Life With Sports Bets Only

Kim/Rubbish/Stumper/Jas

Thanks for posts folks.

Another day of no random gambling today (in fact no gambling at all). Not being complacent but think I'm over my crazy spell.

Hi Captain

Glad to see you are feeling confident.Its a hard day today m8.But im sure you can do it Stay strong Jeff.

Evening Captain.

I hope you managed another gamble free day yesterday (Saturday).

No need for a bet on the game today mate. England v Germany can be enjoyed for the sheer spectacle.

Have a nice Sunday mate.

Evening Captain,

How are things mate? Hope you are managing to stay 'random' free.

Post soon mate.

Capt

Was interested in your views of GA in tonight's chat. You come over as someone who is "not slow in coming forward"!!! Therefore hope you don't mind me asking this question. But was being put in the "spotlight" at the meeting, as some form of ploy (possibly misguidely) for you to face up to your gambling issues? Did you mention you were gambling but in a controlled manner and this caused what appears to have been an interogation as opposed to a self help group discussion?

Thanks

RayG

ps your comment the other night about saying things as they are, but only to those who can handle it! Struck a cord with me!!!

Hi RayG

Thanks for post. I cant find your diary so posting this on my own, hope you read it.

Been good to chat to you a few times recently.

You are right I am the type of person to say what I think and some people dont like that. I am also 100% honest about what I do and dont do and amounts of money I have quoted although some people choose not to believe that.

Anyway re my experience of GA, I would describe it like a courtroom with a judge, the judge plays God and tells of how a lot of folk in the room used to be sinners (gamblers) and are now cured and have seen the light. So for me (as a newcomer and a sinner/gambler) and others like me, we were picked on and questioned as to what we do, why, why are we being so stupid, there is a better life out there etc etc.

If this advice had come across as constructive guidance it would have maybe been ok, but when I tried to engage in some conversation I was told 'Dont answer back son, just listen'. When I defied this and starting conversing, the 'judge' says ' You dont really want to stop gambling do you?'. I said No, I just want to control it...it all then got out of hand, they kinda gave up on me and focused on the next newcomer/sinner.

I was put on the spot to stand up in front of a room of over 40 people and talk about my gambling experiences and then told not to answer and then effectively dispersed as 'Guilty with no hope'. I tried another meeting a couple of years later, different judge, similar scenario, but I didnt bother answering back this time, just listened, took copies of their literature and left. Its just not an environment which was helpful for me at all, not like on here.

Having said all of that, GA works very successfully for many people and I wouldnt put anyone off. We are all individuals although we have similar problems and we each need to do anything we can to control or eliminate the illness.

Hmmmmm,YES!!!

I have seen that type of meeting too Cap and i can only put it down to (having persevered and been to a LOT of meetings) a lack of understanding within the group on what GA literature is all about.

GA does indeed promote complete abstinence and i guess in GA,s eyes that is the safest bet (now theres a freudian slip,LOL).

The problem for SOME and i do use the word some people within the meetings is EVERY meeting has newcomers,sometimes a big influx of them (usually after Ascot or Xmas,LOL)and sometimes a trickle and again my observations have been as follows.

A newcomer enters the room for the first time and is welcomed in and given a bit of one to one in a separate room (this is my type of group anyway),then in the second half of the meeting they join in with the main group.They are told that they can speak if they want but do not HAVE to,they can just listen in at others sharing experiences etc.

Some newcomers choose to speak and some dont,what i,ve found though is the end result can often be the same,in otherwords a newcomer who pours his/her heart out and gives some feedback to the group that they are glad they came DOESNT come back the next week BUT the person that sits,listens and says nothing,SAME RESULT!!!!,they dont come back either,this leaves the group feeling deflated and for a few angry,never quite got that anger reaction mind you and so you can see how it can be frustrating for the group to spend a lot of time with a newcomer for them to think (and this is only a guess) ahh stuff it,i cant be arsed going back there.

but looking at it from THEIR viewpoint it could be that A.they are nowhere near as bad (gambling wise) as the people in the room and so they feel they dont need to come back,OR B.they are as bad as those in the rooms but cant see how sitting around discussing how their week has been and reading passages from recovery books is going to help them solve their gambling problem.

And now for the big one,quite a few of the longer standing members have seen this A.B. scenario over and over again and so not on purpose i must add they appear and act a little stand-offish,its almost like if a newcomer passes the 90 day take some stick test,THEN!!!! they get to see the real GA,it is kind of a defence mechanism to protect the group from deviating too much into a big "how we used to gamble",big wins,losses,odds etc and i must admit i found it that way with me a little.

Of course i was and still am a strong character so i fought my corner at various times but i guess one thing we have to take into account is NOBODY in GA is an expert but some of them who've stayed "clean" for a good while like to think they are and those people should try and remember the delicate states newcomers are often in when they walk through them doors.

I suppose the total conclusion would be it depends how much you want to quit gambling completely, how much damage gambling has done to your mental well being,how much more your willing to take AND how good the mix of people there are in your local GA in order to respond WELL to your immediate needs,human nature is a complex thing whether you gamble or not, some people click and relate,some dont.

All the best Cap,

"" A NEW LIFE ""

I find everyday life relates to both of the last two posts...some people dont like routine..and I may be wrong but CGs in particular hate routine...(or at least the begining of, any kind of,)...

I chuckled though when I read about GA...(I know I shouldnt, but my sense of humour seems to get the better of me)....

Any kind of understanding of a problem really does help!!... (logical aproach sounds good though)..

Stay strong.

£fast life.

Sorry Captain...I never explained that I have never attended a meeting...but I think I would be uncomfortable with the whole process, I kind of cringed when I read about your experiences with it..and I think that I would feel the same way if I went to 1...anyway for now I am doing fine, so I have no immediate urgency to go to GA...

.....

Aye Aye Captain. Cheers for the post pal. Always good to hear from you.

Glad you are steering clear of that nonsensical betting you were partaking in recently.

Not long until the footy season starts now mate. Everton were back in pre-season training on Thursday albeit flying straight to Australia. The start of the season always seems a bit closer once the lads are back.

Stay strong until then mate and then concentrate your efforts on a profitable year betting within your specialist area.

Just stay away from that virtual s***e between now and then mate.

Ok?

Morning Captain,

glad to read things are turning around for you...keep it going eh?

TC

Kim xx

Hi Kim

Thanks for dropping by to check on me. I'm certainly in a better place than I was a few weeks ago but I need to make big decisions post World Cup I feel.

Sometimes when we sit back and weigh up the pros and cons, the big decisions in life are the easiest ones of all Captain.

all the best

Stumper

Hi Captain

I dont bet anymore,so as someone who studies the football kid.Tell me if my beloved Man city are worth the odds for next years premiership and more importantly do you think we will win it lol.

Im glad you are doing so well lately kid keep it up .All the best Jeff.

Captain,

pleased to read that things are more settled for you at the moment,i have put a post on my diary about my GA experience.

Seano.