I rarely disagree with you Gonee, as a matter of fact, I don't think I have EVER disagreed with you, but I don't agree with you on this one, not about being a hard nosed sponsor, I'm with you 100%, co-signing an alcoholics bullshit is the quickest way to see him go die, about the fun and levity though, I'm onna go with Bill W's thoughts on the matter

If newcomers saw nothing fun about us, why would they want to join us? we LAUGH, we have a GREAT time, because laughter and levity is attractive, and we espouse attraction not promotion, watch any great speaker we laugh all the way through their pitch, we laugh when other people would cry (then my wife LEFT me???) and we cry when others would laugh (then my child....hugged me)

Bill was in the right of it, if AA was a glum lot of serious people I'd still be drinking, here's what he says about it, and I agree

There is a vast amount of fun in the A.A. fellowship. Some people might be shocked at our seeming worldliness and levity but just underneath there lies a deadly earnestness and a full realization that we must put first things first and with each of us the first thing is our alcoholic problem. To drink is to die. Faith must work twenty-four hours a day in and through us or we perish.

We have been speaking to you of serious, sometimes tragic things. We have been dealing with alcohol in its worst aspect. But we arent a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldnt want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life. We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state of the nations, nor do we carry the worlds troubles on our shoulders. When we see a man sinking into the mire that is alcoholism, we give him first aid and place what we have at his disposal. For his sake, we do recount and almost relive the horrors of our past. But those of us who have tried to shoulder the entire burden and trouble of others find we are soon overcome by them.

So we think cheerfulness and laughter make for usefulness. Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we bust into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldnt we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others.

Everybody know that those in bad health, and those who seldom play, do not laugh much. So let each family play together or separately as much as their circumstances warrant. We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that his life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didnt do it. Avoid then, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence.