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> However, comfort yourself with the thought that even most AA'ers

think Jim K. is a nut job, and have no interest in a 12-step church with Jim

playing God/HeShe whatever.>

Yes, that is comforting :)

> So, if we want Jim K. to take a hike, we all need to make it clear to

him that his efforts here will meet with total failure. Let's all say it

loudly:>

OK, I'm saying it along with Rita here:

> " WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO RELIGION

OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " >

Judith

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> However, comfort yourself with the thought that even most AA'ers

think Jim K. is a nut job, and have no interest in a 12-step church with Jim

playing God/HeShe whatever.>

Yes, that is comforting :)

> So, if we want Jim K. to take a hike, we all need to make it clear to

him that his efforts here will meet with total failure. Let's all say it

loudly:>

OK, I'm saying it along with Rita here:

> " WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO RELIGION

OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " >

Judith

________________________________________________________________

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> However, comfort yourself with the thought that even most AA'ers

think Jim K. is a nut job, and have no interest in a 12-step church with Jim

playing God/HeShe whatever.>

Yes, that is comforting :)

> So, if we want Jim K. to take a hike, we all need to make it clear to

him that his efforts here will meet with total failure. Let's all say it

loudly:>

OK, I'm saying it along with Rita here:

> " WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO RELIGION

OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " >

Judith

________________________________________________________________

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> Judith,

> I wonder if there is a way to keep Jim K. off of our list..after all,

this list, as you said has a very specific purpose, and all are not welcome.

I really don't know if there is a way to convey this to him: YOU ARE NOT

WELCOME HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!>

You'd think, wouldn't you, that this kind of direct language would do the

trick. Let's see, how creative can I get?

Skedaddle, wackadoo!

Vamoose, you cactus-eatin varmint!

High tail it, Hecubus!

Judith :) having a little innocent fun...

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Judith,

I wonder if there is a way to keep Jim K. off of our list..after all, this

list, as you said has a very specific purpose, and all are not welcome. I

really don't know if there is a way to convey this to him: YOU ARE NOT

WELCOME HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEAN

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Judith Stillwater wrote:

>

> Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes

and

> pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish

were

> African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they

behaved.

> Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest

of the

> parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects

me.

>

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

Hi Judith --

Yes, that's powerful imagery. I understand what you mean.

However, comfort yourself with the thought that even most AA'ers

think Jim K. is a nut job, and have no interest in a 12-step church

with Jim playing God/HeShe whatever.

He's a coward, I think... he only tries to evangelize to people he

thinks are weak and vulnerable and that's why he's here -- if he's had

little to no success getting AA'ers into his wackadoo church, he'll try

for those disaffected with AA whom he perceives as " hungry " for his

phony religion. It's quite interesting that he avoids me completely --

he knows full well that as a Jew, his 12-step religion and imagery

strike me as idolatrous and completely contrary to the " self-will is

G-d's gift to man " message of Torah and Talmud, and the chances of

converting me are zero.

So, if we want Jim K. to take a hike, we all need to make it clear

to him that his efforts here will meet with total failure. Let's all

say it loudly:

" WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO

RELIGION OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO

AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

~Rita

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

> Normally I wouldn't talk about someone who is present as though they

weren't

> here. In Jim K's case I will make an exception. He seems to want to

be

> here, even though he knows this group represents the antithesis of his

> beliefs.

>

> If I were to sum up my perception of the 12 steps and *A in one word,

it

> would be PUNISHMENT. I don't need more PUNISHMENT in my life.

Speaking for

> myself, I don't happen to think PUNISHMENT is a particularly

effective means

> of achieving a positive outcome.

>

> What makes me uncomfortable around Jim K is that he seems to want to

save

> us, or condemn us. This whole idea of " saving " someone is a matter of

> perspective. Jim seems to think everyone would benefit from the 12

steps.

> He wants to help people by putting the steps in their faces. To me,

that is

> not " saving. " That is PUNISHMENT.

>

> Since we as a group clearly don't want Jim's brand of " saving, " he

needs to

> condemn us. You see? There is no in-between, no room for those who

don't

> fit one extreme, " saved, " or the other, " condemned. "

>

> I've said this before but I think it bears repeating. I went to AA

because

> I thought it was the right thing to do. I wanted, and still want, to

be a

> good person. Going to AA did not make me a better person--if it had,

I

> would still be there. AA made me sadder and angrier. Not better.

>

> I am now coming back to what I believed before my coerced

indoctrination

> into the 12 steps, that I have the tools to be the best person I can

be

> within me. I don't need a religion or self help group. Rather, I

*choose*

> to be here, in 12 step free, because I recognize myself in others

here. I

> like that. I look around me here, see (I guess " read " would be the

more

> accurate word) people with whom I agree on some issues and disagree on

> others. Regardless, I know I have something in common with almost

everyone

> here, and that is that the 12 steps made my life worse instead of

better.

