Addiction

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Dave Herbal said:
Can we count debt as an addiction? Or rather, spending money you don’t have?
Ever since I had my own money, I’ve been getting into debt. Not by buying silly things, such as range rovers on tick, but by taking advantage of any credit offered. There are people on this thread with gambling addictions who have lost tens of thousands, but at least they have some small chance of winning some back. I’ve borrowed tens of thousands with no realistic way of ever paying it off. If you’re addicted to credit, interest rates just mean you spiral deeper and deeper. I spent 20 years accruing debt, and the answer was always that something would come up to solve the problem, but short of winning the lottery or inheriting vast sums, that was never going to happen. But at no point did I ever think “let’s stop spending and arrest the slide”. Rather it was “let’s go out and get pissed and forget about it for a night”.
To me, that inability to live within your means is just as damaging as a gambling addiction.
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Aye that could be classed as an addiction imo. Starts off wanting something you don't have the money for so you credit card it then you start to worry about paying it back and the worry makes you spend more to take your mind of it etc. This kind of thing can then lead onto more addictions such as alcohol and drugs to forget your problems. Ultimately it is our own responsibility to manage our finances but the banks make it far too easy to get credit and then accrue more and more debt. They don't care if you pay of your original debt aslong as you pay the interest which over the years is far more profitable for them.
 
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The Lonious Monk said:
Don't be a dick, Tex, there's no need for that.
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OK then serious question.

At what point in Nannyworld do you think an individual should be held responsible for their decisions and behaviour, be it starting tabs, smoking crack, racking up a mortgage’s worth of debt on buying shite, or whatever else?

It’s all very well saying ‘it’s a disease’ but surely at some point an individual has to take some responsibility.
 
Tex said:
OK then serious question.

At what point in Nannyworld do you think an individual should be held responsible for their decisions and behaviour, be it starting tabs, smoking crack, racking up a mortgage’s worth of debt on buying shite, or whatever else?

It’s all very well saying ‘it’s a disease’ but surely at some point an individual has to take some responsibility.
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I think you're confusing two different issues, Tex. The conversation is about addiction and your stance that some people who suffer from addiction is due to "weakness". Addiction is not weakness. It is a disease.

Now, as far as how they turn into whatever addiction, there are many variables involved to paint a wide brush and call it weakness. Upbringing, socio-economic environment, social pressure, education (or lack thereof), etc. all can be contributors for someone picking up habits that can turn into addiction.

Am I saying that everyone is faultless for their choices? No, I am not. I am saying that there are some who are not aware that a choice existed.

I am saying that lumping addicts and addiction in to only two categories is unsympathetic and unfair.

I have cousins that smoke because their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. smoke simply because that's acceptable and common in the PI. It is not viewed as the social pariah there as it is in other countries. That has nothing to do with weakness, but just a norm from their environment and familial influence.

Someone from work recently married a lady from Argentina and they travel there to visit her family. He was shocked at how many people chain smoke there, it was rare to find someone in the family that didn't have a constant cigarette in their mouths. That's just the culture there.
 
Imagine selling a product so powerful you can actually write on the packet that using the product kills. Tobacco.
 
Nope I disagree.
I’m not confusing two issues. The two issues are inexorably linked.
In order to be an addict you have to start with the addictive behaviour and my point is that in SOME cases that start was a the result of a poor choice.

Your example of smoking - essentially ‘people start smoking cos everyone around them smokes’ ...
Well guess what? When I was growing up everyone around me smoked. I could have been “weak” and just gone along with it coz everyone else was doing it, but I decided it was dirty, smelly, unhealthy and expensive so I made the conscious decision to not get into it.
Same when at a party around age 18 and they were passing the blunts around. I was pissed drunk at the time but decided weed was not for me so I declined. (Even when I used to drink a lot I was like Herbal - got lashed on a weekend but felt no compulsion to drink during the week).
Someone who was prescribed opiates post-surgery and then found themselves addicted to Oxy wasn’t able to make a decision, but in other circumstances IMO the root of addiction begins with a poor (weak) decision. I have a particular beef against smoking because:
1. It’s manky
2. It’s a huge burden to health care (self inflicted - let’s not get into the tax revenue argument)
3. The research linking to cancer was out in the sixties so taking up smoking is an idiotic decision
4. My Dad (61), Mam (75) and b-I-l (48) all died from smoking.
 
Tex said:
Nope I disagree.
I’m not confusing two issues. The two issues are inexorably linked.
In order to be an addict you have to start with the addictive behaviour and my point is that in SOME cases that start was a the result of a poor choice.

Your example of smoking - essentially ‘people start smoking cos everyone around them smokes’ ...
Well guess what? When I was growing up everyone around me smoked. I could have been “weak” and just gone along with it coz everyone else was doing it, but I decided it was dirty, smelly, unhealthy and expensive so I made the conscious decision to not get into it.
Same when at a party around age 18 and they were passing the blunts around. I was pissed drunk at the time but decided weed was not for me so I declined. (Even when I used to drink a lot I was like Herbal - got lashed on a weekend but felt no compulsion to drink during the week).
Someone who was prescribed opiates post-surgery and then found themselves addicted to Oxy wasn’t able to make a decision, but in other circumstances IMO the root of addiction begins with a poor (weak) decision. I have a particular beef against smoking because:
1. It’s manky
2. It’s a huge burden to health care (self inflicted - let’s not get into the tax revenue argument)
3. The research linking to cancer was out in the sixties so taking up smoking is an idiotic decision
4. My Dad (61), Mam (75) and b-I-l (48) all died from smoking.
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I don't see the point on going back and forth on the issue, Tex. We obviously see this issue differently and you're not going to change my mind nor am I going to change yours. You disagree with my stance and I disagree with yours.

