Showing posts with label Tradition Eleven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tradition Eleven. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
The AA Preamble – contd
Now we will consider the introductory phrase: “Alcoholics Anonymous”. This should be a clue as to our 'target market' ie. alcoholics, and how we conduct ourselves generally, and in the public sphere. Although our sole membership requirement is that a potential candidate should have a “desire to stop drinking” (self-determined and self-diagnosed) it should be evident that AA deals only with chronic problem drinkers who have an established alcohol addiction and who are unable to return to what might be termed 'normal' or 'social' drinking. We are not talking about those who have an 'acute' problem, who may have developed some difficulties along the way but are able to moderate their alcohol consumption subsequently. For the former case there is really only one sure solution currently available: complete lifelong abstinence from alcohol in any quantity and in any form. For the latter there may be a number of possible treatment options none of which involves such drastic action. Accompanying lifelong (physical abstinence) there is a need also for the individual concerned to evolve some form of attitude adjustment to avoid the possibility of relapse. AA offers ONE method for developing such a change of perspective: the 12 step recovery programme. It should be mentioned here that AA makes no claim to a monopoly on recovery. Individuals within AA might make such assertions. Fortunately neither they nor anyone else speaks for the fellowship. We have no gurus (but our membership does include those who THINK they are). We deal ONLY with the alcohol problem and with no other type of addiction nor are we qualified to offer any advice on these. We have but one primary purpose as stated in our preamble.
Now we come to the the question of anonymity. This is elaborated upon in the 11th and 12th of AA's Traditions:
“Eleven—Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.” (short form)
“11.—Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us.” (long form)
“Twelve—Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.” (short form)
“12.—And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.” (long form)
For our part we regard Tradition 11 merely as a specific application of the general principle outlined in Tradition 12. There are some in AA (circuit speakers, 'gurus', Big Book 'experts' and other assorted 'snake oil' purveyors) who believe that it is sufficient merely to adhere to the letter of these traditions rather than their spirit. There are others who don't bother to restrain their egos even to this modest degree (you know who you are!). The principle of anonymity is pivotal to AA's philosophy and where practised proves to be our greatest strength, where not – our most serious flaw. What AA does NOT need are the services of the propagandists, dogmatists, fundamentalists, promoters and other essentially narcissistic personalities. What AA does need is the ordinary member who gets on with his or her life doing what needs to be done, helping newcomers where help is requested and all without any fanfare or fuss! Remember that bit in the Just for Today card about doing someone a good turn and not getting found out?
Cheers
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous … and still anonymous themselves!)
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Yet another Jim B!
After our Stop Press
article of yesterday a member from the UK kindly sent in the following, making
some rather pertinent points about placing “principles before
personalities”.
“Hi fellas,
I read your Stop press
article today. Can you tell me, Is this the same Jim B. who breaks his anonymity
on You Tube?
[Comment: actually it
isn't – although there does seem to be a bad outbreak of these “bleeding”
“experts” at the moment – but you can catch the original elsewhere on the net
“entertaining the troops”” Remember: “The show must go on”!]
If so, someone ought to
educate him on Traditions Eleven and Twelve. He looks and sounds like the
reincarnation of the alarming poser described in AA Comes of Age. If this is the
same Jim B. who is on You-Tube, then I think you should print his email address
so we A.A. members can email him strong emails……..emails of a kind his sponsor
might not like to receive.
Bill W., “AA comes of
Age” page 130-131: “This ultimatum was an 'alarming poser'.........We would
loose control of our public relations......We assured him that if his ‘lectures’
went on air, we would advise every A.A. group of the circumstances and ask them
to write strong letters ……….. letters of a kind the sponsor might not like to
receive. The broadcast never went on air.”
Extract from Tradition
Twelve: “We simply could not afford to take the chance of letting self
–appointed members presenting themselves as messiahs representing A.A. before
the whole public.… Moved by the spirit of anonymity, we try to give up our
natural desires for personal distinction as A.A. members both among fellow
alcoholics and before the general public”….. We are sure that humility,
expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can
ever have.”
Extract from Tradition
Eleven: “This Tradition is a constant and practical reminder that personal
ambition has no place in A.A. In it each member becomes an active guardian of
our fellowship".
Bill W., “As Bill Sees
It”, page 198: “They forget that, during their drinking days, prestige and the
achievement of worldly ambition were their principle aims. They do not realize
that, by breaking their anonymity, they are unconsciously pursuing those old and
perilous illusions once more. They forget that the keeping of one’s anonymity
often means the sacrifice of one’s desire for power, prestige, and money. They
do not see that if these strivings became general in A.A., the course of our
whole history would be changed; that we would be sowing the seeds of our own
destruction”.
