godsonmyside

Language Posse

These members are well disguised, they often lurk in open recovery Meetings, They have approximately 2-5+ years clean (most of the time).
The common give -away is the deep inhale heard right after someone say's they have been "sober" !!
Then a light red color comes over their face, and their ears get hot!!!
In extreme cases they can be actually heard saying "we don't use that here".
They have a propensity for speaking in circles, usually using words which they have just learned from the dictionary, and then they quote right out of the book!
If these members are observed closely enough even they slip up so don't forget to go "ummm" when they do!

Gooch

Empathy is the language of the heart and has no dictionary.

lizzerz79

I don't really understand what the deal is with the word sober. I mean before I came to NA sober meant the same thing it does to an alcoholic except to me I was sober from being high not being drunk. I could be sober but not clean for a long time because my mainstay takes up to 60 days to get out of your system. I always thought clean meant it had been long enough since you had done drugs that you could pass a drug test. The drugs were officially completely out of your system. I don't know if it's the animosity (sp?) that I sense between AA/NA or that they really don't want the clarity of NA message to be blurred and they really think sober=alcoholic who is not drunk. I don't know but I have adapted since I've come and I don't say I'm sober anymore. It really doesn't apply to me anymore anyway because it's been so long since I've used that I am obviously sober, now I truly am clean.

Gooch

I just got off the phone with someone who witnesed the posse going after a newcomer at a meeting for accidentally slipping AA in a reading where it said NA.

I guess members of the posse have a hard time accepting themselves as human and liable to make mistakes. or maybe they don't want to be reminded of what it was like when they showed up here broken and confused.

godsonmyside

http://www.recovery.bannerdudes.com/GOR/sheild.htm

Check out this site, some interesting stuff, TEE'S!!

These things happen when God isn't present in the lives of members of the Posse.
Our Intergerty will be judged and our words are watched closely.
I like this one UMMM.

Peace,
Todd J.

namommy

Great site!

Hey, I recognize some of that stuff!! *lol*

shestruggles

As a newcomer, I thank you for explaining the posse to me.

Now I know there is no real 'punishment' for not using the correct lingo, except a little embarassment.

And considering all I've been through, a little embarassment is nothing!

Thanks guys!

Much Love: SS

Andygirl

I go to AA and NA, and sometimes I forget where I am and say the wrong thing. For instance, in AA, I usually announce myself as an alcoholic and an addict, but I notice they only refer to themselves as addicts in NA.

Whateva. If someone wants to be judgmental about that, I figure it's their problem.

Heh, the main difference between AA and NA is that in NA people want to hug you all the time. That takes some getting used to. I'm not really into hugging complete strangers, but it feels like I don't have a choice. I don't want them to think I'm bitchy or something, but still, I don't necessarily want to hug everyone in the room.

gforce

Good Lord, I remember before I left treatment we were required to go to NA and AA meetings both. My very first NA meeting I got busted out because I said: Hi, my name is Gordon and I am an Addict and a Alcoholic. Someone quickly pointed out that they did not tolerate "and a's" in there meetings, and the subject of Alcohol was not to be mentioned, even in introducing ourselves. This is the reason I no longer attend NA meetings in my area. I go strictly to AA meetings where all are welcomed.
I just let the "posse" take care of there own and I go on with my "and a" recovery.

Thanks,
G-Force

tyler

The reason they don't mention Alcohol or for that matter any other drug by name is that NA considers all drugs to be the same and alcohol is just another drug. Most of the AA meetings I have been to are just as critical when people mention drugs, so it really just depends on the area I think. Personally I think the whole issue is a bit silly considering what we are going up against with addiction. I think peoples time could be spent much more productivly actually helping people rather than arguing about semantics. IMHO!!

BRUCE

<CENTER>Do you burn with Righteous Indignation when someone mentions the "Other Fellowship" by name?</CENTER><CENTER>.</CENTER><CENTER>Do you get outraged when people give nothing when the basket is passed around?</CENTER><CENTER>.</CENTER><CENTER>Are you the first at conscience meetings to leap to your feet and scream, "It's against traditions"?</CENTER><CENTER>.</CENTER><CENTER>Are you arrogant, intolerant and judgmental?</CENTER><CENTER>.</CENTER><CENTER>Now you can put these character defects to good use because we have just the job for you!</CENTER> <TABLE width="99%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD><CENTER>Find a rich, rewarding , satisfying career in the</CENTER><CENTER>NA Police</CENTER> </TD><TD><CENTER></CENTER></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

During our intensive six week training program our Qualified instructors will teach such topics as:

• How to infiltrate NA subversive organizations
• How to conduct 12 Step interrogations
• How to keep conscience meetings ideologically pure
• How to enforce the 9pm curfew for newcomers.

