Slogan Shotgun
It's a problem I think of as the AA Slogan Shotgun. Beyond looking at my part in this specific exchange, I think it's maybe not the best thing in the world to just throw AA Slogans in people's faces without thinking -- sometimes of course a gentle "Easy Does It" is the exactly right thing to say -- but often I fear trotting out some slogan and slapping it onto someone as a quick-fix label is a kind of one-upsmanship -- or perhaps even a subtle form of aggression.
AA slogans, like "Live and Let Live" or "This Too Shall Pass" or "Easy Does It" or "First Things First" or "Think Think Think" exist because they are simple embodiments of important things for a recovering alcoholic to remember, and their very simplicity makes them easier to recall in times of duress.
But as we listen to each other, and offer occasionally unsolicited input -- which again, can sometimes be a helpful, even lifesaving thing to do -- I've come to believe we need to temper that practice with a caution against rushing to throw some book quote or slogan at someone out of ... impatience with listening to their problem? A false sense of superiority? The need to appear to always have the answer? Some dark combination of all three, perhaps, with even darker things hidden underneath, too. (Ego ego ego).
But the part of this that stings the most?
I know I have probably done to other people what I feel like Mr. Thimble did to me -- and he may not even have done that to me, it could just be a dark projection of my own resentment and ego. *sigh* Again I say, thanks AA for all the insight, but I'm not sure I care much for what I insee, on occasion.
And so it goes -- I learn, I amend, I try to remember and then apply what I learn. Hopefully I get a little better at it each time.
Posted at 12:05 AM in Just A Thought, New Old Expressions, Resentment! | Permalink ShareThis
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Thanks for this post. I know that I don't like it when I get a slogan or some other Al-Anon speak from people. I think that sometimes just having an ear is what I want, not a lecture.
Posted by: Syd | December 29, 2008 at 06:26 AM
these sorts of things can happen so quickly and feel like we were blind-sided when we THINK we SHOULD have been ready.. life always gives us what we need still huh.
i like your blog.
Posted by: molly | December 29, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Wow.. I've been listening to an old speaker tape of a guy who I just adore. He's consistently opening my eyes with his recovery experiences and the tapes are from 20 yrs ago when I began this journey of mine (he was 20 yrs sober then.) The most recent time listening he was speaking of the, "Exact Nature" of our character defects. I heard his insight and realized we so often are the victims of that age old culprit, Denial, which keeps hidden deep down inside us under the bad behaviors, under the fear, a hurt, a painful experience we have interpreted to mean that we are flawed as a human being. A pain and hurt which has shamed us into hiding from ourselves lest you see the real flawed me and leave me abandoned, alone, frightened and un-loved. The exact nature of these so called defects of character is in there... hidden deep under all the muck and crap we've thrown on top of it to cover it so well... all the behaviors which stop us from being the loving brilliant spirits we really are, stopping us from being truly intimate with with self, God, and other human beings, stopping us from receiving and giving the love, acceptance, and peaceful serenity we all desire and need. My experience tells me you are well on your way to the exact nature of what provoked your behaviors with Mr. Sposorpants. I have a feeling you are walking in the Sunlight of the Spirit because of your understanding of the difference 'tween self examination and abuse of self. I am so happy to see others trudging the road with finding the Truth as their goal. Thanks for the post it is in the awesome pile, in my stack of support & guidance. 'Stubborn'
Posted by: Stubborn | June 14, 2011 at 12:11 PM
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AA slogans, like "Live and Let Live" or "This Too Shall Pass" or "Easy Does It" or "First Things First" or "Think Think Think" exist because they are simple embodiments of important things for a recovering alcoholic to remember, and their very simplicity makes them easier to recall in times of duress.
But as we listen to each other, and offer occasionally unsolicited input -- which again, can sometimes be a helpful, even lifesaving thing to do -- I've come to believe we need to temper that practice with a caution against rushing to throw some book quote or slogan at someone out of ... impatience with listening to their problem? A false sense of superiority? The need to appear to always have the answer? Some dark combination of all three, perhaps, with even darker things hidden underneath, too. (Ego ego ego).
