Re: How to handle 'Uncle Al' aka "Alan Schwartz" <uncleal0@ix.netcom.com>

From: Dr. Jai Maharaj (usenet_at_mantra.com)
Date: 07/29/04 

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 06:14:56 GMT

In article <sthgg05sp7p2dma51dtc1afaspo94g2kr2@4ax.com>,
 jamie eckles (aka dr.postman) <jamieemps@mindspring.com>
  Look@mysig.foremail posted:
> [...]

Why did you drop out of your recovery in Narcotics Anonymous?
Go back to alt.recovery.na where you can actualy help yourself.

Here's one of your previous posts:

> From: jamiemps@usa.pipeline.com(Jamie E.)
> Subject: Re: How this NG and NA can be percieved
> Date: August 5, 1996
> Message-ID: <4u5mkq$k73@news2.h1.usa.pipeline.com>
> references: <anon-0408962126570001@max2-so-ca-43.earthlink.net>
> newsgroups: alt.recovery.na,anon@penet.fi,(venusisle)
>
>
> On Aug 04, 1996 21:26:55 in article <How this NG and NA can be perceived>,
> 'anon@penet.fi (venusisle)' wrote:
>
>
> >1. I kicked heroin without NA.
> >I am all for NA!
> >If it works for you, please do it.
>
> I'm glad that you found a way - in fact thank God that you did.
> Some of us have found that the drugs we used were just a symptom
> of a deeper problem. I was an *** before I got clean - when
> I stopped using I was just an unloaded ***. For me there had
> to be more than just mere physical abstinence.
> >
> >2. I was not planning on quitting alone.......but
>
> And you never have to be if you don't want to be - there are so many
> support programs in the world that are there for you if you want.
> >
> >3. I was told that unless you do the NA way , you will always remain a
> junkie.
> >Sorry but it is ONE of several ways that works. As humans we do possess
> >freewill, if we can grasp it. This mentality only makes NA seem like a
> >cult, and takes away from it's credibility in my eyes. It made me want
> >to do it alone. True believer mentality is dangerous.
>
> Whoever told you that was full of *** - did you check their eye color?
> (opps-
> wait a minute - my eyes are brown too - damn). No place in our literature
>
> does it say that NA is the only way. Since our program deals with the
> disease of addiction I, for one, did not get clean just to become addicted
> to NA. There are members who's whole life and thinking are centered in
> NA in one form or another - they are still controlled by the disease not in
> the
> will of their Higher Power. To these people NA is their god, and thou
> shalt
> have no false gods before me! Stay away from these folks, if they stay
> clean
> they will eventually get tired of trying to convert others to their
> religion. There
> ARE other great forms of programs like SMART and Rational Recovery as well
> as other wonderful 12 Step programs - check out other NA groups - check out
>
> other programs and Fellowships - find what works and GO FOR IT - recovery
> is
> not a game, too many people die from this disease to play around with it.
> Also,
> for me willpower didn't have anything to do with my disease - I went to
> tremendous
> lenghts to get loaded exhibiting a great amount of willpower.
> >
> >4. This news group does carry the NA name, and sorry, but if this is what
> >recovery did to some of you, it was probably better that I had to go it
> >alone.
>
> We are all at different stages in recovery - take what you like and leave
> the
> rest. Winners aren't always winners and losers aren't always losers - you
> never
> know who might be the right one to say the right thing. This newsgroup
> does
> not reflect the Fellowship of NA - it is a new and strange medium - all
> newsgroups
> have a different quality about them that differs them from the real world.
> I have
> 2 great posts on the nature of newsgroups that are funny and informative -
> Email
> me and I will be happy to send them to you
> >
> >5. The adverse opinions I have seen on this NG, also took place in a few
> >meetings that I did attend.
>
> But at those meetings there is a face to what is said and consequences to
> what
> is said - some meetings are better than others and I hope you check some
> more
> out. I have seen rude and devicive people get themselves in a position
> where
> they feel unwelcome at meetings that they go to to cause trouble -
> consequences
> for their actions, and sometimes they own up to them and get better - that
> doesn't
> happen on a newsgroup - no need for folks to worry about what they say if
> they
> never meet face to face - I try to watch what I post and own up to when I
> am
> wrong because I hope to meet a lot of theses folks at this years World
> Convention.
>
> >
> >I might attend more meetings anyway. But I am clean because I chose to be.
>
> >The above scenarios really made me not dig the whole NA thing.......but I
> >will still consider it's redeeming qualities.
>
> I hope you will post what you have found that has improved you life -
> anybody
> who can arrest this disease has something to offer - even if it goes
> against some
> who make NA their dogma. I have found that when someone has learned
> something
> positive they can't help but enrich my life, even when I can't find
> anything that would
> apply to me - it can still provide hope.
> >
> >My point is that I would of embraced it more ( and I needed the help), if
> >these things were not constantly being blasted at me every time I came
> >near NA.
>
> Read the NA literature - get familiar with it so that when dogmatic members
>
> try to preach to you you can ask them why the literature doesn't agree -
> that
> worked for me because you are pointing out the irony of the difference
> between
> what you can read and what they preach - at least they may leave you alone
> so
> you can find more positive people who live the program - not just preach
> it.
> >
> >These are just my experiences.....so no stress replies please.
>
> I wish you well and thanks for sharing your experience.
>
> Love & Huggs,
> Jamie E.