One time I was going to my favorite meeting every week and a new fellow came and didn’t speak English very well. He Humbled himself And was in dire need of help and because I speak some Spanish I understood how to say his name perfectly. I repeated it and even spelled it on A piece of paper yet they started calling him Jose. I’ve done construction and I know what that means, sometimes On a construction site people call everyone that looks different Jose. I followed him to his car and we spoke and I gave him my number but I know he never came back to that meeting again. Last time I checked, Alcohol is an equal opportunity employer. But again, that was just one particular group of people, and just an example
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I just want to say thank you to everyone who has responded, I don’t care how people get and stay sober - it can be hard sometimes but as long as the intention is there with love and support we can do it. Sending love to you all. 
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Sober and working my recovery for the past 5 years. I drank and drugged for 40+ years. Definitely not white knuckling it or dry drunk and definitely never attended any meeting or specific program. I also am cigarette and nicotine free for going on 14 years, after smoking 3 packs a day for 30+ years. I don’t white knuckle that either and never consider or think about smoking. I feel the same about drinking. I am a non smoker and a non drinker. I don’t have any need or desire to focus on my recovery from nicotine or cigarettes, total non issue.
Not everyone follows the same path to sobriety and recovery and here on this forum that is 100% accepted and appreciated. AA is great for some and not for others and that is okay and accepted. I am grateful there are so many alternatives available to those of us who want to stop drinking. Finding what works for our selves is so important. I don’t believe sobriety or recovery is one size fits all. I learn a lot from the members here, those from the past 5+ years and the newer ones as well. This forum has been so helpful in educating, supporting and fostering community for me.
If anyone is interested in my story / recovery process, they can view my profile for links.
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Thank you for saying this.
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Just managed to resist the urge to edit that sentence to add the ‘is’ (all it means is…) so as not to undermine my point 
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I went to rehab at 26 and was sober until I was 44. No program. No relapse. Happy life. Letting the wrong person in my life and allowing myself to believe I no longer had a problem was probably the biggest mistake in my life. I knew better. Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic. I believe we all follow different paths with similar goals.
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This!!! Agree 100%!
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you do a terrible job of that whole “attraction not promotion” part aa ppl talk about
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Awww damn. I missed all the fireworks.
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May as well just have an open topic to discuss this in loop as it comes around monthly 
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No quicker way to the derailment void than the classic AA debate
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To be fair there are quite a few of them too🤣
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And you are appreciated for suggesting “try a meeting it worked for me” 
It’s the high horse attitude that is unappealing for many 
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Yeah. Even after all this time, I find Ray’s short and simple answer weirdly reassuring. 
You’re a cool dude, Ray!
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Anyway. Is AA religious? 
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Can I ask you sometijng Mike ?
What if someone stops using, doesn’t do churches or 12 step meetings, but starts Acceptance & Commitment Therapy ?
Can that person remain sober and recovering from your point of view ?
(As for scientific results : read it yourself : Google Scholar )
And, how do you define “recovery” ?
The “I’m right you’re wrong” attitude you are displaying is usually a strong part of an addicted mind …
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Some worship it in a dogmatic way.
So no, AA isn’t. Some AA’ers are.
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This is a really helpful statement, thank you.
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Hey now! Let’s kindly watch fat-shaming on this thread, or any thread for that matter. I understand it was light-hearted but bodies come in allllll shapes and “fat-bastard” is horribly derogatory
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