How many people are
being put off A.A. by these Jim B. videos?
Bill W: “Of highest
importance would be our relations with medicine and religion. Under no
circumstances must we get into competition with either. If we appeared to be a
new religious sect, we’d be done for. And if we moved into the medical field, as
such, the result would be the same.” (Language of the Heart Page 150)
……....(Name deleted)
UK”
Cheers
The Fellas (Friends
of Alcoholics Anonymous)
(our thanks to this
contributor)
Friday, 4 February 2011
Tradition Eleven
Short form:
"Eleven—Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films."
Long form:
"11.—Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us."
Another cracking good idea! (which is probably why it became an AA tradition). Moreover this guideline is closely connected with the last tradition (where the principle is well and truly hammered home). In this instance the key words to reflect on are “anonymity” and “attraction” (versus “promotion”).
Firstly - “anonymity” which may be defined as: the quality or state of being unknown or unacknowledged; namelessness. So for the purposes of our “public relations” (and in the context of AA) we are men and women “WITH NO NAME”. (We should point out here that this does not mean we all have to call ourselves “Clint” (as in Eastwood) from now on, or wear ponchos and ride donkeys, and it most definitely does not imply a licence to decimate the populations of local hamlets simply because their inhabitants have been rude to our “transport of choice”! These are not mandatory!) We would suggest that this definitely includes surnames and even forenames. In the case of “celebrities” of course this is quite impossible (and another good reason why they should not break their anonymity) but for the rest of us this is an easy suggestion to follow. Even if a forename has to be used (for the purposes of polite interaction) it can be assumed. So if you've ever fancied being called Hieronymus now's your chance - or even Bruce, or Sheila. Or maybe just plain John - as in John Doe (our personal favourite).
Secondly - “attract” means: to arouse or compel the interest, admiration, or attention of. “Promote” means: to attempt to sell or popularize by advertising or publicity.
The distinction between these two approaches seems to be based on “intrinsic value” as opposed to “extrinsic display”. ie. a service or product which is inherently valuable, and which fulfils the real needs of the consumer requires little or no “marketing” and can rely simply on “word of mouth” recommendations; it has "intrinsic value". On the other hand those products (and services) which have little or no “intrinsic value” will require correspondingly larger expenditures of time and energy (and money) to shift their inherently “worthless” output ie. “extrinsic display” (this latter category would probably include almost everything advertised by the mass media, ie. TV, newspapers, magazines, internet etc). Therefore, as a quick rule of thumb, the more a product or service is plugged by these media the greater the likelihood that it is of little or no real use. AA while it adheres to the former approach demonstrates it is in fact meeting the needs of its “consumers”. If there is any shift towards the latter tendency this would suggest that it is failing in this objective and is becoming more reliant on “display” than actual substance. Needless to say the cult groups put a lot of effort into the former, never stinting on new “marketing” techniques (including that good old standby – lying), promoting themselves at every opportunity via websites, local poster campaigns (with little or no liaison with other groups), producing their own Where to Finds (whilst 'forgetting' to mention the AA groups in the area), fabricating their own literature (some of which bears only the slightest resemblance to the genuine AA article), organising so-called “conventions” or “workshops” which usually feature some much lauded “guest speaker” (ie. cult celebrity) together with the time-honoured cult techniques of manipulation/coercion in order to retain their “target market” and so on and so forth … as we have said before this list goes on “ad infinitum”.
[In this connection we're rather puzzled that the pointed headed ones haven't got round to running an X Factor style talent contest. The budding “personalities” could do their “turns” and votes would be awarded accordingly eg. tastelessness, self-promotion, lack of ability etc. The contestant scoring highest in these “qualities” would go on to win (1st prize to include a fully promoted circuit tour, CDs, book signings (“How I got Sober with Six Easy Suggestions”) and a weekend in Dallas, Texas). For the judges we'd definitely include David “The Icon” C, a fellow who is never short of a few opinions (these largely being a substitute for any genuine personality). Then there's Wayne P (Road to Recovery Plymouth cult group)– currently on sabbatical but who we're quite sure will make a miraculous come back ie. after having seen the “light” etc. Of course no line up could possibly exclude the West Kent intergroup secretary Barbara (“Cults are a Good Thing”) K, already famous for her contribution to the growing market of “personality” CDs. Lastly there's the up-and-coming charismatic “leader”, The Pied Piper of Happy Clappy Land (otherwise known as Ealing), “Happy Dennis”, whose irrepressible good humour - and capacity to launch himself skywards at the least provocation - must surely lend to such an occasion the gravity it deserves. Anyway we digress....].
