Our attention has been drawn to the existence of two websites currently being used by the cult to disseminate their version of the programme (and Fellowship) of AA.
Before we begin our discussion of these sites we should make it clear that we have no problem with individuals communicating their views on any matter in any way that they feel fit (subject to the laws of the land) and via any medium; we avail ourselves of that freedom and can hardly complain if others choose to do the same. However what we do object to is that the contents of these sites are being downloaded and being presented within “AA” (for “AA” read “cult”) meetings as if they represented the views of AA. The material is neither Conference Approved nor is that fact drawn to the attention of the viewers. Additionally newcomers attending the cult meetings are being encouraged to download the material from these sites themselves and use the information as a basis for their recovery.
We are not going to give the names of the sites since we have no wish to publicise them. We shall refer to them as site A and site B. The two sites are explicitly linked:
From site A:
“This website is designed to help those who wish to start Beginners Meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. Each weekly talk given here is a summary of a much fuller and detailed discussion of each subject that is at the site www.site_b. If you find the information contain in this site helpful, then we suggest that you might find this second site helpful too.”
Site B does indicate on its home page the following:
“Disclaimers
Before we begin our discussion of these sites we should make it clear that we have no problem with individuals communicating their views on any matter in any way that they feel fit (subject to the laws of the land) and via any medium; we avail ourselves of that freedom and can hardly complain if others choose to do the same. However what we do object to is that the contents of these sites are being downloaded and being presented within “AA” (for “AA” read “cult”) meetings as if they represented the views of AA. The material is neither Conference Approved nor is that fact drawn to the attention of the viewers. Additionally newcomers attending the cult meetings are being encouraged to download the material from these sites themselves and use the information as a basis for their recovery.
We are not going to give the names of the sites since we have no wish to publicise them. We shall refer to them as site A and site B. The two sites are explicitly linked:
From site A:
“This website is designed to help those who wish to start Beginners Meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. Each weekly talk given here is a summary of a much fuller and detailed discussion of each subject that is at the site www.site_b. If you find the information contain in this site helpful, then we suggest that you might find this second site helpful too.”
Site B does indicate on its home page the following:
“Disclaimers
1. Trademarks. AA and Alcoholics Anonymous, and The Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. AA Grapevine and The Grapevine are registered trademarks of the A.A. Grapevine.
2. We're not affiliated with GSO. This web site is not affiliated with the General Services Organization of Alcoholics Anonymous, or any particular AA group. It's just a couple of individuals who thought this kind of thing would be neat to have on-line. And neither are we affilitiated [sic] to any other 12-step fellowship.
3. We're not affiliated with other groups either. The Big Book web material is not associated with any organization or group of people. Alcoholics Anonymous is really strict about refusing to associate itself with anyone or anything. That refusal is a good thing, and we agree with it. Nothing you see here should indicate any kind of associations or relationships. As an organization, AA takes no position on outside issues.
4. Flat-line budget. There is no money involved here. AA does not pay for this web site and is not compensated for allowing the material to be on-line. “
2. We're not affiliated with GSO. This web site is not affiliated with the General Services Organization of Alcoholics Anonymous, or any particular AA group. It's just a couple of individuals who thought this kind of thing would be neat to have on-line. And neither are we affilitiated [sic] to any other 12-step fellowship.
3. We're not affiliated with other groups either. The Big Book web material is not associated with any organization or group of people. Alcoholics Anonymous is really strict about refusing to associate itself with anyone or anything. That refusal is a good thing, and we agree with it. Nothing you see here should indicate any kind of associations or relationships. As an organization, AA takes no position on outside issues.
4. Flat-line budget. There is no money involved here. AA does not pay for this web site and is not compensated for allowing the material to be on-line. “
Site A carries no such disclaimer.
Most of the information conveyed in these sites is unremarkable and we are not going to enter into a page-by-page dissection at this time. However interwoven amongst the quotes from AA literature (usually with appropriate citations) are views and interpretations which represent simply the opinions of the author(s) - whoever they might be - and cannot be regarded as a distillation of the collective experience of AA as presented in the approved literature.
We reiterate that we have no problem at all with an individual’s right to freedom of speech but we regard these sites (especially site A) as communicating an essentially fallacious view of AA and its programme whilst using the AA name as a cover for its activities.
