Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 The "need more advice" thread turned into the interesting question of "Is AA a Cult?" I renamed the thread accordingly. I say yes and no because the real question should be "Is anyone helped by calling AA a cult?" Everyone knows the definition of "asshole," both literally and as a derogatory name. Sensible people will know there's a time and place when no other word will do, and it's use is appropriate, while other situations call for a different approach. When talking about a person you and I both know I don't have to describe him in depth. I can say, "God he's an asshole." If I don't know you and you don't know the person I'm describing, the word is completely uselss. If I use it anyway I raise more questions about my own motivation and temperment than I do the person I'm describing. "Cult" is such a word. We can throw it around as much as we like when talking about the moonies, Jim , and even Scientology in most circles. In the case of AA the majority opinion is that it's the cat's meow, and the word "cult" must be used sparingly. People don't know it's a cult so for now, in many circles, we have to say it walks like a duck, it sounds like a duck, and it looks like a duck, without calling it a duck. It's much better to say "People who commit to the AA program one day realize they must attend meetings for the rest of their life, like it or not; the AA program does not allow for anyone to leave," and then ask "Does this make sense to you?" Nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 The "need more advice" thread turned into the interesting question of "Is AA a Cult?" I renamed the thread accordingly. I say yes and no because the real question should be "Is anyone helped by calling AA a cult?" Everyone knows the definition of "asshole," both literally and as a derogatory name. Sensible people will know there's a time and place when no other word will do, and it's use is appropriate, while other situations call for a different approach. When talking about a person you and I both know I don't have to describe him in depth. I can say, "God he's an asshole." If I don't know you and you don't know the person I'm describing, the word is completely uselss. If I use it anyway I raise more questions about my own motivation and temperment than I do the person I'm describing. "Cult" is such a word. We can throw it around as much as we like when talking about the moonies, Jim , and even Scientology in most circles. In the case of AA the majority opinion is that it's the cat's meow, and the word "cult" must be used sparingly. People don't know it's a cult so for now, in many circles, we have to say it walks like a duck, it sounds like a duck, and it looks like a duck, without calling it a duck. It's much better to say "People who commit to the AA program one day realize they must attend meetings for the rest of their life, like it or not; the AA program does not allow for anyone to leave," and then ask "Does this make sense to you?" Nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 actualy , that reminds me of when i was in aa, at around 6 months i went and saw an old teacher from college and told her i was sober and in AA. she asked me how often do i go? i said 2 or 3 times a week. she responded " dont you think thats alot? " ill never forget that moment, becuase no on had ever questioned the wisdom of attending meetings before. she really helped me get ball rolling for myself. i had a lot of respect for her too, if she had said something else, like " good! keep going every day! " i may have been in AA longer than i was. It's much better to say " People who commit to the AA program one day realize they must attend meetings for the rest of their life, like it or not; the AA program does not allow for anyone to leave, " and then ask " Does this make sense to you? " > > Nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 actualy , that reminds me of when i was in aa, at around 6 months i went and saw an old teacher from college and told her i was sober and in AA. she asked me how often do i go? i said 2 or 3 times a week. she responded " dont you think thats alot? " ill never forget that moment, becuase no on had ever questioned the wisdom of attending meetings before. she really helped me get ball rolling for myself. i had a lot of respect for her too, if she had said something else, like " good! keep going every day! " i may have been in AA longer than i was. It's much better to say " People who commit to the AA program one day realize they must attend meetings for the rest of their life, like it or not; the AA program does not allow for anyone to leave, " and then ask " Does this make sense to you? " > > Nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 actualy , that reminds me of when i was in aa, at around 6 months i went and saw an old teacher from college and told her i was sober and in AA. she asked me how often do i go? i said 2 or 3 times a week. she responded " dont you think thats alot? " ill never forget that moment, becuase no on had ever questioned the wisdom of attending meetings before. she really helped me get ball rolling for myself. i had a lot of respect for her too, if she had said something else, like " good! keep going every day! " i may have been in AA longer than i was. It's much better to say " People who commit to the AA program one day realize they must attend meetings for the rest of their life, like it or not; the AA program does not allow for anyone to leave, " and then ask " Does this make sense to you? " > > Nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 Thereis some AA sponsor (Clancy I think) with 1,000s of sponsees - that's amutation of the original (one or two sponsees) is it not? Who knows what hehas in mind for all those whackos. There's a hardcore group in Milwaukee that worships the guy. They fly him in every year. These jet-set AA's never pay their own airfare or hotel, by the way. Thousands of people show up every year to hear the guy. Seriously. They rent an arena and charge admission. (Excuse me, a suggested donation.