So let's just agree to disagree and move forward. Your okay in book, Tex, I have no issue on our opposing views on this one issue.
 
Heroin smuggling, was getting over a tonne into the UK before the customs got my marra after I grassed on him haha I'll never see him again ;) This isn't true I'm just making it up as a joke..
 
Therokerroar said:
Does anybody on here willing to admit they suffer from or have suffered from addiction.

My addiction is gambling ,it has destroyed every little part of my life. I gamble to chase the substantial amount of money I have lost.... In reality I know this can never occur but yet I cling onto that hope.

I've lost friends relationships self respect..ive even been sleeping rough in the past because of gambling.

I used to be really discriminatory towards others that suffer from addiction...but that was so wrong of me.

Gambling is all I've ever known...my safety net ...do I want to break away from it... Nope is the honest answer but the future is a very scary place indeed for me...I wish I could just walk away.....but I'm already planning my next pay day...

If anyone on here suffers from addiction or has suffered I salute you for your openness...and good look battling it....admitting it is a huge step

By the way im very lucky indeed ....I read foggys posts and stuff about Luis Enrique daughter dying aged 9 and I'm thankful that I still have my physical health....
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Very brave of you to share this, mate. I'm sure you're aware there are charities out there which help people who are addicted to gambling, but if you haven't reached out to one of them yet, I'd really recommend you take steps in that direction. You know you have a problem and you know you can find help for it... The hardest part is the first step.
 
Big post and first step now step taken. Help and counselling is available so take it. Put betting money asside and watch it grow in a bank instead and treat yourself each month. Take up a sport or hobby instead if you have time and be among the new people you meet.

Good luck..... pardon the pun.
 
matt228 said:
Very brave of you to share this, mate. I'm sure you're aware there are charities out there which help people who are addicted to gambling, but if you haven't reached out to one of them yet, I'd really recommend you take steps in that direction. You know you have a problem and you know you can find help for it... The hardest part is the first step.
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Correct just talking to someone on the telephone who is trained is a massive comfort.
 
The Lonious Monk said:
I don't see the point on going back and forth on the issue, Tex. We obviously see this issue differently and you're not going to change my mind nor am I going to change yours. You disagree with my stance and I disagree with yours.

So let's just agree to disagree and move forward. Your okay in book, Tex, I have no issue on our opposing views on this one issue.
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Well I admitted at the start that my views on all this aren’t entrenched and I would have been happy to have been persuaded. I accept that it’s a lot more complex than me just barging in with my “weak” comment (to fire up the debate), but you haven’t met the ‘burden of proof’ IMO to cause me to radically change my position.
Anyway ‘nuff said.
 
My ex had a major heroin addiction when she was younger. Got locked in a room by her brother and forced to cold turkey. Got through it and she's now quit the tabs anarl.
 
The Lonious Monk said:
I think you're confusing two different issues, Tex. The conversation is about addiction and your stance that some people who suffer from addiction is due to "weakness". Addiction is not weakness. It is a disease.

Now, as far as how they turn into whatever addiction, there are many variables involved to paint a wide brush and call it weakness. Upbringing, socio-economic environment, social pressure, education (or lack thereof), etc. all can be contributors for someone picking up habits that can turn into addiction.

Am I saying that everyone is faultless for their choices? No, I am not. I am saying that there are some who are not aware that a choice existed.

I am saying that lumping addicts and addiction in to only two categories is unsympathetic and unfair.

I have cousins that smoke because their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. smoke simply because that's acceptable and common in the PI. It is not viewed as the social pariah there as it is in other countries. That has nothing to do with weakness, but just a norm from their environment and familial influence.

Someone from work recently married a lady from Argentina and they travel there to visit her family. He was shocked at how many people chain smoke there, it was rare to find someone in the family that didn't have a constant cigarette in their mouths. That's just the culture there.
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I grew up in a generation where almost everyone smoked, and I mean 90%+. Time after time family, friends, girlfriends, would try to encourage me to 'just have a couple off' but I never saw the attraction. I don't know where this fits into this discussion but I thought I'd share. I don't do drugs either, but my good Christ show me an open bar door and I'm through it.
 
Interesting posts on here.

Parents always smoked and still do despite poor health. Friends and Mrs smoke, I just don't want to so don't.

Many years ago I made the choice to have online bookie accounts. Made bets, lost and tried to chance. Lost a canny bit and had to take action to stop and repay. Using some equity in the mortgage. Felt awful doing that. Banned myself from every online bookie , havnt tried to have an account since.

Randomly been watching slot action on YouTube lately, no idea why but was getting some serious urges so have to go through and delete all suggested videos as it was in my face all the time. There was one video about a lad whose mate was successful and lost it all due to gambling, would make a good film TBF. I watched that and though, fuck me, that's how easy it is. Deleted all suggested content from YouTube after that. Most I will go now is change from a pint into a pub bandit. Even then it's not often. Long gone all the days where my night was spent on them. I was very selfish back then. 3 year old these days so just spent the money / give it to him.

Could argue alcohol is too. Don't really touch it during the week but I honestly don't think I have went through a full weekend without touching it since I was 16. Big social circle and always seems to be sumit on.

Good to see people facing up to some issues they have and the ones that want to get better.
 

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