The people who are most likely to be fooled into thinking that the message carried on these sites is that of AA are those who are least familiar with its expression ie newcomers, yet both sites are clearly designed to address that part of the Fellowship (notably site A). Even members who have some knowledge of AA literature and the AA programme might be hard pressed to filter out what is AA and what is not. How often have we heard in meetings the claim that “it says in the Big Book……” (fill in the blank) when we are quite sure that it does not – misquoting is easily done and not necessarily malicious.
Site A (primarily addressed to newcomers) is as follows:
Most of the information conveyed in these sites is unremarkable and we are not going to enter into a page-by-page dissection at this time. However interwoven amongst the quotes from AA literature (usually with appropriate citations) are views and interpretations which represent simply the opinions of the author(s) - whoever they might be - and cannot be regarded as a distillation of the collective experience of AA as presented in the approved literature.
We reiterate that we have no problem at all with an individual’s right to freedom of speech but we regard these sites (especially site A) as communicating an essentially fallacious view of AA and its programme whilst using the AA name as a cover for its activities.
The people who are most likely to be fooled into thinking that the message carried on these sites is that of AA are those who are least familiar with its expression ie newcomers, yet both sites are clearly designed to address that part of the Fellowship (notably site A). Even members who have some knowledge of AA literature and the AA programme might be hard pressed to filter out what is AA and what is not. How often have we heard in meetings the claim that “it says in the Big Book……” (fill in the blank) when we are quite sure that it does not – misquoting is easily done and not necessarily malicious.
Site A (primarily addressed to newcomers) is as follows:
“This website is designed to help those who wish to start Beginners Meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. Each weekly talk given here is a summary of a much fuller and detailed discussion of each subject that is at the site www.site_b. If you find the information contain in this site helpful, then we suggest that you might find this second site helpful too.
This site is in four sections:
Weekly Talks
The texts for a cycle of 24 talks to be read out at each meeting. They take the beginner right from their first meeting through the programme of recovery, the 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous
Setting up a Group
Gives a suggested format for the group which allows for a set talk read out by a group member, a chair (personal testimony from an invited speaker) and then sharing from the floor. It also gives guidelines for setting up a steering committee and running a group conscience.
Supporting Material
Some of the weekly talks refer to visual aids. This section gives the handouts that support the weekly talks (for example for Step 4).
Printer Friendly
If you want printer friendly versions of all the talks, go here.”
It can be seen from the above that the instructions are pretty comprehensive. There are talks on the Steps, Traditions, Concepts, meeting formats, Group Conscience and the so-called “supporting material” (including the Six Suggestions – which we will come to later). As can be seen all of this is also available in “printer friendly” form.
As is indicated in site A site B is similar but goes into much more detail. It is comprehensive in its scope containing (amongst others) information relating to meeting attendance, sponsorship, Steps, Daily suggestions (again), service, spiritual principles, how to do the right thing, dress codes, Misery Really Is Optional, Traditions, Concepts, even career advice – you name it, it’s covered. The rationale for all this information is that the authors are: “ a couple of individuals who thought this kind of thing would be neat to have on-line.” – this "kind of thing" being presumably what these two individuals think is the programme of AA. Again all this information is available in a “printer-friendly Version”.
Now the facts are that pretty well all the areas covered by these sites are already more than adequately handled by AA through its extensive range of literature. All this literature (some of which is free) is available at most AA meetings and if not on display can easily be ordered via the literature secretary of the AA group or direct from York. All of this has been approved by Conference and therefore has been subjected to long and wide scrutiny by AA members before being placed on display.
So why would someone go to so much trouble to reproduce something that is already available? The answer is that what is already available isn’t quite right – good enough for AA but not quite good enough for the cult. Some modifications are called for and these are neatly interwoven into what would be described as the legitimate AA message.
