Why do leaders qualify themselves?
I've searched the internet for answers to this question a number of times, coming away empty on each occasion.
If it was myself I would say, "My name is Bill and I'm an alcoholic. My sobriety date is 26 Feb 2011. I am sponsored and my sponsor is sponsored."
Why does any of that matter beyond "My name is Bill and I'm an alcoholic"?
Why do leaders do that? I think most of them don't know themselves! They probably feel peer pressure to do it because it is what they see everyone else doing. Is it a Narcotics Anonymous tradition that has crossed over to Alcoholics Anonymous?
Finally, can I simply state "My name is Bill and I'm an alcoholic" when the time comes and I find myself leading a meeting?