Tradition 10 · October 23

Naturally Aggressive People

Daily Traditions · October 23

The threat today

Tradition 10 asks the most of the people who love a fight, which is most of us, and it asks for one reason: the drunk. Bill W. did not pretend otherwise (A.A. Comes of Age): "Considering how most of us have really loved controversy, this denial of the privilege of attacking something or somebody in public is no small achievement for the naturally aggressive people that we are." Controversy means a public argument. Naturally aggressive: he meant us. Giving up the right to go after someone in public is a real sacrifice, and Bill wrote it down as one. He also wrote what it buys (A.A. pamphlet P-17, p. 50): "We abstain from public controversy and will not quarrel among ourselves about those things that so rip society asunder — religion, politics and reform. We have but one purpose: to carry the A.A. message to the sick alcoholic who wants it." Rip society asunder means tear it apart. The sick alcoholic who wants the message might be on either side of any of those three fights. Today the fight comes into the room through the shares: the news of the week, a politician's name, a sneer at somebody's church. Test it tonight: listen for anything said in your meeting that a newcomer from the other side would take as a door closing.

Sit with

Tradition 10 is a sacrifice made by people who love a fight, so the sick alcoholic on either side can walk in. What fight do I bring into my meeting?

Grounded in: A.A. Comes of Age (Tradition Ten); P-17, p. 50 (Bill W.).

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 →

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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).