[Businessmtg] Anonymity

[Dawn Werezak]

Hello Everyone,

Online anonymity is something that many of us find very comforting and gives us a false sense of security.  There are always ways to find out peoples identities when they are online.  We can each be traced via our IP addresses that our computers log us onto the net with, if someone chooses to do so.

Tradition 11 states:  Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, and TV. We need guard with special care the anonymity of all AA members. 

This does not mean we are anonymous to each other in the program.  Could we scare newcomers off from ASP by asking for an address?  Possibly.  However, if you each think about it, you all volunteered personal information to strangers when you asked to join ASP.  Remember the Inquiry Letter you received from our Greeters.  I can attest to the vast amounts of information that many of the people requesting to join our group send it.  I highly doubt if they are willing to give that much personal information to strangers then giving a physical address will be a big deal.  It is all in how you do the asking for many people.

So should this group decide that sending literature to newcomers I doubt that asking for an address will cause much of a blimp in their radar.  After all, how are they to know what is normal practice for this meeting?

Love and Serenity,
Dawn