What is Rule 62 ?
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Tayside
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by GrouchoTheCat 
Hi Folks,
What is rule 62 and where did it originate.
I have so far heard 2 versions and no-one seems to know where it came from.
Read pg 62 of BB, no help there...
Thanks
What is rule 62 and where did it originate.
I have so far heard 2 versions and no-one seems to know where it came from.
Read pg 62 of BB, no help there...
Thanks
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Tayside
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by markishmark
Rule 62 was created by a founding member of AA who scoffed at the idea of an Alcoholics Anonymous with rules. When a rules committee was formed to discuss a huge list of rules the founding members had come up with, this man suggested that no rules were necessary for AA, because Alcoholics never follow rules anyways!
After much discussion, he suggested that there may be just one rule AAs should follow; and that would be Rule 62, which states: "Do not take yourselves so damn seriously!"
The committee abandoned the idea of an AA with rules, and today this is the only one that remains - but it is not really a rule, because alkies don't like rules!
After much discussion, he suggested that there may be just one rule AAs should follow; and that would be Rule 62, which states: "Do not take yourselves so damn seriously!"
The committee abandoned the idea of an AA with rules, and today this is the only one that remains - but it is not really a rule, because alkies don't like rules!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Tayside
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by easydorset
Rule 62 is mentioned on page 149 of the 12 & 12. It originated when a member was writing and listing rules. Another member picked the 62 at random as a number to put a halt/down the would be rule maker. Sorry don't recall names.
Recovered People Pleaser
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Heart of Dixie
Posts: 391
My understanding is along the same lines as Mark
“Cherished within Alcoholics Anonymous as expressing this lesson was the fellowship’s famed “Rule Number 62.” Some time in early 1940, the program succeeded in sobering up an alcoholic possessed by a promotional drive greater even than Wilson’s. This worthy, in his enthusiasm, drew up comprehensive plans for three separate corporations to spread the message — a club, a clinic, and a loan office. He submitted his blueprint, outlined in sixty-one rules, regulations, and by-laws, to A.A.’s New York headquarters, requesting a “super-charter.”64
Wilson replied in his usual format: “Even less grandiose schemes of a like character failed everywhere before … [but your] very autonomous group [of course has] a right to … ignore our warnings.” It did, and the result, as anticipated, “was like a boiler explosion in a clapboard factory.”
Since then the idea that one more rule of “not taking one's self so seriously” has been called rule 62. Amazing how even attempts at control or divide work out to benefit the program, eh?
“Cherished within Alcoholics Anonymous as expressing this lesson was the fellowship’s famed “Rule Number 62.” Some time in early 1940, the program succeeded in sobering up an alcoholic possessed by a promotional drive greater even than Wilson’s. This worthy, in his enthusiasm, drew up comprehensive plans for three separate corporations to spread the message — a club, a clinic, and a loan office. He submitted his blueprint, outlined in sixty-one rules, regulations, and by-laws, to A.A.’s New York headquarters, requesting a “super-charter.”64
Wilson replied in his usual format: “Even less grandiose schemes of a like character failed everywhere before … [but your] very autonomous group [of course has] a right to … ignore our warnings.” It did, and the result, as anticipated, “was like a boiler explosion in a clapboard factory.”
Since then the idea that one more rule of “not taking one's self so seriously” has been called rule 62. Amazing how even attempts at control or divide work out to benefit the program, eh?
Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Fountain Valley Ca
Posts: 1
Rule 62 origination
Don't take yourself so damn seriously.
The Story of Rule 62
The story is described in Alcoholics Anonymous book The Twelve Step and the Twelve Traditions (known in AA as the 12 and 12). The basic story is that early in the history of AA, a group out in the hinterlands somewhere convinced the local town to fund a recovery/treatment/AA facility. This was going to be an elaborate facility with space for medical treatment, residential recovery, and AA meetings. The local group setting all this up started coming up with rules on how the place would be run, who could be admitted etc. And naturally, there was much disagreement over all this. To try to resolve their differences, they sent a copy of their 61 rules to the NY office of AA. The volunteers at NY had no idea on how to run a large facility or what to say to this group about their rules. While they were discussing it, another message from the group was delivered saying simply: Rule 62, don't take yourself so damn seriously. Apparently, they had decided that the potential ego-driven rewards of running a big facility were not worth the risk of tearing their group apart.
This episode is used to illustrate the development of AA's fourth tradition: Each group should be autonomous...
The Story of Rule 62
The story is described in Alcoholics Anonymous book The Twelve Step and the Twelve Traditions (known in AA as the 12 and 12). The basic story is that early in the history of AA, a group out in the hinterlands somewhere convinced the local town to fund a recovery/treatment/AA facility. This was going to be an elaborate facility with space for medical treatment, residential recovery, and AA meetings. The local group setting all this up started coming up with rules on how the place would be run, who could be admitted etc. And naturally, there was much disagreement over all this. To try to resolve their differences, they sent a copy of their 61 rules to the NY office of AA. The volunteers at NY had no idea on how to run a large facility or what to say to this group about their rules. While they were discussing it, another message from the group was delivered saying simply: Rule 62, don't take yourself so damn seriously. Apparently, they had decided that the potential ego-driven rewards of running a big facility were not worth the risk of tearing their group apart.
This episode is used to illustrate the development of AA's fourth tradition: Each group should be autonomous...
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 6,902
Originally Posted by IO Storm
I think I get the airplane joke..(scratches head again...)
It took me a long time to understand the nature of 'suggestions' in AA. I dismissed pretty much all of the suggestions I heard at first.
Someone said to me, when I make a cake all the ingredients are suggestions. No one can force me to use any of them. It's my choice. But if I change or miss out any ingredients I can't blame anyone but the cook (me). If I want my cake to be like my sponsors, I know what I need to do.
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