I would never had believed this myself until....
A person I work with who is in AA asked me if I wanted to got to this "great meeting". I don't normally attend AA but, I have nothing against it and was kind-of in a bad way that night (depressed not drunk). Anyway, we get there and it is a click-ish little bunch of people trying to out do each other with 'my program is better than yours". Not to mention I was hit on by a member.
Anyway, I was like "man, why did you bring me to this meeting. Everyone here seems to know each other really well and I feel so out of place." Then he says "I love this meeting. At least half the people here I was in treatment with."
To me this was a pointless way to spend an hour and I definitely would not have shared there. I was incredibly uncomfortable.
The other meeting I have gone to a few times is very nice and normal but, anyway... I get ya.
P.S. It did not make me want to harm myself or go drink though...
