Common Problems???

[Pinkcuda]

The forward of the 12x12 states just such.
Pg-15 states

"Alcoholics Anonymous is a world wide fellowship of more than one hundred thousand* men and women who are banded together to solve their "Common Problems" and to help fellow sufferers from that age-old, baffling malody, alcoholism.

While I'm not horrified that this could get out in print, I am just curious as to anyone elses take on this statement.
I thought we had a "Common Problem" and I come to find out we have more than one according to the 12x12
Anyone else have a take on this???

[navysteve]

Don't see what you are getting at?

So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making.

BB page 62. They use a plural there as well.

once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he des paired o f ever solving them, suddenly
finds himself eas ily able to control his de sire for alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few simple rules.

BB xxvii

OK, last one:

"Quite as important was the discovery that spiritual principles would solve all my problems.

BB page 43

[lizw]

It has been my expereince that while drinking is a symptom of alcoholism, it also has a set of certain behaviors usually present in both the person with the illness and in the family who surrounds them. I.e. Need to control. Dishonesty. Nameless fears. Low self esteem. Big ego. Lack of personal responsibilty etc... The list goes on and on.

I think in the 12 x 12 (? or living sober) there is a story about how someone conducted some kind of test on alcoholics and the main thing we all had in common was that we were grandious and childish. Or it may have been grandious and defiant. I don't recall. Always rang true to me though.

[Sugah]

Hmm... I never noticed that.

Well, I know our common bond is that we are all alcoholics who've found an answer.

Problems? I had/have a bunch of those, too, and I can't think of one that's unique only to me. No, they're pretty common.

I don't have an issue with it.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[Tommyh]

I don`t have a problem with it either.As I read the Big Book,I can see where members helped new members in a lot of ways.I`m not going to quote them but they are there.
Many newcomers come to AA without much at all,and many members do help them out in ways other than the 12 steps as a act of compassion I believe.

[Pinkcuda]

In the preamble, "Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share experience, strength and hope that we may solve our "Common Problem"
We have one "Common Problem" and one only.
Anything else would be an individual problem. Even though several may share this individual problem, the problems are not unique to alcoholics. Everybody has them.
I haven't lost a wink of sleep over this although I do find the wording interesting.
Just something fun for the "Closet Literals"

[navysteve]

Sounds like a rigid interpretation. Kinda like when President Clinton was arguing the definition of the word "is"

[sugErspun]

The words in our literature have always been important to me.

I have never noticed "problems" in the 12x12 ~ quite possibly because I rarely use it.

It doesn't sit all that well with me. Common problem (alcoholism), common solution (spiritual awakening as the result of the steps).

Now I have to bust out my 12x12 and see for myself

[Pinkcuda]

I figured that while the rest of America is mesmerized with American Idol, I would do something different.
All things considered, both are kind of pointless, yet entertaining.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

I have this problem

Once in a while, I'll go to the store and can never unscrew those darn lids.

Anyone else have that problem??

oops

sorry just having fun on a Friday

[RufusACanal]

Chris.. U2?

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Originally Posted by RufusACanal

Chris.. U2?

Unlike the old day of using my teeth to pry the caps off of beer bottles

grrrr

[DaveBB164]

Originally Posted by Pinkcuda

The forward of the 12x12 states just such.
Pg-15 states

While I'm not horrified that this could get out in print, I am just curious as to anyone elses take on this statement.
I thought we had a "Common Problem" and I come to find out we have more than one according to the 12x12
Anyone else have a take on this???

most of the fellowship has not got a clue what the problem is anyhoo never mind the solution.

Dave

[navysteve]

most of the fellowship has not got a clue what the problem is anyhoo never mind the solution.

Can I get an Amen??????

Common polution???????

[jimhere]

Originally Posted by DaveBB164

most of the fellowship has not got a clue what the problem is anyhoo never mind the solution.

Dave

Yeah, it is sad that in a lot of so-called "AA meetings," it is hard to find a common problem, much less a common solution.

