Drugs, Alcohol and all that bad stuff
-
I heard a radio report this morning about heroin in Eastern Europe and it go me thinking about the situation in UK, US etc too - the so-called rich and educated. What can we do if education, prosperity, advice etc are provided yet people still knowingly do monolithically stupid things to themselves which have consequences for all of us e.g. drink driving, HIV, addictions? (Yes I know the people themselves are not always to blame). Maybe if we don't want Big Brother we have to grow up in our attitudes and leave Nanny State in the nursery?:confused: Cheers, Davy
My Personal Blog - Homepage.
Scottish News - Angus Blog, Perth Blog and Dundee Blog -
I heard a radio report this morning about heroin in Eastern Europe and it go me thinking about the situation in UK, US etc too - the so-called rich and educated. What can we do if education, prosperity, advice etc are provided yet people still knowingly do monolithically stupid things to themselves which have consequences for all of us e.g. drink driving, HIV, addictions? (Yes I know the people themselves are not always to blame). Maybe if we don't want Big Brother we have to grow up in our attitudes and leave Nanny State in the nursery?:confused: Cheers, Davy
My Personal Blog - Homepage.
Scottish News - Angus Blog, Perth Blog and Dundee BlogExtremism is the root of Evil. Sould we stop to enjoy the few pleasures Life can offer in the name of the collective welfare? Of course limits have to be set, but individual freedom is too precious not to be defended.
And I'm talking to myself at night because I can't forget Back and forth through my mind Behind a cigarette
-
I heard a radio report this morning about heroin in Eastern Europe and it go me thinking about the situation in UK, US etc too - the so-called rich and educated. What can we do if education, prosperity, advice etc are provided yet people still knowingly do monolithically stupid things to themselves which have consequences for all of us e.g. drink driving, HIV, addictions? (Yes I know the people themselves are not always to blame). Maybe if we don't want Big Brother we have to grow up in our attitudes and leave Nanny State in the nursery?:confused: Cheers, Davy
My Personal Blog - Homepage.
Scottish News - Angus Blog, Perth Blog and Dundee BlogI've taken drugs and gotten drunk before - and do you know what? I've had a really good time! I am over 21, I know the difference between right and wrong and if I want to load my body with poisons, then, quite frankly, that's my business. I haven't felt the need to go an a drug and alchohol induced killing spree either! The point is that, in a high enough dose, everything is bad for you. The other point is that some people do very stupid things that endanger the lives of others and no amount of education or prohibition is going to make any difference at all. One of the biggest problems facing Western society today is the "blame culture" - i.e. people no longer accept the consequences of their own actions - they are too quick to blame others - their parents, their education, the media, the government, etc. This is the real problem. You could ban booze, cigarettes, fatty foods, TV, violent movies, pornography, rock music, etc. and STILL people will act like selfish wankers. Nannying people won't work and it's clear that prohibition doesn't work either. Just my 2c.
-
I heard a radio report this morning about heroin in Eastern Europe and it go me thinking about the situation in UK, US etc too - the so-called rich and educated. What can we do if education, prosperity, advice etc are provided yet people still knowingly do monolithically stupid things to themselves which have consequences for all of us e.g. drink driving, HIV, addictions? (Yes I know the people themselves are not always to blame). Maybe if we don't want Big Brother we have to grow up in our attitudes and leave Nanny State in the nursery?:confused: Cheers, Davy
My Personal Blog - Homepage.
Scottish News - Angus Blog, Perth Blog and Dundee BlogSo how do you make people be responsible without treading on their right to not be responsible? BW CP Member Homepages
"...take what you need and leave the rest..."
-
I've taken drugs and gotten drunk before - and do you know what? I've had a really good time! I am over 21, I know the difference between right and wrong and if I want to load my body with poisons, then, quite frankly, that's my business. I haven't felt the need to go an a drug and alchohol induced killing spree either! The point is that, in a high enough dose, everything is bad for you. The other point is that some people do very stupid things that endanger the lives of others and no amount of education or prohibition is going to make any difference at all. One of the biggest problems facing Western society today is the "blame culture" - i.e. people no longer accept the consequences of their own actions - they are too quick to blame others - their parents, their education, the media, the government, etc. This is the real problem. You could ban booze, cigarettes, fatty foods, TV, violent movies, pornography, rock music, etc. and STILL people will act like selfish wankers. Nannying people won't work and it's clear that prohibition doesn't work either. Just my 2c.