> It is a comfortable place to be, perhaps in spite of, perhaps because

of the

> differing opinions.

>

> I want to believe the best about Jim K, but his coming here, where he

is not

> particularly welcome, and trying to save/punish us, doesn't seem like

> something a good person would do. It seems interfering, mean

spirited,

> petty. Control freaky. Codependent. Jim does not possess the one

> characteristic upon which this group, 12 step free, is based: a

belief that

> the 12 steps are not the best way for everyone to live.

>

> Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes

and

> pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish

were

> African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they

behaved.

> Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest

of the

> parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects

me.

>

> I don't know why I'm obsessed with Jim K. He bothers me a lot. And

it's

> not because he makes me question what I believe. The opposite is

true: Jim

> K and *A have become a temporary lightening rod for my negative

feelings

> about myself.

>

> I'm afraid Jim K. will try to hurt me because I'm not willing to do

what he

> wants me to do: admit that my life has become unmanageable and that a

higher

> power can restore my life to sanity. I'm afraid he will try to

punish me

> somehow. So...I guess I do know why I'm obsessed with him. I'm

confronting

> my fear of punishment.

>

> Judith

>

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Judith Stillwater wrote:

>

> Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes

and

> pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish

were

> African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they

behaved.

> Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest

of the

> parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects

me.

>

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

Hi Judith --

Yes, that's powerful imagery. I understand what you mean.

However, comfort yourself with the thought that even most AA'ers

think Jim K. is a nut job, and have no interest in a 12-step church

with Jim playing God/HeShe whatever.

He's a coward, I think... he only tries to evangelize to people he

thinks are weak and vulnerable and that's why he's here -- if he's had

little to no success getting AA'ers into his wackadoo church, he'll try

for those disaffected with AA whom he perceives as " hungry " for his

phony religion. It's quite interesting that he avoids me completely --

he knows full well that as a Jew, his 12-step religion and imagery

strike me as idolatrous and completely contrary to the " self-will is

G-d's gift to man " message of Torah and Talmud, and the chances of

converting me are zero.

So, if we want Jim K. to take a hike, we all need to make it clear

to him that his efforts here will meet with total failure. Let's all

say it loudly:

" WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO

RELIGION OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO

AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

~Rita

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

> Normally I wouldn't talk about someone who is present as though they

weren't

> here. In Jim K's case I will make an exception. He seems to want to

be

> here, even though he knows this group represents the antithesis of his

> beliefs.

>

> If I were to sum up my perception of the 12 steps and *A in one word,

it

> would be PUNISHMENT. I don't need more PUNISHMENT in my life.

Speaking for

> myself, I don't happen to think PUNISHMENT is a particularly

effective means

> of achieving a positive outcome.

>

> What makes me uncomfortable around Jim K is that he seems to want to

save

> us, or condemn us. This whole idea of " saving " someone is a matter of

> perspective. Jim seems to think everyone would benefit from the 12

steps.

> He wants to help people by putting the steps in their faces. To me,

that is

> not " saving. " That is PUNISHMENT.

>

> Since we as a group clearly don't want Jim's brand of " saving, " he

needs to

> condemn us. You see? There is no in-between, no room for those who

don't

> fit one extreme, " saved, " or the other, " condemned. "

>

> I've said this before but I think it bears repeating. I went to AA

because

> I thought it was the right thing to do. I wanted, and still want, to

be a

> good person. Going to AA did not make me a better person--if it had,

I

> would still be there. AA made me sadder and angrier. Not better.

>

> I am now coming back to what I believed before my coerced

indoctrination

> into the 12 steps, that I have the tools to be the best person I can

be

> within me. I don't need a religion or self help group. Rather, I

*choose*

> to be here, in 12 step free, because I recognize myself in others

here. I

> like that. I look around me here, see (I guess " read " would be the

more

> accurate word) people with whom I agree on some issues and disagree on

> others. Regardless, I know I have something in common with almost

everyone

> here, and that is that the 12 steps made my life worse instead of

better.

> It is a comfortable place to be, perhaps in spite of, perhaps because

of the

> differing opinions.

>

> I want to believe the best about Jim K, but his coming here, where he

is not

> particularly welcome, and trying to save/punish us, doesn't seem like

> something a good person would do. It seems interfering, mean

spirited,

> petty. Control freaky. Codependent. Jim does not possess the one

> characteristic upon which this group, 12 step free, is based: a

belief that

> the 12 steps are not the best way for everyone to live.

>

> Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes

and

> pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish

were

> African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they

behaved.

> Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest

of the

> parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects

me.

>

> I don't know why I'm obsessed with Jim K. He bothers me a lot. And

it's

> not because he makes me question what I believe. The opposite is

true: Jim

> K and *A have become a temporary lightening rod for my negative

feelings

> about myself.