There is occasionally a fine line between the two approaches and we would suggest that if in doubt ... don't! Alcoholics Anonymous has managed perfectly well without the need for publicity campaigns and works best according to traditional methods. The fellowship has no need to “market” itself and indeed undermines it's own credibility and integrity by doing so. So let our friends “recommend us” and our detractors may say what they will!
Cheers
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
"Eleven—Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films."
Long form:
"11.—Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us."
Another cracking good idea! (which is probably why it became an AA tradition). Moreover this guideline is closely connected with the last tradition (where the principle is well and truly hammered home). In this instance the key words to reflect on are “anonymity” and “attraction” (versus “promotion”).
Firstly - “anonymity” which may be defined as: the quality or state of being unknown or unacknowledged; namelessness. So for the purposes of our “public relations” (and in the context of AA) we are men and women “WITH NO NAME”. (We should point out here that this does not mean we all have to call ourselves “Clint” (as in Eastwood) from now on, or wear ponchos and ride donkeys, and it most definitely does not imply a licence to decimate the populations of local hamlets simply because their inhabitants have been rude to our “transport of choice”! These are not mandatory!) We would suggest that this definitely includes surnames and even forenames. In the case of “celebrities” of course this is quite impossible (and another good reason why they should not break their anonymity) but for the rest of us this is an easy suggestion to follow. Even if a forename has to be used (for the purposes of polite interaction) it can be assumed. So if you've ever fancied being called Hieronymus now's your chance - or even Bruce, or Sheila. Or maybe just plain John - as in John Doe (our personal favourite).
Secondly - “attract” means: to arouse or compel the interest, admiration, or attention of. “Promote” means: to attempt to sell or popularize by advertising or publicity.
The distinction between these two approaches seems to be based on “intrinsic value” as opposed to “extrinsic display”. ie. a service or product which is inherently valuable, and which fulfils the real needs of the consumer requires little or no “marketing” and can rely simply on “word of mouth” recommendations; it has "intrinsic value". On the other hand those products (and services) which have little or no “intrinsic value” will require correspondingly larger expenditures of time and energy (and money) to shift their inherently “worthless” output ie. “extrinsic display” (this latter category would probably include almost everything advertised by the mass media, ie. TV, newspapers, magazines, internet etc). Therefore, as a quick rule of thumb, the more a product or service is plugged by these media the greater the likelihood that it is of little or no real use. AA while it adheres to the former approach demonstrates it is in fact meeting the needs of its “consumers”. If there is any shift towards the latter tendency this would suggest that it is failing in this objective and is becoming more reliant on “display” than actual substance. Needless to say the cult groups put a lot of effort into the former, never stinting on new “marketing” techniques (including that good old standby – lying), promoting themselves at every opportunity via websites, local poster campaigns (with little or no liaison with other groups), producing their own Where to Finds (whilst 'forgetting' to mention the AA groups in the area), fabricating their own literature (some of which bears only the slightest resemblance to the genuine AA article), organising so-called “conventions” or “workshops” which usually feature some much lauded “guest speaker” (ie. cult celebrity) together with the time-honoured cult techniques of manipulation/coercion in order to retain their “target market” and so on and so forth … as we have said before this list goes on “ad infinitum”.
[In this connection we're rather puzzled that the pointed headed ones haven't got round to running an X Factor style talent contest. The budding “personalities” could do their “turns” and votes would be awarded accordingly eg. tastelessness, self-promotion, lack of ability etc. The contestant scoring highest in these “qualities” would go on to win (1st prize to include a fully promoted circuit tour, CDs, book signings (“How I got Sober with Six Easy Suggestions”) and a weekend in Dallas, Texas). For the judges we'd definitely include David “The Icon” C, a fellow who is never short of a few opinions (these largely being a substitute for any genuine personality). Then there's Wayne P (Road to Recovery Plymouth cult group)– currently on sabbatical but who we're quite sure will make a miraculous come back ie. after having seen the “light” etc. Of course no line up could possibly exclude the West Kent intergroup secretary Barbara (“Cults are a Good Thing”) K, already famous for her contribution to the growing market of “personality” CDs. Lastly there's the up-and-coming charismatic “leader”, The Pied Piper of Happy Clappy Land (otherwise known as Ealing), “Happy Dennis”, whose irrepressible good humour - and capacity to launch himself skywards at the least provocation - must surely lend to such an occasion the gravity it deserves. Anyway we digress....].
There is occasionally a fine line between the two approaches and we would suggest that if in doubt ... don't! Alcoholics Anonymous has managed perfectly well without the need for publicity campaigns and works best according to traditional methods. The fellowship has no need to “market” itself and indeed undermines it's own credibility and integrity by doing so. So let our friends “recommend us” and our detractors may say what they will!
Cheers
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
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