Infiltration of the Cult in UK schools

Harrogate schools to use drama to tackle teenage drinking
12 June 2012

"Schools in North Yorkshire are piloting a theatre scheme which aims to educate teenagers about the dangers of alcohol.

Harrogate has one of the highest levels of alcohol-related hospital admissions for under 18s in Yorkshire, according to the Centre for Public Health.

The play, by Bryan Bounds, is about the life of Bill Wilson the found of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Mr Bounds said the drama allowed students to learn about alcoholism and its destructive effects.

'Growing concern'

My Name is Bill, which is performed by Mr Bounds, the founder of the Leeds-based Amerrycan Theatre, was shown to critical praise at the Edinburgh Fringe and has been adapted for use in education.

Mr Bounds, himself a recovering alcoholic, said: "I've watched with growing concern about how alcohol has become such a big issue for young people.

"A lot of alcohol education is quite patronising and condescending but students are very switched on, very sophisticated."

The Centre for Public Health said Harrogate was second only to Wakefield in Yorkshire for alcohol-related hospital admissions for under 18s.

The drama is being shown to Year 12 students at Ashville College and St Aiden's School.

Marion Farrar, business liaison officer at St Aiden's School, said: "I think young people see alcohol as a norm these days which is a worrying trend.

"It is becoming more and more what you do on a night out as a matter of rite."

They might as well put up posters in the school about AA. I wonder if they also said that many courts around the world have ruled that AA or a religious organization and that there are safety concerns because meetings are not monitored?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-18409309

Comments

Ever cross your mind that "take what you like and leave the rest" and "we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start" are conflicting ideas? You can't have it both ways. You either work the program without "resting on your laurels" or you cherry pick what parts you like and leave the rest?

Ummm....now that's going to take some explaining....how do you reconcile that?

Anthro

alkieanon's picture

When you go to McDonald's, do you order everything off of the value menu? And do you take one bite out your sandwich, nibble a few fries, take a single sip from the soda; and then throw everything away?

Ummm....now that's going to take some ordering....how do you super size that?

NoAAUK's picture

"When you go to McDonald's, do you order everything off of the value menu?"

McDonald's do not tell everbody to "order everything off the menu or you will go insane, go to jail or die" McDonalds are a fast food chain, not a lying, misinforming, religious cult that preys on the vulnerable in the name of God.

AA's the place where they say words like ego and character defects and resentment and whatnot, and hold hands and nod their heads, and talk bollocks.....remember?

AA is nothing to do with Chicken or french fries, these foods are quite nice.

Stuff what your sponsor says, you really need to get back on those meds mate

......and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11

becket's picture

AA is not going to kill you, NoAAUK. McDonald's faux foods will do the trick far faster than holding hands with another drunk.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

JR Harris's picture

AA is a Nazi inspired cult from the very beginning. Starting with the Nazi sympathizer Frank Buchman and morphing into cult maker Carl Jung who believed that the German race was superior to all else Spiritually especially the Jewish population.

"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.

becket's picture

Rage on. Wake me when it's over.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

alkieanon's picture

Don't like the special sauce? Go to BK. It's all about choices and making a decision, right?

Or maybe not:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4086801/Girl-eats-nothing-but-...

NoAAUK says: "Stuff what your sponsor says, you really need to get back on those meds mate." Magic blue pill? LOL!

"At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ...." Matthew 24:10

becket's picture

"Ever cross your mind that "take what you like and leave the rest" and "we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start" are conflicting ideas? You can't have it both ways. You either work the program without "resting on your laurels" or you cherry pick what parts you like and leave the rest?"

These two concepts as referenced above are not mutually exclusive. Human beings each develop and fine-tune the capacity to "cherry pick" in all aspects of their lives: religion, politics, sex, love, literature, food preferences, etc. So why must it be disallowed within the context of a search for health and wellness? Anyone certainly CAN have it both ways, or all ways - why not? I don't understand your statement about "resting on your laurels" - that seems not to pertain to the subject in any way; but if it does, please elaborate. I advocate for options. If AA does not work, or is troublesome, or is boring, or has nothing to offer, there is always the option to move on and seek assistance elsewhere, unless one is mandated to attend meetings, in which case he is fully and solely culpable for his own misery.

