To kneel or not to kneel, that is the question?

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old)

“Hello ….....,

Thank you for your delightful response. You are clearly an intelligent person. So I will be fearless and thorough in my response :)

I would be interested to know what Higher Power requires you to kneel twice per day? Did this "suggestion" come as a direct communication from your Higher Power, or did it come from a sponsor (a human power)?

Although the Big Book mentions "humbly" and "humility", please can you also tell me where in the Big Book it specifically tells us to kneel twice per day, every day. Or is this yet another sponsor-invented "suggestion"??.

As kneeling is a religious practice connected with worship and adoration, I would be interested in the origin of this "suggested" practice.

Would you also please tell me how kneeling equates with being "humble"? I have encountered a number of kneeling fetishists in AA and they seem to me to be very far from being humble. Both in their attitude and behaviour. For example. a man in Ealing - Happy Dennis - talks incessantly about kneeling and being "humble" and coerces others to do likewise. Yet he produces his own literature contradicting AA, breaks the traditions, misquotes AA literature, and doesn't listen to anyone except the voice of his own deluded self-will, which has been running riot in Ealing for some time now causing a lot of disruption to the local fellowship and confusion among newcomers.

Another self-procaimed "humble" and kneeling fetishist is David C Icons, who has set up a website that lies about and distorts the AA program, knowing that it is causing division and conflict within AA, and offering dangerous and potentially fatal advice on medical and psychological matters which he is certainly not qualified to give. Please can you tell me how this is being "humble".

It seems to me that kneeling as an alleged expression of "humility" lacks both depth and weight, and, given the examples above, is nothing more than fakery and posturing.  As the program, according to the Big Book, is about connecting with and doing the will of a Higher Power, I would really like to know what Higher Power requires this daily charade. It certainly isn't my Higher Power!

I can assure you that I do have a conscious contact with my own Higher Power who requires humility to take place in my heart, in my attitudes and behaviour, and not as a mere pose on the floor, easily feigned.  Would I be able to share that in your Hampton Wick [Friday] meeting without being "cross-shared" or "blanked" by the assembled company of ever so "humble" cult-sponsors ? Somehow I doubt it. As has been said elsewhere in the aacultwatch site, and is my experience, - "the more they kneel, the more arrogant they become". It is a sad, but true irony.

I will deal with your other points later when I have more time. Please bear with me, I will address them.  Look forward to your reply.

….....”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS To use “comment” system simply click on the relevant tab below this article and sign in. All comments go through a moderation stage

PPS For new aacultwatch forum see here. Have your say!

Happy Dennis – getting happier (or madder) by the minute!

Some time ago we were sent the following by a member from the Ealing area - a letter from the aforementioned 'Happy Dennis' addressed to the archivist. The two documents referred to in this correspondence simply contain more of the same (so we won't inflict them on you). We strongly advise the reader to have a sick bag readily to hand. You're going to need it!

“Dear All, I pray that whoever reads this, is happy, healthy, joyous and free, and enjoying all the beauty of this God given wonderful sober life.

I was recently asked by the AA Archivist for our area, to write something about my own time in AA; and also to write something about how I have seen AA develop, in the Ealing area in that time.

I therefore attach two documents regarding this. I pray that they help in some way, to help beautiful life-saving lovely AA, to happily and healthily spiritually grow and glow, not only in Ealing but elsewhere, everywhere.

Please remember that all these words are written by a man who seventeen years ago, was killing himself, not only with alcohol, but by his stupid, silly, selfish, self-centred, arrogant, agnostic, lustful, hedonistic approach to life.

I was a know all, who actually knew nothing, who over 17 years ago turned up at an AA meeting, completely and utterly beaten. In my opinion, I was the lowest of the low.

I met people at my first meeting, who knew that AA is a spiritual programme of recovery; who stressed 'the spiritual feature freely', as mentioned on Page 93 of the Big Book; who passed on to me simple spiritual ideas, that they were doing themselves, and that I started to put into practice that very first night.

Ideas that I thought strange, but I now realise that they were all taken from the book Alcoholics Anonymous, our wonderful Big Book, the God inspired spiritually healing book, that is the cornerstone of our fantastic fellowship, and guess what, they all worked.

Silly, silly, stupid me, but now a very humble and grateful me, has been doing these simple humble spiritual suggestions since that first day, and I have not had or wanted a drink in that period, thank God.

Not only have I been sober all that time, but I am very glad to say that because of lovely God, AA, sponsorship, steps and service, I have continued to grow spiritually each day, as mentioned in Step 11, by daily improving my spiritual connection, with a God of my own concept. It has been without a doubt the best most beautiful and wonderful period of my life.

I am not a religious person, but I know that a Higher Power of my own concept does exists. The world calls this power God, and the whole purpose of the Big Book, is to help the newcomer find such a connection.

It say this on page 45, "Our human resources as marshalled by the will, were not sufficient, they failed utterly.

Lack of Power that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power?

Well, that's exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem."

