Given that AA has a 12% "success rate" over 5 years (according to a study done by the State of California that I remember), as a "treatment"the organization is a bad joke. Going cold turkey on one's own actually has a higher success rate (but AA has great "lobbying ability" with governments, so that fact is not well-known, which doesn't …
Given that AA has a 12% "success rate" over 5 years (according to a study done by the State of California that I remember), as a "treatment"the organization is a bad joke. Going cold turkey on one's own actually has a higher success rate (but AA has great "lobbying ability" with governments, so that fact is not well-known, which doesn't make it less true). Bill W used to say that it was impossible for a woman to be an alcoholic (I beg to differ with him and I can present five examples for proof), and then of course he "13th stepped" every woman who came to him for help. And bragged about increasing cigarette sales wherever they had convention. Every AA "leader" I ever met was just another junkie con artist running a different scam. I remember Clancy, the con artist who had rich people from Hollywood painting his house as an "act of recovery."
(And for all those moved to write and tell me how wrong I am, don't waste your time. I'm the editor here and my delete key works)
I have to agree, it’s a step to admit that you have a problem, after that it’s a crap shoot. I attended one AlAnon meeting and couldn’t go back. I thought it was me but maybe I just smelled Schitt.
You have just described what makes it NOT a "cure." I don't have to believe or not believe in an antibiotic for it to work. This is why I say AA is not a cure of anything.
Sorry TC - I didnt say he was CURED! But the program helped him to quit drinking - I think if you believe something - have faith in something (not necessarily antibiotics) it DOES make a difference.
Now just to add a little twist to it - his wife got into numerology(!!) and dragged him along with her - changed their names - she claimed it helped them financially etc etc. Frankly, I thought that was crap.
Going that far is crap. But numerology can be useful, used as a metaphor, used as a method to provide insight. I use it (I'm an "11=2" look it up). But I wouldn't use it to run my life.
Given that AA has a 12% "success rate" over 5 years (according to a study done by the State of California that I remember), as a "treatment"the organization is a bad joke. Going cold turkey on one's own actually has a higher success rate (but AA has great "lobbying ability" with governments, so that fact is not well-known, which doesn't make it less true). Bill W used to say that it was impossible for a woman to be an alcoholic (I beg to differ with him and I can present five examples for proof), and then of course he "13th stepped" every woman who came to him for help. And bragged about increasing cigarette sales wherever they had convention. Every AA "leader" I ever met was just another junkie con artist running a different scam. I remember Clancy, the con artist who had rich people from Hollywood painting his house as an "act of recovery."
(And for all those moved to write and tell me how wrong I am, don't waste your time. I'm the editor here and my delete key works)
I have to agree, it’s a step to admit that you have a problem, after that it’s a crap shoot. I attended one AlAnon meeting and couldn’t go back. I thought it was me but maybe I just smelled Schitt.
As I said - it was successful for my uncle - guess he believed? His sister my aunt died of cirrhosis!
You have just described what makes it NOT a "cure." I don't have to believe or not believe in an antibiotic for it to work. This is why I say AA is not a cure of anything.
Sorry TC - I didnt say he was CURED! But the program helped him to quit drinking - I think if you believe something - have faith in something (not necessarily antibiotics) it DOES make a difference.
Now just to add a little twist to it - his wife got into numerology(!!) and dragged him along with her - changed their names - she claimed it helped them financially etc etc. Frankly, I thought that was crap.
Going that far is crap. But numerology can be useful, used as a metaphor, used as a method to provide insight. I use it (I'm an "11=2" look it up). But I wouldn't use it to run my life.
I'm sure my aunt would have been up on it!! She went all the way!
Haha, not funny. Lordy, it’s not just babies that have security blankets. Got a few myself.