To be fearless and thorough from the very start is Darwinian in nature. It can easily and sensibly be adapted to our natural human tendency to "cherry pick": that is where the idea "take what you can use and leave the rest" originates. These concepts complement each other; they are not polar opposites.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

JR Harris's picture

"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.

becket's picture

You're such a good little soldier.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Pennywise's picture

Here's the thing though:

AA says "rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path." Anytime a person rejects any aspect of the program, Steppers will use that to vindicate the program if the person relapses or experiences depression or other negative emotions, even if the rejected aspect of the program would not have alleviated the situation had it been accepted. For example, nothing says you HAVE to share your sex inventory with your sponsor. But if you don't, and you experience suicidal guilt related to a car accident, Steppers will use the deviation to reaffirm the perfection of the program by claiming that you strayed from the path by not sharing your sex inventory. That's how they play the game.

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

becket's picture

That perfectly describes the devolution of the program. The threats, the negative evaluations, the ostracism - it's all bullshit. Although I followed all the steps to the letter I never - nor would I ever have - judged the next guy for not following the steps to the letter. That mindset takes the focus off the freedom we are seeking - to shackle someone with judgment of this type is crippling and does nothing to advance the cause of sobriety.

I concede that I am not a typical AA (ex)member. I approached the program the way I believed was right and honest. From what I read about today's AA, I would not want to participate, either. Yes, there was some of this nonsense going on when I was going to meetings, but it appears that it has taken on nuclear dimensions and I think it's crap.

It's not a game. People on both sides of the AA aisle should be open and willing to address these behaviors. As you may know, part of my presence here is fending off vitriol from the other side: no crime in defending oneself. But it would be terrific if the vitriol gave way to discussion. That's when learning takes place. These cult-style behaviors are ridiculous and add nothing to the process we enter to try to become healthy again. And I have to say that the OPF showcases cult-style behaviors within its ranks. Answers lie in the laying down of arms. Till then, it's Fisticuffs 101.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Clara's picture

The sex inventory, if you even do one, doesn't have to be shared. It is suggested, though, that you might benefit from that. I haven't had anyone ever suggest that someone died because they didn't share a sex inventory.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Pennywise's picture

If a person follows every aspect of the AA program except sharing a sex inventory, and that person commits suicide, you can be damned sure the steppers will hone in on the failure to do the sex inventory and use it to defend the perfection of the program.

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

Clara's picture

I doubt it, Penny. Sometimes people are just in car accidents, you know? Or they kill themselves. As I said, the folks I knew that did that were facing financial failures and a wife that was leaving.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Pennywise's picture

If one works a strong AA program, none of those things would lead a person to suicide, so preach the steppers. If a person has a traumatic experience or suffers financial ruin, and that person subsequently commits suicide, the steppers will claim that the person failed to work a strong enough program. We aren't newcomers and we know how the game is played. This is what allows them to keep saying at every meeting "rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path." The trick is to make the path so strict that no one can follow it to perfection, thereby giving the program a foolproof defense against any charge of deficiency. It is the basis for AA's remarkable ability to take all the credit for successes while at the same time absolving itself of any responsibility for failures.

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

Clara's picture

Progress no perfection. I am sure that you have heard that often enough, too. We are not saints.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Pennywise's picture

Sponsor: The Program is perfect but we are not. Thus, we can achieve only progress, not perfection.

Prospect: How can we know that the Program is perfect?

Sponsor: Well, no one has failed who has perfectly worked the Program.

Prospect: But you just said we are not perfect and that the most we can achieve is mere progress. If no one has ever perfectly worked the Program, isn't it meaningless to say that no one has ever failed who has worked the Program to perfection?

Sponsor: You ask too many questions. Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth.

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

becket's picture

"Sponsor: The Program is perfect but we are not. Thus, we can only achieve progress, not perfection."

The sponsor is wrong. The program is not perfect. The rest of the conversation is meaningless in the face of this declaration.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Pennywise's picture

Then explain the oft-repeated slogan "the fellowship isn't perfect, but the program is perfect."

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

becket's picture

I cannot explain it. I have never heard it or seen it written.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Pennywise's picture

It's a common defense when the "not in my group" defense fails.

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

becket's picture

That may be so, but it doesn't make it any less true in my case. What are you asking me to do? Argue a hypothesis?