>

> I'm afraid Jim K. will try to hurt me because I'm not willing to do

what he

> wants me to do: admit that my life has become unmanageable and that a

higher

> power can restore my life to sanity. I'm afraid he will try to

punish me

> somehow. So...I guess I do know why I'm obsessed with him. I'm

confronting

> my fear of punishment.

>

> Judith

>

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Judith Stillwater wrote:

>

> Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes

and

> pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish

were

> African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they

behaved.

> Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest

of the

> parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects

me.

>

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

Hi Judith --

Yes, that's powerful imagery. I understand what you mean.

However, comfort yourself with the thought that even most AA'ers

think Jim K. is a nut job, and have no interest in a 12-step church

with Jim playing God/HeShe whatever.

He's a coward, I think... he only tries to evangelize to people he

thinks are weak and vulnerable and that's why he's here -- if he's had

little to no success getting AA'ers into his wackadoo church, he'll try

for those disaffected with AA whom he perceives as " hungry " for his

phony religion. It's quite interesting that he avoids me completely --

he knows full well that as a Jew, his 12-step religion and imagery

strike me as idolatrous and completely contrary to the " self-will is

G-d's gift to man " message of Torah and Talmud, and the chances of

converting me are zero.

So, if we want Jim K. to take a hike, we all need to make it clear

to him that his efforts here will meet with total failure. Let's all

say it loudly:

" WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO

RELIGION OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO

AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

~Rita

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

> Normally I wouldn't talk about someone who is present as though they

weren't

> here. In Jim K's case I will make an exception. He seems to want to

be

> here, even though he knows this group represents the antithesis of his

> beliefs.

>

> If I were to sum up my perception of the 12 steps and *A in one word,

it

> would be PUNISHMENT. I don't need more PUNISHMENT in my life.

Speaking for

> myself, I don't happen to think PUNISHMENT is a particularly

effective means

> of achieving a positive outcome.

>

> What makes me uncomfortable around Jim K is that he seems to want to

save

> us, or condemn us. This whole idea of " saving " someone is a matter of

> perspective. Jim seems to think everyone would benefit from the 12

steps.

> He wants to help people by putting the steps in their faces. To me,

that is

> not " saving. " That is PUNISHMENT.

>

> Since we as a group clearly don't want Jim's brand of " saving, " he

needs to

> condemn us. You see? There is no in-between, no room for those who

don't

> fit one extreme, " saved, " or the other, " condemned. "

>

> I've said this before but I think it bears repeating. I went to AA

because

> I thought it was the right thing to do. I wanted, and still want, to

be a

> good person. Going to AA did not make me a better person--if it had,

I

> would still be there. AA made me sadder and angrier. Not better.

>

> I am now coming back to what I believed before my coerced

indoctrination

> into the 12 steps, that I have the tools to be the best person I can

be

> within me. I don't need a religion or self help group. Rather, I

*choose*

> to be here, in 12 step free, because I recognize myself in others

here. I

> like that. I look around me here, see (I guess " read " would be the

more

> accurate word) people with whom I agree on some issues and disagree on

> others. Regardless, I know I have something in common with almost

everyone

> here, and that is that the 12 steps made my life worse instead of

better.

> It is a comfortable place to be, perhaps in spite of, perhaps because

of the

> differing opinions.

>

> I want to believe the best about Jim K, but his coming here, where he

is not

> particularly welcome, and trying to save/punish us, doesn't seem like

> something a good person would do. It seems interfering, mean

spirited,

> petty. Control freaky. Codependent. Jim does not possess the one

> characteristic upon which this group, 12 step free, is based: a

belief that

> the 12 steps are not the best way for everyone to live.

>

> Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes

and

> pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish

were

> African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they

behaved.

> Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest

of the

> parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects

me.

>

> I don't know why I'm obsessed with Jim K. He bothers me a lot. And

it's

> not because he makes me question what I believe. The opposite is

true: Jim

> K and *A have become a temporary lightening rod for my negative

feelings

> about myself.

>

> I'm afraid Jim K. will try to hurt me because I'm not willing to do

what he

> wants me to do: admit that my life has become unmanageable and that a

higher

> power can restore my life to sanity. I'm afraid he will try to

punish me

> somehow. So...I guess I do know why I'm obsessed with him. I'm

confronting

> my fear of punishment.

>

> Judith

>

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WACKADOO....... GO AWAY.... (I like saying that better than " Serernity

Now!!!) too bad Seinfeld's off the air, they could do a " doyouwackadoo???

segment "

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, how true. Nothing reinforces the life-changes I have made like reading

drivel from the (sorry, can't help myself.....) WACKADOO... So wackaway, Jim

K. And thank you for reminding me of just how sick it is out there in 12

step land.

