#aacultwatch

We've been sent terrible news about a young AA member who appears to have been hounded to death by the aacultwatch blogspot site:

“This lady had relapsed on drugs and alcohol and was going through a hugely difficult time. During her moments of clarity she tried to recover and sort herself out. But while in insane bouts she made accusations and threats against a few AA members in public, severely damaging their reputation.

To her credit she admitted to the police (who interviewed her at least three times about different allegations she made) that these accusations were false and made amends publicly. The police were lenient - understanding she was unwell - but warned her at least twice to stop her behaviours.

A terrible turn of events came about on March 16 when the aacultwatch blogspot decided to use this lady - who was desperately trying to get well - in their political games and resentments. They publicly published on the internet, and tweeted, a version one of the allegations which she had already admitted to the police was false, and that she had made amends for. They also threatened to give the full names of people in the allegations, and circulate the allegations around the local area to charities and police and legal organisations.

She would have certainly been told about the post, and read it. 

This lady died by her own hand through alcohol and drugs within 24-48 hours of this post being made public. The post attacked her partner, the father of her toddler, who she was desperately trying to reconcile with. The post portrayed her as a pathetic weakling. But most terribly, it would have put unbearable pressure on her - a terrible fear that the police were going to take more serious action against her, as an individual and a mother.

She deserved to be left alone to recover, rather than used as a pawn in the twisted games of the aacultwatch blogspot. 

We will never know for sure the effect that their post had on this lady, who had bravely admitted her wrongs and was trying her hardest to recover, for herself, her toddler and her family. But what we know she would have heard about and seen the post - and within a day or so was dead. 

We know that the aacultwatch blog is playing with peoples’ lives. They publish any accusations and gossip they receive, with no consideration for the damage their publishing does. 

A few people have contacted us about Ben being a big supporter of aacultwatch:

“Phat Chex aka‘Ben Pooley’ is part of the NONOM (No Nonsense Music Crew) hailing from the South West of England in Plymouth and comes from a background in Hip hop, Turntablism, House, Techno, Electro, IDM and Bass music. However has not done anything for a few years since resuming alcohol and drugs, he now spends his time contributing to the aacultwatch blog”

We only want to say how much we appreciate all the support you’ve given us over the years Alan. Cheers!

A great thanks to Cultwatch contributor, John B. Coffin ([email protected]). Johnny-boy is a member of AA in Ireland, circa Leinster. His day job is teaching the “Alexander Technique” (a pseudo-science therapy that recent medical research has shown has no clear evidence of being effective), in other words a purveyor of snake oil to people rich enough to afford his fees. 

He’s an evangelical atheist who likes to spread gossip about the much-loved (but loathed by him for no doubt dishonest reasons) AA old timers Joe and Charlie. 

Also he’s recently been asking Cultwatch for more factually-questionable rumours to help him spread gossip about the groups and AA members he has resentments against in Eire. 

Yet ANOTHER idiot emailed me. She says that I keep on posting literature and quotes from conference and old-timers: and most of these talk about how AA is open to everyone, atheists and agnostics, people with other problems as well as their alcoholism, and...well actually that’s mainly what I go on about - because I’m an atheist who likes the option of using anti-depressants. 

ANYhoo - the point is this, she then bleats on and says “Why do you keep posting about how AA should be open and welcoming to all, except for those who you believe make AA less open to all?”

So what the bee-atch is claiming is that I don’t believe in an open AA, just an open AA for those who agree with me. Any groups that I think are not open enough can’t be part of AA. She sees this as a contradiction. (I see her as an asshole, strangely enough).

Let’s clear this up. Everyone should be allowed freedom in AA, unless they impose on the freedom of others. OK, OK, I know that’s like the most blurry idea ever - because then SOMEBODY has to decide who is imposing on whom - right!? 

Well, let me clear that up for you. 

I repeat. Let ME clear that up for you. 

Simple huh? I decide. 

You’re a terrorist, I’m a freedom fighter. You’re imposing on freedoms, I’m freeing AA from tyranny.

Do what I say, or fuck off.

Cheers,

The Fella(s), Friends of Stalin, err...sorry, I mean Alcoholics Anonymous

P.S. We cannot be free until we destroy the freedom of those we hate.

P.P.S. The ends justifies the means.

You know I was talking to an alcoholic and addict outside of AA recently, and they were saying they were desperate to stop but didn’t know how to. They asked for my advice on going back to AA. I said AA’s great! Go to meetings but avoid:

1. This list of meetings - I gave him a list. They will try to have sex with you, or steal your money, or turn you into a zombie newcomer killer.

