AA survival tips

Pennywise's picture
Submitted by Pennywise on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 13:32

I thought this could be a thread where we share AA survival tips. Please contribute as you think of them. I'll start:

1) Offer to read whenever possible. Every meeting begins with the reading of laminated cards, the longest of which is usually "How it Works." Some members read more quickly than others. If you are the one reading, you control how fast the shit gets read. Pausing for commas and periods is totally optional. Indeed, I can read "How it Works" and "The Promises" as one long run-on sentence. This tip is esspecially useful at Big Book meetings where everyone takes a turn reading. Feel free to read more than one paragraph before passing.

Comments

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:05

Wouldn't it be nice if Penny would just live up to his/her responsibilities for change.
Penny is forced to go to AA (according to Penny) so because of this we have to pay the price for Penny's unhappiness. Penny can do the crime but can not do the time. It is AA's fault that Penny ended up in AA.
This is a perfect example of someone who comes onto a anti-AA site and beats on AA (as Penny see it) and never assumes their part (which is usually 95%).
Thanks Penny, blame it on AA and take it out on Clara.
One last thing, Penny will say all of what I just wrote is immaterial to what Penny is saying. Penny would say, "it doesn't make a difference why you ended up in AA" it doesn't work.
Well I say I can't hear you because I don't believe you really know that because you are so full of anger over the fact you are forced to go to AA. Tell us all when your sentence to AA is over.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:10

Sure thing, Trish.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:50

Your right it is a sure thing. You are missing the purpose of why Clara is at an AA meeting and what she is trying to accomplish. Therein lies the big difference between Clara and yourself.
It is not about the slip signee...as I said he/she could sign the slip themselves.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:58

Well, both Clara and myself are sober, and have a mutual interest in staying that way (although I disagree that Clara is abstinent). Moreover, I think Clara and myself both agree that in general people should be honest and should not forge signatures. While it might be true that anyone can physically sign his or her own attendance slips, it is not the case that one can honestly forge a signature. Thus, since I advocate honesty, I cannot advocate forging slips. I can, however, advocate that slips be liberally signed with minimal hassle.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:27

Your posts prove that or would you rather ask her. I know because I speak with her.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

btnben's picture

btnben

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:33

Classic Danny trying to ally himself to someone. You watch - Clara will ignore him, as usual...lol.

"you have not a clue" - who talks like that?...lol

God damn it, get me a whiskey

Bill W, Deathbed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?source=patrick.net&v=Sdn3O6aaMNc

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:40

Clara may ignore Danny but she does not ignore me, Trisha, ask her.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

btnben's picture

btnben

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:42

not dumb enough to get mixed up with you Danny - She's never supported you - not once...lol

God damn it, get me a whiskey

Bill W, Deathbed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?source=patrick.net&v=Sdn3O6aaMNc

Clara's picture

Clara

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 14:18

Ben, I stay out of it because it is just a non-productive use of time and space, not because I don't think Trisha isn't who she say she is.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 15:51

Penny, without trying to sound trite, how old are you. Because even though you are intelligent in some matters, in many others you read like someone who is extremely naive.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 16:18

You read like someone who has weak logic skills but has a lot of aggression towards others. I don't expect you to be able to follow this line of reasoning, but I'll try:

Abstinence means you consume no alcohol at all. Clara does consume small amounts of alcohol, for example, when she orders a special side of fortified wine to consume with certain foods. Accordingly, since Clara consumes small amounts of alcohol but not enough to achieve intoxication, she is practicing moderation, which is different from abstinence. She nevertheless still qualifies as sober because she does not consume enough booze to produce an intoxicating effect.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 16:31

You confuse aggression for giving you back what you give, my passive aggressive friend. I have met so many smart asses like you on many a site. You have all the answers and know everything and always have to be right (aggressive) then within the same sentence give out some silly platitudes about how we are right and have some good points (passive....maybe).
I don"t remember reading anything of the sort from Clara and I will leave it at that. Clara can handle her own business.
You are definitely out there my friend, with a huge chip on your shoulder. Yeah, you try and keep it in check here but you are not fooling everyone.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 17:12

Do you think I made up my own definition of abstinence or something? You lack the ability to distinguish value judgements and opinions from factual statements that are based on commonly understood definitions. Your assessment of my personal character is irrelevant to me.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/abstinence

ab·sti·nence
   [ab-stuh-nuhns]

noun
1. forbearance from any indulgence of appetite, especially from the use of alcoholic beverages: total abstinence.

2. any self-restraint, self-denial, or forbearance.

3. Economics . the conserving of current income in order to build up capital or savings.

4. the state of being without a drug, as alcohol or heroin, on which one is dependent.

(Emphasis mine)

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 17:43

On any account, the point I was making is that Clara and myself do have similar goals insofar as we both want to stay sober. She believes in AA and I do not. She practices strict moderation and I practice total abstinence. Nevertheless, we do share what could be called a singleness of purpose, which is not to get drunk. So I take issue when you say I am "missing the purpose of why Clara is at an AA meeting and what she is trying to accomplish."