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Where is the listowner lately? Is he on vacation? He used to pitch

people like Jim K. right off the list.

wrote:

original article:/group/12-step-free/?start=6888

> Normally I wouldn't talk about someone who is present as though they

weren't

> here. In Jim K's case I will make an exception. He seems to want to

be

> here, even though he knows this group represents the antithesis of his

> beliefs.

>

> If I were to sum up my perception of the 12 steps and *A in one word,

it

> would be PUNISHMENT. I don't need more PUNISHMENT in my life.

Speaking for

> myself, I don't happen to think PUNISHMENT is a particularly

effective means

> of achieving a positive outcome.

>

> What makes me uncomfortable around Jim K is that he seems to want to

save

> us, or condemn us. This whole idea of " saving " someone is a matter of

> perspective. Jim seems to think everyone would benefit from the 12

steps.

> He wants to help people by putting the steps in their faces. To me,

that is

> not " saving. " That is PUNISHMENT.

>

> Since we as a group clearly don't want Jim's brand of " saving, " he

needs to

> condemn us. You see? There is no in-between, no room for those who

don't

> fit one extreme, " saved, " or the other, " condemned. "

>

> I've said this before but I think it bears repeating. I went to AA

because

> I thought it was the right thing to do. I wanted, and still want, to

be a

> good person. Going to AA did not make me a better person--if it had,

I

> would still be there. AA made me sadder and angrier. Not better.

>

> I am now coming back to what I believed before my coerced

indoctrination

> into the 12 steps, that I have the tools to be the best person I can

be

> within me. I don't need a religion or self help group. Rather, I

*choose*

> to be here, in 12 step free, because I recognize myself in others

here. I

> like that. I look around me here, see (I guess " read " would be the

more

> accurate word) people with whom I agree on some issues and disagree on

> others. Regardless, I know I have something in common with almost

everyone

> here, and that is that the 12 steps made my life worse instead of

better.

> It is a comfortable place to be, perhaps in spite of, perhaps because

of the

> differing opinions.

>

> I want to believe the best about Jim K, but his coming here, where he

is not

> particularly welcome, and trying to save/punish us, doesn't seem like

> something a good person would do. It seems interfering, mean

spirited,

> petty. Control freaky. Codependent. Jim does not possess the one

> characteristic upon which this group, 12 step free, is based: a

belief that

> the 12 steps are not the best way for everyone to live.

>

> Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes

and

> pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish

were

> African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they

behaved.

> Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest

of the

> parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects

me.

>

> I don't know why I'm obsessed with Jim K. He bothers me a lot. And

it's

> not because he makes me question what I believe. The opposite is

true: Jim

> K and *A have become a temporary lightening rod for my negative

feelings

> about myself.

>

> I'm afraid Jim K. will try to hurt me because I'm not willing to do

what he

> wants me to do: admit that my life has become unmanageable and that a

higher

> power can restore my life to sanity. I'm afraid he will try to

punish me

> somehow. So...I guess I do know why I'm obsessed with him. I'm

confronting

> my fear of punishment.

>

> Judith

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________________________________________

> Get FREE voicemail, fax and email at http://voicemail.excite.com

> Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com

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kayleighs@... wrote:

>

> Where is the listowner lately? Is he on vacation? He used to pitch

> people like Jim K. right off the list.

I THINK IT'S TIME!!! He was entertaining for a while but the reruns are

getting a trifle tedious.

Funny though when you get right down to it he really is what this list

is all about. We are all dedicated to openly sharing the damaging

effects of Alcoholics Anonymous and exposing it for the pernicious cult

it really is. Doesn't he do that every time he posts here, and doesn't

he accomplish that on a truly grand scale every time someone lands in

his website?

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Hi Rio. I think Jim K is just " in the right place at the right time " for

me. I am spending a lot of time this summer thinking about why I ever made

the choice to try AA, how it became so damaging to me, I guess so I can

learn to better protect myself in the future.

I've gone off on him a lot, I think as a way of putting my feelings about AA

in context. Part of me knows it's not good for me to put too much emphasis

on Jim K, or on AA, or on anyone else by myself, in thinking about my life

in the present. It's my life--the accountability is mine.

But I do think that, in the short term, focusing these feelings on Jim K

helps me to deal with them, sort them out, write about them, ultimately

understand them. It's an opportunity for me to learn how not to feel sorry

for someone who deserves no sympathy from me.

I'd be happy if Jim K left, but as long as he's here, I'll use his presence

to my advantage, and practice not being ashamed of that. Thanks for

responding, Rio, I always appreciate what you have to say.

