I am
currently. I
> really used to be self conscious about things, but now my
> attitude is take who I am or leave it. I am the one that
really
> needs to be happy with myself as I am.

There is also the fact that, though many active drunks may
think they are anonymous, they really are not. So anyone who
knew you before you sobered up also probably knew you were a
piss head. ;-)

[Darren]

"Gregg Fowler" <totfit@NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.07.13.12.03.29.595526@NOSPAMgmail.co m...
> On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 02:20:04 +0000, Darren wrote:
>
>> I don't like open meetings. You can't force visitors to follow the
>> anonymity
>> of AA. on more than one open meeting I've known the visitors. Now they
>> know
>> I'm a former piss head.
>>
>> ooops
>>
>> -
>> Darren
>
> Darren, that really never bothered me too much. I figure better they know
> that I "used to be" rather than that I am currently. I really used to be
> self conscious about things, but now my attitude is take who I am or leave
> it. I am the one that really needs to be happy with myself as I am.
>
> Gregg

People often confuse "used to be" with "still is" I like to have a choice on
who know I was a drunk. Nit everyone needs to know.

-
Darren
>
>
>

[Darren]

"David M" <dhmce@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:4hnauaFcfkiU1@individual.net...
> Gregg Fowler wrote:
>> Darren wrote:
>>
>>> I don't like open meetings. You can't force visitors to
> follow
>>> the anonymity of AA. on more than one open meeting I've
> known
>>> the visitors. Now they know I'm a former piss head.
>>> ooops
>
>> Darren, that really never bothered me too much. I figure
> better
>> they know that I "used to be" rather than that I am
> currently. I
>> really used to be self conscious about things, but now my
>> attitude is take who I am or leave it. I am the one that
> really
>> needs to be happy with myself as I am.
>
> There is also the fact that, though many active drunks may
> think they are anonymous, they really are not. So anyone who
> knew you before you sobered up also probably knew you were a
> piss head. ;-)
>
>

No, these people didn't. I didn't socialise with them enough to know.

-
Darren

[Bobby L]

"Darren" <daz@notsane.com> wrote in message
news:o5itg.2336$EK1.2016@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
> I don't like open meetings. You can't force visitors to follow the
anonymity
> of AA. on more than one open meeting I've known the visitors. Now they
know
> I'm a former piss head.
>
> ooops
>
> -
> Darren
>
>

If you do not know them outside the meeting - then it may not ever matter.
If you already knew them outside the meeting.... Dollars to Donuts, they
already knew.

Bobby L

[Robert McGregor]

"Darren" <daz@notsane.com> wrote in message
news:LMutg.463$v02.193@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
>
> People often confuse "used to be" with "still is" I like to have a choice
> on who know I was a drunk.

Irrespective of you getting used to it or not, you don't have that choice.

Jeez, there are AA members who joyfully broke my anonymity even while they
were sober.

Bob

[Darren]

"Robert McGregor" <robert_mcgregor@knickers.yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:44b6d947$0$491$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-03.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au...
> "Darren" <daz@notsane.com> wrote in message
> news:LMutg.463$v02.193@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
>>
>> People often confuse "used to be" with "still is" I like to have a choice
>> on who know I was a drunk.
>
> Irrespective of you getting used to it or not, you don't have that choice.

I make a point of having that choice.

>
> Jeez, there are AA members who joyfully broke my anonymity even while they
> were sober.

You are well within your rights to break their kneecaps.

-
Darren
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>

[Darren]

"Bobby L" <bobbyl2000@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:y_ztg.428$cu1.333@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
>
> "Darren" <daz@notsane.com> wrote in message
> news:o5itg.2336$EK1.2016@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
>> I don't like open meetings. You can't force visitors to follow the
> anonymity
>> of AA. on more than one open meeting I've known the visitors. Now they
> know
>> I'm a former piss head.
>>
>> ooops
>>
>> -
>> Darren
>>
>>
>
> If you do not know them outside the meeting - then it may not ever matter.

Trouble is that I do know some of them outside the rooms and I know at least
one of them I would never call a friend nor would I piss on him if he's on
fire.

> If you already knew them outside the meeting.... Dollars to Donuts, they
> already knew.
>

Nope. There's no way they could.

-
Darren

> Bobby L
>
>

[Henry]

It occurs to me you also desperately need another type of professional help
!

Henry

[Starvin'Marv]

Just my opinion: Before AA and during its formative years, alcoholics
were considered hopeless by society. Thus, the need for real anonymity
so as not to destroy one's standing in the community, or reputation as
a doctor, lawyer, bricklayer, etc.

Today, drunkeness is still looked on with the same disdain but attempts
at recovery and gaining control over the disease is considered
admirable by most. While I respect other's wishes for privacy, I have
no qualms over someone seeing my car at an AA meeting or for that
matter informing anyone who wishes to know that I am a recovering
alcoholic.

Besides, I suspect the majority of folks attending an "open" meeting
are there for some reason besides taking note of who else is there.
Wouldn't you think?

Marv

Darren wrote:
> I don't like open meetings. You can't force visitors to follow the anonymity
> of AA. on more than one open meeting I've known the visitors. Now they know
> I'm a former piss head.
>
> ooops
>
> -
> Darren

[Robert McGregor]

Starvin'Marv wrote:
> Just my opinion: Before AA and during its formative years, alcoholics
> were considered hopeless by society. Thus, the need for real anonymity
> so as not to destroy one's standing in the community, or reputation as
> a doctor, lawyer, bricklayer, etc.
>
> Today, drunkeness is still looked on with the same disdain but attempts
> at recovery and gaining control over the disease is considered
> admirable by most. While I respect other's wishes for privacy, I have
> no qualms over someone seeing my car at an AA meeting or for that
> matter informing anyone who wishes to know that I am a recovering
> alcoholic.
>
> Besides, I suspect the majority of folks attending an "open" meeting
> are there for some reason besides taking note of who else is there.
> Wouldn't you think?
>
> Marv

Reprinted from the February 1969 Grapevine. Dr. Bob on Tradition Eleven

"We need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio
and films.

Dr. Bob, co-founder of AA, commented on Tradition Eleven as follows:
Since our Tradition on anonymity designates the exact level where the
line should be held, it must be obvious to everyone who can read and
understand the English language that to maintain anonymity at any other
level is definitely a violation of this Tradition.

The AA who hides his identity from his fellow AA by using only a given
name violates the Tradition just as much as the AA who permits his name
to appear in the press in connection with matters pertaining to AA.

The former is maintaining his anonymity ABOVE the level of press,
radio, and films, and the latter is maintaining his anonymity BELOW the
level of press, radio, and films - whereas the Tradition states that we
should maintain our anonymity AT the level of press, radio, and
films."

[Darren]

"Henry" <noone@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:2XTtg.1485$cu1.206@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> It occurs to me you also desperately need another type of professional
> help !
>
> Henry
>

Well I am an alcoholic and in many cases a;coholism is a symtom of something
bigger. I think mine falls into that catagory.

-
Darren

>