<HR><CENTER>So don't waste time, join the NA Police NOW!!!!</CENTER><HR><CENTER>By order of the Public Relations Division of the NA Police</CENTER>

Time2Surrender

I like the NA police photo.I have seen that before at a site and couldnt find it again.I also saw "rent a sponsor" and "buy a fourth step" I thought they were pretty funny.As for the language thing? I see that too.Myself,I prefer to keep it simple.I could care less about how someone speaks or what terms they use.Im just glad they are there.

BRUCE

WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW THAT THE NA TRADITIONS ARE ABOUT FREEDOM,,,,,,,,,AND NOT RULES????????THERE IS NO BETTER WAY,,,SOME DAY IT MIGHNT BE A COMMEN THEME TO CHALENGE THE NA PURISTS JUST BY SAYING ,,,,,,,,LOOK PAL,,,,,THE NA TRADITIONS ARE ABOUT FREEDOM,,AND NOT YOUR MADE UP RULES,,,READ THIS MR/MISS NA PURIST,,,AND TELL ME ,,,WHAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THESE SIMPLE NA QUOTES,,??

THE BOOK IT WORKS HOW AND WHY,,TRAD.8 PG 188,,WHAT IS NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS,AFTER ALL,BUT A FELLOWSHIP OF ADDICTS FREELY SHAREING WITH ONE ANOTHER THE SIMPLE MESSAGE OF THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE,,.

TRADITION 9 ,,PG.193,WE OUGHT NOT CREATE A GOVERNING HIERACHY,A TOP DOWN BUREAUCRACY DICTATING TO OUR GROUPS AND MEMBERS,,

TRAD.10.PG.198,EVEN OUR LEADERS ARE ONLY TRUSTED SERVANTS,WITH NO POWER TO TELL INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS WHAT TO DO THINK OR SAY,NA MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES,TO DEVELOPE THIER OWN OPINIANS,AND TO EXPRESS THOSE OPINIONS AS THEY SEE FIT.

,,TRAD.11 PG.203,CLEARLY OUR TRADITIONS ARE JUST AS CONCERNED WITH OUR PUBLIC RELATIONS AS THEY ARE WITH OUR INTERNAL RELATIONS,

,PG 208,EACH OF US HAS OUR OWN LIFE,OUR OWN WORDS ,AND OUR OWN STORY,ALL ADDING DIMENSION AND COLOR TO THE MESSAGE OF OUR FELLOWSHIP,,,,

AND YOU WILL HERE SILENCE,,,,,,,,,THEY CAN AND WILL NOT ANSWER ,,,,,,,,,
there is no better way to silence the purist,,

huggs bruce

tyler

BRUCE!!!!! re: NA police

Time2Surrender

Thank you Bruce

Gooch

The JFT might have been trying to tell us something.

godsonmyside

Lots of lessons here, just remember to say "UMMM"

Peace,
Todd J.

gforce

Bruce:
What a hoot.....loved it.

Tyler,
very true words, and I understand your point.

namommy

It is just the opposite here. I've already been physically escorted out of an AA meting and told not to come back because I wanted to hear what someone had to say about relapsing on pills. They shut her up, I am not so easy to shut up so they lead me out the door.

Most of the meetings here are perfectly OK with whatever you introduce yourself as. There are of course a few members who 'Gasp' at the word sober or if someone introduces themselves differently. However, they usually chill out once someone asks them if they knew exactly what they were when they got here.

I didn't know I was 'Just an Addict'. People put up with me, so I leave room for other people who have come after me to do the same.

Recoveree

In NA we refer to ourselves as addicts because we suffer from the disease of addiction. the term alcoholic holds no water for us because it implies addiction to a specific substance. We dont believe that specific substances are out problem.

The main difference between AA and NA is the wording of the first step, and the belief system necessary to embrace the principles of each first step.

I'm sure that as you stick around and mature in your recovery the differences between the two different fellowships will become more apparent.

Richie