Judith

>

> I haven't found this Jim K. guy a real threat to me; however, if he scares

you that much, I'd rather he went away. Although we trail off now and then

on other subjects, we get back to the business at hand which is looking at

12-step group and philosophies critically, and support people who want to

get away from thinking their whole lives from a Big Book outlook. I've not

responded directly to Mr K; I think the guys on this list do a bang-up job,

myself.>

________________________________________________________________

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Hi Rio. I think Jim K is just " in the right place at the right time " for

me. I am spending a lot of time this summer thinking about why I ever made

the choice to try AA, how it became so damaging to me, I guess so I can

learn to better protect myself in the future.

I've gone off on him a lot, I think as a way of putting my feelings about AA

in context. Part of me knows it's not good for me to put too much emphasis

on Jim K, or on AA, or on anyone else by myself, in thinking about my life

in the present. It's my life--the accountability is mine.

But I do think that, in the short term, focusing these feelings on Jim K

helps me to deal with them, sort them out, write about them, ultimately

understand them. It's an opportunity for me to learn how not to feel sorry

for someone who deserves no sympathy from me.

I'd be happy if Jim K left, but as long as he's here, I'll use his presence

to my advantage, and practice not being ashamed of that. Thanks for

responding, Rio, I always appreciate what you have to say.

Judith

>

> I haven't found this Jim K. guy a real threat to me; however, if he scares

you that much, I'd rather he went away. Although we trail off now and then

on other subjects, we get back to the business at hand which is looking at

12-step group and philosophies critically, and support people who want to

get away from thinking their whole lives from a Big Book outlook. I've not

responded directly to Mr K; I think the guys on this list do a bang-up job,

myself.>

________________________________________________________________

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Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com

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Hi Rio. I think Jim K is just " in the right place at the right time " for

me. I am spending a lot of time this summer thinking about why I ever made

the choice to try AA, how it became so damaging to me, I guess so I can

learn to better protect myself in the future.

I've gone off on him a lot, I think as a way of putting my feelings about AA

in context. Part of me knows it's not good for me to put too much emphasis

on Jim K, or on AA, or on anyone else by myself, in thinking about my life

in the present. It's my life--the accountability is mine.

But I do think that, in the short term, focusing these feelings on Jim K

helps me to deal with them, sort them out, write about them, ultimately

understand them. It's an opportunity for me to learn how not to feel sorry

for someone who deserves no sympathy from me.

I'd be happy if Jim K left, but as long as he's here, I'll use his presence

to my advantage, and practice not being ashamed of that. Thanks for

responding, Rio, I always appreciate what you have to say.

Judith

>

> I haven't found this Jim K. guy a real threat to me; however, if he scares

you that much, I'd rather he went away. Although we trail off now and then

on other subjects, we get back to the business at hand which is looking at

12-step group and philosophies critically, and support people who want to

get away from thinking their whole lives from a Big Book outlook. I've not

responded directly to Mr K; I think the guys on this list do a bang-up job,

myself.>

________________________________________________________________

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Guest guest

Hi Judith,

I haven't found this Jim K. guy a real threat to me; however, if he scares

you that much, I'd rather he went away. Although we trail off now and then

on other subjects, we get back to the business at hand which is looking at

12-step group and philosophies critically, and support people who want to

get away from thinking their whole lives from a Big Book outlook. I've not

responded directly to Mr K; I think the guys on this list do a bang-up job,

myself.

Jan

punishment (long)

>Normally I wouldn't talk about someone who is present as though they

weren't

>here. In Jim K's case I will make an exception. He seems to want to be

>here, even though he knows this group represents the antithesis of his

>beliefs.

>

>If I were to sum up my perception of the 12 steps and *A in one word, it

>would be PUNISHMENT. I don't need more PUNISHMENT in my life. Speaking

for

>myself, I don't happen to think PUNISHMENT is a particularly effective

means

>of achieving a positive outcome.

>

>What makes me uncomfortable around Jim K is that he seems to want to save

>us, or condemn us. This whole idea of " saving " someone is a matter of

>perspective. Jim seems to think everyone would benefit from the 12 steps.

>He wants to help people by putting the steps in their faces. To me, that

is

>not " saving. " That is PUNISHMENT.

>

>Since we as a group clearly don't want Jim's brand of " saving, " he needs to

>condemn us. You see? There is no in-between, no room for those who don't

>fit one extreme, " saved, " or the other, " condemned. "

>

>I've said this before but I think it bears repeating. I went to AA because

>I thought it was the right thing to do. I wanted, and still want, to be a

>good person. Going to AA did not make me a better person--if it had, I

>would still be there. AA made me sadder and angrier. Not better.

>

>I am now coming back to what I believed before my coerced indoctrination

>into the 12 steps, that I have the tools to be the best person I can be

>within me. I don't need a religion or self help group. Rather, I *choose*

>to be here, in 12 step free, because I recognize myself in others here. I

>like that. I look around me here, see (I guess " read " would be the more

>accurate word) people with whom I agree on some issues and disagree on

>others. Regardless, I know I have something in common with almost everyone

>here, and that is that the 12 steps made my life worse instead of better.

