R U Anonymous?

Does Anonymity Matter...... Everywhere?

A while back, I was on a campout in the rain. It rained all weekend, so the traditional AA camp was replaced with 4 or 5 drunks huddling in the only camper there talking about our lives in Alcoholics Anonymous. The subject of anonymity came up and some of the people there really felt that it had its time in AA, and that they were ok allowing celebrities and any others to break their anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV and films. “Anonymity”, they said, “is a dinosaur.” It was important in our past, but had no place in modern AA.

I argued my thoughts, talking about the situations that had occured historically with those breaking their anonymity and how favorable press can quickly become unfavorable, and how people often judge AA based on their oppinions of the members involved in anonymity breaks; if they think poorly of the member, then they often think poorly of AA.

What was most memorable about that discussion was that everyone really shared their opinons frankly, regardless of what everyone thought.

Ever since then, when discussion about anonymity breaks comes up, I think about the varying ideas about anonymity and its relevance today.

Kudos to the Grapevine this month in addressing an obvious concern of anonymity breaks in social media.

Now that social media has become such a mainstream part of society, we find that our “fellowshipping” has taken on a whole new form. AA has made the transition to the internet, but now that our interactions on social media sites takes our interactions and makes them public, our tradition of anonymity has been under fire like it never has been. Online groups exist where the name and picture of the members is open for all to see, members publicly anounce their affilliation with Alcoholics Anonymous, anniversary dates, events and other aspects about our fellowship for everyone to see.

The folks at GSO seem to be attempting to address the subject at conferences and regional forums, but keeping the membership informed of the traditions and the unintended consequences of breaking them is not an easy task.

When tough subjects like this come up, often times the best answer is Sponsorship. Lets talk about this problem and address it with people we know. We’ve always joked about the proverbial “AA police,” but in fact all members of AA are the AA police. When issues come up in AA, they are solved by “sharing experience, strength and hope”. Now is the time for members of AA experienced in the Traditions to work to inform our members how anonymity remains relevant and how to respect our Traditions in our ever changing world.

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