OT: Why do we do the things we do?

[Thermodyne]

I guess it should be noted that alcohol is a depressant. And should be positively avoided by people who are depressed. A depressed person having several stiff drinks is sort of like filling the fire bottle with propane. It will just make things worse. If you think you are depressed, get some professional help. Don’t self medicate with booze and don’t try to council yourself by airing your problems in an unprofessional (lack of a better word) “forum”. Depression is a serious illness and should be treated by someone trained to do so. Depression is nothing to fool around with. Seriously depressed people sometimes cause harm themselves and on occasion harm others.

[Starhawk]

Well I'm not currently depressed I was depressed it was about a year ago, now I'm just dealing with typical teenage anxt (sp) heheh. so don't worry about me.

And yeah I know about the depressent part now heh trust me on that part.

[Kamog]

I don't drink, and once in a while somebody tries to pressure me into drinking. When I was a kid, my own father tried to get me to drink! And I didn't listen to him. I have seen some of my friends get drunk and do stupid things that they regretted later.

[Atrocities]

To answer Post #357292, one word, Genetics. Nuff said.

[Puke]

people consume drugs for one reason only: they like the way they make them feel.

they may like it because they are dis-staisfied with how they feel the rest of the time. they may like it because they think it makes them something beyond what they normally are. they may like it because they believe it will elevate them in the esteem of their peers.

but it all comes down to people liking the way drugs make people feel.

A better question, is why do people like things that are self-destructive from our point of view. and that probably comes back to not being satisfied with how they normally - soberly - feel.

but from a purely economic standpoint, no one does anything that they dont enjoy. "Do what you will" *IS* the whole of the law. Everyone has a Marginal Propensity to Consume, and if they percieve a benefit from some course of action, or an unacceptable opportunity cost from some other course of action, they will choose the path that affords them the most percieved benefit.

we're all fairly simple creatures, really. the question isnt "why are you such a complex, misunderstood, self-destructive monster?" the question is "why are you such a dumb #$%^, bereft of any economic sensibilities?"

Or perhaps the question is "why is puke such an overly-analytical schmuck?"

i dunno, but im willing to lay dollars to donoughts that we'll never have an answer as to why some people are a bunch of angsty drama-queens. save for their marginal propensity to pout.

and im also offering good odds that i wouldnt be the grumpy old bastard that i am today, if i had done something more than offer a shoulder to cry on to the pretty girls in high school that were caught up in a blizzard of sex, booze, and cocaine.

[Bongosan]

There have been some very good posts about this subject.
As a nurse and a paramedic I thought I would weight in.
First my main point is that of everything in "moderation". Its not just alchohol or drugs, look at the "obseity" epidemic. Too much sugar and to little excersies can kill ya too!
Know your limits. If you can't handle drugs or alchohol then don't do them!
I can't handle alhchol, one is never enough, so I don't drink! My wife can handle it so she still has the occasional drink.
As far as the "hard drug" using person saying some harsh words and making someone cry...sigh... that is only to be expected. When you are addicted to something or on a substance your empathy ability disapears!!
A final ranting, you can not change someone only they can change themselves. Most addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can change. So worrying about everyone else and what you can do to help them is pointless to put it politely. It seems harsh but there is always a choice, always! when it comes to drinking or drugs!
Anyway good luck.

[dogscoff]

$10 would get me a case of beer and a tank of gas.

Never confuse the two. It's bad for your engine.

[El_Phil]

Surprisngly high number of non-drinkers. That may say more about my circle of friends and my attitudes than this board though.


People have got to make their own mistakes if they want to. If you like a few drinks then its an inherent hazard you may drink too many and make an idiot of yourself. 'Just one more' is a tempting phrase, I've fallen for it enough times myself.

After typing, thinking, re-typing and deleting a great deal I've come to this conclusion: I have absolutley no idea what you should do. Or indeed what I should do or say in similar situations. I stand by the paragraph above though as a general rule, many people have to make their own mistake before they learn. The problem is that while experience is a great teacher, the cost of the lessons can be very high.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

You could always video-tape them drunk, then show them the tape sober.

Most probably though, that'll just get them angry. People who have illusions tend to cherish them.

[Renegade 13]

Thanks everyone who's replied the past few days.

I've come to the conclusion that people are always going to do whatever the [censored] they want to do, no matter what anyone else says. Duh, I should have figured that one out years ago eh? To be honest, I'm sick of caring. If they feel like killing themselves slowly, that's their choice.