tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post4605646691020918560..comments2024-03-28T18:32:00.146+00:00Comments on Ambush Predator: Is Charlie Sheen Talking Sense?JuliaMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-42289417265613394212011-03-22T16:03:55.200+00:002011-03-22T16:03:55.200+00:00I know an addict who used AA then left and remaine...I know an addict who used AA then left and remained sober. At the time, this person was told that remaining in and attending meetings was the only way to stay sober.<br /><br />This isn't true. However, for some, the attendance at meetings is an addiction that replaces the drink. If it's a choice between the two addictions, AA is the lesser evil.<br /><br />Addicts seeking to get off the booze need to go with what works for them. If AA works, then fine. You don't have to go along with the religious stuff if you don't want to.Longriderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139120804208136012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-49374689670295229302011-03-21T18:55:08.493+00:002011-03-21T18:55:08.493+00:00I wholeheartly agree with AndrewWS' comment......I wholeheartly agree with AndrewWS' comment...though with reservations...i was in aa 7 yrs too.<br /><br />I would be very cautious if i were a female going to AA for the first time...there are predators. I have 3 daughters and well i would at the very least caution them and be sure they have spoken with a medical health professionals BEFORE going. I would also advise them to take a friend or relative with them and get a non-addicts take. Also, don't buy into everything because at first we are very vulnerable getting clean.<br /><br />Also, I'd be sure to know all the options...rational recovery, smart recovery, REBT etc and all the downsides to AA participation...powerless and ego-deflation can be a KILLER, suicide and bindging come to mind.<br /><br />I say the above because I now regard aa/na attendance as tacit approval of a supernatural cure. Also, aa/na and the fellowship (in public places such as judges and medical people) often exercise forms of coercion to attend the very religious organization o AA/NA, or die or institutionalize or on-going drunkenness.<br />In short be informed and take active participation in ones own recovery. Also, stack the odds in favor of getting better whether your intent is cutting back or tea-totaling. ok?<br />Also, my intent is neither to inflame nor cause polemics nor am i attemting to cherry pick an old article (it just summarizes nicely), as citation - i include an opinion and an article (google Cain and sat evening post, 1964) excerpt:<br />Saturday Evening Post, September 19, 1964<br />Alcoholics Can Be Cured--Despite A.A.<br />by Dr. Arthur H. Cain<br /><br />SNIP<br />. Unfortunately, A.A. has become a dogmatic cult whose chapters too often turn sobriety into slavery to A.A. Because of its narrow outlook, Alcoholics Anonymous prevents thousands from ever being cured. Moreover A.A. has retarded scientific research into one of America's most serious health problems.<br />SNIP<br /> At first I was tremendously impressed with A.A.'s altruistic efforts in alcoholics' behalf. Its members would perform prodigies of selfless service, no matter what the hour, by meeting the helpless and sodden in hospitals, flophouses and homes, and offering their sympathy, a helping hand,<br />SNIP<br />As an increasing number of alcoholics joined A.A. chapters, many turned out to be misfits who had rejected Christianity, Judaism or the Kiwanis Club. Dogmatic and opinionated in their nonbeliefs, they found in A.A. an instrument for a new kind of bigotry. Their only meaning in life was that they had heroically become "arrested" alcoholics. Arrogant egoists, they soon dominated many of A.A.'s 10,000 chapters. Weekly meetings, once spontaneous and exciting, became formalized and ritualistic. Anyone who questioned A.A.'s principles or even expressed curiosity was handed the slogan, UTILIZE, DON'T ANALYZE, and told to sit down.<br />SNIP<br /> According to -the AA litany, alcoholism is a physical disease which can never be cured: "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." The corollary is: "A reformed alcoholic must live A.A. from day to day and never leave A.A."<br />Actually, there is no scientific evidence that alcoholism is an incurable, physical disease.1964https://www.blogger.com/profile/02793780051778523076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-72768004634219220512011-03-21T16:36:14.996+00:002011-03-21T16:36:14.996+00:00I prefer Alcoholics Unanimous.I prefer Alcoholics Unanimous.David Gilliesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-64585944329006885732011-03-21T11:47:47.688+00:002011-03-21T11:47:47.688+00:00XX identifying the "underlying causes", ...XX identifying the "underlying causes", which he labels as trauma, depression, low self-esteem, or chemical imbalances such as bipolar disorder or attention deficit disorder, among others. XX<br /><br />The "cause" could not possibly be "just because I LIKE beer/wine/whiskey," could it?<br /><br />Why doe everything have to have a reason, besides the bleeding OBVIOUS these days?Furor Teutonicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13856575077967523322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-36882321591687423622011-03-21T08:08:21.923+00:002011-03-21T08:08:21.923+00:00It does sound a wee bit religious, doesn’t it?
