Thread: Addictions

I believe that is one of the main goals in life: to learn to master your self.

Sure, we can master C or C++, or we can master Calculus and Algebra, or we can master Physics or Biology, or we can master piano or vocal techniques, but the one thing that the majority of the human population has not been able to do is to master themselves.

It is not an easy thing to do, however, I believe it is very possible and very real. Most of the human population has given up, and given in to urges that become very addictive, self-gratifying, and destructive: such as pornography, drugs, and desensitizing media.

Of course I could be flamed for speaking out against such things, but can you really deny that pornography is an addiction, and that many people stare at it for hours on end only to gratify themselves when they could be doing something so much more productive, which in turn could lead to a better and happier life? And the exact same situation occurs with drugs.

I find that the best way to stay away from such addictions is to keep yourself active. Never be idle. When you are idle you become bored, and when you become bored your mind begins to think of ways to ease that boredom, and slowly it will give way to such things as these things that cause such addictions. Then, you test them out once. You might be free from them for awhile after that, but days or even months later decide to test it out again, and then again, and again, until you cannot keep yourself away from it.

Stay active and productive. We computer programmers probably have one of the hardest times doing that. Admit it, we all enjoy to relax on our computers, surf the web, code up some cool programs, etc. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as it does not lead to idleness. For example, at my current job, I found myself able to finish all the work I have been given in a very short amount of time. Therefore, I was idle for a large amount of the day. Of course I could have done several things to ease the idleness, but instead I acted, and I created 2 webdatabase, did major revisions to my website, created my friend's online modeling portfolio, and made huge leaps on the progress of my game. I feel since then that I have been very productive and happy.

Self control is definitely something every person on this planet needs to work on, and if every one master themselves I think this world would be a much better place indeed, but I doubt that will happen any time soon because people have just given in to their addictions, pleasures, and ways of life. They do not want to change.

P.S. A good book to read on "change" is Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson.

dude, who the hell are you and where the hell did you come from?? don't answer - just go baack there and don't show up here again...

all drugs do different things

some drugs are extremely bad for your health, and can cause death, especially if taken in high doses.

other drugs are not quite as bad for your health, and you might be able to lead a relatively healthy life even while taking those drugs.

but almost all drugs are addictive, and an addiction takes away your right to choose, or your free agency. when you are addicted to something you must have it, and you will go through any means to get it. it overpowers any decision-making logical sensibilities you might have. your ability to choose logically is taken away from you.

that is why drugs used for medical purposes are prescribed by doctors, so that:

1. the patient does not overdose and become seriously ill or die
2. the patient does not become addicted

Question for all of you over 40, do you remember what age you were when the the real world struck and your idealism went out the door?

You mean you and rick?

that is why drugs used for medical purposes are prescribed by doctors, so that:

1. the patient does not overdose and become seriously ill or die
2. the patient does not become addicted

well, addiction is a fact of life when you talk about narcotics. Not the "I have to have some now" type of addiction, but if you drop narcotics or anti-depressants you go through a very nasty withdrawal syndrome .... Columbine was widely thought of had been provoked by the two kids dropping their medications, of course the pharmacutical companies shouted down people until they turned their attention elsewhere

EDIT: and things such as addiction to sexual stimulation are just examples of weak willpower, such as gluttony. The thing is if you want to quit something, keep at it for a long time and dont give in(for example, I had somewhat of a porn addiction, but have dropped most of it by having better things to do, such as college coursework).

>There's a lot of evidence that this had been in the planning for a loong time.

What do you mean sean?

>(for example, I had somewhat of a porn addiction, but have dropped most of it by having better things to do, such as college coursework).

and you probably do still have a porn addiction. most people are addicted for the rest of their lives, even after they "break" the addiction. for example, many "ex" alcholics are afraid to even pick up a single beer because they know they are still addicted, and if they take even one sip it could take them back full-swing into that addiction. however, keeping yourself busy and away from whatever the addictive substance is (whether it be alchohol, drugs, or pornography), helps to keep your mind off of it and steer clear of the addiction. i admire your will power in being able to focus on other things in order to help fight that addiction.

Originally Posted by DavidP

all drugs do different things

some drugs are extremely bad for your health, and can cause death, especially if taken in high doses.

other drugs are not quite as bad for your health, and you might be able to lead a relatively healthy life even while taking those drugs.

but almost all drugs are addictive, and an addiction takes away your right to choose, or your free agency. when you are addicted to something you must have it, and you will go through any means to get it. it overpowers any decision-making logical sensibilities you might have. your ability to choose logically is taken away from you.

that is why drugs used for medical purposes are prescribed by doctors, so that:

1. the patient does not overdose and become seriously ill or die
2. the patient does not become addicted

There isn't a drug that I've heard of that can't kill you or hurt you in high dosages. Hell asprin can kill you if you take enough of them. Addiction is a process over time. Nothing is addictive the first time you do it. There is a lot of propaganda that does around talking about how addictive heroin and cocaine and methampetamines are after the first dosage. But in reality it takes long periods of time to develop a true addiction of ANYTHING. You never loose your right to choose or logical thinking. Addicts know what they are doing, but feel that abused thing be it porn, drugs, sugar.... is worth the negative effects it puts on their lives.


There is also a large difference in mental and physical addiction also. Many things your body becomes dependant on after being used too much. That can definatly become a huge problem. Mental addiction all depends on the mental strength of the user.

>You never loose your right to choose or logical thinking. Addicts know what they are doing, but feel that abused thing be it porn, drugs, sugar.... is worth the negative effects it puts on their lives.

>There is also a large difference in mental and physical addiction also. Many things your body becomes dependant on after being used too much. That can definatly become a huge problem. Mental addiction all depends on the mental strength of the user.

I completely agree with you in that respect. I have been mentally addicted to something in the past, although I'd rather not say what it was, it is more of a personal matter. But yes, you are right, you do not completely loose your right to choose or ability to think logically. I think I worded what I wanted to say in a bad way. Rather, although you CAN choose, your addiction overclouds your thinking so much that you dont WANT to choose, rather you just let your addiction take you. I know this firsthand. When I was addicted, I knew what I was doing was wrong, and I should not have been doing it, and I knew I should stop, but the addiction was so strong that I did not want to stop. That's why it takes so much mental strength to break the addiction.

Yes, physical addictions are different, and I have not experienced one of those (such as an addiction to caffeine or cigarrettes). Those have more then mental consequences, but very physical consequences that can be physically painful.

but can you really deny that pornography is an addiction, and that many people stare at it for hours on end only to gratify themselves when they could be doing something so much more productive

Interesting but couldn't the same be said of say, listening to music, or indeed any leisure activity?

There is a lot of propaganda that does around talking about how addictive heroin and cocaine and methampetamines are after the first dosage. But in reality it takes long periods of time to develop a true addiction of ANYTHING

I was under the impression that with heroin you could become addicted instantly. I also remember readining an article in the New Sci a while back suggesting that even small amounts (ie. taking it once or twice) of certain drugs may permanently alter the brain.

> but can you really deny that pornography is an addiction,

You've got Jesus, I've got boobs. Neither one of them is really that productive, but they're both cool for us.