[DaveBB164]

Originally Posted by jimhere

Yeah, it is sad that in a lot of so-called "AA meetings," it is hard to find a common problem, much less a common solution.

A lot of the meetings here are tea and biscuits social clubs Jim, I doubt any of our founders and early members would see any resemblance in those meetings to the early AA meetings,

its the newcomer I feel for, an alcoholic with untreated alcoholism listening to alcoholics with untreated alcoholism, two apprentices teach each other nothing.

[MsChief]

A lot of my alcoholic friends 'do' share common problem(s) and character traits also. They usually involve, egoism, selfishness, sensitivity, etc etc.

I always thought it was a typo. Love to all!!

Live and let live.

[MsChief]

Originally Posted by DaveBB164

A lot of the meetings here are tea and biscuits social clubs Jim, I doubt any of our founders and early members would see any resemblance in those meetings to the early AA meetings,

its the newcomer I feel for, an alcoholic with untreated alcoholism listening to alcoholics with untreated alcoholism, two apprentices teach each other nothing.

I have often felt like this. However, as my sponsor always tells me it is up to me to keep attending and making sure the meetings survive by holding fast to the traditions. And AA did what it said it would for me, I am sober!

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Tossing this out here

How many topics are involving a problem with drinking?

Most topics at our meetings are life problems we're having!!

comments??

[FightingIrish]

And how do these people respond when you try to help them?

Originally Posted by navysteve

Can I get an Amen??????

Common polution???????

[Pinkcuda]

Is it in violation of Tradition 4 when AA is used as Group Therapy or just to whine about problems? Doesn't that in some way affect AA as a whole?? I'd refer to the 12x12 but that's how this thread got started.
I would say if my first few AA meetings were listening to people whine about their jobs, kids, or marriage combined with others trying to offer input, I doubt if I would be in AA today.

[Tommyh]

Pinkcuda,my first sponsor told me to study the Big Book and listen when I was a newcomer.That way I could tell the real deal from the B.S.
He did say there was a lot of BS in some meetings.He was right.

Newcomers focus on their problems on the outside,and recovery is a inside job.I try and get them to focus on the inside like the book says.Some do,some don`t.
AA meetings are a great place to practice 12 step work,but it takes a lot of tolerance.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Originally Posted by Pinkcuda

Is it in violation of Tradition 4 when AA is used as Group Therapy or just to whine about problems? Doesn't that in some way affect AA as a whole?? I'd refer to the 12x12 but that's how this thread got started.
I would say if my first few AA meetings were listening to people whine about their jobs, kids, or marriage combined with others trying to offer input, I doubt if I would be in AA today.

Have you ever been to a meeting where everyone had multiple years in sobriety?

Even after many years, on a hot summer day, I can say damn, a beer would hit the spot right now. That's as far as it gets for me.

I'm at somewhat a disadvantage living in a small town. Like the dead sea, meetings can get stale without new faces.

[Pinkcuda]

I live in a small town too Captain. Yes, the same 10 people week after week gets old and I can see the desire to drift off subject on a regular basis. Instead of sitting around waiting for a newcomer or a new face I got in my truck and became the new face. There's a meeting within 20 miles in any direction on any given night and Cheyenne is about 45 miles away. I try to mix it up and I don't have what anyone would call a "Home Group"
There's a group I hit on Thursdays from time to time which is more like a Town Council Meeting. Current events and the Sugar Beet Harvest are discussed. There's a kid in there who asked me to take him through the steps. First thing I got to do is get him to a few different meetings so that he doesn't think all of AA is like that.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Early in my recovery, I did go to a lot more out of town meetings.

I talked to our DCM about setting up a yahoo group for our district for a calender of events. I didn't get to go through all the details. I'll wait until, the district meeting and bring it up for discussion.
One thing is for certain, if you're not going to any meetings out of town, you end up missing out on a lot of AA activities.

We only have 3 events in my area. Memorial day, labor day and My Thursday night group always has a Christmas party. Oh, and my sponsor always has a New Years Eve party