Benny Bunter
Well-known member
Peter offered him an extra strong mint and everything, ungrateful cunt!
Peter Hitchens update
- Thread starter Corpsey
- Start date
"Monbiot made an unsuccessful attempt to carry out a citizen's arrest of John Bolton, a former US ambassador to the United Nations, when the latter attended the Hay Festival to give a talk on international relations in May 2008."
The most Guardian thing I've ever read.
The most Guardian thing I've ever read.
Benny Bunter
Well-known member
Depends how you define it, I think.
WashYourHands
Cat Malogen
He says it doesn't exist at all and people just want to do drugs.
Benny Bunter
Well-known member
Well no he doesn't just say that to be fair to him. He says that you can't scientifically prove its presence in the human body, and no-one really agrees on the definition of what addiction actually is, so it might not be all that helpful to tell habitual users of whatever drug that they're addicted - people can and do stop.
How does he explain how difficult it is for some to stop without conceding that addiction exists? Haven't people died going cold turkey?
WashYourHands
Cat Malogen
He couldjn’t even differentiate between dependance and addiction(s)
I’ll listen to anyone about anything, apart from Mr Tea of course, except when people are so far out of their comfort zone they stick to aeons-disproved guff, ie he must know a few rabid alcoholics
I’ll listen to anyone about anything, apart from Mr Tea of course, except when people are so far out of their comfort zone they stick to aeons-disproved guff, ie he must know a few rabid alcoholics
He attacks it from a "what would Christ do?" angle.
Didn't stop him being visibly on one when I saw him at a Spectrum revival in Oxford. Absolutey fucked in a v neck and slacks
Benny Bunter
Well-known member
What is addiction though exactly? I think it's mainly a language issue. You can be 'addicted' to all sorts of things that turn out to be just activities that you like doing but can be harmful if you do them too much - gambling, sex, videogames etc etc.
luka
Well-known member
his brother was a rabid alcoholic and fag man who died as a result of his compulsions.
Right, but he talks specifically about drugs. How does he argue that heroin addiction is a fantasy when people have severe health issues when going without it?
Benny Bunter
Well-known member
He doesn't deny that withdrawal symptoms exist though
Benny Bunter
Well-known member
Because people can and do stop. I don't think he denies that it's hard.
Good old ibogaine wipes those out through an unknown mechanism that seems to be less biochemical, more, uh, spiritual. The placebo effect is no joke either.
State dependency. The addicts in your circle are as powerful as the addiction.