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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...
Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 640
Last seen: 17 years, 6 months
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Addiction
#5890381 - 07/23/06 12:29 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Obviously if an addiction prevents you from taking care of yourself or your family then there's a serious problem. But what about addictions that don't interfere to such a degree? Are they still bad?
I have a friend who is addicted to playing a certain computer game for hours on end every evening after all his work and chores are done. He has nothing he needs to do, so he plays the computer game for hours.
I have another friend who smokes weed and drinks alcohol. He has enough income that he can support this habit without it interfering with his daily activities. When he drinks it's after all his responsibilities are taken care of. He's a Buddhist, and so tries to remain mindful constantly. Low doses of either weed or alcohol don't interfere with his mindfulness, but higher doses can and do, so he tries to stick with the lower doses. He's not physically addicted to either substance, but without them he finds life to be less enjoyable and a bit dull.
If you have an addiction to anything, but it doesn't really interfere with your responsibilities and it's not physically that harmful, is it wrong on any level to maintain the addiction?
Quote:
I take up the way of not using drink or drugs. This can be extended to anything that clouds the mind: silly conversation, noisy music, most TV programmes. But Buddhism is not absolute. A little wine warms my bones and relaxes my inhibitions, and casual conversation enhances my humanity and the humanity of others. This Precept is warning against addiction and dependency.
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To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.
-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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lIllIIIllIlIIlIlIIllIllIIl
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Registered: 12/16/04
Posts: 11,123
Loc: Texas
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Well to be honest I am going through this exact situation.
I was psychologically addicted to a lot of drugs, and I had grown accustomed to doing them a lot. I realized that every time I felt bored I would go for drugs.
So I decided to stop doing drugs, and I haven't done any since around may 20th. Like nothing. Not even one beer.
Now as to your question of if it isn't hurting anyone or affecting your relationships or job, should you stop? Well, why not? If you try to stop but can't, that should tell you something!
And if you are able to stop then that shows you can control your urges. (Not to mention my brain needs some time to repair itself!)
So I would say if you are addicted to something (whether its psychological or just to reduce withdrawals) you should at least try to see what happens if you stop for a bit.
Because addiction can be a very scary thing. It happens very slowly and you probably won't notice it at first. Addiction is not like what they teach you in schools, at least not in my experience.
Your friend should try not playing games for a week to just see what happens, imo. And for your other friend, why not try to have the same amount of fun without booze or weed? It's wouldn't kill him and he might learn something about himself.
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs
Registered: 12/02/05
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Loc: red panda village
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First let's draw the line between addiction and pleasure. You can smok weed for decades and not be fusucally addicted. Maybe on some level you have a mind addiction. It's that line from I want to smoke weed or take any other drug beacue I LIKE IT and make me feel good, so I don't wanna give that up and I take this drug because I feel ill, IT'S NOT MY CHOICE anymore, it's a NEED. As long as someone dose, from my point of view a drug or computer game, like you said your friend play for hours, extreme camping, etc and it's your choice because you want it then it's not an addiction it's a pleasure fulfilled and I see nothing wrong with that. When it's not your free will anymore and you do it because you have to otherwise... it's a dependency and it may be something wrong, from exaple to exaplme. On the other hand, GOOD or WRONG is something relative and varies from case to case and moment to moment.
-------------------- All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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Mezcal
Registered: 08/11/05
Posts: 1,980
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Addiction is a chronic disorder proposed to be precipitated by a combination of genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors. Addiction is characterized by the repeated use of substances or behaviors despite clear evidence of morbidity secondary to such use.
In other words, you're not addicted unless there's a strong negative consequence of the use that does not motivate one to cessation.
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story
Registered: 10/31/04
Posts: 21,407
Loc: Building 7
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And if you are able to stop then that shows you can control your urges.
I've stopped drinking a lot of times.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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capliberty
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addiction I think can be conquered more by rearranging your underlining belief about the issue, as opposed to thinking it in terms of willpower, or undo stress, once your beliefs are in order than I don't think willpower or stress should play much of a part
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lIllIIIllIlIIlIlIIllIllIIl
Stranger
Registered: 12/16/04
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Loc: Texas
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I agree with you there, that is probably the best way to do it.
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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...
Registered: 07/22/06
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Well that's what I'm curious about. If you smoke frequently and drink occasionally, rarely to the point where mindfulness is interfered with, is it immoral? Is it a hindrance on the path?
-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger
Registered: 03/12/02
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There is a difference between a preference and an addiction. An addiction is only detectable when one must go without that which one prefers. For example, if this individual was not able to get some alcohol before his night at home, would he become upset? Would he constantly think about it? Ultimately, would he emotionally suffer as a result?
A preference comes with no attachment. For example, I love to smoke as well, a lot, but when it is not available, I do not concern myself with it - it doesn't effect me that I do not have it. Its simply a preference.
Whether or not it is "moral" isn't a relative issue, to be frank, and it is a hindrance on the path if it is a hindrance on the path.
Peace.
-------------------- If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story
Registered: 10/31/04
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Loc: Building 7
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it is a hindrance on the path if it is a hindrance on the path.