AA makes this so very, very simple to accept and understand. At my first meeting, I met people who knew what I had to do, to keep and stay sober. As well as them, I also had this tough teacher called pain. This made me sit up and take notice, and put into practice the very simple and very, very effective spiritual ideas being presented.

I am so very, very grateful, not only for my sobriety, but for the beautiful spiritual experience that the Big Book promises; by completing our 12 step, ego deflating, spiritual programme of action.

It is there for all of us, if we are humble, grateful and honest enough to go through with the simple spiritual programme of recovery. Pain certainly made me very teachable and humble, and gave me the willingness to pick up the spiritual tools of recovery.

I certainly was a silly, stupid self-centred, know-it-all idiot when I arrived, some people may say I still am, that is their right, but I now know that all my pain was necessary, for it made me listen and learn,and then put into practice the simple, but very, very effective spiritual programme of AA.

Believe me no one despised myself more than myself when I arrived, but thanks to the love of God, and the beauty of the AA spiritual programme of recovery, I have been allowed to change; and to have and enjoy the spiritual awakening promised in the Big Book.

I would also like to think that I am now not so silly, stupid or self-centred, and because of AA, I am now able to say that I am not a body with a spirit, but a spirit with a body, a body that the world calls Dennis. This is a great fantastic, wonderful gift or thing to know.

I pray that the attached, answers some, if not all the questions asked, and leads to even more wonderful growth in AA, all so the beautiful newcomer can obtain the fantastic beautiful sober spiritual life on offer.

This beautiful gift that I have been so freely given by lovely God and the beauty of AA and its wonderful members, I must daily give away in my every thought, word and deed, to everyone I meet, greet, or think about, in my every thought, word and action.

It is a joy to do it, and I do it with joy, humility, gratitude, strength, purity, clarity, understanding, brightness, enthusiasm, and confidence in my ever loving heart; health, enlightenment, knowledge, youth, beauty, fitness, tidiness, cleanliness, energy, vitality, suppleness and discipline, in my body, and love, gratitude, wisdom, purity, clearness, wellness, sincerity, honesty and humility in my spirit, all wonderful qualities given to me by my lovely God, and all beautiful attributes, given to me to help me help the wonderful newcomer.

Thank you lovely God, I am so very grateful, and so very, very appreciative of the new sober life you have given me, and also for the spiritual gifts and understanding, that you have allowed me to receive and be aware of.

I am also so very grateful,for the beautiful sober, spiritual, life, available to us all, if we are humble enough and honest enough, 'to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet.' (Page 25 of the Big Book.)

Thank you lovely God, thank you lovely tremendous, brilliant, wonderful AA. Mere words can never ever express my gratitude to you lovely God, and to lovely wonderful, beautiful AA.

Thanks for reading this, whoever does, is in my prayers, as I am sure I am in theirs, in fact the whole world is in my prayers these days.

May we also pray that lovely AA does happily and healthily spiritually grow and glow, all to help the newcomer, always realising that we were all at one time newcomers, and remembering, how beautifully and wonderfully we were received. God bless all, your all always in my prayers, from a very, very grateful, humble, happy, healthy, joyous and free, Dennis. Thanks God, I love you lots, lots of love,XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

PS Are we not blessed that AA was conceived in our lifetime. Alcoholism has been a problem throughout the ages, and yet only since 1935, has there been an effective answer to the problem; one that not only leads to sobriety, but includes a beautiful connection to God, the 'promises,' and the spiritual awakening mentioned in step 12.

Thank you lovely God, all I can say in gratitude, is Wow,Wow, Wow, a million, billion, trillion Wows and more. Thanks we are all so very, very grateful, lots of love from all of us. Fantastic, Fabulous, Happy, Joyous & Free, Friday 22 March 2013”

Comment: He's barking!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks (?) to the member who sent us this information

Traditions! What Traditions?

Extract from the aacultwatch forum (old):

“I remember during my involvement with the Vision for You cult in the late 1990's there were many splits and breakaways, usually over the most trifling and trivial of matters.

Outside the cult fold the Vision group earned itself the nickname "Division for You" ! The Vision itself was a breakaway from Joys. No doubt there have been subsequent splits and factions. It's the tedious nature of the Beast !

These cult groups break the Traditions in so many respects it is difficult to know where to start. Of course, they are always personality centered, with a "Leader" - a chief sponsor who fancies himself as a guru. The real requirement for membership of these groups is not a desire to stop drinking (as set out in the AA Traditions) but a desire to agree with and be obedient to this chief know-it-all sponsor in every respect. This is how these groups pervert the message of AA.

We now have a situation where some cult meetings are no longer referring to AA conference approved literature at all, but to something some headcase sponsor-guru has made up, as in Ealing right now, where an "abridged" version of the Big Book called the "Yellow Book of Big Book Quotes" is being used. This 28 page booklet is minus many serious omissions from what the Big Book actually says, and may well be in breach of copyright as it uses quotes from later editions of the Big Book. One individual personality - "Happy Dennis" - cobbled this perverted opus together and, aside from some dogrel "poetry" composed by Dennis himself, the AA name is linked to and used to promote an outside enterprise - a non-AA website largely concocted by David "The Icon" C which purports to be Big Book recovery but is actually no more than a collection of his private and narrow-minded religion-based opinions of what is in the Big Book.

