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See related link: Foolie's 12 Questions

1. We admitted that we were powerless over acronyms and that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a thesaurus greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision turn our keyboards over to God, as we understood him.
4. Made a searching and fearless inventory of our hard drives.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to a programmer the exact nature of our wrongful spellings.
6. Were entirely ready to have an IS person remove all of the defective programs.
7. Humbly ask Him to remove our software.
8. Made a list of all persons we had not called and became willing to stay off the internet.
9. Made direct amends to those people whenever possible except when to do so would injure their computer.
10. Continued to take our hard drive’s inventory, and when it was wrong, deinstalled the program.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood him, praying only for the knowledge of his will for us, and the power not to go out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps we tried to carry out this message to other acrophobics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Chapter 1
Winfield’s Story
(One of Acrophobics Anonymous founders tells his story and recounts the beginning of Acro’s Anonymous)

I was one of the fortunate persons in the world; a loving mother and father, lots of friends, growing up in the country surrounded by mountains and a river, the idyllic life for a child if ever there was one. My first encounter with acronyms came when I was 8. I know some people start later, but for me that was where it all began. It was an innocent introduction to be certain, but once I found out about them, I was hooked for life.

In the third grade we were all given little cans that had the letters UNICEF on the sides. Not knowing what it was I asked the teacher to which she replied United Nations International Children’s Education Fund. Being only in the third grade, I forgot almost immediately what it stood for. When I got home from school that crisp autumn day I asked my mother what UNICEF stood for and she replied United Nationals Indecent Cartoon Elimination Foundation. Somehow that didn’t sound like what Mrs. Tiley told me earlier. I thought the word children was in the original version. But my mother never lied so she must be right. I queried my grandmother about UNICEF and told her my dilemma. Grandma was always nice and her answer surprised me and changed my life forever. She simply responded that UNICEF is an acronym and it doesn’t really matter what it means, just that it does good work. Well that settled things in my mind, you could put any combination of letters together and it doesn’t matter what it means!

I started using acros very slowly at first. Maybe say one or two a week. Oh, I was tempted to use even more because they were always in the news. Things like the CIA (comedic imbeciles acting) or the FBI (fraternal brotherhood, idiots). But I refrained, at least until I got out of junior high school.

By then my addiction was eating away at me. It crept into my very being. Everywhere I turned was a new acro waiting to be solved. In school I went to music class (most underestimate song’s interesting chorus’) or math (modeling algorithms that help). It crept into the radio that was Panama Red by NRPS (yes, the New Riders of the Purple Sage) and more recently INXS (innovative neat xylophone sound). And it’s getting even worse.

They told me that I was neglecting my job, I forgot I had one. They told me I was neglecting my son. When was HE born??? As I staggered through a haze of jumbled letters I began to think that there was no end in sight. Making matters even worse, Bezerk introduced Acrophobia and I was on it day and night.

When I passed out at the keyboard I would awaken to find that my game didn’t count because I didn’t get 5 points. Shame, guilt, remorse, envy all began taking bites out of my hide. I was as low as a fellow could get. I exited the game and headed to the Acrolounge to get a nap and a bite to eat.

It was there that I had a revelation! A white light shown all around. My monitor had gone to a white out. In desperation I rebooted, but still the white light persisted. I dropped to my knees and asked for help to get me away from this horrible, horrible addiction. My wife had long since left, so it came down to me and the BIG Fellow.

I can’t explain it but ever since that night I haven’t had the urge to acro. I now have an inner peace that is beyond compare. I even subscribed to the local paper again. Quite by accident I heard that a Codymaxx had a method for not playing acros again. I located her through Yahoo and sure enough she did. I was told that there was a group meeting that night if I wanted to attend.

I went to the meeting and found everyone was very pleasant. In fact there was a rollicking game of YDKJ going. They told me about the steps they used to overcome the desire to acro again. Not much more detail was given because they were in fierce battles playing YDKJ. When I left 7 hours later it was with a smile on my face because the desire for acros was gone. I’ve started a few meetings in the Baltimore area. Their times and locations are posted in the Acro lounge.

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Chapter 2
Briz’s Story
(An Acro Addict recounts the tragedies that have befallen her...)

On Fri.Dec. 5th 7:30am, we were ready to take the boys 2 school. I ran back in the house to grab something--my husband started HONKING. I thought, "Hurry, Briz, it's not worth a whole day of hearing how I made the kids late!" So, I RAN, really fast, and FELL UP our flagstone/stone stairs. I wound up tearing the ligament that runs inside the thumb joint. Got casted OUCH.

