On (03 Feb 97) Joan Rea was mumbling to Tim Dill...
 >>> Originating Area: 12_STEPS
 JR> Tim, 
 JR> so much as nasty, mean, cruel and vicious. The program has not become
 JR> moribund BUT meetings have  become a ritualistic monotone.  It is much
 JR> like a catholic mass!  Nobody knows what's gong on and nobody's
 JR> listening.  It takes 1/2 the meeting to read all the chapters and
 JR> verses of the ritual.  
 Hmm, something of what I have trying to explain here on recovery.
 The meetings are were the newcomer can take his problems...
 It says somedamnwhere in the book.. and yet I've seen my share 
 of "problems" being ignored. I've heard "Can I take him/her to
 a meeting if they are still drinking?" As if the sight of
 a drunk in a meeting will shatter the image of that said meeting.
 Hell, I came from a clubhouse in California, I saw time and time again
 the same sets of drunks come in, sit in back, drink the coffee and
 eat the cookies... sip the ripple from time to time and still these
 folks were allowed back.
 Here in "Yuppie" "Spin-Dry" "Just-out-of-rehab" "Just-out-of-detox"
 meetings where if one of these so called alkies saw the likes
 of a still drinking street drunk they would collectively GAG!
 Some attraction, eh?
 
 JR> It takes the last 1/4 for the ritual prayers
 JR> and that doesn't leave time for much sharing.  I have tried to stand
 JR> beside many women, most, if they are desperate enough, start women's
 JR> groups.  The rest go out and die because there is no life in AA.  It
 JR> is a paternalistic mind control cult in the making.
 Close, it is a NON thinking Paternalistic Rigid "My way or the highway"
 inborn sense of self importance rolled into the "Accept this program or
 die" kind of choice...
 Cult? Far more dangerous than a cult...
 It's a cult that works.
 JR> Would you follow with obsequiousness the advice of a fellow who was
 JR> about 5 years sober, suffering from acute depression and living off
 JR> his wife?  Like Bill W when he wrote the 12x12 ?????? Joan
No....
Tim...
... If it isn't broken, take it apart and find out why.
--- PPoint 2.00
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