These groups really are shameless in their disregard for AA Traditions. And the culture of these groups is dismissive and contemptuous of the fellowship as a whole. I know because I used to be part of it - to my past shame, yes, - but, believe me, experience is the best teacher!”

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS To use “comment” system simply click on the relevant tab below this article and sign in. All comments go through a moderation stage

PPS For new aacultwatch forum see here. Have your say!

Suicide …... the medication issue..... yet again!

From Ealing:

“There have been 2 suicides in the fellowship recently, both of whom I knew personally. One being a friend of 15 years standing. Difficult stuff to come to terms with. Both had serious mental issues other than alcohol.”

…......

“Regarding the 2 suicides. The first was a guy called ......., who was 28 years old and 3 1/2 years sober. He was a paranoid schizophrenic and needed medication. I was told by a few who knew him well that Happy Dennis sent this chap a text when he was a newcomer and told him to come off his medication. ......... had to spend some time in hospital because of this. He was very anti Cult and anti Dennis after that. He used to read the cultwatch website, and often talked about it in the coffee bar after the meeting. ….... I don't think his suicide was the direct result of the cult, although the cult did him no favours initially. He left a note saying he was just sick of his life, he couldn't silence the" voices" and took an overdose. His funeral was very well attended and his family were grateful that AA had helped him stay sober for the last 3 years of his life.

The other suicide was someone I have known for 15 years. He suffered from severe depression and needed anti-depressants. Unfortunately he felt that he was not "practising the program" by taking this medication in spite of the fact that many, including myself, told him that he must do as the doctors have told him, and that taking prescribed medication was not "a slip". However, the anti-medication culture in some meetings affected him. I know that he had stopped taking his medication prior to his suicide. He hung himself and leaves a wife and 2 children. I have no doubt that although this chap didn’t have a sponsor telling to come off medication, he was adversely affected by the guilt that some people try to induce around medication issues. His first meetings were Vision For You circa 1997, then he followed the Happy Destiny breakaway for a while until around 1999. He left them both a long time ago, but I think they left their ugly mark on him psychologically. His family did not want any AAs at his funeral. Very sad.”

And on a relatively – but only relatively – lighter note:

“I thought you would like to hear Happy Dennis' latest words of wisdom. According to several sources ….... he says that.....

"given a choice between a relationship with a woman, and jumping into a pit of snakes, he would jump into a pit of snakes".

So, jumping for joy one minute - jumping into a pit of snakes the next....

Believe me …... if you had ever met this dangerous nutter, you would soon realize that no one in their right mind would ever want a relationship with this arrogant, goon-like over-elated, narcissistic control freak. Any self-respecting woman would keep him at arms length.”

Comment: The above clearly illustrates the importance of 'minding our own business' when it comes to medication issues. AA members are NOT qualified to issue advice on such matters and should leave these (diagnosis and treatment) in the hands of the professionals. The consequences otherwise are evident from the foregoing......

See also: Dual Recovery Anonymous: Medications and Recovery and here and The A.A. Member—Medications and Other Drugs

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our Ealing correspondents

A further miscellany (various sources)

“I would like to talk to you about the origins of the Vision cult and its connection with Brompton Oratory and Mother Theresa! David B [founder Visions cult UK] read a lot of Mother Theresa but seems to have got it all garbled. David C "The Icon" [similarly connected] proceeded to import fundamentalist Catholic spiritual discipl[ine] and moral teaching into AA (Vision) and present it to his sponsees and newcomers as being "real AA" when of course it isn’t. By the way the guy called "Derek" who was involved in the North London Intergroup meeting where his meeting was shut down a few years ago ?? His assertion that he didn’t know that the Step 4 material he was distributing came from a non-AA website is a lie. …......David C "Icon" [one of the authors of the website] is his sponsor! He would have known fine [and] well where it [had] come from.”

“I witnessed many regular members leave too, sometimes in the most hostile and acrimonious manner. David B. sacked sponsees for the slightest failure to obey his every whim. Not long before David B died there was another acrimonious split. The Vision meeting at Eaton Square was very well attended and the numbers exceeded the limit for the building fire regulations. Following a group conscience, (which, through sponsorship, David B controlled of course), it was decided that once a certain number of attendees had been reached the door would be closed not allowing any further people to enter. Some people had a problem with this, notably Tony M, one of David B’s chief sponsees. At that time, Tony M was openly disagreeing with David B at the Wednesday night meeting. Other differences developed between the two. Eventually Tony M and his sponsees and some others, broke away from Vision and they formed their own group called "Happy Destiny" which met on Wednesday night in Pimlico.“ [long time defunct]

Ealing:

“According to Dennis relationships are only for the production of children in marriage....so tough if you are too old, don’t want children, gay, or medically infertile.. David C "Icons "is the author of that one. He knows all about relationships - he's never had one in recovery.

