"AA meeting.
Everyone has some coffee and is very nice to each other.
The meeting starts with aa literature being read out, central to which is the fact that everyone is powerless over alcohol.
Then one person 'shares'. This means they talk about their drinking and how aa was the thing that saved their life. This is absolutely obligatory, the bit about aa saving their life.
Then everyone has a chance to say something, usually about how brave the speaker was and about aa has saved their life.
It ends with more aa literature.
The literature available in aa meetings is exclusively aa-approved literature.
I would advise you to research aa via google. For example, google, how effective is 12 step treatment, or how effective is aa. Be aware that you will only hear good things about aa, AT aa. You will only get aa approved literature or theories at aa. Research it in the same way that you would if you were choosing a school or buying shares. It is called due diligence."
Forthe
You have successfully managed to write a piece that is not factually inaccurate but is far from unbiased. Are you a journalist?
I think that what you leave unsaid is as important as what you say, so I am going to attempt to plug the gaps for anyone who does not have your (or my) experience and wisdom (...) and would like to know more about AA.
It is mainly true that "The literature available in aa meetings is exclusively aa-approved literature" although some groups sell Hazledene literature as well. But I am curious as to why you would expect it to be otherwise - after all, it's an AA group, not Waterstones. Would you expect to be able to buy the Koran at a church or a book about the British Legion from the WI?
"Be aware that you will only hear good things about aa, AT aa." Same - people go to AA and keep going back to AA because it works for them. It is therefore obvious that, by and large, they will have positive things to say. It hardly points to a conspiracy or Omerta, does it? However, I regularly hear people criticise AA, AA members, and AA meetings at AA. They are never shouted down or asked to leave.
It is important to say, too, that most of us never wanted to be in AA. We go and stay, not only because it works for us, but because we have tried, and failed, to find anything else that works for us. Often, AA was our last resort when the only altrnatives seemed to be insanity or death. We are happy to be there, all right - but we probably wouldn't hang around church halls drinking piss-poor tea if we had a better idea.
You should interpret any statistics about AA and its success in this light. By its own admission, AA sees more people die than it sees get well. But, while you're googling those success rates, google the success rates of the alternatives, especially of doing nothing.
The fact is that alcoholism is a nasty illness (recognised as such by the BMA and WHO) that, left to its own devices, kills in the messiest of ways, dragging a lot of innocent bystanders in its wake. AA works for some. If AA isn't for you, fine - but I strongly recommend anyone who thinks along those lines to make sure they have a better idea before turning their back on AA.
Incidentally, what's in it for you to knock it, Forthe? Didn't work for you, maybe? Still miserable and struggling?