Seems many don't know 'What is FISH NITE ?' - Al-Anon Family Group

d53sjurne · Senior Member

Seems many don't know 'What is FISH NITE ?'

peewee · Senior Member

Hi D, I don't know how Fish Night got started, but it has been a regular thing on Friday nights since I joined in January. It's just fun time, a chance to let our hair down and be silly. Many of us look forward to having a chance to play. However, at any time any one can ask for play to stop so they can share or vent. Just type Help! and they will listen.

As for trout slaps, I know even less about that. It can be a love pat or a tap to bring us around to being good, whatever. Nothing serious.

Come on and join the fun.

MsPeewee

abbyal · ~*Service Worker*~

Just cause it's friday !!!!! Have no idea why or how either. just for fun they tell me . what ever floats your boat I guess. Louise

bobump · ~*Service Worker*~

Well I've only been here for a few months but one of the first nights I was in here was fish friday. Basically all it is is everyone picks a nickname w/ a sea or 'fishy' theme.

ie, I've been spongeBob, etc.

The room also tends to be more of a party area and it is fast moving and tough to keep up. This occurs right after the 9 PM meeting closes at 10:30. It is kind of a release. If you need support you might have to pipe up a few times because the room is moving so fast or you might have to ask if someone can go into PM (private message) with you.

As for trout slapping, I'm not sure of the origin in the room but it has been an internet chat phenomenon for years. I found a website that dates it back to 1995 but I believe it was around far earlier than that.

I also found this on wikipedia

The sentence "A slaps B around a bit with a large trout" is thought to be a reference to Monty Python's sketch The Fish-Slapping Dance.

So when someone acts silly, or might be a tad out of line, or just for the heck of it, they might get 'trout slapped.'

Bob

peewee · Senior Member

Thanks Bump for your explanation. Very good. I like fish night and look forward to it after a week of mostly serious activities, pondering, and whatnot.

Saturday night on our local pbs channel they were showing that Monty Python fish slap thing, and I was all set to watch it, and then, for pete's sake, got all caught up in meeting here, and plum forgot.

Anyway, thanks again and also for the link.

MsPeewee

Ria · Senior Member

Hi D, so glad you didn't give up on us and kept coming back! I have only been online myself for 3 weeks. Specifically, in relation to 'fish night', I was told it was Friday Fish Fry Night. I don't know how it got started or the 'real' meaning of it but in the UK we used to have a tradition where Friday used to be 'fish and chip' take-out night. It was a lot about giving the mealmaker in the home a night off after a hard weeks work. I could see a connection in Al-Anon as almost a way to celebrate getting through another week and choosing to live in recovery. This is only my interpretation but I hope it helps.

From what I've seen in the room everyone justs picks or adjusts their nickname into something oceanic. I've seen people 'slapping' so-and-so 'with a large trout'. I got the impression that this is just a playful term and I also recall something vaguely Monty-Python about it. Personally, nothing could be more abhorrent to me than getting slapped with a wet, slimy fish so I actually could see the humour in it. My 1st Friday, I didn't get what fish night was about either so I also asked. The next time I was in the room on a Friday, I wanted to participate but couldn't think of a name so I asked if anyone had any suggestions. There were a few but as I had put it out there I had to be aware that I may get some I might not like lol. Someone suggested Ria Tilapia. I didn't know what a Tilapia was either... so again, I asked. I felt a bit ignorant but was assured 'there are no stupid questions in Al-Anon'. So all power to you for asking the questions.

That's just about all I know other than its very busy on a Friday and I can't keep up. I struggle to keep up on other days too and I feel slow but I don't feel bad about it, its a challenge and I'm getting better the more I practise. If I get lost or overwhelmed I either scroll back or just type 'sorry guys, can't keep up so just listening, if that's ok.' I've received many responses assuring me that its fine and they're glad to have me. Nice huh? I love my other Al-Anonys and if I'm feeling uncomfortable I just have to say and usually someone makes an effort to help ease my discomfort if they can but ultimately it's my discomfort so I try to do what I can for myself.

With love in the fellowship

Maria X

DanaAngel · Senior Member

Possibly the room may want to rename fish night. I don't know where the idea came from originally, but in my opinion (and this is just my opinion) I wouldn't mind seeing fish night taking a hiatus for a while. I can see where some new people could come in and not understand what is going on and leave.

lin0606 · ~*Service Worker*~

Probably the basis of it being on a Friday is the old Catholic custom (gone since the '60's, but some people still keep it up) of not eating meat on Fridays. It was just a small sacrifice, to remind us of Good Friday. Fish became associated with Friday for that reason, even among non Catholics.

I also find the room hard to keep up with, so I just don't go very often. If it was important to me, I'd learn to get better at it, I'm sure.

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