The problem comes when we take a different path that leads us to not see the hindrance that would have been obvious had we stayed on the original path.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
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capliberty
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Registered: 04/23/06
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it doesn't matter how you define it, I'm aready suggesting what to do after you detected it as being an addiction in your perception, Its comes down on how u feel about the addiction, because how you feel about the addiction will determine wether your going to be weak about the whole situation, because eventually your going to have to become stronger to overcome that situation, so some conflicting issue must be getting in the way, resolve those issues to give you resolve to overcome your 'weakness--{which is not being able to overcome the physical and mental stress in resolving this issue}
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Gomp
¡(Bound to·(O))be free!
Registered: 09/11/04
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Quote:
Fractalated said: Obviously if an addiction prevents you from taking care of yourself or your family then there's a serious problem. But what about addictions that don't interfere to such a degree? Are they still bad?
I have a friend who is addicted to playing a certain computer game for hours on end every evening after all his work and chores are done. He has nothing he needs to do, so he plays the computer game for hours.
I have another friend who smokes weed and drinks alcohol. He has enough income that he can support this habit without it interfering with his daily activities. When he drinks it's after all his responsibilities are taken care of. He's a Buddhist, and so tries to remain mindful constantly. Low doses of either weed or alcohol don't interfere with his mindfulness, but higher doses can and do, so he tries to stick with the lower doses. He's not physically addicted to either substance, but without them he finds life to be less enjoyable and a bit dull.
If you have an addiction to anything, but it doesn't really interfere with your responsibilities and it's not physically that harmful, is it wrong on any level to maintain the addiction?
Quote:
I take up the way of not using drink or drugs. This can be extended to anything that clouds the mind: silly conversation, noisy music, most TV programmes. But Buddhism is not absolute. A little wine warms my bones and relaxes my inhibitions, and casual conversation enhances my humanity and the humanity of others. This Precept is warning against addiction and dependency.
Quote:
To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.
A word comes to mind; regulations/moderations ..
Is it even an addiction, if you can control it?
By those examples it seems more as recreation..
A habit, perhaps?
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WIZOLZ
Poor with Needs
Registered: 03/20/06
Posts: 290
Loc: Monte Carlo
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Re: Addiction [Re: Gomp]
#5892109 - 07/23/06 07:46 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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A sad thing to me, is that some forms of addiction you actually have to work at becoming addicted too. Who really enjoys their first cigerette or whisky shot? See, the phenomenon which hits me is that once established the biological dependency in the body cannot function much the same, so your actually shifting the normal equalibrium of the chemicals withen. I had a cousin admited to the hospital for surgery and the nurse came a day later and offered him a beer, in the hospital ! I guess they now incorporate this into their system. Talk about the good life, sheesh.
I have a friend who is addicted to playing a certain computer game for hours on end every evening after all his work and chores are done. He has nothing he needs to do, so he plays the computer game for hours.
Quote:
MushroomTrip - "it's your choice because you want it then it's not an addiction it's a pleasure fulfilled and I see nothing wrong with that."
> I would disagree, the fufillment of pleasure should not become the sole driving force for a persons life. Computer games can become a form of addiction for sure, not significantly serious, yet still consequential. When a person isn't challenging themselves productively, it leads too certain stagnation of the mind and spirit.
"The concept of moderation is like a never ending stream for the wise."
"The best way to avoid a BAD addiction, is to avoid it from the begining."
-------------------- ---------o----o----o-------o------------------------o--o-o- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Requim for a Dream - Paul Oakenfold --------------------------------------------------------------- "The mis/abuse of any form of power, is the worst form of ignorance" ------------------------------------------------------------- WIZOLZ - Lover with a Killer's Smile
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs
Registered: 12/02/05
Posts: 14,794
Loc: red panda village
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
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Re: Addiction [Re: WIZOLZ]
#5892154 - 07/23/06 07:54 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Well yes if you would of read the entire thing I wrote you would of noticed that I made the difference between wanting to play or smoke or do anything for pleasure but only at your choice, meaningt that it doesn't depend on anything else then your will, and when it does, becoming like a need then it's an addiction. I was referring about doing a thing for many ours or so, and beong ok if it brings you pleasure, that doesn't necessaruly means that you are an addict.
-------------------- All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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WIZOLZ
Poor with Needs
Registered: 03/20/06
Posts: 290
Loc: Monte Carlo
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Righty, I actually think I found that distinction. My comment wasn't to infringe apon your personal reputation for any less dicernable qualities, you made a valid point by drawing the distinction between will power, choice and need.
Perhaps an addiction could be classified so, even if the user, in this case, the game addict, Knowingly and Un-consiously decides to pertake of his pleasure, when in realtiy it is masking his inner developed needs, or lack of needs for that matter. Needs, wants and habits arn't so far apart by definition, it can get mixed up easily. I personally see it as a negative addiction, but based on his personal experiences, perhaps it is very benificial. Who really knows, perhaps he is peralized, in a wheelchair or worse...
What I'm trying to say is that will power can be used as an illusion of control. Real will power is acting on what's right, not just for your fufillment, but for the fufillment of the facts. Dont get caught in the illusion that everythings ok or that everything is not ok. Just find a baseline that works and stick with it, or break out of it.
"People are more apt to sacrifice long-term goals for short term gains." - Jane E. Brody
-------------------- ---------o----o----o-------o------------------------o--o-o- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Requim for a Dream - Paul Oakenfold --------------------------------------------------------------- "The mis/abuse of any form of power, is the worst form of ignorance" ------------------------------------------------------------- WIZOLZ - Lover with a Killer's Smile
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