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Post Info TOPIC: A "Real" Alcoholic.... Question


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A "Real" Alcoholic.... Question
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I have heard people before they share introduce themselves as "I am (name) and I am a real alcoholic".

Just curious as to why some do this. I have noticed that when some say this, emphasis is placed on the word "real" as if to distinguish themselves from others. I was under the impression that all alcoholics, including myself are "real".

Not worried and certainly not going to drink over it, like I said just curious.



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MIP Old Timer

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In my Home Group in Georgia, we had a tattooed M/C dude that said this very phrase every time he shared ... personally, I think it's so the person can hear themselves admit they're alcoholic to themselves, in the presence of others ... I never felt he meant that he was more an alcoholic than anyone else ... it was if he needed to hear it for himself for some reason ... If alcohol is causing problems in your life, you're an alcoholic the way I see it ... I never witnessed anyone getting healthier or more successful by drinking more alcohol ...


God Bless,
Pappy



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MIP Old Timer

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I suppose the reason could vary with each person who might choose to do that, but it is sometimes done as a way to refer to the difference between someone who simply went through a period of having a 'drinking problem' and who can then resume drinking normally, versus someone who is really an alcoholic and can never safely and reliably drink like a normal person, and who must therefore remain 100% abstinent from alcohol. It may be done as a way of saying 'no doubt about it - I cannot drink like a normal person who is not an alcoholic'.



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Hello hopefulone

I am a real Alcoholic, i dont say that wen i am at meeting, the Big Book bottom page 20 +top of 21

there talking about Moderate Drinker ,Hard Drinker,and real Alcoholic ,,smile



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It comes from the big book. I encountered this when I was doing step study....I think it comes in where the BB is going into Step 2. They even use the verbiage "real alcoholic" to define someone that truly has this disease of alcoholism to the point of displaying or having displayed they type of alcoholic "insanity" that is evidenced in the stories such as that of the Jaywalker and they guy who added whiskey to his milk and such... So people say this to emphasize that they are convinced fully that they did or do have that brand of alcoholism and/or that they really agreed with that particular sentiment of the big book. This is my understanding at least.

I think it's unnecessary as it's redundant, but I don't find it obnoxious or controversial since I believe it really just comes from people extra identifying with that portion of the BB.



-- Edited by peecee on Wednesday 24th of June 2015 05:13:36 PM

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MIP Old Timer

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There is another angle, one that my sponsor pointed out many years ago. He said that people come to AA for all sorts of reasons. Some are actually alcoholics trying to recover. I have found his words to be true. AA in my part of the world comprises lonely hearts, mental health patients who have no where else to go, people with other addictions who have beeen told that they should go to AA because it is free, various types of predators, one of whom murdered a member of my home group a few years back, and there is a faction of a sister fellowship who insist that all their members attend AA and delclare themselves as alcoholics even though it is not true.

As the very essense of AA is one alcoholic working with another, we all know the reasons so I wont go into it, it is quite important that the newcomer actually finds a real alcoholic to help him/her. On page 92 the book suggests we make sure the person we are brining to the fellowship is a real alcoholic. We no longer do that and the consequence is that not everyone in AA is alcoholic.

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Fyne Spirit

Walking with curiosity.



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it was REAL enough for me... Wagon



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Wagon


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Thank you for all of the responses. They certainly cleared up the questions in this "real" alcoholic's mind. :) I guess it is time to re-read the Big Book so I would find some of this out for myself.

And Fyne Spirit....I am so sorry to hear what happened to one of the members of your home group--that is tragic!

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The "real" before alcoholic is merely an adjective for the noun alcoholic. An alcoholic is an alcoholic. One hears all kinds of modifiers, adjectives, and other descriptions on what type of alcoholic one is when indruducing themselves is meetings.

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Yeah it is a special kind of stupid to try and add some exclusive member status to "club loser"

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"Club loser".....LOL, that is a good point.



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People need others to identify them differently. That is why they put "real" so often.

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I think it is said sometimes because AA has a lot of potential non-alcoholics in the rooms. I hear people share quite often whose drinking resembles mine but very little. The only membership is a desire to quit drinking, not that one be an alcoholic.

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Another way of looking at it or hearing it is as if the person is saying "I belong here".  The alcoholic is described as having a compulsion of the mind and allergy of the body and that being true it is also "real" for me.    Keep it simple.  wink



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Fyne Spirit wrote:

As the very essense of AA is one alcoholic working with another, we all know the reasons so I wont go into it, it is quite important that the newcomer actually finds a real alcoholic to help him/her. On page 92 the book suggests we make sure the person we are brining to the fellowship is a real alcoholic. We no longer do that and the consequence is that not everyone in AA is alcoholic.


Only alcoholics can be members of Alcoholics Anonymous. This is a welI settled issue. Nonalcoholics may be around AA (for good or bad) or in some meetings. But they cannot be members.

 

Dodsworth wrote:

The only membership [requirement]is a desire to quit drinking, not that one be an alcoholic.


 No. To be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, one must be an alcoholic.

 



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and there is a faction of a sister fellowship who insist that all their members attend AA and delclare themselves as alcoholics even though it is not true.

 

 

what do you mean by this?



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