Step 5: Admitted to God/Doorknob?

Your response makes no sense. Guilt, shame, and/or fear does not cause addiction to alcohol. (BTW, I am not a "drunk", I don't drink, so how could I possibly be a drunk?) But thanks for asking.

It's a good thing that people can practice their programs differently than you did, JR.

"an academic exercise"? Do you not realize people are dying from "dependence on alcohol"? Do you actually believe only a "drunk" can understand this? Do you not believe alcoholics deserve better "treatment" than faith-healing and superstition? Telling an alcoholic that they are powerless over their addiction and only "God" can save them is not very helpful or effective. You do not have to be a "drunk" (or alcoholic if you prefer) to understand this.

I was just walking along a very busy road near where I live which is an area which has many meetings as it close to central London. I saw three people on my walk who I recognised from my time in the rooms and said hello to one of them who passed by. It struck me that I could remember some quite astonishing things about these people typical of the type of things written in step 4 which they had shared. In fact I can't remember anything else's that they have said because it was probably boring daily stuff the same as everyone else and has faded over the years. The dodgy stuff sticks and because they have shared it in big meetings several hundred know some pretty crazy stuff about them .Some of those people listening will have been mad, some relapsers,some would be gossips and some would have left 5 years ago like me but can still recall this stuff. Once you have shared in public, that's it! That is going to be partly how you are perceived by others for the rest of your life. I know more " private " stuff about many people who sit in AA rooms than I do about people in normal friendships for years. People throw caution away and become carried away in meetings infact the more degrading the rock bottom etc being shared the more powerful the recovery will be viewed by the steppers. Once you open your mouth, you can't take it back and you don't know the background of the people listening. Enjoy your next share at your next meeting steppers!

I have also heard steppers share some outrageous things in meetings. This is not true for all of them though. Only a small percent in my opinion. As i recall you come to a point in your sobriety where trying to be the badass or the very worst of the worst drunk becomes embarrassing, so you dont share that stuff anymore. At least thats what happened to me and others that I knew.

Not all moderate their sharing over time especially in more cult like meetings. It is true that many who are new share unwisely but once they have shared it the damage has been done. I do remember an old timer with over 30 years confess he was a compulsive masterbator in meeting. I have remembered never to shake his hand since that day. I wonder what all his Sponsees thought? Glad I do not have to listen to that stuff any more.it becomes the norm for people in meetings to spout a load of intimate crap, which is why they so often can't handle normal environments and are regarded as idiots by everyone else.

that's funny. I wouldn't shake his hand either

So then, avogadno, your recommendation is for everyone to lead a completely unexamined life, is that right?

There is a stark difference to examining oneself - with a competent therapist or medical doctor, and the constant guilt induction that the death cult known as aa provides. Shame and guilt are not required to objectively perceive oneself. Your statement to avogadno is meaningless. She is not recommending anything of the sort, this is just another lame attempt by you - marietta, to bait avogadno into a circle jerk.