I figured, with your level of bitterness you were court ordered to hundreds of meetings, at least.
You know you kind of prove guest's interpretation of the tv show correct when he implied AA members see anybody who doesn't like them as having a problem.
why don't you try going to sit in on an open meeting.
That's why i visited that online open meetings. Maybe sometime i'll visit one IRL, but I don't see the point. AA members are the same online as they are IRL -- and online I don't have to worry about somebody bashing my head in with a tire iron on my way back to my car.
Everyone is welcome, and you should share your concerns with them.
Even as diplomatic as I was, I sure didn't feel welcome. Some were nice and answered my questions. Vast majority were not. One even apologized privately.
They might smirk when you mention you think AA is a cult
No. They asked if I believed that and I specifically said AA is not a cult, though it shares some cult-like elements. Even cult expert Steve Hassan believes that. Why don't you read "AA, Cult or Cure" by Charles Bufe. It goes into detail about this issue. (and no, that book was not discussed).
By telling survivors who might be addicted to avoid AA because it's a cult and just like a program will cost lives. Can you really live with that on your conscience?
And again you prove guest and myself correct by implying that any ideas criticizing AA are dangerous and must not be expressed. Just a few posts ago I wrote
"I was told that my ideas were dangerous, especially to newcomers. I get the feeling that the screenwriters for the particular episode you are describing were trying to dispel some of those "dangerous" ideas" It's eerily similar to what you're saying right now.
But to your question. Since any studies about AA have shown it to be so ineffective it actually has a negative success rate, I believe recommending AA would be the greater risk as opposed to no treatment at all. If you have any information showing the opposite, I challenge you to present it, though I warn you, it's never been done. I dislike AA primarly because I truly believe that, statistically, it harms more people than it hurts. If you take issue with that statement, prove it wrong just once, and I'll leave this issue alone forever. The vast majority of people who have quit drinking have done it on their own. Add that there are many other non-religious, more science-based alternatives such as some I've listed above.
Anyway. Unless you have a study to present, we're done here. I have stuff to do.
