--- bill45s@pipeline.com wrote:
> 
> 
> Gary wrote:
> 
> <<<The man was sick.  He was either not properly
> treated or his disease was
> beyond treatment.  His disease killed him.  Would
> you say "fuck you" to
> the guy who's dying of cancer?  Ain't no difference
> here.>>>>
> 
> Sorry Gary, but it isn't the same.  The guy who is
> dying of cancer does not have a choice.  The person
> who shots smack did/does.  The analogy doesn't work.
> 
> On the other hand, one must feel compassion for
> anyone whose pain is so great that they see no other
> alternative but suicide.  Even if the man was a
> horrible creature his whole life (which is
> doubtful), one can't help but feel compassion for
> that pain, but feeling that compassion does not
> obviate Elliot Smith or anyone else from
> responsibility.  It is the rare person indeed whose
> mental condition is so fully phyisically determined
> that they have no responsibility for their actions.
> 
> Bill
> 
> NP - Drew's SOTT 17 contribution "Chick Habit"
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~gotta take issue with ya here.  addiction
is very well recognized as a disease.  one that *is*
in fact, physically determined.  it isn't that there
isn't any responsibility taken for one's actions while
using, but the idea that sheer willpower can be used
to stop addiction is absolutely of no use to someone
who is an addict/alcoholic.  if they could stop, they
would.

alcoholics and addicts are people who have in fact,
lost the power over the choice in drinking and
drugging.  how much, when, where, why and with whom
they decide to do drugs or drink.  that is precisely
what makes them different from people who are NOT
addicts and alcoholics. and part of that power of
choice lies in the fact that their bodies are set up
to crave more and more of the substance once it is in
their systems.

my .02,
jocelyn
 


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