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Pennywise's picture

I actually have to head to an AA meeting now. I'll be back later.

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

becket's picture

Cool. And, of course, not cool.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Pennywise's picture

Becket, shit is starting to get crazy in this thread, so you'll probably miss this. Anyway, as I have said before, I don't blame AA whenever an AA member does something like kill himself. However, AA holds the 12 Steps out as the perfect solution to mental health problems. If you work the Steps and are still depressed, they say you are doing something wrong, i.e., not working a strong enough Program. I think that is bullshit and I try to refute it. Thus, if I post about an AA suicide, for example, my point is not that AA is responsible for the death. Rather, my point is that the Program did not work. Here is where the steppers chime in and defend the Program by arguing that the suicide victim did not "thoroughly follow [their] path." When mounting this defense, the steppers are quick to latch on to any technicality such as failing to do a good sex inventory or not calling one's sponsor daily.

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

becket's picture

Pennywise: they're wrong. That attitude is exchanging old manacles for new ones.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Pennywise's picture

If you understand that they are wrong, perhaps you can understand at least a little why we get so passionate about this. We see it all the time.

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

becket's picture

I take exception to your allegation that AA holds itself out to be the perfect solution to mental problems. My impression is that AA presents itself as a cost-free program to help people to achieve and maintain sobriety - a solution to the drink problem. I have never seen or heard anyone from AA claim that they can cure anything. I've never heard or read a claim stating that AA is qualified to treat paranoid psychosis or clinical depression or schizophrenia or autism or Down's Syndrome. AA deals with alcohol. If people do not find a solution within that program they are free to seek help elsewhere.

If you see people making claims of this nature all the time in the name of AA, what you are seeing is deceit. Perhaps they believe that the 12 steps can cure manic depression. I'm here to tell you that it cannot, and that anyone who claims it can is lying through their teeth. Sponsorship should never, under any circumstances, make demands of anyone. AA is not boot camp, nor is it a trip to the spa to nurse a hangover. It is work but it should be work on the individual's time table, not on the sponsor's or the old timer's or the chairperson's. I've not seen this because I've been gone for a long time, long enough for a whole new generation of AA "geniuses" to come in and louse up what could, under the right circumstances, be a good thing for a lot of people.

If you guys are going to diss AA you should become familiar with your enemy. It is not the program, it is the messengers. If you can get through the bullshit of the misinformed messengers and find a place at the authentic program table, and you find yourself put off by talk of spirituality and character defects and amends, then AA is clearly not for you. So move on.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Pennywise's picture

AA does not claim to have an answer to real diseases like Down Syndrome, but the Steps are supposed to take care of issues like depression. If they don't, you have not worked the Steps well enough. Otherwise God would have taken care of it.

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

Pennywise's picture

At least that is what the messengers say. I hear where you are coming from, Becket.

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

Clara's picture

Let's see. I think that there are associated depressions with drinking. If you can stop drinking through AA and your depression is lifted, perhaps it can sure depression. But I don't think AA holds itself out to cure those mental illness per se. I know plenty of AAs that were diagnosed as bipolar, but when you took the booze out of them for a period of time and the craziness stopped, there might have been an incorrect diagnosis to begin with...

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Pennywise's picture

I'll agree with that to a large degree. But why the talk then about depending on God and not taking head meds? It's like this: depression, they say, is a condition of the spirit. The Steps are supposed to cure all spiritual ailments. If you are depressed (as distinguished for schizophrenic or truly bi-polar), then they say there is something wrong with you spiritually, which means you aren't working the Steps well enough.

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

becket's picture

Who is "they", and what medical schools did they go to? Where did they do their psychiatry rotations?

One of the dangers of AA is that lonely people feel that they finally belong, and some treat it as a middle school challenge: they dress, talk, walk, act like the honchos. If blabbering opinions which have no scientific fact keeps them safe within the ranks, they will do it. All AAs are not this way, but there are enough of them to cause the havoc you describe.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

becket's picture

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is considered a major medical disorder and is treated as such. Down Syndrome is not a disease; it is a genetic condition. No 12 step application is going to cure or even alleviate the symptoms of these conditions. If an AA tries to convince someone that the steps will do so, they are at best mistaken and at worst manipulating and making JR Harris look like a genius.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/200809/is-depression-disease

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

causeandeffect's picture

"I take exception to your allegation that AA holds itself out to be the perfect solution to mental problems. "

Oh yes it does. Here's just a couple:

"There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest."

