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by Berenise on January 22nd, 2007

Berenise

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Why is it called Alcoholics Anonymous when the first thing you do is stand up and say, 'My name is Bob and I am an alcoholic'?

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Answers. 16 helpful answers below.

  • by Gideon on January 22nd, 2007

    Gideon

    It's still anonymous in that no last names, addresses or other personal identifiers are used unless a member wants to offer the information. You have to call people something.

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  • by killdrphil - reasonable for a madman on March 22nd, 2008

    killdrphil - reasonable for a madman

    Well...they are anonymous with people outside the group (if they choose to be). They aren't anonymous within the group itself.

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  • by Voodoo on October 5th, 2007

    Voodoo

    What happens at AA, stays at AA.

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  • by labgirl on October 5th, 2007

    labgirl

    It is anonymous to the outside world. If you see someone you know at a meeting, you don't go blabbing it to everyone at work the next day. Plus, a lot of them don't use their last name.

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  • by Simply msFortunate on January 26th, 2007

    Simply msFortunate

    AA adheres to strict rules about anonymity and confidentiality. Yet there is always a sense of familiarity - you learn to identify with people while only thinking of them by their first names. This also protects many participants in AA from undue stress and troubles. If one doesn't know someone else's last name, it's rather difficult to disclose their private life.

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  • by Frunobulax57 on August 8th, 2008

    Frunobulax57

    All right . . . I'll tell you.


    It is a fellowship named after a book titled, "Alcoholics Anonymous" - or "The Big Book". The co-authors of that book had very definite thoughts about why this concept of anonymity should be incorporated into their Society.

    They were afraid that once the Big book got distributed and word got out that they had discovered a solution to alcoholism that actually worked, they would be over-run with requests for help and unable to carry out their normal lives.

    " It is important that we remain anonymous because
    we are too few, at present to handle the
    overwhelming number of personal appeals which
    may result from this publication. Being mostly
    business or professional folk, we could not well
    carry on our occupations in such an event. We
    would like it understood that our alcoholic work
    is an avocation. "
    - Forward - First Edition

    Many of the early members were professionals and wanted to get on with their careers.

    'Anonymity' was NOT a protective device from exposure, from a perspective of shame or guilt - as many people such as yourself who are no very familiar with AA - and think they are - would suppose. Secrecy for the sake of "hiding" like a guilty child is not what anonymity was supposed to ever be about.

    Bill is characterizing anonymity in Tradition Twelve as having: "immense spiritual significance". It is significant that he does this not in his essay about the Tradition, but in the Tradition itself. Yet this aspect was absolutely impossible for me to understand for the first several years of sobriety.

    I was very fortunate in that I took to heart the old Fellowship axiom of "Sticking with the winners" Those, in my view at the time, were some of the old-timers, and those with significant terms of sobriety. They also tended to be more active in service and serving than others. So the emphasis on the spirituality of anonymity was brought to the forefront. I still did not get it, but I believe a see was planted. And for this reason I like to encourage those I sponsored to get into Service early. They do not. But maybe like I n me a seed will be planted.

    As a newcomer I was stuck on the "Secrecy" aspect of anonymity; the protection of ones identity so no one in mainstream society could finger, judge or harm me financially and socially because I was some sort of social defective.

    This is a very self-centered view of anonymity, I must admit. Being only a year or two without booze and avoiding the more introspective aspects of our Program, how could I have been anything but? I was willing to serve, as long as there was some sort of recognition in it, no matter how small.

    As I matured in recovery however, anonymity became more tied to humility. As my life as a recovered alky began to take shape, my own deflation saw to it that God was taking more and more the lead in more and more of my affairs. That humility of course necessarily spilled over into the things I did to be helpful and to serve my group, other drunks and onward.

    In "The Doctor’s Opinion" while prefacing Silkworth's letter, Bill notes, "we work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an altruistic plane"

    Peace,

    Danny S
    http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com

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  • by nevets - badgicide on January 24th, 2007

    nevets - badgicide

    I'm anonymous and I'm an alcoholic!

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  • by justme32 loves the weekends on January 22nd, 2007

    justme32 loves the weekends

    Theres irony for you.

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  • by wannaknow on March 31st, 2009

    wannaknow

    I believe part of the reason for introducing oneself as an alcoholic is to help the person over the "denial" of the disease.

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  • by Long Shot on March 13th, 2008

    Long Shot

    Also be careful what you say in a meeting. Some people will talk that si why we "share in a general way.

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  • by Long Shot on March 13th, 2008

    Long Shot

    You do not have to say your name and that you are a alcoholic. You can just say your first name like Bill and Bob did it. I give my whole name because if someone needs help they can't look up "Bob" in thr phone book.

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  • by Sweet T on March 13th, 2008

    Sweet T

    That is hilarious, almost as funny as the liquor place, down the street, AA Liquor store!!!

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  • by john pennington on March 13th, 2008

    john pennington

    But, Bob could be a ficticious name.

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  • by Single White Male on April 7th, 2008

    Single White Male

    "What happens at AA, stays at AA." If you believe this, I've got a bridge in New York harbor to sell you.

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  • by gcnfg4eva on March 24th, 2008

    gcnfg4eva

    well maybe it means that anyone can join, of any race or male or female? maybe?? anonymous meaning not pin pointing just one type of person i guess..

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  • by emmaleigh08 on December 23rd, 2008

    emmaleigh08

    The first step is admitting you have a problem. Its anonymous because its not something to be proud of and they're ashamed i'm sure.
    My mother has been an alcoholic for the past 6 years and doesn't think theres anything wrong at all.

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