And
now we come to the 'black bits' on the title page. There are two
words of particular interest (or to us at least). The book is
described as containing: “The Story
of
How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered
from Alcoholism”
(our emphases)
Now a story is not a scholarly research article nor is
it an empirically rigorous analysis. It is a story, an account, a
narrative, an exploration. This does not imply it is a work of
fiction (as some of AA's detractors may claim). It is an attempt (and
a brave one at that) to produce a synthesis of what the alcoholics at
that time believed worked well for them. They did not claim
infallibility nor that there was no other way for alcoholics to
recover. They simply put forward a set of suggestions (framed in an
informal almost conversational style) which they believed might
provide a solution for others who were similarly afflicted. The book
'Alcoholics Anonymous' is not a bible nor is it the last word on the
subject of recovery from alcoholism. It is “The Story of How Many
….” etc.
Now
we come to “Recovered”. If you happen to be at a bit of a loose
end one day and beginning to feel a bit “dull, boring and glum”
(or whatever!) then you can do a lot worse than take yourself off to
an AA meeting and introduce yourself as a “recovered” alcoholic.
This prefix is guaranteed to produce an almost reflex response from
the other members gathered there (that is if they're of the
'recovering' kind). The reverse works just as well. Describe
yourself as a 'recovering' alcoholic, especially in a roomful of Big
Book nutters, and you can almost hear the ranks of teeth grinding.
One of the aacultwatch team used to describe himself in the former
fashion and admits now that the main reason was so he could wind up
as many people as possible in the minimum amount of time. We're glad
to say he's behaving himself these days and has reverted to plain
'alkie' when making his introduction. But now that everyone's
apparently 'recovered' he says he doesn't want to be associated with
the mere 'hoi-poloi'. It's no fun anymore! But then he is very, very,
very VERY sick, poor thing! Of course the only people who could
possibly be interested in the distinction would be members of the
fellowship. The rest of the human race (ie. the other
99.9999999......%) couldn't give a damn or are
simply thankful that we're no longer performing like complete idiots.
But clearly the distinction between 'recovered' and 'recovering' is
a matter of whether you regard it as something that's 'done and
dusted' or a continuous process. Although the term 'recovered' is
indeed employed throughout the book the fact is that recovery is
explicitly stated to be an ongoing activity. Alcoholism in its
chronic form is clearly not something which can be cured (although
rather confusingly there is another bunch of alkies who claim
precisely that – but then no one pays much attention to them!). One
can take the view that as a physically and psychologically abstinent
alcoholic you have 'recovered' right up to the point where you
relapse whereupon you have to start again. Alternatively you can opt
for the 'recovering' tag again right up to the point where you
relapse … and then you have to start again! Perhaps our time and
energy would be better employed in ensuring no relapse, and leave
consideration of the terminology to some later date… like never!
(Now how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?). Alternatively
if you really want to excite attention at a meeting you could always
call yourself a 'reformed' alcoholic (or 'reforming' we suppose!
There's plenty of those about!). And then again if the term
'alcoholic' is losing its allure you could switch to “dipsomaniac”
(or the more catchy 'dipso'). 'Lush' and 'souse' don't have quite the
same ring to them. But then there's 'sot', 'inebriate', 'bacchanal',
'bibber', 'carouser', 'debauchee' (now you're talking!), 'toper',
'toss-pot' Or then again you could make up your own denomination
(non-affiliated of course). eg. a 'boomerang' (as in 'Bacchus
boomeranged' - 12 and12 Step Five, p. 57 , a 'nitherer' (neither here nor there), a
Shirley (as in Shirley Williams – British politician – anagram:
“I whirl aimlessly”) … the possibilities are literally endless!
Coming
next – Copyright information (You cannot be serious! Our reader looks wistfully
away searching for any sign of a wall covered with drying paint!)
Cheerio
The Fellas
(Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS For the
term 'alcoholism' see here.
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