"We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health. "

Troll free AA critical forum
http://www.expaa.org/

"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." ~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

Clara's picture

We deal with alcohol... I don't see where AA holds itself out as a cure all.

Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.

Pennywise's picture

Bottles were only a symptom, Clara.

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

becket's picture

Bottles were a symptom, yes. For me there was a great deal of deterioration of mind, body and spirit due to the contents of the bottle. I don't believe this passage meant that bottles were a symptom of extant diseases of multiple descriptions and that AA could provide a cure.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

Ironic's picture

Which is why I find it so surprising that becket hasn't. I get the idea that she has attended many more meetings than I have.

live_free_or_die's picture

I am interested in his reponse to pennyW's request for an explanation. He must be researching offline.

Mr. becket.......................waiting............waiting

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

becket's picture

That is my response, live_not. Pennywise will address it when he finds the time. It shouldn't cause you any worry, as you are not directly involved. No research necessary. He asked me to respond to his statement and I did so.

The End.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

becket's picture

The word "rarely" is a loophole as wide as the Grand Canyon. This is likely by design, but in the end it does allow for failure even after following all the suggestions to one's greatest ability.

"If a person has a traumatic experience or suffers financial ruin, and that person subsequently commits suicide," then he made a decision not to pursue any sort of solution for these problems. It doesn't make any difference what "steppers" would say. AA members should work the program for themselves, not for others, not for applause. And if they cannot make it work for themselves, then they should opt to seek solutions elsewhere. If you know how the game is played, be the best player on the field. Do your time, and then get out. With imagination, the path can morph from a deer trail to a Parisian boulevard. It is not narrow; only some interpretations of it are narrow. No one is expected to follow it to perfection. Good enough will do.

As far as charges of deficiency, those are a matter of personal observations and experiences. Live it, endure it, write about it so you might help others who have the same difficulties as you. It is not worth losing yourself over.

If AA deserves no credit for any "successes", it also deserves no condemnation for any "failures".

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

becket's picture

"If a person follows every aspect of the AA program except sharing a sex inventory, and that person commits suicide, you can be damned sure the steppers will hone in on the failure to do the sex inventory and use it to defend the perfection of the program."

Their doing so does not make it right. It's the "us or them", "with me or against me" position that shuts it all down. The reasons for the suicide would likely be many and complex, because there is a ramp-up to suicide of which outsiders are rarely completely cognizant.

Fingerpointing is after-the-fact action, which is to say it is no action at all. It is observation and looking to lay blame. AA is a great big target and can take the hits in stride. It makes people feel better to explain someone taking his own life by pinning it on a culture or a corporation or a nameless, faceless group. Luckily for those who would attribute this suicide to AA, Bill Wilson is attached. It makes their holding him accountable all the more satisfying because the blame doesn't get absorbed by the buffered group. I think along with the audio CDs Orange should manufacture for sale Bill Wilson dart boards. He should keep in mind, though, that this would make us partners in business. I would want appropriate compensation for the idea and any work that goes into the manufacturing and marketing of such an item. And if anyone out there intends to rip the idea, please know I now have some very astute business attorneys on standby.

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

live_free_or_die's picture

becker, on legal zoom while your astute lawyers were playing golf.

I also have a patent pending on the bill w. board, bullseye is a picture of Ms. wynn and the board comes with 12 customizable steel-tipped darts.

Also in the works is a knock-off oiuja board for contacting the dead jesus reincarnate to see when his second coming will be.

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

becket's picture

On a Saturday. Mm hm.

Post photos, please, live_not. The time stamps will indicate who is entitled to ownership. Waiting . . .

“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

live_free_or_die's picture

: )

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

Pennywise's picture

You can't copyright an idea. As § 102 (b) of the Copyright Act states:

"In no case does copyright protection for an original work of authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work."

So I think you need a patent.

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

live_free_or_die's picture

so your beckets astute lawman eh?

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

Pennywise's picture

Well, no. Becket can't copyright her idea, either. Nor would Orange have to share profits from the Bill W. dart board.

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

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