Hallo again :) So much has happened to all the other bloggers since I have posted. Very impressed by how diligently and consistently everyone else has been posting. It is very reassuring to see the same faces. I'm sorry I took an extended leave of absence. Writing is a good way to think out loud and I like trying to explain things as it helps me keep track.
It's late and I will have to get to bed quite soon but have resurrected an old puter with old passwords on it that I haven't used for a long time, because another puter is out getting mended. I thought I had lost the login for the blog but turns out it was still on here :)
If I were to jump on a theme in AA that seem s current the moment I would say it is something called 'AA lite' which is the word I use for when the methods used in treatment centres are somehow conflated with the AA method to such an extent that the new people (and a lot of other people) cannot tell them apart.
Another theme is the preoccupation with finance and getting money generally. The recession or downturn or whatever you like to call it seems to have made people a lot more money minded. I've nothing against money per se, but I don't like it when money comes first and all else is trampled in it's wake. I seem to have discovered strange goings on that seem to have their problems rooted in money. Basicaly people who seem to be using the aa meetings for personal profit or whatever. Financial 13th stepping.
Here it tends to happen in the richer areas of town. There are some regular aa's that I really wonder if they are alcoholics at all or if they just go to meetings to garner some bogus respect and worm their way into some wealthy and well connected associations. So now I listen a lot more carefully to how people describe their drinking, as I suspect a few are not what they seem. Since I have been paying more attention to this activity, some of the people who seem bogus have been looking nervous and trying to befriend me, so I suspect they know I think something is up.
Basically I have a clearer picture how some people use aa meetings for financial advantage, I always knew it was there in some form or other, but have stumbled across a few dodgy people up to no good. I am powerless over them unfortunately. But at least now I can warn wealthy newcomers to watch out for aa members posing as helpers and advisers who will hand pick the wealthiest newcomers in the room and charm them into a premature and ill advised temporary sponsorship situation.. then drop lots of hints about expensive treats they would like to take part in or own. Thankfully there are not too many people doing this here, but they are regular faces at the wealthiest meetings. Oh well. And on that cheery note I wish you well and will drop by and say hello..
About Me
- An Irish Friend of Bill
- I have recovered from the disease of Alcoholism. I believe there is only one person really,.. everybody. And that peace of mind is everything. -So treat your neighbor as you would treat yourself, because your neighbor IS yourself. I think most of recovery is what I would call common sense, but that learning to be ordinary is a true gift very few people acquire. My ambition is to accept everything unflinchingly, with compassion, and therefore be intrinsically comfortable in my own skin, no matter what. I am comfortable being uncomfortable and am willing to go to any lengths to improve my life. I believe the Big Book was divinely inspired, and is extraordinarily powerful. Unfortunately AA's best kept secret a lot of the time. (In my opinion). I just try to do what works, no matter what it is.
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3 comments:
It is good you are back. It sounds like your mind has found a new distraction feeling like you are responsible for warning new comers of possible poachers. This may turn them off to the program thinking they are being targeted. No one comes to the program by accident even if their intentions aren't honorable they are there for a reason. Maybe a group conscious is in order so you won't feel burdened.
:) Nice to see you too .. Thankfully this is so far a fairly small number of individuals. I was thinking of just treating it the same way I deal with 13th stepping sexual predators.. I do not announce it in meetings, but I try to warn people who I think the sexual predator will pick on. Rich people are much easier because there are fewer of them than the vulnerable women.. so I think it will be fairly easy. I am already making inroads into informing other trusted aa members of this activity.. I tend not to feel burdened by the 13th stepping I see, so I'm guessing that the financial 13 stepping will bother me about the same as the regular 13th stepping.. but we shall see. Word is getting out over here about this activity so that is the main thing. the gig has been busted to some extent.. :)
Good to read you again. You have a lot of wisdom. I knew about the financial 13th stepping, but probably not of the same magnitude of which you write. I can remember those who would get other AA'ers to help with their projects and to do things for them, all for free. One lady actually got $5000 from a fellow to have dental work done. None of it was repaid. I find such things unconscionable and definitely not part of the steps or traditions. Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I think of you often.
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