Yep!
Introducing AA's first (or as far as we can tell) full-blown, full-on
BDSM group!
(Goodness!
Fancy getting a cult sponsor in this group! Lends a whole new meaning
to their mantra: “Do exactly what your sponsor tells you!")
According
to the Online Intergroup (Alcoholics Anonymous) the group in question
“NonVanilla” is:
“A
closed group for those in the lifestyle of BD/sm. An AA, topic-based
group that shares it's experience, strength and hope. Topics from the
text of AA. This group adheres to the traditions of AA and endeavors
to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Any Pending
Memberships over 72 hours will be declined for lack of response. “
(Oooooh!
Doesn't that “closed group” experience just make you shiver all
over!)
The
Online Intergroup itself seems to have no clearly defined link with
the existing AA service structure. When we contacted GSO New York to find out
whether this was in fact a “Vanilla” Intergroup they confirmed it
was ….. (although shortly afterwards they went all sulky and
refused any further comment!) but the precise nature of its
interaction with AA remains something of a mystery. Some of the
groups listed seem to be associated with a geographical location but
a lot don't... and some of the groups it includes are just plain
weird – the weirdest being …. the above!
Of
course this bizarre example is simply a logical culmination of all
the other “special interest/special purpose” groups that have
come into existence over the years: women only, men only, gays only,
newcomers only, young people's only, old 'lags' only (all up until
recently carrying the oxymoronic tag “non-restrictive” although
even this faint nod in the direction of inclusiveness seems to have
been abandoned completely with these groups foregoing this last
flimsy dissemblance, and hypocrisy now being made manifest in all its
abhorrent glory!) Still that's what happens when the AA 'lawyers'
try to reconcile the irreconcilable, and with the resulting 'lash up'
satisfying nobody! Perhaps the easier softer way would be just to
stick by our principles in the first place! Too obvious a solution?
Probably! But maybe we should try it sometime anyway!
So
who can really argue with a BDSM group! Come to think of it maybe
they're on to something! Who needs “freedom from the bondage of
self” when you can get someone else to tie you up! And we can
think of quite a few members who we'd quite happily 'ball gag' for
some considerable period of time! Just think of all the sponsorship
(control) freaks, service bores, gratitude junkies, bleeding deacons,
Big Book 'experts', programme 'lecturers' (Primary Purpose/Back to
Basics/Visions/Roadies etc circuit speaker brigade) who would
benefit from a prolonged period of enforced silence ....... not to mention the rest of us! Hang on! Where
IS this group? Can we join? Oh please let us join?!
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS
Have you heard the joke about the sadist and the masochist?..... No!
OK. Well once upon a time a sadist and a masochist got together for
a bit of hanky panky (a match made in heaven you would think!) The
sadist takes the masochist back to their apartment and after a few
unspeakable preliminaries ties the masochist to the bed and is
standing poised over him/her with a whip. The masochist is by now
writhing in pleasurable anticipation and begs the sadist to beat
him/her. The sadist looks down thoughtfully at the masochist whilst
flexing the leather crop in his/her hand. After a long silence, which
seems to last an eternity, the sadist leans forward and softly
whispers: …...... “No!"
