First and foremost it is a sign of humility for the newcomer to prioritize listening over sharing. New members generally know very little about living a healthy, sober life and the only way to learn from the experience of others is to listen to them.
It is not appropriate to share about problems that do not relate to alcohol in AA (or sex addiction in SA). A common faux pas committed by newcomers is to share whatever is going on in their lives instead of speaking on topic. Also, the experience of newcomers generally consists of drug/porn use and not with sobriety. As a result, their shares are often "war stories", or nostalgic recollections of past use.
Also, the experience of newcomers generally consists of drug/porn use and not with sobriety. As a result, their shares are often "war stories", or nostalgic recollections of past use.
No matter what your addiction is, it is considered a sign of respect to introduce yourself as an addict to the substance that the meeting addresses. For example, even if your drug of choice is pornography, you should introduce yourself as an alcoholic at an AA meeting.
Cell phones should be silenced or turned off at the beginning of the meeting. If you receive an important phone call you should take it outside, but this should be avoided if possible.
It is also considered rude to get up once the meeting begins. If you need to get coffee, go to the bathroom, or smoke, do it before the meeting begins. People moving around can be very distracting to those who are sharing.
Most meetings do not permit crosstalk, or directly addressing the comments of others. Instead, shares should be confined to the topic at hand and how it relates to your own experience. If crosstalk is permitted the chairperson will say so at the beginning of the meeting.
Talking to neighbors during the meeting is disrespectful to whoever is sharing. Public speaking can provoke a lot of anxiety in some people. Not only are side conversations distracting, but they convey the message that attendees are not listening to what the speaker has to say. If you have to leave the meeting early or get up for some other reason, wait until the speaker finishes to do so.
Beginner's meetings are a more welcoming environment for newcomers than conventional meetings. Attendees are more forgiving of mistakes, so these meetings are a good place to learn the fundamentals of AA without feeling judged or ostracized. These meetings also encourage newcomers to share, which can help alleviate any anxiety they might have with it.
Bottom line: At AA and SA meetings it is important to have respect for those with more experience in sobriety. Introduce yourself as an addict to the substance that the meeting addresses, do not specifically comment on the shares of others unless the meeting permits it, do not act in ways that may distract whoever is speaking, and make an effort to learn as much from each meeting you attend.