Anonymity – Why and what for?
What is the purpose of anonymity in Alcoholics Anonymous? Why is it so often referred to as the greatest single protection the Fellowship has to ensure its continued existence and growth? If we look at the history of A.A. from its beginnings in 1935 until now, it becomes clear that anonymity serves two different, yet equally vital, functions:
At a personal level, anonymity ensures the protection of all members from being identified as alcoholics, a safeguard often of particular importance to newcomers; at the level of the press, radio, television, films and other technological media such as the Internet. A.A. anonymity stresses the equality of all members of the Fellowship, curbing those who might otherwise exploit their A.A. affiliation to achieve recognition, power or personal gain.
Anonymity at a personal level
From its earliest days, A.A. has promised personal anonymity to all who attend its meetings. Its founders and first members, themselves also recovering alcoholics, knew from experience the shame most alcoholics feel about drinking and their fear of public exposure. The social stigma of alcoholism was great and the first A.A. members recognized that a firm guarantee of confidentiality was essential if they were to succeed in attracting and helping other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Over the years, anonymity has proved to be one of the greatest gifts that A.A. has to offer the suffering alcoholic. Without it, many would never have attended their first meeting. Although the stigma has eased to certain degree, most of the newcomers still find admitting their alcoholism so painful that it is only possible in a protected environment. Anonymity is essential for this atmosphere of trust and openness.
Anonymity at the public level
After its first few years of success, the Fellowship attracted very positive press attention. Articles praising A.A. appeared in magazines and newspapers all over the country. With each new article, the number of A.A. members increased. At that time, everyone still feared the consequences of public disclosure, so the first press coverage preserved the anonymity of the members for safety's sake.
As public awareness of alcoholism increased, the stigma decreased and soon some members began to make their A.A. affiliation public in the media. One of the first to do so was a famous football player whose rehabilitation was so spectacular that the newspapers devoted special attention to his triumphant battle against alcohol. Believing that he could help A.A. by revealing his affiliation, he talked about it openly. Even A.A.'s founders approved of his actions simply because they had not yet experienced the price of such publicity.
Then other members decided to break their anonymity at media level, some motivated by goodwill, others by personal interest. Some members devised ploys to associate their A.A. affiliation with all sorts of business activities: insurance, sales, places known as "detox farms" and even a temperance magazine, to name but a few.
It wasn't long before the central services realized that those who broke their anonymity in an attitude of overzealousness and self-promotion could quickly endanger the Fellowship's hard-earned reputation. And they realized that if one person was the exception, other exceptions would inevitably follow. To ensure A.A.'s unity, effectiveness and well-being, anonymity had to apply to everyone. It safeguarded everything A.A. stood for.
More recently, the arrival of new forms of electronic communication, such as social media, offers new ways to bring A.A.'s message to the public. Modern communications flow in very technological ways, with a relatively open scope and evolving rapidly. The protection of anonymity is a major concern for A.A. members who access the Internet in ever-increasing numbers.
By stressing the equality of all A.A. members and the unity of their shared commitment to recover from alcoholism, anonymity acts as the spiritual foundation of the Fellowship. In 1946, Bill W., our co-founder, wrote: "The term 'anonymous' has an enormous spiritual significance for us. In a subtle but emphatic way, it reminds us that we must always place principles before personalities; that we have renounced personal glorification in public; that our movement not only proclaims but also practices true humility."
In short:
- A.A. members may reveal their identity and speak as recovering alcoholics in radio, television and Internet interviews without violating the Traditions, as long as they do not reveal the fact that they belong to the A.A. Fellowship.
- A.A. members can speak as A.A. members as long as their names or faces are not revealed. They do not speak for A.A. but as individual members.