Back by Popular Demand - The JayWalker - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

RufusACanal · 10-21-2008, 02:38 PM

"Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect to the first drink as that of an individual with a passion, say, for jay-walking. He gets a thrill out of skipping in front of fast- moving vehicles. He enjoys himself a few years in spite of friendly warnings. Up to this point you would label him as a foolish chap, having queer ideas of fun. Luck then deserts him and he is slightly injured several times in succession. You would expect him, if he were normal, to cut it out. Presently he is hit again and this time has a fractured skull. Within a week after leaving the hospital, a fast-moving trolley car breaks his arm. He tells you he has decided to stop jay- walking for good, but in a few weeks he breaks both legs.

On through the years this conduct continues, accompanied by his continual promises to be careful or to keep off the streets altogether. Finally, he can no longer work, his wife gets a divorce, he is held up to ridicule. He tries every known means to get the jay-walking idea out of his head. He shuts himself up in an asylum, hoping to mend his ways. But the day he comes out he races in front of a fire engine, which breaks his back. Such a man would be crazy, wouldn't he?

You may think our illustration is too ridiculous. But is it? We, who have been through the wringer, have to admit if we substituted alcoholism for jay-walking, the illustration would fit us exactly. However intelligent we may have been in other respects, where alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane. It's strong language - but isn't it true?"

stone · 10-21-2008, 02:48 PM

One of my faves Rufus.

cookconfay · 10-21-2008, 02:49 PM

Ah yes.....you're playing my song.....

ananda · 10-21-2008, 03:35 PM

thats me too....i hunted out the biggest truck i could to run in front of!

RufusACanal · 10-21-2008, 03:53 PM

Playing in Traffic; sounds almost musical!

**Astro** · 10-21-2008, 04:54 PM

Are you suggesting that I'd do the same thing over and over and expect a different result?

Thanks Ron;-)

***nandm*** · 10-21-2008, 08:37 PM

I love this story. Thanks, Rufus.

The authors illustrate the absurdity of our thinking by being absurd. If we look closely at how the story of the jaywalker we see it parallels the progression of alcoholism.

If we are experiencing some of these symptoms, it is likely only a matter of time before alcoholism takes us to the extremes that the authors experienced. Once again, self-knowledge will not keep us sober and neither will our good intentions. The information we are recieving is intended to illustrate our powerlessness, not to give us the illusion of power.

***Freedom1990*** · 10-21-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ananda

thats me too....i hunted out the biggest truck i could to run in front of!

Me too!

bodychek · 10-21-2008, 09:51 PM

My mind is a terible thing, and it must be stopped.....

Hope · 10-21-2008, 09:58 PM

This was me!

Tommyh · 10-22-2008, 04:16 AM

but it will be different this time Rufus,I swear!

sugErspun · 10-22-2008, 01:32 PM

I don't think he was expecting any result at all (different or not-different)...he just keeps doing the same thing over and over seemingly without the ability to see what the result would be..

lack of proportion and the ability to think straight

10-21-2008, 02:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
RufusACanal Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,927	Back by Popular Demand - The JayWalker "Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect to the first drink as that of an individual with a passion, say, for jay-walking. He gets a thrill out of skipping in front of fast- moving vehicles. He enjoys himself a few years in spite of friendly warnings. Up to this point you would label him as a foolish chap, having queer ideas of fun. Luck then deserts him and he is slightly injured several times in succession. You would expect him, if he were normal, to cut it out. Presently he is hit again and this time has a fractured skull. Within a week after leaving the hospital, a fast-moving trolley car breaks his arm. He tells you he has decided to stop jay- walking for good, but in a few weeks he breaks both legs. On through the years this conduct continues, accompanied by his continual promises to be careful or to keep off the streets altogether. Finally, he can no longer work, his wife gets a divorce, he is held up to ridicule. He tries every known means to get the jay-walking idea out of his head. He shuts himself up in an asylum, hoping to mend his ways. But the day he comes out he races in front of a fire engine, which breaks his back. Such a man would be crazy, wouldn't he? You may think our illustration is too ridiculous. But is it? We, who have been through the wringer, have to admit if we substituted alcoholism for jay-walking, the illustration would fit us exactly. However intelligent we may have been in other respects, where alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane. It's strong language - but isn't it true?" __________________ "It is what you learn after you know it all that counts." John Wooden Excerpts from Original Manuscript of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

10-21-2008, 02:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
cookconfay Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: on to bigger & better things Posts: 4,122	Ah yes.....you're playing my song..... __________________ I'm beautiful inside & out. I do NOT need a man in my life to validate my existence!!! Connie

10-21-2008, 03:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
RufusACanal Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,927	Playing in Traffic; sounds almost musical! __________________ "It is what you learn after you know it all that counts." John Wooden Excerpts from Original Manuscript of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

10-21-2008, 04:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Astro Forum Leader Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Scottsdale, AZ, one big happy dysfunctional family! Posts: 11,833	Are you suggesting that I'd do the same thing over and over and expect a different result? Thanks Ron;-) __________________ "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty, and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming---WOW-What a ride!"

10-21-2008, 08:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
*nandm* Life the gift of recovery! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home is where the heart is Posts: 6,579	I love this story. Thanks, Rufus. The authors illustrate the absurdity of our thinking by being absurd. If we look closely at how the story of the jaywalker we see it parallels the progression of alcoholism. If we are experiencing some of these symptoms, it is likely only a matter of time before alcoholism takes us to the extremes that the authors experienced. Once again, self-knowledge will not keep us sober and neither will our good intentions. The information we are recieving is intended to illustrate our powerlessness, not to give us the illusion of power. __________________ NOTE: All BB quotes are from the 1st Edition of the Big Book Depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being too strong for too long.

10-21-2008, 02:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
stone Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 18,303	One of my faves Rufus.

10-21-2008, 03:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
ananda Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 11,908 Blog Entries: 1	thats me too....i hunted out the biggest truck i could to run in front of!

10-21-2008, 09:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
bodychek Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 70	My mind is a terible thing, and it must be stopped.....

10-21-2008, 09:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
Hope Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,300	This was me!

10-22-2008, 04:16 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tommyh Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: N.C. Posts: 18,391	but it will be different this time Rufus,I swear!

10-22-2008, 01:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
sugErspun Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,694	I don't think he was expecting any result at all (different or not-different)...he just keeps doing the same thing over and over seemingly without the ability to see what the result would be.. lack of proportion and the ability to think straight __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." - Soren Kierkegaard

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