What is the A.A. guideline about anonymity (not using names)?
Traditionally, A.A. members have always taken care to preserve their anonymity at the “public” level: press, radio, television, and films. In the early days of A.A., when more stigma was attached to the term “alcoholic” than is the case today, this reluctance to be identified — and publicized — was easy to understand. As the Fellowship of A.A. grew, the positive values of anonymity soon became apparent. First, we know from experience that many problem drinkers might hesitate to turn to A.A. for help if they thought their problem might be discussed publicly, even inadvertently, by others. Newcomers should be able to seek help with assurance that their identities will not be disclosed to anyone outside the Fellowship. Then, too, we believe that the concept of personal anonymity has a spiritual significance for us — that it discourages the drives for personal recognition, power, prestige, or profit that have caused difficulties in some societies. Much of our relative effectiveness in work
