hypocrisy - /hy•poc•ri•sy/ - the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.
At the risk of coming across as a lazy-thinking reductionist, or maybe an apologist for deviant behavior (I’m OK with the second one) I’ll go ahead and share what’s on my mind.
I just got done browsing a forum called “Daily Strength” which is basically an online support group for a variety of things. The particular topics that caught my eye (although I was originally there for something else) pertained to eating disorders and self-injury. After reading a few people’s testimonials (regarding their struggles), I noticed a lot of parallels to substance abuse. The question I was asking myself is probably the same that those outside of the drug culture ask about recreational drug users: What on earth is wrong with those people? What drives them to such self-destructive behavior?
Is drug use an exceptional cause for concern (relative to the other perils of daily life) or does our society simply single it out and stigmatize it out of revulsion?
I am convinced that everybody needs a “drug” in their life to stay sane. I have a co-worker who loves to run. She describes the “runner’s high” she gets. She has a pastime that is socially respected and good for her health. Most people have such a hobby or passion from which they derive pleasure such as sports, music, art, etc. I think that the fulfillment they receive from such activities is often taken for granted.
Not everyone is so fortunate. Recreational drug users face the double whammy of social ostracism and criminalization. If the potential for bodily/psychological harm is the standard by which behaviors are deemed appropriate or inappropriate, shouldn’t skiers, skydivers, motorcyclists and race car drivers be hospitalized immediately? Why are some thrill-seekers considered heroes and others to be degenerate low-lifes who are a burden on society?
I think the answers to those are complicated, but a healthy dose of laissez-faire would probably do us all some good. Regarding my original question (motive for risk-taking behavior), I think a common denominator to the bad habits which we as people grapple with might go something like, “If you have to ask a question like that then you wouldn’t understand anyway.”
At the risk of coming across as a lazy-thinking reductionist, or maybe an apologist for deviant behavior (I’m OK with the second one) I’ll go ahead and share what’s on my mind.
I just got done browsing a forum called “Daily Strength” which is basically an online support group for a variety of things. The particular topics that caught my eye (although I was originally there for something else) pertained to eating disorders and self-injury. After reading a few people’s testimonials (regarding their struggles), I noticed a lot of parallels to substance abuse. The question I was asking myself is probably the same that those outside of the drug culture ask about recreational drug users: What on earth is wrong with those people? What drives them to such self-destructive behavior?
Is drug use an exceptional cause for concern (relative to the other perils of daily life) or does our society simply single it out and stigmatize it out of revulsion?
I am convinced that everybody needs a “drug” in their life to stay sane. I have a co-worker who loves to run. She describes the “runner’s high” she gets. She has a pastime that is socially respected and good for her health. Most people have such a hobby or passion from which they derive pleasure such as sports, music, art, etc. I think that the fulfillment they receive from such activities is often taken for granted.
Not everyone is so fortunate. Recreational drug users face the double whammy of social ostracism and criminalization. If the potential for bodily/psychological harm is the standard by which behaviors are deemed appropriate or inappropriate, shouldn’t skiers, skydivers, motorcyclists and race car drivers be hospitalized immediately? Why are some thrill-seekers considered heroes and others to be degenerate low-lifes who are a burden on society?
I think the answers to those are complicated, but a healthy dose of laissez-faire would probably do us all some good. Regarding my original question (motive for risk-taking behavior), I think a common denominator to the bad habits which we as people grapple with might go something like, “If you have to ask a question like that then you wouldn’t understand anyway.”