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 18:54

Clara as many (including myself) have used wine in our foods. The alcohol is burned off. I indulge often since I like Italian foods.
I definetly don't remember Clara stating she still drinks in moderation.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 19:06

Alcohol does not burn off if you take a glass of it and pour it in another liquid without boiling the mixture.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Clara's picture

Clara

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 20:27

I don't drink at all, Trisha. He's trying to stretch a point to fit his circumstances.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 20:30

You consume alcohol, Clara. You specially order a cup of booze for you to consume with food. The liquor does not burn off. Thus, you deliberately put alcohol into your body. That's not abstinence. The fact that you don't drink it directly out of the glass changes nothing in this analysis.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Clara's picture

Clara

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 20:47

The "cup" is a condiment measuring in a teaspoon or two. I think you are simply posturing. I order chicken marsala, a wonderful chocolate fondue with assorted fruits and I am even known to scarf down a kahlua cheesecake slice for dessert. But I wouldn't order a "cup" of mimosa with eggs benedict. I think you are tying to mislead, Penny.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 20:56

You're just brainwashed.

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

alkieanon's picture

alkieanon

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 21:03

You're not an alcoholic, you just have a drinking problem. Makes perfect sense.

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Mon, 06/04/2012 - 03:09

How can I be trying to mislead when I have discussed from the outset how the practice of putting booze in food (that doesn't cook off) disqualifies you from claiming abstinence? Would a person with a peanut allergy be safe if he avoided eating peanuts straight but still ate food containing peanuts as an ingredient? Is it not true that putting booze in your food, however slightly, puts a measurable amount of alcohol into your body for your system to metabolize?

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

dandammit's picture

dandammit

Mon, 06/04/2012 - 04:06

What you eat doesn't amount to hardly anything. I would starve on your diet. A slice? I would eat a whole cheesecake and have to triple everything ordered on the menu in the restaurants you talk about.

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Mon, 06/04/2012 - 04:20

Of course, if Dr. Silkworth is right about his allegy of the body theory, such a meal would likely send you on a wild bender straight to the gutter:

We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; that the phenomenon of craving is limited to this class and never occurs in the average temperate drinker. These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; ~ "The Doctor's Opinion"

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 21:09

Honesty helps in these situations, Penny.
Just saying.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

SandyB's picture

SandyB

Mon, 06/04/2012 - 02:41

What would you know about honesty Danny?

Clara's picture

Clara

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:57

Not me. I find it a disruption for people to continually approach during a meeting and expect to be "serviced," if you will, just so that they can leave. I am not going to put them first over the people that are there for the purpose of staying sober.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:03

Ok, but what if they arrive late and wait until the end of the meeting to approach you for your signature? I agree that it is rude to walk in the meeting and interrupt the speaker to get your card signed.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Clara's picture

Clara

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:13

I have done that. "Late" differs from coming in at the very end. The way they do it in EL Paso is that they pass the hat halfway through, you put your paper in and you get it back at the end of the meeting. It doesn't get signed if it isn't in the basket. It's never been an issue for me because I never chaired meetings in EP. The ladies meeting I discovered and attend once in awhile in EP doesn't have mandates and we meet in each other's homes. The meetings we go to in NM handle mandates still differently.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:25

......

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

Gunthar2000's picture

Gunthar2000

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 15:03

Fire your sponsor

AA is a religious cult dressed up to look like a treatment for alcoholism.

Gunthar2000

http://www.expaa.org/

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 15:22

If it doesn't matter if you go to an AA or NA meeting, pick an NA meeting that has many court signers. Try and get it in a place that has both AA and NA meetings so the probation office won't know. Don't talk to anyone unless asked and never tell them where you live or have access to your family. Purchase a throw away cell phone and give them that number and never your real number, if you look around you can find some phones that roll over the unused minutes from month to month (they have the nickname of welfare phones).

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

alkieanon's picture

alkieanon

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 16:41

It's anonymous! You don't have to provide your name (use a fake one), your address, or your telephone number. Why didn't someone think of that before? Oh, Snap!

And don't go to the same meeting again.

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 16:50

The only thing is the thieves, murderers and rapists recruited from jails and prisons hiding there don't care if they have your phone number or real name. Most of the attacks happen in the parking lot anyway, I'd give you examples, but as we already know if they are current you will just say I am rehashing old stuff and if they are old, you would say the same thing.

By the way, the statistics you were quoting and posting pictures on are for the most part false. Please document your sources in the future, you are becoming unreliable.

http://www.orange-papers.org/forum/comment/39238#comment-39238
http://www.orange-papers.org/forum/comment/39241#comment-39241
etc.....

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

alkieanon's picture

alkieanon

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 22:07

JR Harris says: "The only thing is the thieves, murderers and rapists recruited from jails and prisons hiding there ..." Where? Got proof? Not! Please document your sources in the future, you are becoming unreliable. Ditto.

