Re: Re:The Man Who Sent Me

[Guest guest]

I am still in online contact with the guy who suggested I go to AA. He has

twenty years of sobriety. I have described the cultishness of the AA group I

go to, some of the behaviors and " brainwashing techniques " etc. and he can

hardly believe it; the groups that he has attended have been very different

and much more liberal, so to speak; no " self-shaming, " not much anti-

intellectualism at all. He has never heard of considering all of one's own

life before AA to be bad, thinking being considered bad, emphasis on

unquestioning obedience to sponsors, or anything else like this. He and some

of his friends share a disdain for much of the bullshit in meetings, but

they're still sober and have greatly benefitted from working the steps. He's

also an intelligent atheist who is enamoured of Ayn Rand.

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[Guest guest]

No, that is not his name.

a message dated 2/13/99 12:25:29 AM Central Standard Time, jay05@...

writes:

<< Is this guy's name Jim Shirk by any chance?

Pupship@... wrote:

>

> I am still in online contact with the guy who suggested I go to AA. He has

> twenty years of sobriety. I have described the cultishness of the AA group

I

> go to, some of the behaviors and " brainwashing techniques " etc. and he can

> hardly believe it; the groups that he has attended have been very

different

> and much more liberal, so to speak; no " self-shaming, " not much anti-

> intellectualism at all. He has never heard of considering all of one's own

> life before AA to be bad, thinking being considered bad, emphasis on

> unquestioning obedience to sponsors, or anything else like this. He and

some

> of his friends share a disdain for much of the bullshit in meetings, but

> they're still sober and have greatly benefitted from working the steps.

He's

> also an intelligent atheist who is enamoured of Ayn Rand. >>

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/13/99 7:10:38 PM Central Standard Time,

railroadrita@... writes:

Who is Jim Shirk? Who is Galt? Who Shot J.R.?

<<

>> Is this guy's name Jim Shirk by any chance?

--------------------------------------------------------

Hahaha! I wonder how many other people on this list understood the

reference?

~Rita

>>

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[Guest guest]

I note that most of my questions and comments haven't gotten many replies. Did

I faux-pas? This list is important to me right now, and I don't want to botch

it.

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[Guest guest]

  

a message dated 2/13/99 12:25:29 AM Central Standard Time,

jay05@... writes:

>> Is this guy's name Jim Shirk by any chance?

--------------------------------------------------------

Hahaha! I wonder how many other people on this list understood the

reference?

~Rita

--------------------------------------------------------

 Pupship@... wrote:

>  I am still in online contact with the guy who >suggested I go to

AA. He has twenty years of >sobriety. I have described the cultishness

of >the AA group I go to, some of the behaviors >and " brainwashing

techniques " etc. and he >can hardly believe it; the groups that he has

>attended have been very different and much >more liberal, so to speak;

no " self-shaming, " >not much anti- intellectualism at all. He has >never

heard of considering all of one's own life >before AA to be bad,

thinking being >considered bad, emphasis on unquestioning >obedience to

sponsors, or anything else like >this. He and some of his friends share

a >disdain for much of the bullshit in meetings, >but they're still

sober and have greatly >benefitted from working the steps. He's also >an

intelligent atheist who is enamoured of Ayn >Rand. >>

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[Guest guest]

At 09:02 PM 2/13/99 EST, you wrote:

>I note that most of my questions and comments haven't gotten many replies.

Did

>I faux-pas? This list is important to me right now, and I don't want to botch

>it.

Email lists are strange anyway- lack of a response actually doesn't signify

anything at all, except that there wasn't a response. It is quite possible

for everyone to be in a rush to get their kids ready for being picked up

for the weekend by the ex, or to get ready for that hairdressers

appointment to get their hair dyed blue (you know, the Thatcher look, still

quite popular in some AA meetings) or worrying about their job prospects or

whatever, and just not have the necessary " oomph " to put together a reply

to something. And of course sometimes/often people just aren't in a

responding frame of mind. You can't reliably read anything into it. It

certainly doesn't mean you have trangressed the RULES! If you do that, a

list representative will contact you to inform you of your options (just

kidding...). If you have questions unanswered that you need answered, just

post them again.

Joe Berenbaum

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[Guest guest]

I would be interested in hearing some of this debate, and perhaps

participating. How can I join Addict-L?

In a message dated 2/13/99 11:56:22 PM Central Standard Time,

PAULDIENER@... writes:

<< Rita - Speaking of Shirk, he and Garrett have been singing the praises on

AA on Addict-L. It is not a battle that can be won, really, since money

talks much louder than facts or logic. But If you, Ragge, Jim Y, or other

wants to recount your 'story', it might fit in that debate at this time.

---------- >>

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/14/99 12:05:03 AM Central Standard Time,

jfrancey@... writes:

<< Heavens no. Your find and dandy. Sometimes people choose other things to

reply to that's all. Okay?? Cheers, Carol >>>

Thank you. Things are a little weird for me right now; it's a bit of an inner

struggle, trying to decide what to do about the AA thing, and I just wanted to

make sure I hadn't alienated myself from what has been becoming an important

anchor.

<< PS Feeling " co-dependent " today?

>>

Yes, actually I was, if the concept is properly understood.,

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