Well the Road to Recovery Plymouth (cult) group is back in the promotion business. Checking their site recently we came across this little item in the diary section:
Now don't be fooled by the banner heading - “Group of Alcoholics Anonymous”. This group NEVER had much to do with AA. In fact its members regard AA generally as something of a joke; “Beano readers” we believe is the term they employ. Alcoholics Anonymous' members, it would seem, don't quite meet the relatively high (?) standards that are required for affiliation with this group. No sirree! To be a proper, fully paid up servant of this gang you have to be possessed of all the necessary attributes that go to make a 'successful' cult prospect: arrogant, self-important, bullying (if not an outright 'thug'), promiscuous (ie. suffering from 'falling down trouser syndrome'), an advanced propensity to be closely - and frequently - completely unacquainted with the truth (ie. a liar), a Jack of all trades and master of none (eg. completely unqualified in medical/psychological matters but willing to give 'direction' in all of these), unacquainted virtually with anything in the basic literature (including the Big Book with special reference to Step Three), an inability to think or act on one's own behalf and so on and so forth.... the list as they say goes on 'ad infinitum'. In this group these indeed are the “essentials of recovery”.
But now we must return to the 'advert' on this cult website:
Bristol Reunion with “Honourable Member from Los Angeles”
Now for those of you who are not in the know the “Honourable Member” in question is none other than Clancy I or as we prefer to call him - the Venerable C. The Venerable One is not what might be called the shy retiring type. However he prefers not to blow his own trumpet (well not too frequently) but rather lets others do it for him. Hence the ads on the Bristol Reunion website as well as the Plymouth cult group's contribution.
The Bristol Reunion is run by the Newcomers Groups of that city – yet another branch of the cult in Great Britain. For some years now they have been very active in the 'promotions business” with a number of visits by the Venerable C under their belt already. Not content, however, with solo performances they have also hosted not infrequently the Joe and Charlie duet. Again for those of you not fully clued up on the 'circuit speaker' brigade these latter two have been illuminating (is that the right word?) AA members for a number of years now with their particular take on their personal bible – The Big Book. As you may observe from the previous link Joe McQ in particular has a liking for the 'authoritarian' style of sponsorship hence their complete neglect of Chapter 7 “Working With Others” from the aforementioned tome. It really doesn't suit him at all! It is ironic isn't it that here stands yet another example of the 'cafeteria' (ie take what you want and leave the rest) style of recovery so derided by Big Book experts the world over! For our part we advise anybody who meets a Big Book 'expert' … take what you hear with a very large pinch of salt!
But for now we must return to the main 'attraction'.
Clancy I is the head honcho behind what is referred to as the Pacific Group in Los Angeles. He has been quite tireless in his promotion of this clique over a number of years (not to mention himself, of course, which we wouldn't dream of doing!). He also sponsors quite a number of individuals (as long as they don't have beards) including our very own Wayne P (Plymouth Road to Recovery cult group) as well as the now deceased (thankfully) Michael Quinones (Mike Q) leader of the notorious Midtown Group(s) and serial sexual predator. The Venerable C himself recently featured in an article in The Fix (an online magazine dealing with addiction) entitled “AA Cults I Have Known” written by someone who has some acquaintance with the fellow. We were particularly struck by one reference to his conduct when speaking to a gathering of his devotees, the Atlantic Group. This, we thought, gave a particular insight into his true character.
“Every year, to celebrate their anniversary, AG invites Clancy to speak at their meeting, hence the enormous crowd. On this evening, he told a story very familiar to AAs from the many tapes and conventions he has spoken at over the decades. He was entertaining, pausing for laughs and dramatic punctuation.
Midway, he used the word “goddamit.” A young man piped up from the balcony to say, “Excuse me Sir, we have no profanity at this meeting.” It was clear he was attempting a teasing tone. It was also clear he had misjudged the room. The enormous hall froze, not unlike in an abusive household when a child calls out their cruel father.
At that moment, as I fiddled with my name tag, I thought it would be a great chance to see long-term, revered sobriety in action. How would the man whose AA tapes had helped me stay sober 20 years earlier gracefully handle this interruption.
In the event, there was no empathy for the psychology of the newly sober young man. Instead, Clancy played to the crowd. He expertly waited a few beats of pin-dropping silence, then leaned in to the microphone and said, “Shut up Bitch.”
And then, hundreds of sober men and women burst into laughter. Some applauded, as if they were watching Louis CK take down a heckler. The young man turned bright red, and awkwardly raced out of the church. Of the several hundred attendees—many of whom claim to be “recovered” from alcoholism, and that their most important action each day is to “carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers”—not one followed the young man outside. Instead, they turned their attention to Clancy and lapped up the rest of his honed speech, in which he assured the room that their brand of sobriety was more solid, more real and more lasting than any other.”
How telling! The thug revealed in all his hideous glory!
So if you want to watch a narcissist in action revelling in his own essential mediocrity by all means pay your money! It's a free country (just about!). If you want the Jeremy Kyle version of recovery with a bit of humiliation thrown in go on down and get dirty with the Venerable C! He'll put you in your place make no mistake! After all you deserve a bit of abuse! You're ONLY an alcoholic!
Cheerio
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS See the Traditions in particular Tradition 12. Spot the difference between it and the self-promotional tactics demonstrated above
