In western PA, 'cross-talk' is understood as starting a dialogue with another person while sharing during a discussion meeting.  Commenting on someone else's share is not discouraged, as long as it is a monologue.

If we couldn't comment on a perception by a newcomer that was incorrect, how could that person ever learn what our program is really about?  If someone had stated during a meeting that "this is a selfish program", or that we could "take what we want and leave the rest" (sadly this happens all too often...), do we not, as recovered alcoholics, have the responsibility to correct these misperceptions?  What if another newcomer took one of those statements to heart and tried to get sober by being selfish or selective?  Most likely, miserable failure to get sober will result, and then the newcomer starts telling people that AA doesn't work, when they never really tried the real AA at all.

Political correctness has had a terrible influence in AA; people are afraid to tell someone they're wrong because they don't want to offend anyone.  Well, opinions are like assholes: everyone's got one, and they all stink.  But there is only one AA program of recovery, and I feel responsible to communicate that program when I attend discussion meetings.  I try not to be confrontational or derogatory; love and tolerance is our code, after all.  But I can't idly sit by and let bad information be told to people who desperately want to get sober.

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