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 Thereis some AA sponsor (Clancy I think) with 1,000s of sponsees - that's amutation of the original (one or two sponsees) is it not? Who knows what hehas in mind for all those whackos. There's a hardcore group in Milwaukee that worships the guy. They fly him in every year. These jet-set AA's never pay their own airfare or hotel, by the way. Thousands of people show up every year to hear the guy. Seriously. They rent an arena and charge admission. (Excuse me, a suggested donation.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 Thereis some AA sponsor (Clancy I think) with 1,000s of sponsees - that's amutation of the original (one or two sponsees) is it not? Who knows what hehas in mind for all those whackos. There's a hardcore group in Milwaukee that worships the guy. They fly him in every year. These jet-set AA's never pay their own airfare or hotel, by the way. Thousands of people show up every year to hear the guy. Seriously. They rent an arena and charge admission. (Excuse me, a suggested donation.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 my sponsors hobby outside of aa was duping clancy, joe and charlie tapes. man, he was pathetic. > > There > is some AA sponsor (Clancy I think) with 1,000s of sponsees - that's a > mutation of the original (one or two sponsees) is it not? Who knows what he > has in mind for all those whackos. > > > There's a hardcore group in Milwaukee that worships the guy. They fly him in every year. These jet-set AA's never pay their own airfare or hotel, by the way. > > Thousands of people show up every year to hear the guy. Seriously. They rent an arena and charge admission. (Excuse me, a suggested donation.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 my sponsors hobby outside of aa was duping clancy, joe and charlie tapes. man, he was pathetic. > > There > is some AA sponsor (Clancy I think) with 1,000s of sponsees - that's a > mutation of the original (one or two sponsees) is it not? Who knows what he > has in mind for all those whackos. > > > There's a hardcore group in Milwaukee that worships the guy. They fly him in every year. These jet-set AA's never pay their own airfare or hotel, by the way. > > Thousands of people show up every year to hear the guy. Seriously. They rent an arena and charge admission. (Excuse me, a suggested donation.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2001 Report Share Posted January 30, 2001 > > There > is some AA sponsor (Clancy I think) with 1,000s of sponsees - that's a > mutation of the original (one or two sponsees) is it not? Who knows what he > has in mind for all those whackos. The Clancy Cult was meeting about a hundred miles north of here this weekend. A friend's wife was horrified that I would actually go to a Dave Mason concert instead of going to see the guru of steppism... and my buddy was horrified that the wife dragged him off to see Clancy so he couldn't go to Dave Mason with me. I explained that the Headkeeper would hustle you down a tin can or a crown, but he'll never play with your feelings. Bob Marshall Yahoo sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2001 Report Share Posted January 30, 2001 > > There > is some AA sponsor (Clancy I think) with 1,000s of sponsees - that's a > mutation of the original (one or two sponsees) is it not? Who knows what he > has in mind for all those whackos. The Clancy Cult was meeting about a hundred miles north of here this weekend. A friend's wife was horrified that I would actually go to a Dave Mason concert instead of going to see the guru of steppism... and my buddy was horrified that the wife dragged him off to see Clancy so he couldn't go to Dave Mason with me. I explained that the Headkeeper would hustle you down a tin can or a crown, but he'll never play with your feelings. Bob Marshall Yahoo sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2001 Report Share Posted January 30, 2001 > > There > is some AA sponsor (Clancy I think) with 1,000s of sponsees - that's a > mutation of the original (one or two sponsees) is it not? Who knows what he > has in mind for all those whackos. The Clancy Cult was meeting about a hundred miles north of here this weekend. A friend's wife was horrified that I would actually go to a Dave Mason concert instead of going to see the guru of steppism... and my buddy was horrified that the wife dragged him off to see Clancy so he couldn't go to Dave Mason with me. I explained that the Headkeeper would hustle you down a tin can or a crown, but he'll never play with your feelings. Bob Marshall Yahoo sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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