I agree. While I don't condone the use of drugs, my friends and I have tried marijuana as teenagers. I haven't talked to those friends in years, but the last I heard they are smoking it again now (there was a gap). Now days, I have no desire to smoke weed as I care too much about my health. However, this has lead me to believe that it's not so much the drugs making the decision to smoke it but the people. So basically, they can't blame marijuana for making them smoke it. If it were marijuana's fault I'd still be smoking it. However, there is a flip-side to this. There are some that learn to use drugs early on from their parents, etc. For that, I think blame is justified. Then, it's less a decision and more a way of life. Jeremy Falcon
-
I've taken drugs and gotten drunk before - and do you know what? I've had a really good time! I am over 21, I know the difference between right and wrong and if I want to load my body with poisons, then, quite frankly, that's my business. I haven't felt the need to go an a drug and alchohol induced killing spree either! The point is that, in a high enough dose, everything is bad for you. The other point is that some people do very stupid things that endanger the lives of others and no amount of education or prohibition is going to make any difference at all. One of the biggest problems facing Western society today is the "blame culture" - i.e. people no longer accept the consequences of their own actions - they are too quick to blame others - their parents, their education, the media, the government, etc. This is the real problem. You could ban booze, cigarettes, fatty foods, TV, violent movies, pornography, rock music, etc. and STILL people will act like selfish wankers. Nannying people won't work and it's clear that prohibition doesn't work either. Just my 2c.
Yep - I wasn't suggesting bans! (I had red wine last night :) ) The political move of this century seems to be towards creating the right environment. I seen people I grew up with reject opportunity after opportunity given to them. What is it in our modern philosophy that creates an aversion to responsibility to ourself and others? It is clearly not material need. I guess if we can screw up Eden then Bushland, Blairland etc don't stand a chance!! :-D Davy
My Personal Blog - Homepage.
Scottish News - Angus Blog, Perth Blog and Dundee Blog -
Yep - I wasn't suggesting bans! (I had red wine last night :) ) The political move of this century seems to be towards creating the right environment. I seen people I grew up with reject opportunity after opportunity given to them. What is it in our modern philosophy that creates an aversion to responsibility to ourself and others? It is clearly not material need. I guess if we can screw up Eden then Bushland, Blairland etc don't stand a chance!! :-D Davy
My Personal Blog - Homepage.
Scottish News - Angus Blog, Perth Blog and Dundee BlogDavy Mitchell wrote: What is it in our modern philosophy that creates an aversion to responsibility to ourself and others? Joseph Campbell[^] would suggest that we don't have a central working mythology that ties into the known natural world. And so people today, especially in the West, do not have a guideline that they can work with to help them through life. Interesting to think about at that level. BW CP Member Homepages
"...take what you need and leave the rest..."
-
So how do you make people be responsible without treading on their right to not be responsible? BW CP Member Homepages
"...take what you need and leave the rest..."
brianwelsch wrote: how do you make people be responsible You don't. Responsibility is a personal choice that can't be forced upon anyone. One key step would be to make responsible behavior more rewarding than irresponsible behaviors, either financially or in terms of self-respect. A great many people have no set of values they live by; they drift through life just doing whatever happens to come along without thought for the consequences. When things go wrong in their aimless existence, they blame others. An end to that mentality is a neccesary prerequisite to eliminating "bad" behaviors. Heard in Bullhead City - "You haven't lost your girl -
you've just lost your turn..." [sigh] So true... -
brianwelsch wrote: how do you make people be responsible You don't. Responsibility is a personal choice that can't be forced upon anyone. One key step would be to make responsible behavior more rewarding than irresponsible behaviors, either financially or in terms of self-respect. A great many people have no set of values they live by; they drift through life just doing whatever happens to come along without thought for the consequences. When things go wrong in their aimless existence, they blame others. An end to that mentality is a neccesary prerequisite to eliminating "bad" behaviors. Heard in Bullhead City - "You haven't lost your girl -
you've just lost your turn..." [sigh] So true...Roger Wright wrote: Responsibility is a personal choice that can't be forced upon anyone Exactly. I think irresponsible behaviour is already "punished" either socially, financially, or through the justice system. Some people either just don't care, or they simply make mistakes and learn from them. There will always be a percentage of the population who doesn't care. Who is a part that percentage changes all the time, based on individual situations. Some give up, others regain a sense of purpose and hope, and still others continue on not caring. I think changing that mentality of persistant disregard requires a deeper cultural change. BW CP Member Homepages
"...take what you need and leave the rest..."
-
I heard a radio report this morning about heroin in Eastern Europe and it go me thinking about the situation in UK, US etc too - the so-called rich and educated. What can we do if education, prosperity, advice etc are provided yet people still knowingly do monolithically stupid things to themselves which have consequences for all of us e.g. drink driving, HIV, addictions? (Yes I know the people themselves are not always to blame). Maybe if we don't want Big Brother we have to grow up in our attitudes and leave Nanny State in the nursery?:confused: Cheers, Davy
My Personal Blog - Homepage.
Scottish News - Angus Blog, Perth Blog and Dundee BlogDavy Mitchell wrote: What can we do if education, prosperity, advice etc are provided yet people still knowingly do monolithically stupid things to themselves which have consequences for all of us e.g. drink driving, HIV, addictions? Doing drugs is different than driving on drugs, sharing needles and becoming addicted. There is nothing more "monolithically stupid" than trying to legislate what people should be allowed to do in the privacy of their own homes.
Have you answered an MTQ? Check out the stats!
What's the latest butt-scratch count? Check it out!