But the part of this that stings the most?
I know I have probably done to other people what I feel like Mr. Thimble did to me -- and he may not even have done that to me, it could just be a dark projection of my own resentment and ego. *sigh* Again I say, thanks AA for all the insight, but I'm not sure I care much for what I insee, on occasion.
And so it goes -- I learn, I amend, I try to remember and then apply what I learn. Hopefully I get a little better at it each time.
Posted at 12:05 AM in Just A Thought, New Old Expressions, Resentment! | Permalink ShareThis
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00e551f9630d8833010536a201f0970c
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The Slogan Shotgun:
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You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Thanks for this post. I know that I don't like it when I get a slogan or some other Al-Anon speak from people. I think that sometimes just having an ear is what I want, not a lecture.
Posted by: Syd | December 29, 2008 at 06:26 AM
these sorts of things can happen so quickly and feel like we were blind-sided when we THINK we SHOULD have been ready.. life always gives us what we need still huh.
i like your blog.
Posted by: molly | December 29, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Wow.. I've been listening to an old speaker tape of a guy who I just adore. He's consistently opening my eyes with his recovery experiences and the tapes are from 20 yrs ago when I began this journey of mine (he was 20 yrs sober then.) The most recent time listening he was speaking of the, "Exact Nature" of our character defects. I heard his insight and realized we so often are the victims of that age old culprit, Denial, which keeps hidden deep down inside us under the bad behaviors, under the fear, a hurt, a painful experience we have interpreted to mean that we are flawed as a human being. A pain and hurt which has shamed us into hiding from ourselves lest you see the real flawed me and leave me abandoned, alone, frightened and un-loved. The exact nature of these so called defects of character is in there... hidden deep under all the muck and crap we've thrown on top of it to cover it so well... all the behaviors which stop us from being the loving brilliant spirits we really are, stopping us from being truly intimate with with self, God, and other human beings, stopping us from receiving and giving the love, acceptance, and peaceful serenity we all desire and need. My experience tells me you are well on your way to the exact nature of what provoked your behaviors with Mr. Sposorpants. I have a feeling you are walking in the Sunlight of the Spirit because of your understanding of the difference 'tween self examination and abuse of self. I am so happy to see others trudging the road with finding the Truth as their goal. Thanks for the post it is in the awesome pile, in my stack of support & guidance. 'Stubborn'
Posted by: Stubborn | June 14, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment
About
Email Me
Subscribe to this blog's feed
Add me to your TypePad People list
Categories
21st Century Recovery
AA Slang
AA's 12 and 12: Sorted
AA's Big Book: Sorted
Addicts in the News!
Alcoholic Thinking
Amends
Analogies
Anonymity
Books
Boundaries
Cage Match! Friday Night Fights!
Came To Believe
Dear...
Ego
Fear
Giblet and Dumpling
Gratitude
Here's a fun game!
Hitting Bottom
How To
Humility
Is AA a Cult?
Just A Thought
Letters to my Dead AA Friends
Limericks
Meetings
New Old Expressions
Old Ideas
Other AA Lit
People Pleasing
Prayers for Anxious People in Uncertain Times
Questions I wish I could have asked...
Questions Via Email
Relapse Prevention
Religion
Resentment!
Science
Service
Sharing
Shooters
Sober Texting
Spiritual Experience
Sponsorship
Steps Steps Steps
The Algebra of Recovery
The landscape of my alcoholism
The Supreme Sacrifice
Things I learned (or was reminded of) this week.
To The Newcomer. (Or the New-again-comer).
Ummm... you might want to look at that.
Who are you, Mr. SponsorPants, and what is this Blog?
Willingness
Archives
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
More...
Google Search
WWW MrSponsorPants.typepad.com
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