2. Avoid meetings where the word God is mentioned too much. (”But don’t they read those steps out and do that serenity thing at almost all meetings?” my friend asked. “Yes,” I explained, “but you’re safe if you come to the meetings I go to”).

3. Avoid meetings where sponsorship is mentioned too much. If someone talks about there sponsor stay away from them. Whatever you do: do not get a sponsor. They are lethal.  They will try to have sex with you, or steal your money, or turn you into a zombie newcomer killer.

4. Avoid meetings where they tell you alcoholism is a disease, especially a fatal one.

5. Avoid the big book - it talks about God too much. And the 12 & 12, it talks about sponsors too much.

6. Avoid people that talk about Bill W. too much. Ask any of Bill’s contemporaries and they’ll tell you “hey will try to have sex with you, or steal your money, or turn you into a zombie newcomer killer.”

7. Avoid people that talk about Dr. Bob too much. They are religious. Religion is deadlier than alcoholism.

8. Most of all remember that choice and freedom are more important than recovery.

9. You know, what, maybe the safest thing is to stay with me. I’ll help you. No I’ll help you help yourself. No the word “help” is to patronizing. Wait, the “I” is too egotistical. Wait I’m ordering you around by telling you to wait. Stop waiting. Do what you like. Oh shit. I’m getting confused. Stick with me, we can be confused together. Here, let me pass the pot.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS We hope you found our “working with others” guide helpful.

Here is a comment from one of our critics online (http://anti-aacultwatch.blogspot.com/2009/10/who-do-you-think-you-are.html):

“Keep up the good work - It is clearly evident one of the team at aacultwatch is an AA member from Plymouth and I attend a lot of meetings in South Devon and I can say with absolute authority that there is a lot of dishonesty on the aacultwatch website. Why don't the fellas post their surnames? They clearly have a hidden agenda and are riddled with fear. They really should start reading daily The Big Book; Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions; AA Comes of Age; Dr. Bob & the Good Oldtimers and Pass it on. “

First of all you don’t have to agree the Big Book to be an AA member (though you do have to agree with me!) The Big Book and the 12 & 12 are very old books and full of old fashioned ideas and language. It would be better if these, and all the history books were taken out of circulation and new ones written (though they’ll need to be run by me first of course!) 

Look, let’s face it, Bill W and Dr. Bob weren’t the sort of people we’d want in AA now are they? 

To respond to another point: the reason I don’t post my surname is because it is hard to be as vicious and bullying and to get away with my rants against (pretty much) all of AA, if I had to take responsibility for my actions. Newspapers and normal unanonymous websites have to tell 80% the truth, and 20% exaggerations and lies, otherwise they get legal trouble, or are in danger of being attacked in return. Because I am anonymous, I can tell 80% lies and exaggerations and 20% truth and no one can do anything! It saves me a lot of courage I can tell you!

Just because I’m a coward doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Just because I lie doesn’t mean I’m dishonest. And just because I don’t like the Big Book doesn’t mean I’m not a good, no great, A.A.. I am the savior of A.A. So I’d say to the member above: you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. 

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS stay out the way if you don’t want your eggs broken.

So I was doing my regular searching of just “how important I am on the internet” - Google “aacultwatch”. If this seems a bit egotistical, please bear in mind that this website is my whole Step 12. I’m not very active as a sponsor, though that’s got nothing to do with the fact I slag off people with loads of sober sponsees, and suggest people only have one sponsee at a time. Actually, to be honest, once I’ve managed to wipe out the whole idea of sponsorship from AA, it’ll be a little less stressful for me: I’m pretty busy cutting down people who do a lot of sponsoring, and it doesn’t give me much time to sponsor others! 

Back to my point. I was doing a little search on myself, and what should I find again but that old site that says “AACULTWATCH, You were right!” Not that I need to be told this of course. 

But as I scrolled down the page, I was horrified to find the post on 30 Nov:

http://anti-aacultwatch.blogspot.com/2009/10/who-do-you-think-you-are.html

What right, does any website, written by AA members, have to be so insulting and demeaning to other AA members? Those people who wrote that page and its comments are totally unspiritual. They even gave a full name at the bottom of page. I MEAN WHAT SORT OF IDIOT BREAKS AN AA MEMBER’S ANONYMITY PUBLICLY ON THE INTERNET just because they hate him? Though I’m not saying that the name was mine, it’s the principle that counts.

Anyway, I hope you will join me in condemning that unspiritual and abusive blog. Why can’t people put unity before gossip and insult?