This same person has been told by Dennis that the only reason for relationships is to procreate children within marriage. Any other kind of relationship is invalid and a distraction from "being spiritual". There you have it !! I told my friend that statement was about more about AVOIDANCE of relationships than real spiritual growth. Dennis got that nonsense from David C of course.

(our edits)

Comment: Thus the bigots flourish!

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our usual thanks to our correspondents

Ealing: Insights into some of the cult 'personalities'

“There are actually 2 brands or strains of the cult here. One is led by a man called Patrick who is sponsored by a Scottish old timer called Don who was a sponsee of David B and attended the Joys of Recovery in the old days before Vision[s] was established. The groups Patrick influences are much more toned down. They preach the 6 [suggestions] things and 14 defects version of step 4 etc, but it is not as "cult like" as the Vision[s]. However having said that, Patrick is getting worse and more extreme. He is mesmerized by Dennis and has swallowed the yarn about AA being less successful than it was because of the mainstream of AA adopting treatment centre ideas and not doing the steps properly.”

“Then we have our "Happy Dennis", who is, I think, still sponsored by David [Icons] C. His groups are off the Richter scale in happy talk. People are expected to jump up and down for joy after they say the serenity prayer. Also the last time I attended one of his groups, on Saturday morning at Bayham Road, Dennis was sharing that he was "supercalifragilisticexpialidociously happy" (!!!!) He also "jumps" every time he speaks to you, to show you how happy he is. From a distance it looks like he has a permanent bad case of hiccoughs. (!!!!)

Finally to Denis' execrable sponsor - the Icon. You mentioned his so-called "way of beauty" (a fascist concept if ever there was) . Have you seen his TV series [web show] ?? ...

He rubbishes modern art in a most ignorant way. And in the program about the art of other cultures he successfully insults Buddhism and Hindu art saying that he wouldn't have it in his house or even his garden, but would (mercifully!!) stop short or smashing it with a hammer!! Wow, how good of him! You really couldn't make up this level of arrogance. It reflects everything ….. regarding his prejudice against "eastern" art and philosophy and his obsession with extreme Catholicism. So sad he also pushes this puke-inducing garbage into the domain of AA !!”

An Ealing cult meeting:

“There were about 30 people present. On each chair there was a copy of a little yellow booklet (A6 size) of about 28 pages entitled " BIG BOOK QUOTES" and containing selected quotations from the Big Book taken from every chapter of the first 164 pages (main text) plus a few pages from the stories section of the book.....

 

The format of the meeting was that a passage from the Big Book was read out (on this occasion it was a few pages from Bill's Story) However I did notice that at least half of the meeting (which largely consisted of young men in their early days/years), were looking at and reading from the yellow BIG BOOK QUOTES rather than from a copy of our AA Big Book.

After the passage was read out, they were instructed by Dennis (aka "happy Dennis" or "Mad Dennis" depending on your perspective) to share according to his numbered selected quotes from his compilation of BIG BOOK QUOTES. This was to be their reference for sharing in the meeting. The format is explained in the little yellow booklet. The yellow book of course has been compiled and concocted by Mad Dennis himself. …..... And on the back cover, the website of our modern-and-pagan-art-iconoclast extreme Catholic friend David C........, …..... is advertised - apparently "we" find it a very good website to look at!! Who "we" are is not fully explained.

In addition to the yellow book of quotations there was a PINK CARD [Ealing cult meeting list] on the literature table. The literature table was not very well supplied with the full range of AA literature by the way.”

“Dennis F is a VERY self-willed and somewhat childish, yet charismatic individual. He uses very flamboyant and exaggerated language. He says things like "I'm very very very very very very happy... and I'm even more happy than that" etc. Then he giggles in a childish way. Ken Dodd is a good comparison, but not so benign. Dennis has no humility whatsoever. For him, humility is just a morning pose (kneeling posture) and then he gets up and dedicates himself to control and domination ...”

“The best comparison I can make about Dennis is he talks fast like someone hypermanic. He is always "happy" but I would call it mania more than happiness. It isn’t a sober happy anyway. He is an attention seeker and a control freak and has been since day one. His idea of humility is that you get on your knees - in other words humility is a pose or a posture not a modus operandi or an attitude. He giggles childishly and makes up doggerel "poetry" about being happy etc. He constantly misquotes the literature to suit his own ends. He is overbearing and domineering. He is a narcissist - he wants everyone to agree with him and to be a reflection of himself. In other words he is a typical cult guru with a personality disorder.......”

Comment: It's nice to know that AA is in such safe and SANE hands!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS We have received some complaints about the Monday Step 3 7 and 11 meeting held at Richmond Bridge at 6.15pm (?)

More Ealing madness!