If...<i>It does sound a wee bit religious, doesn’t it?</i><br /><br />If <a rel="nofollow">Penn & Teller: Bullshit!</a> is right then that's probably because it is.Angry Exilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02491082312193274360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-2472245455945559592011-03-21T06:14:08.949+00:002011-03-21T06:14:08.949+00:00I know from experience that AA can be a great plac...I know from experience that AA can be a great place to go if you're struggling with an addiction, have lost a lot and are isolated - it gives you somewhere to go, things to do, and people to meet and get to know. Many of them are very helpful and interesting - I met the sort of people I could never have met in the ordinary course of events, although I also met the sort of people I want to spend the rest of my life avoiding.<br /><br />Seven years was enough for me. I got out after my sponsor (=mentor) tried to cadge £1000 "to pay the rent" while she was (allegedly) on holiday in Switzerland. Completely delusional, not to be trusted with money or much else, incapable of holding down a job for longer than a month before flouncing out of it. But fun.<br /><br />In AA, one is always told that everyone who leaves goes back on the sauce and suffers horribly, and you meet lots of people who have done just that. But one never hears about the people who take what they need, leave, and don't go back to the bottle. Why? Because AA members aren't likely to meet any; they're too busy going to umpteen meetings, while the people who leave are too busy getting on with life, working and doing things that are more fun and rational - like reading blogs and commenting on them, for example.<br /><br />There are people in the UK who are aware of AA's cult tendency and who want to combat it (google "AA Cult Watch") and the great American overview of what's wrong with AA is the "Orange Papers" compiled by "Agent Orange".<br /><br />There are also various online discussion groups devoted to the subject. One is on yahoo with the name of "without_aa"<br /><br />Apologies for what appears to be advertising (it's not for me) and thanks for a wonderful blog.<br /><br />AndrewAndrewWShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00196842185913965725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-15857280111993645782011-03-21T05:45:00.832+00:002011-03-21T05:45:00.832+00:00"...but the whole point of AA is to say there...<i>"...but the whole point of AA is to say there is no cure to being alcoholic, and it does have a cult-like mentality."</i> <br /><br />It's a self-perpetuating business, rather like 'anti-racism', etc..<br /><br /><i>"David Icke sounds pretty sane in some of the stuff he says, at least till you get to the bit about lizard people :D"</i> <br /><br />And that's sounding saner and saner by the minute, in comparison to real life! :D<br /><br /><i>"Read Theodore Dalrymple in 'Romancing Opiates'. Very informative."</i> <br /><br />I do enjoy his writing. I've not read that one though, will look it up...<br /><br /><i>"I agree, it's behavioral and not biological."</i><br /><br />Indeed.JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-75370008919063094322011-03-21T04:22:36.159+00:002011-03-21T04:22:36.159+00:00I agree, it's behavioral and not biological. ...I agree, it's behavioral and not biological. yes, we can get addicted, but it's a choice. we can stop as well. we are not powerless awaiting some god of our understanding to miraculously rescue us. AA is such tripe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-86112374659176143112011-03-20T18:19:47.314+00:002011-03-20T18:19:47.314+00:00Enormous amount of evidence for this; that addicti...Enormous amount of evidence for this; that addiction to drugs is a minor psychological issue. Read Theodore Dalrymple in 'Romancing Opiates'. Very informative.Gordonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-27516213597630789112011-03-20T16:56:50.157+00:002011-03-20T16:56:50.157+00:00Even a stopped clock etc.
David Icke sounds pretty...Even a stopped clock etc.<br />David Icke sounds pretty sane in some of the stuff he says, at least till you get to the bit about lizard people :DQuiet_Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575652127079681825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-51651917168158982011-03-20T14:34:28.532+00:002011-03-20T14:34:28.532+00:00He's definitely talking sense on AA, and he...He's definitely talking sense on AA, and he's certainly in a position to judge. I listened to the interview which kicked off the sh*tstorm, and yes, he's going off in all directions and full of himself, not giving a damn what anyone thinks about him, but the whole point of AA is to say there is no cure to being alcoholic, and it does have a cult-like mentality.Trooper Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505221473081871071noreply@blogger.com