In Alcoholics Anonymous, a way to treat alcoholism, or a drinking problem, whichever definition you prefer, after a person does a step 5, which is confesses his or her shortcomings, the society within society the asks if they are entirely ready to have all defects of character removed.  

Having all your defects of character, removed, is a lofty goal.  For me it was important to realize that human brains came up with the idea that all defects should be removed, however in actuality, defects in some might be effects in others, and something you think is a defect, might just be your wanting to be morally superior to others, in some sort of pervasive judgment your brain has created within it's own ego.  

I've got "character defects" that strangely enough, after I am accused of them being on display, I feel great after.  Would you consider a defect something that makes you feel great after?  Sounds to me like that is an effect.  I do get the concept of giving your everything to God though.  It's kind of like my car with a trusted mechanic.  If I trust that the work will be done by something greater in knowledge of cars than I, I will have nothing to worry about. 

I think when seeing yourself as wrong, it is a personal decision that shouldn't be touched by another, unless asked to do so.  I think you have to trust the person you are asking if you are doing something wrong too.  For instance I lie to liars.  I can sense a liar before they even open up their mouths and if they do open up their mouths all they then become is just a stupid liar, instead of just a liar.  Am I wrong that I lie to liars, even though universally it is understood that lying is wrong?  I am not wrong, in my own personal decision making process, and others who hate liars too, especially impositional liars too stupid to know they went in on the wrong one, would agree with me that I am not wrong, for using lying as a defense against stupid liars.  The point is, I have a defect, that I use very effectively.  That makes me very happy, joyous, and free, so maybe AA isn't so right about removal, maybe defects just need a little amending, in certain circumstances. 

I know I am not allowed to lecture if I am utilizing AA, because of the sensitive natures they have thinking they are so special, like all pyramid driven doctrine, lol, but I will look at the three areas of importance for most in life.  The three areas that might need "defect" amending, change, or removal are Financial Security, Personal Security, and Emotional Security. 

If I lead off with communication unhinged with courage to God, asking him to please shape my financial security to the way of his liking and love, or power if you hate the word love, like many do but won't admit, I personally don't have to then waste my time with the details.  I can do the same with Personal Security, asking that God make it so where I am Godly towards all, and if they try to fuck me than I am able to address that, and then Emotional Security, which is basically how I think about me and others, and how I think about what I and others are doing to my self (which by the way, is constantly growing and never perfect). 

I think being entirely ready to have all defects of character removed, is just another way of saying "God take my life and do what you want with it because I know you love me and care, and what you do with it will be awesome, because you are awesome, and wouldn't make something out of anything that is not awesome."

I see alot of people when focusing on this defective stance of how the alcoholic is within AA, go with the ho-hum, pitiance of "oh well, at least I'm not this or that" really judging others, and thinking they are such bad people, but for me, this is a point in the process where, you can be shocked to know, some defects for others are effects, and just because something works for another, doesn't mean it will work for someone other than that. 

I think the humbly asking for the shortcomings to be removed, usually comes after a period of thinking "wow, I really thought something other than what was also existing."  For instance, "I thought I was being a mean asshole, because I was accused of being so, but deep down inside that accuser was really just envious of me being so authoritative as a nobody."  Or "Man I should be in jail to all the other drivers for going 100 mph consistently on the freeway, but really they were all just jealous that I drive like a formula one driver without any effort." 

This whole defects of character thing, I can't really focus on, because I have some real defects of character, and they shouldn't ever be witnessed or talked about, that's between me and God, and only God because he knows everything.  It's kind of like emo people or spiritual people who openly wear a character of embracing darkness, like goths for example, but there is something in existence, or non-existence, whichever you prefer, that doesn't even know what dark is it is so dark.  With that consideration out there, maybe the person who is defectively viewing goths as dark spirits, after knowing that dark doesn't even exist, might start seeing goths as just dark-lite(s). 

Anyway, yea, drinking is awesome, and even though I am not going to do it today, I still can become learned, about what is going on if I am needing to drink, and I need to not drink as well.  A practical way of looking at character defects, I believe is, if they are robbing your of your happiness, joy, and freedom, they need to be either changed, removed, or given to God to do what he pleases with them.  It's not about what you get, if you are trying to rid yourself of a drinking problem, it is about what you can get rid of so you can move on.  If they are meant to be there then it is from God and God being in control makes everything right and pure, so all I can do is ask, for him, to lead the way, and own the defects he has given me, or dis-own the defects he has given me, it all is coming from him though.  Right or Wrong.