““Do not get a job until you have completed step 5” Huh??! What??!! Not heard that rule before? Well perhaps because it is not the message of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is, however, the message of one “happy” Dennis, the hyper-manic control freak of Ealing. (We put the word happy in inverted comas because we feel it is inaccurate to call him “happy” - mania and happiness are not the same thing.) The advice he is dishing out to any newcomer who asks him for sponsorship seems to be getting more and more wacko. According to our witness he tells new sponsees that they cannot go to work until they have completed step 5. In practice this is proving to be rather dangerous and damaging advice. For example, any sponsee of his who is in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance – a government benefit given to those who are out of work on the condition that they look for work and will accept a job if they are offered it – could find themselves in serious trouble. In the strict world of welfare benefits any failure to look for work, or to refuse work offered while receiving Job Seekers Allowance, could result in suspension of the benefit. But an unfortunate newcomer caught up in “happy” Dennis’ mad world of sponsorship is not allowed to work until they have completed Step 5. This means of course that they will be going to the Job Centre with the intention of deceiving the government that they are looking for work, whereas in fact they cannot have that intention because they have been “ordered” by their lunatic sponsor “happy” Dennis that they must not work until they have completed Step 5. “I felt uncomfortable and dishonest” says one (now working) ex-sponsee of “happy” Dennis. “I was going to the Job Centre, but I was not really looking at the jobs. I had to pretend. I was really scared I might get found out and lose my benefit, and then end up homeless and without any money to live. I rushed through Steps 4 and 5 as fast as I could just so I could feel honest and start working again.”

We would like to know where exactly in the Big Book - or any other approved literature of Alcoholics Anonymous - does it say that we cannot work or accept a job until we have completed Step 5. The literature does, however, tell us that rushing through Steps 4 and 5 is not good practice for long term recovery. Is it not a disgrace that newcomers in the Ealing area are being forced to deceive the government by behaving dishonestly, and with some threat to their financial security, and moreover endangering their own future sobriety, in order to abide by the insane, irresponsible and selfishly-invented “rules” of one “happy” Dennis? AA has to operate within the Law. The activities of “happy” Dennis of Ealing bring AA into disrepute, and put vulnerable individuals at risk. “

Comment: We only put a fraction of what we hear from the area on the site. You simply would not believe what is going on in Ealing at the moment! See our Cult: Where to Find (GB) for more details on the cult meetings here (and elsewhere).

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS. Our usual thanks to our Ealing reporters.

Words of wisdom from Ealing! The oracle Happy Dennis speaks!

Quotes of the week:

"We cannot control anyone or anything, except our sponsees"

"We must give our sponsors respect! Respect!"

"Suicide? We don't use words like that. We jump for joy."

Happy Dennis apparently had his sponsees play football on Christmas day morning after their morning Bayham Road home group, and then they had to all sing Xmas carols as a group on West Ealing Broadway, wearing their red and white 'jump for joy' badges. And they had to do it, or they weren't going to any lengths and haven't got Step One.

Comment: We're lost for words! Utterly speechless! You really could NOT make this stuff up!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

“Happy” Dennis, or Manic-Depressive Dennis? (Ealing)

(South Middlesex Intergroup)

    
It has been brought to our attention by a number of Ealing members that Dennis F (so called “Happy” Dennis) may not be as “happy” as he makes himself out to be. According to a few ex-sponsees, Dennis can sound rather depressed when speaking on the phone. “He was speaking extremely slowly, and sounded like he was in a lot of pain” said one disillusioned ex-sponsee. “It was hard to make out what he was actually saying, he sounded so miserable. I don’t trust him anymore” said another.  “Some members of his family were in the house when I visited him and they told me that he is certainly not happy all the time….”  

At his meetings Happy Dennis is the ultra-happy attention-seeking control freak. He speaks almost breathlessly fast and uses highly exaggerated language. Here are some examples of his sharing - “I’m very very very very very very happy…. and I’m even happier than that”. He displays a childish use of adjectives “I’m supercalifragilisticexpialidociously happy”  and “the very very lovely gorgeous beautiful lovely stupendous marvelous fantastic Big Book etc…” And so he goes on, exaggerating and repeating himself (he repeats himself a lot). Yet at other times, when he is not at meetings, he can hardly speak at all he is so “down”.    He also disappears out of the country quite frequently, going to Ireland, and no one is able to contact him there at all. No explanation is given as to what he is doing there or why he has to go. He just suddenly disappears off to Ireland with no explanation. His hapless sponsees are referred to a bewildered deputy, while Dennis is strictly incommunicado and absent from his home-groups sometimes for weeks at a time.  Now Ireland isn’t exactly the other side of the world, so one is left wondering what is going on.   Furthermore, this is the same man who sets up meetings, then abandons them. Then sets up more, then closes them down, without explanation. Then he sets up even more meetings, and then runs away to Ireland again when Intergroup try to hold him to account over complaints about his outlandish behaviour.  Strange indeed. However there is one mental condition that may possibly explain the actions of this bizarre and ridiculous man - manic depression, sometimes called bi-polar disorder. Let us quote from the wikipedia article on this illness.

Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or more depressive episodes. The elevated moods are clinically referred to as mania or, if milder, hypomania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes, or symptoms, or a mixed state in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These events are usually separated by periods of "normal" mood; but, in some individuals, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, which is known as rapid cycling. Severe manic episodes can sometimes lead to such psychotic symptoms as delusions and hallucinations.

For more information see    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

So there you have it.  Clearly, by any standards “happy” Dennis is a case for the psychiatrist’s chair.  Of course we can all have empathy for someone who is suffering from a mental illness. However, when this disturbed individual is playing at God, messing around with vulnerable people’s lives - telling then what job they can or cannot do; where they can or cannot live; what they can or cannot say in meetings; who they can or cannot have as a partner; what medications they must not take etc, then this is not an acceptable state of affairs at all. It is downright dangerous, irresponsible, and indeed, outrageous.  

Finally let us remind ourselves that Dennis F takes his inspiration and direction, not from AA conference approved literature, but from a website concocted by his sponsor, David C – the infallible Icon. The infallible Icon knows nothing about psychology, and cares even less, so poor old Dennis will not be directed to seek the treatment he clearly needs, and vulnerable newcomers in the Ealing area will continue to be confused, abused and manipulated by this dangerously unhinged man.

Comment: a case of the inmates taking over the asylum perhaps?

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Ealing again!

Well it would seem that Tim W has been elected (?) to the job of responding to South Middlesex IG's letter of complaint (see below: 31/07/11 “CULT THUG BULLIES DISABLED PENSIONER OUT OF EALING MEETING” for another of Tim W's initiatives!). Presumably the Happy One has been sent to convalesce somewhere else (or indeed anywhere else!) whilst a more “reasoned” defence for the cult groups' conduct is advanced. It all looks very impressive. The traditions are cited, bits of AA literature are mentioned, group autonomy is alluded to (but of course leaving out that inconvenient second part). All very reasonable … and all less than candid. And so …....

4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

and of course Tradition 3 (which is not mentioned at all in this disingenuous missive):

3. Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.

(our emphases)

The cult groups in Ealing were set up with absolutely no consultation with AA groups or intergroup, and with no regard whatsoever as to their impact on legitimate AA meetings. These groups produce (and promote) their own literature (in probable breach of AAWS copyright) and moreover circulate a version of the Where to Find which contains adverts for the cult website referred to in this “spokesman's” letter. We have in fact had ample opportunity to study this website and contrary to the assertions made in Tim W's response there is much in there which is NOT derived from the Big Book and other AA literature (ie. the section: Alcohol in Solid Form). Here a number of assertions are made about the employment of prescribed medication (specifically anti-depressants) in relation to mis-diagnosis (or otherwise) of a putative underlying condition (ie. alcoholism). None of these statements is made by anyone with any professional qualification, and in fact represent purely the opinions of the author. Apart from the questionable views expressed (and the misquotes from AA literature) what is of greater interest is the discrepancy between what is evident and what is “inferred”. This latter term is employed with great frequency in the course of Tim W's rebuttal. Naturally one might infer anything about anything – in its extreme form this might be termed “subjectivism” or even “solipsism” - or to put it another way – everything is open to interpretation. So for example some people might take the term “suggested” to mean:

1. To offer for consideration or action; propose.

2. To bring or call to mind by logic or association; evoke.
3. To make evident indirectly; intimate or imply.
4. To serve as or provide a motive for.

In the cult circles however the word assumes an entirely different guise - it is “inferred” as an imperative, and worse still something that may be imposed by one person upon another. Here we remind you of that central imperative about which all cult sponsorship revolves:

“Sponsor

It is suggested that you phone daily and do exactly what your sponsor tells you. If you don't have a sponsor, look upon every meeting you go to as a chance to find one.

NB If anything is unclear, ask your sponsor.”

(our emphasis).

(an excerpt from another cult website linked to the one cited above)

So although the position adopted by the cult groups is presented by Tim W as being quite reasonable and entirely in accord with the Traditions etc it is in fact far removed. This may be exemplified by contrasting what is currently included under the present 'redaction' of the aforementioned website with its previous version. This throws some light on the covert, intrusive and indeed voyeuristic (some might say perverted) tendencies of its authors.

Under the section Step Four “Sexual Conduct” the original version contained the following statement:

“In the inventory we should be prepared to include sex with: men, women, children, animals..... . and bottles”

This has now been edited out.

Now it might be “inferred” from the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous that such matters should be included in the Step Four inventory. However we would assert that this is an inference that may not be drawn and on two fairly obvious grounds: legal and therapeutic. Two of the sex acts referred to would fall under criminal jurisdiction and if revealed to a “sponsor” would place both individuals at risk of prosecution; the “sponsee” for the criminal act itself, and the “sponsor” as an accessory should they fail to report the incident(s). These communications are not legally “privileged”. Therapeutically it does not require an enormous leap of the imagination to consider the impact that such revelations might have on both parties especially where the “sponsor” may not be trained to handle such disclosures.

