[TracyAgain]

Originally Posted by Andy F

Tracy

This is the first time in 24 years, the last 22 of which have been continuously sober, that I have been banned from AA.

I know and you don't flame either. I'm sorry, Andy. I've actually never heard of a forum where people are banned before they post. Interesting concept. I suspect it was a seriously misguided move fueled by good intentions.

I cannot be banned for my personally held beliefs in AA. Though some AA's try to give the impression that AA is conformity to God the 12 steps, it is not. And cannot be enforced. My concern here is that this new thread filters out the element that tempers and restrains the extremists who will have the newcomers indoctrinated and mowing their lawns.

I thought that way at first too but that sort of thinking is the problem IMO: that someone has to save the newcomers from the infidels, that someone has to save AA, keep it pure, etc. I ran into an article recently entitled "Your First AA Meeting, A Guide for the Perplexed" and I bet you'd like it:

But because human beings tend to have opinions about matters vital to their welfare, and because alcoholics as a group are probably more prone to having and expressing strong opinions than average, it is not uncommon to find AA members here and there who are convinced that their understanding of the AA program is the only possible correct one, and hence that failure to adhere to their beliefs and practices will inevitably lead to ruin on the part of anyone unwise enough to disregard their superior wisdom.

Since the whole psychological or spiritual aim of AA recovery is to gain a sense of perspective on oneself that leads to tolerance and a nonjudgmental outlook, individuals who attempt to compel others to accept their own beliefs cannot be said to be "practicing the program" themselves. Such people are often described as "dry drunks," i.e. alcoholics who, though not drinking, are nevertheless behaving the way alcoholics commonly do when they drink.

These "dry drunks" manifest judgmental and intolerant attitudes and a sense of personal grandiosity and "know-it-all"-ism that causes them to believe they know best, not only for themselves but also for other people. They are not content to keep their opinions to themselves, nor even to state them humbly or diplomatically. In extreme cases they resemble the firey pulpit preachers of organized religion's yesteryear, always prepared to thunder forth their understanding of the one and only Truth to infidels and unbelievers, coupling their sermons and admonitions with the direst possible warnings of what will unquestionably befall those who fail to heed them.

They are unattractive personalities who violate the AA principle of "promotion by attraction," i.e. of the responsibility of each AA member to strive to become the sort of person that others desire to emulate. The AA newcomer can safely ignore the often detailed instructions and advice of such people in favor of the more relaxed and accepting suggestions of less rigid or fanatical members.

And I suspect that is the what is going to happen. The AA newcomer will ignore the new forum in favor of the openness and honest sharing in other forums.

I am in acceptance of my bar from the new forum, despite never having posted there. I am grateful for the other parts of SR and the level of willingness to be inclusive and open minded that currently exists.

That is a question in my mind, the exclusivity of it given SR philosophy. One seems to contradict the other and the endeavor itself seems better suited to a mailing list than a "public" forum. I have requested that a list be posted of who all is banned and why but I suspect it will be ignored. Given that, I respectfully request that the site owner be involved and that any viewing moderator please send me his email address.

Thanks.

Tracy