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"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."  (Henny Youngman)

Letters

Hello James,

I was one of the first to congratulate you on your decision to stop your work and presently, I'd like to be one to tell you it is OK to change your mind and good for you!   What you are doing is what I would call soul work...ever shifting...every changing. I hope you lead a long and happy life doing just that...soul searching.

Live well,

Denise

Denise,

You are very kind to take the time to write to me again. I would love to hear more from you if at all possible.

Thank you so much,

J a m e s  G

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Hi James,

I've just watched your video "An Inventory". I disagreed with much of what you said in it, but there was one piece that I'd like to take you up on. You said that you disagree with Agent Orange's assertion that AA has a zero success rate. This surprised me, because this is about the most statistically provable argument in the whole debate. Orange outlines this far better than I ever could, but every properly conducted longitudinal study shows that (at best) five per cent of AAers stay sober for a year. Five per cent of people who seek no help with their drink problem stay sober for a year. Funnily enough, every form of treatment, when properly analysed, comes up with the same five per cent!

[I could also bring into the equation the millions of people who have beaten their addictions quietly through moderation. These people generally do it on their own, certainly not through AA. AA undermines any hope you have of doing this through the nonsense of Step 1].

To have a success rate, AA has to come up with better than five per cent. Five per cent is not success. Your video has the influence of AA all over it in this regard. Ignore the facts, and make glib assertions about AA helping people. Any improvements you see in people is NOT because of AA. These people statistically would have quit anyway. Now they have the added burden of being told they are powerless and diseased. Is it any wonder that they end up on the most almighty benders when they go back to the booze.

Love most of what you're doing James. That video took me aback a little. But I wish you all the best with your life, and congratulate you on your efforts.

John

John,

Thanks for the letter and agreed - see the front page of my site.

I hope that clears things up - your letter was most helpful - thanks.

J a m e s  G

PS I am not sure if I have heard from you before - it would be good to hear more about your experience.

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Hi James,

Thank you for thinking along the same lines as myself.

The 12 steps drove me insane. The notion of powerlessness kept me a victim for almost 8 years and if I hadn't found the courage of my convictions to break free I believe that notion of powerlessness would have led to an early grave.

I found your website through the yahoo forum 'without AA'. Excellent site by the way.
I am UK based in Somerset and rather like yourself I am on a mission to uncover the true nature of the 12 steps. At present I am in the process of setting up an SOS meeting in Glastonbury, Somerset.

This is a short message because I am rather busy today but if we can help each other in any way then that would be cool.

Take it easy. Andy (a sober sane(ish) livin life to the max guy)

Bye 4 now.

Hello,

Thank you for your email. Yes that notion of powerlessness kept me in the dark and just that powerless over my own life and thoughts for almost the same time. The point you make about a belief in powerlessness leading to an early grave is one of the reasons I set up this site. It is such a self-defeating belief that people should know about, both in AA and outside of it. All the dogma aside, it is one of the most destructive and lethal aspects of the AA program. Well done for breaking free.

I need to spend some more time on the forums and I am a big fan of the Without AA Forum. I like the vain of the posts on there and I think it is a nice little group. (Anyone who has not checked it out for themselves should go there now.)

When you have some more time it would great to hear more about your story and how you ended up where you are. Keep us posted on the meeting – I might show my face there one day, and if we can post any info about it on the site please do not hesitate to ask.

Regards,

J a m e s  G

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James,

Look forward to your posting.  Have enjoyed your site and videos.

I'm glad the fuss over at 12SF is over-it can get a little heated and
I think taking care in how questions are asked is a necessity.  I'm
glad cooler heads prevailed and you decided to stick around.  You are
quite an asset.

Denny

Denny,

Thank you for taking the time to welcome me – it did get heated over there but they listened to me and challenged me and that has been helpful to me and them, I hope. I quite like the challenge, although I did feel like throwing my dummy out of the pram on a number of occasions. Things are inevitably going to get heated especially when some of us are still going through the process of deprogramming. It has helped me to see how important it is to remain vigilant with my own thoughts and be aware when the program is creeping back in. The forum have been very supportive of my decision to keep the site open, and I have respect for many of the members there. All is well now.

Thank you for the compliments, but I think we are all assets in this. Anyone willing to speak out and help highlight the dangers of the Steps and Anonymous fellowships is helping people.

Stay in touch,

J a m e s  G

PS I made a video about the danger of labels like you suggested. Have you seen it? It is on the opening page of the site or on Youtube.

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Hi James.

