Tradition 10 · October 26

They Assumed

Daily Traditions · October 26

The threat

She had a real grievance, and her lawyer was also a member. Bill W. called it the best story of its kind (A.A. pamphlet P-17). "A member, whose name and professional attainments are known on three continents, got hold of a letter which she thought damaged her professional reputation. She felt something should be done about this and so did her lawyer, also an A.A." What happens next is worth slowing down on, because nobody set out to involve A.A. at all (A.A. Comes of Age). "They assumed that both the public and A.A. would be rightfully angry if the facts were known." Assumed. Nobody voted, nobody was consulted, and two members simply took it as read that the fellowship stood behind them. The press did the rest (A.A. pamphlet P-17). "Forthwith, several newspapers headlined how Alcoholics Anonymous was rooting for one of its lady members — name in full, of course — to win her suit for libel." Then a radio commentator repeated it to an audience Bill put at twelve million people. "This again proved that the A.A. name could be used for purely personal purposes… this time on a nationwide scale."

Sit with

Two members with a genuine grievance simply assumed A.A. was behind them, and twelve million people heard that it was. What have I assumed a group's backing for without ever once asking the group?

Grounded in: P-17, p. 55.

Tradition 10

"Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."

Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.

And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.

What the Traditions actually say → The Long Form, p. 563 → Search the Big Book → Every day this month →

Ask Recovery Einstein about Tradition 10 → Get the app →

← October 25Cooperating Without Affiliating Tradition 10All of October October 27 →Those Blasted Traditions

Daily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).