Why are all the old-timers in Alcoholic Anonymous meeting so depressing?

Question

Studies have shown that if 100 people joined AA today, only 2 would still be in there after 10 years (see: orangepapers.org) Those people are usually the most depressing people at the meetings, are usually chain smokers and are constantly drinking coffee. What has years of attending meetings and constantly telling yourself that you have a disease (with no cure) done to these people?

bmac-----If it's not true, how come a study on the sales of chips done with AA's own numbers show that over a 5 year period, for every 10,000 one day chips sold to AA meeting throughout the country there were only 20- ten year chips sold?

Answer 1

The oldtimers have been around long enough to realize that that the program doesn't work and they've wasted a good amount of their lives sitting in those rooms.

The worst part is: even though they know it's bs, where else are they going to go? In the rooms they get a little respect for being there that long, but in the real world, who cares?

Answer 2

So, you attend AA meetings? Sounds like you know a lot.

AA has figures that show 40% of recovering alcoholics will die sober.

I have been in AA for six years and I don't find the people or the meetings depressing. I look forward to going to meetings and being with people who understand me. We share the good and the bad. We say we don't want to forget the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We need to remember what life was like before we found a Higher Power and the strength not to drink. We also talk about watching the movie all the way through. The movie starts with one drink and everything is fine. Then drink numbers 5, 8, ... What were things like when you were pulled over and arrested for a DUI? Remember what jail was like?

We are not a glum lot! We have bowling leagues, banquets, picnics, Super Bowl parties, ...

Yes, there are people who come in and don't know what they are doing, don't know what to expect, tell their stories as to how they got there. Some of the stories are sad; some are frightening.

I don't chain smoke and I drink water.

Don't refer to us as "those people."

Answer 3

It is not the meeting that has done something to the people but the years of punishing the body with drugs and alcohol, and smoking.

Answer 4

That's not true. And the "orangepapers" are the biggest bunch of crap ever written on AA.

If you believe those papers, then obviously, you don't know what the &*@$ you're talking about.

Go get a beer (or 2 or 3 or.........)