>It is a comfortable place to be, perhaps in spite of, perhaps because of

the

>differing opinions.

>

>I want to believe the best about Jim K, but his coming here, where he is

not

>particularly welcome, and trying to save/punish us, doesn't seem like

>something a good person would do. It seems interfering, mean spirited,

>petty. Control freaky. Codependent. Jim does not possess the one

>characteristic upon which this group, 12 step free, is based: a belief that

>the 12 steps are not the best way for everyone to live.

>

>Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes and

>pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish were

>African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they behaved.

>Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest of

the

>parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects me.

>

>I don't know why I'm obsessed with Jim K. He bothers me a lot. And it's

>not because he makes me question what I believe. The opposite is true: Jim

>K and *A have become a temporary lightening rod for my negative feelings

>about myself.

>

>I'm afraid Jim K. will try to hurt me because I'm not willing to do what he

>wants me to do: admit that my life has become unmanageable and that a

higher

>power can restore my life to sanity. I'm afraid he will try to punish me

>somehow. So...I guess I do know why I'm obsessed with him. I'm confronting

>my fear of punishment.

>

>Judith

>

>

>

>

>________________________________________________________________

>Get FREE voicemail, fax and email at http://voicemail.excite.com

>Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com

>

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

>MyPoints-Free Rewards When You're Online.

>Start with up to 150 Points for joining!

>http://clickhere./click/630

>

>

>eGroups.com home: /group/12-step-free

> - Simplifying group communications

>

>

>

>

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Guest guest

Hi Judith,

I haven't found this Jim K. guy a real threat to me; however, if he scares

you that much, I'd rather he went away. Although we trail off now and then

on other subjects, we get back to the business at hand which is looking at

12-step group and philosophies critically, and support people who want to

get away from thinking their whole lives from a Big Book outlook. I've not

responded directly to Mr K; I think the guys on this list do a bang-up job,

myself.

Jan

punishment (long)

>Normally I wouldn't talk about someone who is present as though they

weren't

>here. In Jim K's case I will make an exception. He seems to want to be

>here, even though he knows this group represents the antithesis of his

>beliefs.

>

>If I were to sum up my perception of the 12 steps and *A in one word, it

>would be PUNISHMENT. I don't need more PUNISHMENT in my life. Speaking

for

>myself, I don't happen to think PUNISHMENT is a particularly effective

means

>of achieving a positive outcome.

>

>What makes me uncomfortable around Jim K is that he seems to want to save

>us, or condemn us. This whole idea of " saving " someone is a matter of

>perspective. Jim seems to think everyone would benefit from the 12 steps.

>He wants to help people by putting the steps in their faces. To me, that

is

>not " saving. " That is PUNISHMENT.

>

>Since we as a group clearly don't want Jim's brand of " saving, " he needs to

>condemn us. You see? There is no in-between, no room for those who don't

>fit one extreme, " saved, " or the other, " condemned. "

>

>I've said this before but I think it bears repeating. I went to AA because

>I thought it was the right thing to do. I wanted, and still want, to be a

>good person. Going to AA did not make me a better person--if it had, I

>would still be there. AA made me sadder and angrier. Not better.

>

>I am now coming back to what I believed before my coerced indoctrination

>into the 12 steps, that I have the tools to be the best person I can be

>within me. I don't need a religion or self help group. Rather, I *choose*

>to be here, in 12 step free, because I recognize myself in others here. I

>like that. I look around me here, see (I guess " read " would be the more

>accurate word) people with whom I agree on some issues and disagree on

>others. Regardless, I know I have something in common with almost everyone

>here, and that is that the 12 steps made my life worse instead of better.

>It is a comfortable place to be, perhaps in spite of, perhaps because of

the

>differing opinions.

>

>I want to believe the best about Jim K, but his coming here, where he is

not

>particularly welcome, and trying to save/punish us, doesn't seem like

>something a good person would do. It seems interfering, mean spirited,

>petty. Control freaky. Codependent. Jim does not possess the one

>characteristic upon which this group, 12 step free, is based: a belief that

>the 12 steps are not the best way for everyone to live.

>

>Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes and

>pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish were

>African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they behaved.

>Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest of

the

>parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects me.

>

>I don't know why I'm obsessed with Jim K. He bothers me a lot. And it's

>not because he makes me question what I believe. The opposite is true: Jim

>K and *A have become a temporary lightening rod for my negative feelings

>about myself.

>

>I'm afraid Jim K. will try to hurt me because I'm not willing to do what he

>wants me to do: admit that my life has become unmanageable and that a

higher

>power can restore my life to sanity. I'm afraid he will try to punish me

>somehow. So...I guess I do know why I'm obsessed with him. I'm confronting

>my fear of punishment.

