Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Seed Discussion Forum

The kids are alright?

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cleveland:
So the debate rages on this forum and others - what to do with kids with problems? What to do with adults with problems? What to do when it's a personal problem?

Remember when Homer Simpson says, "Ah, alcohol - the source of, and the solution for, all of man's problems!" It's true, isn't it - drugs, alcohol, religion, sex, gambling, food - our solution for life's problems can be traps in their own right. What about when the solutions for these solutions become subject to their own traps - fundamentalism, cultism, hero worship, 12-step addiction?

Everyone seems to have their own pet answer - Prozac, yoga, God, "Three Strikes Your Out," Just Say No, abstinence education, boot camps - whatever you currently believe 'everyone' should be doing - doesn't it seem like we've all gone mad?

Antigen:
Indeed it does! That's my rant, Walley. Here's my answer; Don't Worry, Be Happy.

If there's one thing that the rest of the world actually does dislike about Americans (as opposed to US foreign policy) it's that we're a bunch of whining, malcontented hypocondriacs; constantly worrying about fixing something that probably isn't broken to begin with. That and bad taste in food and leisure wear.

Look how well it works. If your kid is very active and easily bored, don't worry, be happy, he'll grow out of it. If you're sometimes despondent or depressed, don't worry, be happy, find something to do and it'll soon pass. If you drink too much, don't worry, be happy. You don't have to go to meetings, just quit going to the beer store so much.

If that doesn't do it for ya, try this. Read up on conditions in third world countries or the trials and trevails of Americans who survived (or not) the Great Depression, Civil War or a winter in Montana in the frontier days. That'll cheer ya up!



Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys

--P.J. O'Rourke
--- End quote ---

cleveland:
Ginger, I agree with you, and then again, I don't.

Yes, we're a whining bunch of overfed, poorly dressed, and self-obsessed snobs. Hey, wasn't there some kind of an earthquake or something?

However, when push comes to shove, what is our policy/philosophy on drugs, sex, relationships? One size fits all: Laissez-faire (can't even spell it). Denial? A liberal, educated approach? Strict morality with harsh penalties?

See, the way we deal with this stuff is just all wrong. None of these things is a real life solution. It's fine to say, "this too shall pass," but what about the damage done? See what I mean?

I look around me and I see cautions - family members and friends who overindulged and survived, and those who lost parts of themselves in the process. Do I have a moral stance on this beyond, hey, it's an individual choice?!!

Antigen:
Well, we can look to what works best, understanding that nothing is perfect. As regards the use of intoxicating drugs, I pretty much do what you do. I haven't forgotten any of my drunken brother's antics or the damage done. That's a cautionary tale. But I also don't fail to notice better examples set by people who drink in moderation. I certainly have been, at times, fully qualifiable as a drunk by AA members in my own family. But, contrary to their evident hopes, I continually fail to fail.

So what do we do? Collectively, nothing. Individually, look after your own business and expect others to do the same. Of course, that won't eliminate substance abuse from our society, but then nothing else we've tried has done that either. But it sure would be a lot cheaper and land less people in prison or on the skids.


You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.
--Albert Einstein
--- End quote ---


_________________
Ginger Warbis ~ Antigen
Seed sibling `71 - `80
Straight South (Sarasota, FL)
   10/80 - 10/82
Anonymity Anonymous
Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.

Ft. Lauderdale:
Antigen- Somedays, I think we'd be better off if you didn't chew through the straps. ::ftard::

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