Anthropological Study

[gcouch3]

I am a student at Kennesaw State University, not an alcoholic, who is researching coffee and its affects on alcoholics and AA meetings. Any Alcoholics out there who would like to take a survey please follow the link. I very much appreciate it. Garrett

[jak]

If anyone sends a post to this board which contains a link to another site, it's almost certain to be deleted by a moderator.

This is a standing guideline the moderators are working within.

If you want your post to remain, don't include a link. Not even to another online AA group.

This particularly includes links in profile signatures. If your profile's signature contains a link to an external site, I'd strongly suggest removing it otherwise all your posts are liable to be deleted.

The most notable exceptions are links to elsewhere within e-AA, and links to "official" AA or Al-anon sites (such as aa.org, aa-uk.org, etc.).

If you really must have a link to somewhere else, e.g. a personal weblog, your personal profile is the appropriate place to put it.

This is posted in the START HERE section.

You can delete the link yourself and edit the post to ask interested members to PM you for the link.

jim k

[lisar]

Good heavens, what next? This topic has no place here. I drank as much or more coffee sitting at my desk at work than I do in meetings. Why don't you do some research on how to cure cancer in children?

[ann2]

Snicker, too funny Lisa. Coffee has the same effect in AA meetings as it does anywhere else, I would imagine except of course for the "half-full" tradition for jittery newcomers.

Ann

[Karl R]

There's a wonderful little AA pamphlet called "let's be friendly with our friends"

http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-34_let ... lywith.pdf

I would hope any AA would at some point read this and also that any researcher in the field of alcoholism would take the time to become familiar with our twelve traditions as well as this pamphlet. The point is that we in AA do cooperate with our friends in other fields such as medical research, or even anthropology.

In doing so we perserve our member's personal anonymity with a passion...we leave outside issues(such as alcoholism and coffee research) outside of AA so as to stick to our primary purpose....

Doctor Silkworth was a nonalcoholic working in the field of alcoholism. He was one of our friends and we cooperated with him. Now coffee research in anthropology may be a stretch but then again...maybe not.

How many of us started service in AA by making coffee. How many arguments have you seen in AA over coffee?(I've seen a few). Have you ever offered a cold wet 1 day sober drunk a warm cup of coffee and a chair at the table in a meeting? Coffee and handshakes. That's part of what we do in AA. If a nonalcoholic researcher want's to look at why-why not allow him a quiet space here so that any alcoholic who wishes can PM him. Like Dr. Silkworth he may learn something useful.

The last paragraph of the pamphlet is interesting.

So let us work alongside all these projects of promise to hasten the recovery of these millions who have not yet found their way out. These varied labors do not need our special endorsement; they need only a helping hand when, as individuals, we can possibly give it.

There is another piece of AA literature which describes the special relationship between AA and the researcher. It is at http://www.aa.org/en_pdfs/smf-143_en.pdf

Garrett....please read the literature I've provided. it may save you running afoul of our traditions.

cheers,
karl

[Blue Moon]

I am a student at Kennesaw State University, not an alcoholic, who is researching coffee and its affects on alcoholics and AA meetings. Any Alcoholics out there who would like to take a survey please follow the link. I very much appreciate it. Garrett

Hi Garrett,

I believe your study could be distorted, as only a proportion of alcoholics have a problem with caffeine, and there's not really much correlation. It would be like sudying the effects of pollen on a church choir - the words "does not compute" spring to mind even if one or two choir members interrupt practice by sneezing from hayfever.

This thread belongs in the "if it doesn't fit anywhere else" forum. It's not appropriate in the alcoholism recovery discussion forum.

[Karl R]

moved from "discussion" to "if it doesn't fit..." (K.)

[lisar]

Ann stated:

"Snicker, too funny Lisa."

Thanks, Ann ((((taking a bow))) but I really wasn't trying to be facetious.

Ann also stated:

"Coffee has the same effect in AA meetings as it does anywhere else, I would imagine except of course for the "half-full" tradition for jittery newcomers."

Why not send an astranaut to the moon with a cup of coffee? Now, that would be a study.

[hazel4]

I totally agree with Lisa here. According to their website, Kennesaw Uni is one of the largest and best in GA, but to create a subject connecting the effect of coffee on alcoholics leaves much to be desired in my 'umble opinion. The c.v. for future employers and subsequent interviews - if any - could prove 'interesting'!

We have a Fifth Tradition that suggests, "Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers". Nothing suggests diverting our message elsewhere or corrupting it with side issues

Yes, I am irritated by the thought of my alcoholism being analysed by one who has no idea of the subject, although, as a student will possibly have some expertise on coffee!

I should like to wish you luck in your studies Garrett, but I am not yet clear of distrust of 'outsiders' However, I appreciate your honesty and I apologise to you...and all here, if my reaction emerged too strongly.

Peace

Hazel

[jak]

I just took the survey. It is simple and non offensive. Mulitple choice selections on just a few questions. It took three minutes of my time.

It is just a college kid taking a quick glance at one small segment of the world.

Good luck in your studies Garrett

jim k

[hazel4]

Reading Jim's reassurances I unreservedly apologise, Garrett.

I have seen too much of Outsiders (My term, not AAs) who use this genuine and potentially terminal disease to promote gossip and amusement.

Good luck, sincerely this time.

Peace

Hazel

[gcouch3]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to try to post the link to my private profile if anyone wants to partake in the future. I also have articles about the subject that I will post in case anyone is interested. thanks again, Garrett

[gcouch3]

Well I was able to post the survey to my profile but not the additional ariticles. If anyone is interested, just message me and I will send the articles that way. thanks again, Garrett

[Steven F]

Well, I took the survey, but I'm not sure where you want to go with the answers. I do some occasional research myself, and it seems to me that you are at risk of confusing position with fact-finding. This is not meant as offence, but as friendly advice. I'll PM you my thoughts...

The bottom line is: the "coffee" in meetings is - at least as I see it, others may disagree - not about the caffeine but about belonging to a group. Someone has to buy the coffee, someone has to make it, someone has to clean the cups, ... You'll have a hard time finding anything useful about caffeine and alcohol addiction (unless you want to go some medical route, or wish to prove or disprove an existing position). You might get a lot further talking about "coffee" (symbolic for any beverage that is provided by the group for the group) as an element of group dynamics and practical implementation of the traditions of AA (if you want to go that route, but you will quickly get bogged down there, not being a fellow).

Granted, that is probably not anthropology, but I sincerely don't think there is much anthropology in AA. But that, of course, might also be a great conclusion to a study .

[Steven F]

Someone remind me not to put time in this kind of requests anymore. My answers to the bloke/gal are still sitting in my outbox...