Then while filling the woodstove in the den, I caught my sore hand, leaned, burned my right pinkie on the door and, in attempt to right myself, managed to graze my left cheekbone on the top of the hot woodstove. I am, what we call in EMS, "a minor train wreck".

My doctor was thoughtful enuf to give me pain meds, so I actually have been acroing w/one hand since. My fellow players in the dungeon have been wonderful about my typos. Of course, I had to endure their lol's about my predicament!!!

I've been visiting Acro All Night but not posting. Gotta keep my hand ready for Bezerk!!

You'll find it amusing to know that my husband had the last laugh, in that he likes to joke, and blames the whole incident on my playing acro into the wee hours of Thursday night and being so Acro-hungover that I literally fell up the steps. LOL

You can edit and use this true story any way you want. Nobody could possibly believe it, but having a sense of humor, I find it hilarious. (in between grimacing in pain)....

A fellow addict,
Briz

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Chapter 3
tac's Story
Hold that Plane!

I was coming back to Ohio from San Francisco on Friday and had a little over an hour until my flight. I was about 50 feet from the gate, so I hooked the laptop up to the public phone, sat on the floor, and started playing. Right when I reached 30 points they announced final boarding call, and I ran over and asked a pilot who had just come back off the plane "can you fake an instrument malfunction while I do this Face Off?! It'll take 3 minutes!" He didn't get it...

tac

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Chapter 4
Rom's Sad Story
Acrophobia Ruined My Life

Well, it started out with a simple statement to my wife..... "Honey, I found a new game on the net you might like."

Introduction

My name is Rom. I have the greatest wife in the world. She's my best friend, my lover, my soul-mate... and she's yermama2!!!

A Little History

I've had one or more computers in the house since 1981. Yermama mostly left them alone. She would play an occasional game with me and the kids sometimes. That was about it. (She did get hooked on Centipede for awhile though!). Around the time I broke down and switched to an IBM-compatible, she started playing with it more and more. She had me write her some programs to use. That was cool. But I was still the main user of the computer.

The Net

Then I discovered the internet. It was so cool, I had to show everyone in the family. Yermama didn't want anything to do with it. "Too much clicking", she said. Then she got into aromatherapy, and I showed her how to join a list-server. Whoops, her computer use jumped a couple hundred-fold. At this time, the most heard phrase in our house wasn't "What's for dinner" anymore. It was "Can I check my e-mail?".

Acro Addiction

Then along came Acrophobia. Yermama2 tried it and liked it. She said she would never be able to play and chat at the same time though.... And she played, and played, and played some more. Now it's e-mail, acro, e-mail, acro all day and all night! She plays, chats, watches TV, talks on the phone all at the same time. Now when someone asks "Can I check my e-mail", the response is "Just let me play a couple more games first". When someone asks "What's for dinner", the response is "I don't know, order something!" She doesn't even want to go shopping like she used to. We went to my sister's for Christmas and she made me download Acro so she could play there! I woke up one morning to go to work, and she was just slinking into bed! I even had to use my son's slow computer to do these page, because she was playing ACRO! We never rent or go to the movies anymore (at least we’re saving money). When I tell a funny joke, yermama just smiles and says LOL, Rom.

Wrap Up

I remember when all I wanted was a second phone line. Now I need a third PC and a third phone line too!

Maybe I shouldn't complain. At least I know where she is, and she even lets me 'help' her sometimes.

Rom
Addendum from codymaxx: To witness the full extent of Rom's ruination, please visit the wonderful Acro Site from whence this story was stolen:

A.R.M.L. (Acrophobia Ruined My Life)

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Chapter 5
Pirus's Story
I Am An Acrophobiack

My name is Pirus and I am an Acrophobiack! I am addicted; I have been addicted since a week before Thanksgiving, I have made an acro reference book, I read the newspaper every morning for Current Events and any info that will help me with this game. I have a hard time leaving the house anymore; and when I do, all I can do is think about new words, letters, etc. It is so bad, when I drive; I check out the license plates of all the cars to see what acros I can make. I love this game. I would be delighted if you would use my story of Acro addiction because every word of it is true.

Pirus

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Chapter 6
Testimony of a Desperate Acrophobe
I must make it to a FACE OFF and become the VICTOR!

I myself suffer from the unfortunate symptoms of doh. I found myself thinking of a great word for the Acro 10 minutes after the fact and I thought to myself,"Darn it," (yep that's right I said DARN). "I shoulda' had these good words written down 'cause I just can't think under pressure," (or most other times either). So, I then started making a word list for, (doh) me. I bet your saying to yourself, "Why go through the bother, just stop playing the game, you SILLY NILLY," (yep, that's right, you're saying silly nilly).

