[dwmoeller]

N is for No must in AA, but there are a lot of "you darned well betters."

All the literature and traditions of the fellowship of AA are gentle, nonjudgmental, and persuasive. There aren't any must. There are no "Thou Shalt Nots" in the AA Big Book or the Twelve and Twelve. AA members and AA groups are free to do as they wish. AA, which is more than 50 years old, is a distillation of the experiences, good and bad, of millions of people. So when the wisdom of AA or the group conscience recommends not doing something or not going somewhere, you are well advised not to do it or not to go there. It is worthwhile listening to the fellowship, because there there is no problem, no situation, and no feeling you may experience that many people before you haven't already experienced and survived sober. "Stick with the winners" remains very good advice, even if what the winners do doesn't quite seem to be your cup of tea at the moment.