>

>Judith

>

>

>

>

>________________________________________________________________

>Get FREE voicemail, fax and email at http://voicemail.excite.com

>Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com

>

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

>MyPoints-Free Rewards When You're Online.

>Start with up to 150 Points for joining!

>http://clickhere./click/630

>

>

>eGroups.com home: /group/12-step-free

> - Simplifying group communications

>

>

>

>

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Share on other sites

Guest guest

Hi Judith,

I haven't found this Jim K. guy a real threat to me; however, if he scares

you that much, I'd rather he went away. Although we trail off now and then

on other subjects, we get back to the business at hand which is looking at

12-step group and philosophies critically, and support people who want to

get away from thinking their whole lives from a Big Book outlook. I've not

responded directly to Mr K; I think the guys on this list do a bang-up job,

myself.

Jan

punishment (long)

>Normally I wouldn't talk about someone who is present as though they

weren't

>here. In Jim K's case I will make an exception. He seems to want to be

>here, even though he knows this group represents the antithesis of his

>beliefs.

>

>If I were to sum up my perception of the 12 steps and *A in one word, it

>would be PUNISHMENT. I don't need more PUNISHMENT in my life. Speaking

for

>myself, I don't happen to think PUNISHMENT is a particularly effective

means

>of achieving a positive outcome.

>

>What makes me uncomfortable around Jim K is that he seems to want to save

>us, or condemn us. This whole idea of " saving " someone is a matter of

>perspective. Jim seems to think everyone would benefit from the 12 steps.

>He wants to help people by putting the steps in their faces. To me, that

is

>not " saving. " That is PUNISHMENT.

>

>Since we as a group clearly don't want Jim's brand of " saving, " he needs to

>condemn us. You see? There is no in-between, no room for those who don't

>fit one extreme, " saved, " or the other, " condemned. "

>

>I've said this before but I think it bears repeating. I went to AA because

>I thought it was the right thing to do. I wanted, and still want, to be a

>good person. Going to AA did not make me a better person--if it had, I

>would still be there. AA made me sadder and angrier. Not better.

>

>I am now coming back to what I believed before my coerced indoctrination

>into the 12 steps, that I have the tools to be the best person I can be

>within me. I don't need a religion or self help group. Rather, I *choose*

>to be here, in 12 step free, because I recognize myself in others here. I

>like that. I look around me here, see (I guess " read " would be the more

>accurate word) people with whom I agree on some issues and disagree on

>others. Regardless, I know I have something in common with almost everyone

>here, and that is that the 12 steps made my life worse instead of better.

>It is a comfortable place to be, perhaps in spite of, perhaps because of

the

>differing opinions.

>

>I want to believe the best about Jim K, but his coming here, where he is

not

>particularly welcome, and trying to save/punish us, doesn't seem like

>something a good person would do. It seems interfering, mean spirited,

>petty. Control freaky. Codependent. Jim does not possess the one

>characteristic upon which this group, 12 step free, is based: a belief that

>the 12 steps are not the best way for everyone to live.

>

>Imagine if a group of white supremacists, decked out in white robes and

>pointed hoods, attended services at a church where most of the parish were

>African American, or at a synagogue. It wouldn't matter how they behaved.

>Just their presence would have a chilling effect, would make the rest of

the

>parishioners feel angry or scared or sad. That's how Jim K. affects me.

>

>I don't know why I'm obsessed with Jim K. He bothers me a lot. And it's

>not because he makes me question what I believe. The opposite is true: Jim

>K and *A have become a temporary lightening rod for my negative feelings

>about myself.

>

>I'm afraid Jim K. will try to hurt me because I'm not willing to do what he

>wants me to do: admit that my life has become unmanageable and that a

higher

>power can restore my life to sanity. I'm afraid he will try to punish me

>somehow. So...I guess I do know why I'm obsessed with him. I'm confronting

>my fear of punishment.

>

>Judith

>

>

>

>

>________________________________________________________________

>Get FREE voicemail, fax and email at http://voicemail.excite.com

>Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com

>

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

>MyPoints-Free Rewards When You're Online.

>Start with up to 150 Points for joining!