As an example let us consider the Daily Suggestions. Now as far as we are aware these are not listed as such in any AA literature. They may be compiled from a number of different sources within AA writings (though apart from the obvious ones such as the Just For Today card none are cited). Most would be regarded as uncontroversial – such as prayer, going to meetings etc. However consider the following from the relevant page on site A (under Daily Suggestions):
As is indicated in site A site B is similar but goes into much more detail. It is comprehensive in its scope containing (amongst others) information relating to meeting attendance, sponsorship, Steps, Daily suggestions (again), service, spiritual principles, how to do the right thing, dress codes, Misery Really Is Optional, Traditions, Concepts, even career advice – you name it, it’s covered. The rationale for all this information is that the authors are: “ a couple of individuals who thought this kind of thing would be neat to have on-line.” – this "kind of thing" being presumably what these two individuals think is the programme of AA. Again all this information is available in a “printer-friendly Version”.
Now the facts are that pretty well all the areas covered by these sites are already more than adequately handled by AA through its extensive range of literature. All this literature (some of which is free) is available at most AA meetings and if not on display can easily be ordered via the literature secretary of the AA group or direct from York. All of this has been approved by Conference and therefore has been subjected to long and wide scrutiny by AA members before being placed on display.
So why would someone go to so much trouble to reproduce something that is already available? The answer is that what is already available isn’t quite right – good enough for AA but not quite good enough for the cult. Some modifications are called for and these are neatly interwoven into what would be described as the legitimate AA message.
As an example let us consider the Daily Suggestions. Now as far as we are aware these are not listed as such in any AA literature. They may be compiled from a number of different sources within AA writings (though apart from the obvious ones such as the Just For Today card none are cited). Most would be regarded as uncontroversial – such as prayer, going to meetings etc. However consider the following from the relevant page on site A (under Daily Suggestions):
“Try each of these each day. It is our experience that if we do these things it is impossible to have a bad day. These actions, consistent with daily practice of the Steps, are taken from Alcoholics Anonymous and AA literature.” (our emphasis)
Now you might be forgiven for thinking this a somewhat bold assertion. It is, as far as we are aware, not something that is indicated in any of the AA literature. But let us assume for the sake of argument that it is true – firstly who are and how many are the “we” of the statement? They may be numerous or perhaps merely a minimal couple that would have to exist to constitute the plurality of a “we”. But never mind the numbers, let us consider the spiritual colossi of our history; all of them would, we are sure, probably acknowledge that they had “bad days” from time to time. We can’t imagine that the experience of being crucified would have been the way that at least one great spiritual figure would have “enjoyed” spending his last few hours – never mind the saints, the holy men and women of all spiritual traditions who have, according to the accounts, suffered greatly through the deep experience of their own humanity; suffering and pain, misery and unhappiness, are part of the human lot – so if the authors of this site are telling the truth then they have found a solution which none of these have before them – and a solution that has questionable value in terms of the development of spiritual insight which in its evolution frequently requires suffering (and misery) as the stimulus. The authors of this site are making a claim which to be blunt is unrealisable; they are deluded and self delusion may be excusable but to deliberately mislead others, to hold out a false hope, may not be. So this entire statement may be taken as a lie.
There is also reference to: “Phone a couple of newcomers (newer than you) each day”. Again as far as it goes it seems quite innocuous. However its practical application results in a “pyramid selling scheme” which in some cases has led to a form of hysteria, with newcomers being pounced on at cult meetings, their phone number being extracted, passed around the group, and then being subjected to a queue of eager but misinformed “older” newcomers haranguing them over the phone, passing on to the unfortunate victim whatever half digested propaganda the cult is offering up as a substitute for genuine 12 Step work; carrying the “cult” message.
Finally in this section we come to one of the more invidious perversions of the AA message that the cult propagates with great enthusiasm: sponsorship. We have looked at this area in other parts of the aacultwatch site but it is always worth revisiting since it represents the most sinister aspect of the cult’s activities. To quote from site A,
“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”.
Sponsorship is not new in AA; bad sponsorship is not new in AA; cult driven bad sponsorship is new and does not form part of AA’s principles or practice. According to this daily “suggestion” the sponsee does “exactly what your sponsor tells you”. In case you miss it it is reinforced in bold print: “NB If anything is unclear, ask your sponsor”. So there you have it – no qualifying or delimiting clauses – do what you’re told and when you’re unsure of anything then ask your sponsor – and then presumably do what you’re told again. The dangers of this approach are so obvious that we are going to assume that you don’t need to go and ask your sponsor what they might be. If you do – you’re in big trouble.
That’s all for now. But we’ll be back with the next instalment shortly.
Cheers
The Fellas