Well, Here's the truth, I can't stop PLAYING. As a matter of fact, I've made it my personal mission to make it to FACE OFF and to become the VICTOR! I will play acrophobia until my eyes bug out and my fingertips bleed, every night until I win a game.

Well, now your thinkin' to yourself, "Hey I'd like to try that doggone list," (yep doggone). So the Acro Word List is on my web site, but to tell you the truth, it only helps a bit, but you can go ahead and give it a try.

My next endeavor will be a Categorically Correct Acro Word List, which I'm painstakingly trying to complete for my (doh) mission but of course, I'll share it with all of you Folks, (uh huh, I called you folks). I'm sure you will all want to be able to Congratulate me when, (and if ) I ever do make it to Face Off. So I'm going to Post my winning day at the very top of this page. I'll try my hardest to remember the Acros I used and some of the Acrophobes in that game. (I'm sure your gonna want to hear all the details, right?)

I'll also then and only then tell you my Acrophobia Name. I'm not gonna tell you my name till then 'cause I don't want no pity votes, (at least not just yet). Also I am way to humiliated and embarrassed of my obsession, but I always keep a promise and if I win, I'll reveal my name so you can all have some fun at my expense.

So remember to keep checking back to my web site for the new Lists and maybe, upon entering this site you may see your name up along mine, since you were there when I became ACRO CHAMPION for a full 30 seconds.

Anonymous Acrophobe

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Chapter 7
The Trials And Tribulations Of Being An Acro Addict
I really don't have a problem after all?

At first I didn't realize that I had a problem. You could say I was completely unaware of the fact. It wasn't until it was getting to 5 o'clock every morning, that I realized something was wrong!

I finally admitted to myself that I had a problem. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but also one of the best. That feeling of knowing that something is wrong, scares you at first, but then you realize that it's all for a good cause.

The fact that I'm now a member of AA (Acrophobiacs Anonymous) has really helped me. Apart from the fact that I'm no longer anonymous! But that doesn't matter anymore, because I know that there are plenty more of us out there. (Well, I hope so anyway!)

I am now an accomplished player at Acrophobia and have to say, that it's all thanks to the wonderful fact that I'm addicted! So, in actual fact, you could say that I really don't have a problem after all!!!!!!! I'd even go so far to say that I'm as happy as a Circus Clown.

Blaise

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Chapter 8
Acro Burn-out
I am an acroholic...

Late in 1997, a good friend of mine who I thought was a loser becase he spent most of his free time on the 'net introduced me to a letter game. This was, of course, our beloved Acrophobia. I played for little more than fifteen minutes the first time I was there simply because I didn't have any more time; but the passion grew. Two months later, I flew to LA to stay with a friend for a very important business meeting early February, 1998. He had a seperate phone line for an internet connection for a computer that he never used; this is where the trouble started. I was a new internet user, and intended to play with it for just a few minutes.

Within just a few clicks of the mouse, I wound up back at the Acrophobia site. I downloaded the install file, and got right to playing. I had logged on at about five in the evening. He bothered me around nine to come for diner, which I declined. As I noticed that I was getting more and more tired, I called into the other room for him to get me some coffee. Sleepy-eyed, and in a foul mood, he came in and said, "It's 3am..... Get it Yourself!" I was shocked at how long I had been playing, but rather than abandon my game, I decided to do without the cup of joe. The next day, I skipped the meeting I was flew down for. When he returned with a friend, I was STILL playing. Later, they asked if I had eaten anything and I told them, "No." They were kind enough to bring back some take-out from Taco Bell; this was about 4pm. I again played thru the night, and on into the morning. At 8 am, he reminded me that I needed to get ready for my flight home later that day. I continued to play for another hour or so before I noticed how difficult it was to type with my hands shaking so badly. I made up my mind that I would only play to the end of the round; this never happened.

I started feeling dizzy as I congratulated myself for making Face-Off in my last game. And just as the three letter acro appeared, I experienced what felt like the chair being spun out from underneath me! I tried to fight to regain balance, but to no avail as everything went black. When I regained consciousness, it was again getting dark. I had missed my meeting, and I had missed my flight home. vvcI had played Acrophobia for more than 32 hours straight, and had been awake for more than 44. Fortunately, the people at United were very accomodating. My former cowrokers, however, were a different story.

It was close to six months before I signed onto Acrophobia again. Since then, I have moderated myself to no more than five hours of acros a day. I live at home now, and this has really helped. I am an acroholic, and I play almost every night, but I now play with considerably more attention to control. I never thought I could be worse than that friend who introduced me to 'net games so many months ago.

ACe.Cat