A Dozen Steps

The Practical Application Of Anonymity

by Mark on December 1st, 2006

dAAve is not alone with his discovery of the disdain some folks feel for our Traditions. I think the 12 and 12 spells out the nature of this disdain rather well. From page 184 - “Because A.A.’s Twelve Traditions repeatedly ask us to give up personal desires for the common good” calls just about all of us on the carpet because we are self-centered and self-serving. We don’t want to sacrifice our “stuff” for others! Welcome to the world of old thinking…

Inconsiderate, disrespectful, uncaring through self-centeredness, no sense of spirituality, lack of conscience etc. etc. Where do you believe folks like that are headed?

On one aspect of our Traditions - anonymity - here are some thoughts and experience from page 185;

“As the A.A. groups multiplied, so did anonymity problems. Enthusiastic over the spectacular recovery of a brother alcoholic, we’d sometimes discuss those intimate and harrowing aspects of his case meant for his sponsor’s ears alone. The aggrieved victim would then rightly declare that his trust had been broken. When such stories got into circulation outside of A.A., the loss of confidence in our anonymity promise was severe. It frequently turned people from us. Clearly, every A.A. member’s name - and story too - had to be confidential, if he wished. This was our first lesson in the practical application of anonymity.”

Here’s only one of many thoughts of mine - do you people not understand the ramifications of “turning people from us?” Without newcomers, because they’ve lost confidence in AA working because their stories are being told in the outside world in violation of personal trust, we have no lifeblood. No one new to practice these principles with. No one to help.

What insures our sobriety more than any one other thing? Working with others. Newcomers!!!

One more personal thought - those who believe the Traditions aren’t pertinent to their own sobriety need a good swift kick in the ass! ought to find a newcomer and work with them on the Traditions. And give the Traditions Checklist a good read…

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POSTED IN: The Twelve Traditions