We include this example here as indicative of the cult's underlying agenda in Great Britain and elsewhere (quite apart from their deliberate – and overt - manipulation of the Traditions to promote their objectives). The façade that is presented by Tim W et al is precisely that – a show of unity but one without any substance. The letter may sign off with the traditional “Yours in fellowship” but actions do in fact speak so much more eloquently than words......

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(our thanks to our local reporter)

Happy Dennis departs reality almost completely!

Yes – this is the latest response from the Happy One to South Middlesex IG's letter (see below) – the chap seems to have been so far rocketed into another dimension that he has almost exited the galaxy completely! And so....

“Dear All, I pray that all at Intergroup and all who might read this, are happy, healthy, joyous and free, and enjoying all the beauty of this God given sober life.

I regularly attend the wonderful meetings at Bayham Road and Green Man Lane. I find them all tremendous, all carrying the beautiful Big Book message, in line with our tremendous Traditions, in fact I find all the lovely meetings in Ealing do the same thing, in fact I find all meetings I go to are aiming to carry our beautiful message of recovery, whether this be in other parts of London, other parts of the U.K., Ireland or other places in Europe.Why not come along to some of the meetings at both these lovely venues, like meetings everywhere they are fantastic. Look forward to seeing you there, or at other meetings in our lovely Intergroup or meetings elsewhere.

Anyway God bless you all, you are all always in my prayers, and may we pray that AA does happily and healthily grow and glow, God bless, Dennis.”

Comment: The medical term for his condition we believe is “barking” - or perhaps narcissist! There's a lot of them about in the cult! See following:

Hotchkiss' seven deadly sins of narcissism:

Hotchkiss identified what she called the seven deadly sins of narcissism:

1. Shamelessness: Shame is the feeling that lurks beneath all unhealthy narcissism, and the inability to process shame in healthy ways.

2. Magical thinking: Narcissists see themselves as perfect, using distortion and illusion known as magical thinking. They also use projection to dump shame onto others.

3. Arrogance: A narcissist who is feeling deflated may reinflate by diminishing, debasing, or degrading somebody else.

4. Envy: A narcissist may secure a sense of superiority in the face of another person's ability by using contempt to minimize the other person.

5. Entitlement: Narcissists hold unreasonable expectations of particularly favourable treatment and automatic compliance because they consider themselves special. Failure to comply is considered an attack on their superiority, and the perpetrator is considered an "awkward" or "difficult" person. Defiance of their will is a narcissistic injury that can trigger narcissistic rage.

6. Exploitation: Can take many forms but always involves the exploitation of others without regard for their feelings or interests. Often the other is in a subservient position where resistance would be difficult or even impossible. Sometimes the subservience is not so much real as assumed.

7. Bad boundaries: Narcissists do not recognize that they have boundaries and that others are separate and are not extensions of themselves. Others either exist to meet their needs or may as well not exist at all. Those who provide narcissistic supply to the narcissist are treated as if they are part of the narcissist and are expected to live up to those expectations. In the mind of a narcissist there is no boundary between self and other.

(Hotchkiss, Sandy & Masterson, James F. Why Is It Always About You?: The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism (2003)

This all sounds very familiar!

Over to South Middlesex IG

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(our usual thanks to our reporter)

Update on Ealing: South Middlesex Intergroup's response

We quote:

 "This letter is addressed to everyone in South Middlesex Intergroup, particularly those who attend the Ealing A.A. meetings held at Bayham Road and the Green Man Lane Community Centre.

The South Middlesex Intergroup has received a letter from an adjacent Intergroup, who specifically complain about an Ealing A.A. meetings list, which promotes a non A.A. website. This website, which is available through www........ appears to give extremely dangerous advice to A.A. newcomers, suggesting that they should cease seeing psychiatrists and counsellors and stop taking prescribed medication for depression and associated illnesses, inferring that the 'Steps' will replace the drug treatment. This advice is a gross misrepresentation of A.A. practice and must cease forthwith.

Newcomers are in danger of interpreting the 'MESSAGE,' as given, to mean that they will not be able to participate in the 12 Step programme, unless they come off their medication and that as a consequence, may not be able to stay sober.

The promotion of this website breaches Guideline No.19 of the A.A. Service Handbook for Great Britain, which states: "There are no 'unofficial' A.A. Websites as such. The only websites which can truly be called A.A. websites, are those endorsed by an official A.A. body e.g. www.alcobolics-anonymous.org.uk.".

The "…......." website (as above) is not so endorsed.

Further concern has been expressed about member/s within these groups, who try to impose their personal views on a newcomer with detrimental effect.

We now ask that all individuals, particularly those involved with the Bayham Road and Green Man Lane Community Centre meetings, examine their consciences as to whether any aspect of this complaint is a reflection of their personal conduct and to ask themselves whether their actions breach any of the Traditions, set out below:

Tradition 1 talks about “our common welfare and A.A. unity."