So did these so-called [fill a convenient scare tactic label] commit [fill in another convenient scare tactic label] crimes before or after they entered the rooms of AA? If it was before, then one must assume that they served their time, were deemed rehabilitated, and were allowed to returned to society. Got a problem with that? Take it up with the court system. If it was after, then one must assume that they are innocent until proven guilty. They and they alone are responsible and accountable for their actions. If there was any other sort of involvement by others, then additional charges and trials would have been pursued. Justice served. Anything else is just another conspiracy theory.

The sad thing about these stories, is that the victim(s) were just trying to help the perpetrator(s). And more importantly the victim(s) knew the perpetrator(s), not a random act of violence against a newcomer (again a scare tactic scenario).

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 14:19

How to set up Alcoholics Anonymous Prospect Hunting Trips to Jails and Prisons, direct from the Interchurch Center the CORRECTIONS KIT
http://orange-papers.org/forum/node/1598

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

alkieanon's picture

alkieanon

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 14:48

A.A.er's go to jails and prisons? Old news. No problem there. Hiding in plain sight. LOL!

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 14:50

Please be specific. How many times have I heard that AA doesn't woo the court system looking for prospects? Is that not promotion instead of attraction?

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 16:14

the real purpose of AA members attending meeting at prison, jails ect....that to continue to debate this with you is ridiculous. You are not seeking the truth JR, if you were, you would acknowledge at the beginning of every post of yours, that you have no real experince with attending meetings at jails, prisons ect....that the information you comment on is from other members here and from what you have read that is produced by AA/GSO.
Then the visitors wouldn't have to remain confused from reading your posts, for anymore time then is necessary.
Your promotions concerning AA are not attractive. Your co-members mainly give you lip-service, when supporting you. Look at your blogs and look closely at the amount of comments, there are not many at all.
If you would stop being so preposterous with your statements concerning AA, I truly believe more of us would respond. But when you are blabbering on about covens, cults, rituals, chanting ect...who wants to converse with you.
JR all of us know by now exactly what you know about AA, how you got here and so forth. Everyone here pretty much knows each other and are individual AA history.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 16:22

Were you my Sponsor? Were you at any AA meetings I attended? Were you at any AA business meetings I attended?

And the big Question is..........

Have you ever gone on a prospect hunting trip to jails or prisons for Alcoholics Anonymous?

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

Trisha K.'s picture

Trisha K.

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 16:37

JR, everyone here know that you were never in AA as a member, that you attended Al-non infrequently. You have posted this and it "was" on record. Unless you went back and deleted it.
You can try a bluster your way through these pages here all you want but know this you can't hide your naivety when it comes to AA. Your total lack of experince shows through and through.
You can't lie about this JR, no matter how hard you try to filibuster.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine

steve cochrane's picture

steve cochrane

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 16:47

have anything to do with your post here Trisha? Nah. . . What could I be thinking? Of course not! How STUPID of me!!

btnben's picture

btnben

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 17:00

"Then the visitors wouldn't have to remain confused from reading your posts, for anymore time then is necessary."

"Everyone here pretty much knows each other and are individual AA history."

How many times do you have to be told Danny? It's like a signature...lol

God damn it, get me a whiskey

Bill W, Deathbed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?source=patrick.net&v=Sdn3O6aaMNc

JR Harris's picture

JR Harris

Sun, 06/03/2012 - 14:52

I believe you forgot that one...

"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.

live_free_or_die's picture

live_free_or_die

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 15:25

"I can read "How it Works" and "The Promises" as one long run-on sentence."

I modify pennyW's sentence as follows: one long run-on out the door and don't look back.

edit: of course, if you need a slip signed, your fucked. And try to get fucked. Use a condom and some common sense of course.

Alcoholics Anonymous: MyNotGodHasItCovered®
http://www.expaa.org/
http://bereanresearch.com/
http://badrecovery.blogspot.com/
NOT AA:
Rational Recovery, SOS, HAMS
http://alcoholabusesolutions.com/

gigi

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 18:47

Towards the end of my time in meetings, the leader asked me to read 'How it Works.' I said, "No thanks. I don't believe it does." I was never asked to read again. Worked like a charm.

"If I forget who I am, I am myself. If I remember who I am, I am you."

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 18:55

But Gigi, I imagine you read better than the average AA member. Wouldn't it be better to take one for the team and offer to do the reading so that you can get through it faster than someone with less reading skills or a guru who feels the need to take his time emphasizing certain parts?

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 19:03

To be sure, I've literally timed this shit. I can read "How it Works" in half the time (or less) than the average AA reader reads it.

So look at it like this: take the average time it takes for a typical AA reader to get through "How it Works" and multiple it by 156 (assuming 3 meetings a week per year). Take that number and divide it by 2, and you'll see how much time out of the year you can save by offering to do the reading.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

gigi

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 19:10

Less time for the readings means more time for the shares. Do I need to hear about Jim's nutty brother or Barb's boss or the new guy's pink cloud AGAIN!? The readings=nap time.

"If I forget who I am, I am myself. If I remember who I am, I am you."

Pennywise's picture

Pennywise

Sat, 06/02/2012 - 19:19

The entire meeting=surfing the Orange Papers. Anyway, I guess it depends. From what I have seen, the amount of time it takes to do the readings has no impact one way or the other on share times.

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

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