>http://clickhere./click/630

>

>

>eGroups.com home: /group/12-step-free

> - Simplifying group communications

>

>

>

>

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Guest guest

Mr Jim K,

>say it loudly:

>

> " WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO

>RELIGION OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO

>AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

>

(When I read this the tune to Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall' comes

to mind)

Jan

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Guest guest

Mr Jim K,

>say it loudly:

>

> " WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO

>RELIGION OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO

>AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

>

(When I read this the tune to Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall' comes

to mind)

Jan

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Share on other sites

Guest guest

Mr Jim K,

>say it loudly:

>

> " WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONVERTING TO YOUR WACKADOO

>RELIGION OR JOINING YOUR WACKADOO CHURCH... JIM K., GO

>AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

>

(When I read this the tune to Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall' comes

to mind)

Jan

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Guest guest

Hi ,

I have folders on my Email Program set up for the different topics I receive

stuff from and 'Inbox' handles all that can't be separated according to the

guidelines I set up. 12 step free has its own folder. A few days ago I

received in 'Inbox' an email from Jim K. Nothing on it but the email ads we

all get from ergots at the bottom of our posts. So he's got our personal

email addressees. I wonder if, by now, AA headquarters has copies of all

our posts and is going to track us down personally at our homes.

Re: punishment (long)

>

>kayleighs@... wrote:

>>

>> Where is the listowner lately? Is he on vacation? He used to pitch

>> people like Jim K. right off the list.

>

>I THINK IT'S TIME!!! He was entertaining for a while but the reruns are

>getting a trifle tedious.

>

>Funny though when you get right down to it he really is what this list

>is all about. We are all dedicated to openly sharing the damaging

>effects of Alcoholics Anonymous and exposing it for the pernicious cult

>it really is. Doesn't he do that every time he posts here, and doesn't

>he accomplish that on a truly grand scale every time someone lands in

>his website?

>

>

>

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

>GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! A NextCard Platinum VISA: DOUBLE Rewards points,

>NO annual fee & rates as low as 9.9% FIXED APR. Apply online today!

>http://clickhere./click/606

>

>

>eGroups.com home: /group/12-step-free

> - Simplifying group communications

>

>

>

>

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Guest guest

Hi ,

I have folders on my Email Program set up for the different topics I receive

stuff from and 'Inbox' handles all that can't be separated according to the

guidelines I set up. 12 step free has its own folder. A few days ago I

received in 'Inbox' an email from Jim K. Nothing on it but the email ads we

all get from ergots at the bottom of our posts. So he's got our personal

email addressees. I wonder if, by now, AA headquarters has copies of all

our posts and is going to track us down personally at our homes.

Re: punishment (long)

>

>kayleighs@... wrote:

>>

>> Where is the listowner lately? Is he on vacation? He used to pitch

>> people like Jim K. right off the list.

>

>I THINK IT'S TIME!!! He was entertaining for a while but the reruns are

>getting a trifle tedious.

>

>Funny though when you get right down to it he really is what this list

>is all about. We are all dedicated to openly sharing the damaging

>effects of Alcoholics Anonymous and exposing it for the pernicious cult

>it really is. Doesn't he do that every time he posts here, and doesn't

>he accomplish that on a truly grand scale every time someone lands in

>his website?

>

>

>

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

>GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! A NextCard Platinum VISA: DOUBLE Rewards points,

>NO annual fee & rates as low as 9.9% FIXED APR. Apply online today!

>http://clickhere./click/606

>

>

>eGroups.com home: /group/12-step-free

> - Simplifying group communications

>

>

>

>

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Guest guest

On Tue, 03 Aug 1999 17:43:45 -0700 kayleighs@...

wrote:

> Where is the listowner lately? Is he on vacation? He used to pitch

> people like Jim K. right off the list.

>

IIRC Ken has already pitched Jim off the list once and he's

come back. You can write Ken at

12-step-free-owneregroups

Pete

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Guest guest

I am puzzled by your comment. Why wouldn't he have our e-mail

addresses? They appear on our posts. Unless you mean that you have 2,

and one is an alias and he has found out what the other one is?

<00db01bede6f$8fef18a0$4014fed-@mrsy> wrote:

original article:/group/12-step-free/?start=6942

> Hi ,

>

> I have folders on my Email Program set up for the different topics I

receive

> stuff from and 'Inbox' handles all that can't be separated according

to the

> guidelines I set up. 12 step free has its own folder. A few days

ago I

> received in 'Inbox' an email from Jim K. Nothing on it but the email

ads we

> all get from ergots at the bottom of our posts. So he's got our

personal

> email addressees. I wonder if, by now, AA headquarters has copies of

all

> our posts and is going to track us down personally at our homes.

> Re: punishment (long)

>

>

> >

> >kayleighs@... wrote:

> >>

> >> Where is the listowner lately? Is he on vacation? He used to

pitch

> >> people like Jim K. right off the list.

> >

> >I THINK IT'S TIME!!! He was entertaining for a while but the reruns

are

> >getting a trifle tedious.

> >

> >Funny though when you get right down to it he really is what this

list

> >is all about. We are all dedicated to openly sharing the damaging

> >effects of Alcoholics Anonymous and exposing it for the pernicious

cult

> >it really is. Doesn't he do that every time he posts here, and

doesn't

> >he accomplish that on a truly grand scale every time someone lands in

> >his website?

> >

> >

> >

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