I have seen that you are closing your site.
Why?
You seem to be displaying a huge u-turn and justifying it by running away?

I never really changed my views on AA, I just sort to look at the positives as well as the negatives. The feedback I have received from doing this has helped me reach the conclusion that to do so is ultimately going to be futile. The conclusion I reached was that in the end AA harms people so any ‘good’ it may do along the way means nothing. That is what I learned by making that post, so in that respect I do not regret it.

The thing with an opposing view is that you have to maintain a line of opinion, which AA does and so does Orange. However,Orange isn't obeying the rules of self promotion, he attracts people  through links to other sites, such as yours.

I have always been willing to change my views provided people prove them wrong and I believe they are wrong. I will continue to have an open-mind but in future I shall be clear that I am questioning these things rather than forcing my views on them. The way that post was written on the 12 Step Free Forum made it sound like I was trying to tell people how to think, and in all honesty I think I was for a moment. I got carried away and for that I apologise. Perhaps it was self-promotion; I cannot be sure.

You are closing a door on an opinion in an act of drawn out self censorship - your view point will be replaced and mirrored I hope [your initial viewpoint].
Are you finally admitting that you were wrong about AA? You say that 3 months before you were banging on about AA in a pro manner - this is usual, I have done it my self - then you reached a crescendo where you were anti AA, now you are back looking at AA in a positive light.?Or perhaps you are just confused.

I think I have been confused recently and I accept that. My viewpoint remains very similar to my initial one. The be all and end all is that I do believe AA is harmful and I want to highlight these dangers. There is enough good things said about AA by both its members and people who support it – I do not need to their job for them. I never wanted to see in a positive light, I simply wanted to explore what good points AA has, but what is written above shows that that is pointless.

A quote on your letters page is amazing in its complexity:-

"I am soon to be closing down the site, simply because I have found my truth and feel no need to prove it, but in the dying days of the site I do hope to encourage everyone else involved in this not to consider their truth, but to try and help those AA members who seek the truth to find theirs, and not to push our views on them too much.  "

You hope to encourage people not to consider there truth? How do you do that? Drive them to a meeting and say nothing in the car?

Ha ha – very good point.

Are you saying that you have been foolish? I don't think you have - brave and self indulgent with your last video,yes. It's not all about being told what you want to hear mate - people with strong opinions will hopefully tell you differently.

It was brave, but I don’t think it was wise hence the video has been removed. I like the challenge but I can’t continue to support a view once I know it is wrong. I have always made it clear I am exploring these things as much as I am trying to show people anything. I doubt it will be the last time I am wrong.

As a sober alcoholic etc I would have to say that maybe you are having problems exterior to the website - if so, I hope you get sorted and that this stuff isn't turning you back to whatever "fix" we type of people seem to lust after.

Life is all good – I just had to ask these things to be sure of them myself and I have learned from the experience. Thank you for taking the time to write to me and for all the support you have shown the site since it was launched.

Roger cam b

all the best!

J a m e s  G

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Wow...AA sounds amazingly close to Scientology.
You hit the nail right on the head when you pointed out there's more money in ineffective (but promising) help. It's a shock when you start to get your head free from a delusion. Things can only get better - unless they get worse, hmm? Admire your style.(I do)

(In response to the best of Blamedenial video)

Yes I am researching Scientology at the moment – there are many parallels.  And it is a shock for many people to reach these conclusions which nearly kept me in that place.

Thank you for the compliments on my style. I am still just starting out in the whole arena of video making but I do enjoy it even though the subject matter is a little disturbing!

J a m e s  G

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Comments on Videos:

That was exceptionally well done, someone who is struggling with this addiction for 15 years now..I wish I would of seen shit like this when I first picked up....Help is out there people. PLEASE SEEK IT!

I hope more people do get to see the reality of addiction and that AA and NA make that reality even more terrifying, and keep us in that self-defeating place forever.

Thank you for your comments,

J a m e s G

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Dude, you must be a junkie or been closely effected by it, because that was right on. I know because I am a junkie.

Have a view of the site and that will answer your quesrions.

Thank you for writing to me.

J a m e s G

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"It's not just a hit, it's a way of life"....very very true. Brilliant video, I am a former heroin addict and it certainly got my attention. What is the name of the classical music piece you have used in it?

The classical piece was by Mozart called Carmina Burana.

Thank you for your message.

J a m e s G

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damn. brilliant vid... .thanks for scaring the shit out of me!

Glad you thought the video was good - did not mean to scare you too much.

J a m e s G

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