Tradition 4 refers to the "autonomy of each group except in matters affecting other groups and [should be “or”] A.A. as a whole."

Tradition 6 suggests "An A.A. group ought never endorse an outside enterprise, lest we be diverted from our primary purpose."

Tradition 10 says "Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues, hence the A.A. name ought never to be drawn into public controversy.

It is helpful to us all to remember:

a) “as long as we recognise that religion is the province of the clergy and the practice of medicine is for doctors, we can helpfully cooperate with both."

(Bill W. Concept 12 warranty 5.)

b) "A good sponsor never tries to impose views on a newcomer, nor gives advice on medical, legal or work matter. We help the newcomer find an appropriate source of information"

(From Sponsorship: your questions answered / what will sponsors avoid doing.)

c) "A.A. does not .... Solicit members ... .... Follow up or try to control its members; make medical or psychological diagnosis or prognosis ..... provide domestic or vocational counselling .."

(From Members of the clergy asking about Alcoholics Anonymous …... What A.A. does not do.)

d) “On several occasions' I have had clients who were extremely suicidal and have sought professional help. Recently two clients threatened suicide and because A.A. members thought they knew more than the medical and psychological professions, the individuals almost died."

(Alcoholism Counsellor Printed in Grapevine May 1990.)

The content of this letter has been agreed by members of Alcoholics Anonymous who attended the South Middlesex Intergroup Meeting on Wednesday 31st August, 2011 and will be circulated. Copies will also be sent to S.S.0. Islington and G.S.O. York.”

Comment: For the background to this particular drama see website for coverage of the “Ealing Experiment”. Briefly this enterprise was born out of a desire on the part of a fellow named “Happy Dennis” (no we're not joking!) to emulate the so-called “New York” model of AA meetings (essentially this refers to a number of meetings all based at the same location but opening at different times on the same day). There is nothing particularly controversial here except for the fact that this “experiment” was also founded on another “model” ie. the “cult” version of the AA programme. The Visions cult (or Joys) was founded by David B (now deceased) in Great Britain in the late 70's/early 80's. Subsequent to David B's demise his “heir” David C took over the reins (after a bit of internal wrangling), and he has vigorously propagated the cult “message” ever since. He is a co-author of the above mentioned website and moreover (and quite coincidentally) sponsor to …. you guessed it..... Happy Dennis! David C is English by birth but currently residing in the US (although he still manages to direct operations in Ealing (and elsewhere) quite effectively even from afar!) (The WHOIS details for the site may be seen here. We will leave it to our readers to “join up the dots”). In its previous incarnation it was entitled miseryisoptional.org (a domain name now employed by quite another – and unrelated – organisation). It also links up with yet another cult website (directed specifically at newcomers) which coincidentally carries virtually identical registration details.

However - and not to forget “Happy Dennis” - ever since the “experiment” went a bit sour the “Pied Piper of Ealing” has fallen back on the “when the ordure hits the fan, do a runner and leave it to somebody else to clean up the mess” tactic...... a move which apparently is entirely in character. The rumour is that our loss is Ireland's gain! No doubt, though, and at some stage, he will return and make precisely the same mistakes again... and again.....and..... (Now remind us! What was that definition of “insanity” again?). But be in no doubt that the “brains” behind this outfit is David C and that the cult network goes way beyond Ealing (see our Cult: Where to Find). In the immediate area there are direct links between the Ealing “experiment” and the Ormond Road meeting (Tues) in Richmond, the Hampton Wick (Friday – Lower Teddington Rd) meetings, the Guildford Beginners meeting (Monday) (and where, we are reliably informed, another co-author of the website is in residence) and that members from the Bournemouth/Poole area are actively involved with the Sunday evening Bayham Road meeting. Apparently they are even more “fanatical” than Dennis!

South Middlesex IG are to be commended on the action they have taken so far. However there is one quite glaring omission to their cited list of Traditions ie. Tradition Three. We quote (long form):

3. Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.

(our emphasis).

These groups have overtly affiliated themselves with an outside organisation. Therefore (and according to this criterion alone) these groups may NOT call themselves AA groups.

Moreover now that South Middlesex IG has taken the action it has (and which it will hopefully follow through on) what about the adjacent intergroups who themselves currently host cult groups in their respective areas eg. South West London? These also avail themselves of the above mentioned information provided by this “outside enterprise” (albeit covertly) employing prompt sheets (directly copied from the website) which are then presented to newcomers in their meetings as the authentic AA message. Or perhaps it will be another case of “look the other way”, or perhaps until yet another newcomer dies because they've been told to “throw away” their prescribed medication (see DRA site: Medications and Recovery)

On a lighter note the aacultwatch site has been labelled as most unsuitable reading for newcomers in the cult groups, and we are BANNED by the High Command! Moreover the whole website has been dismissed as merely 'a resentment' according to these same sources! Their hope is that we're just going to fade away........ Dream on! Just dream on!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(our thanks to our reporter for the info)