What If I Should Slip?

I ONCE read an article in the Grapevine entitled "Your Slip's Showing." This article seemed to me to reflect a slipper's view of what appeared to be the reaction of some of his fellow members of AA toward his slip. It hinted pretty plainly that the attitude of some, particularly those who had been fortunate enough not to slip since their acceptance of the AA program as a guide to lasting sobriety, embodied such poorly concealed reactions as impatience, intolerance, criticism, disgust, and even contempt for the unfortunate member whose slip showed. (What it showed, I shall in this article try to picture as I see it.)