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Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

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Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#41

Post by hadlock »

shortcake27 wrote: post #11
ProllyInfamous wrote: post #2

People ~~do~~ abuse drugs to escape seemingly-insurmountable problem(s) in their life. "The opposite of addiction is connection" ——Gabriel Maté I have been "clean" from a past life for 14 years. Every day is a challenge.

Eh, I don’t think it’s that deep. I take drugs because it feels good and I have a good time, so the risks are worth it. I have zero interest maximising my lifespan at the expense of enjoyment. I’ll never understand why the general population is so hell-bent on preventing people from enjoying their own life.

Because support costs for drug addicts have tremendous support costs for society. Prohibition was a genuine attempt at solving the problem once and for all, but for reasons that are clear now, didn't work.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#42

Post by nkuttler »

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #2

People ~~do~~ abuse drugs to escape seemingly-insurmountable problem(s) in their life. "The opposite of addiction is connection" ——Gabriel Maté I have been "clean" from a past life for 14 years. Every day is a challenge.

> People do drugs to escape seemingly-insurmountable problem(s) in their life.

Some people

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#43

Post by jcims »

zarakshR wrote: post #25
ldjkfkdsjnv wrote: post #5

Call me crazy, but as a highly analytical person that has spent 70% of my waking hours in the last five years working on something technical, my social skills are best when I'm hungover. The logical analytical side of me is diminished and I am much more "normal". I have a much higher rate of success on dates with women when I have a really bad hang over and then a few drinks. It does feel like a lobotomy, and that's…

> If I am in my normal raw intellect, I will begin going deep on some topic thats outside the range of normal human discourse. It will be hard for me to stop, because of my interest. Alcohol removes that to a large degree. Peak HN.

The description might be a bit indulgent, but the experience resonates. Having a conversation about flowers and your mind wants to talk about why there seems to be an innate attraction towards the scent of certain flowers. Like what is the electrochemical process that creates sensation in your mind of attraction and beauty and a pleasant experience when a certain set of chemicals bind to receptors in your head.

But then you don’t because the last time you did something like that you just got a blank stare, and ‘hmmm!’ and a change in topics.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#44

Post by oceanplexian »

glonq wrote: post #14

One of the reasons why I don't drink is that I like being me . Specifically... - I like who I am when I'm sober, and don't expect that I would like 'drunk me'. - I like being in full control over what I experience and how I experience it. - I also enjoy remembering (and not regretting) those experiences.

> I like being in full control over what I experience and how I experience it.

I would argue you like the illusion of being in control, not that you are actually in control of anything.

Some of the greatest decisions of my life were made after a few drinks (Such as booking flights to other countries, hooking up with people, making lifelong friends). Sometimes our rational, thinking minds aren't as smart as they think they are, and a measured amount of unpredictability can make life better. Of course it's a double edged sword, and has a dark side, but things would be pretty uninteresting if you never had any regrets.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#45

Post by bandrami »

sublinear wrote: post #13

Wow this reads like something from the prohibition era. It's not just possible, but common to drink responsibly. The pain and dissonance has more to do with immaturity than the booze itself. Not everyone who drinks turns into a wannabe Socrates or Caligula.

It's possible but it's also a relatively new idea. In Tolstoy's time anybody who wasn't a teetotaler was pretty much drinking until they passed out, every day. Military rations included a daily gallon of beer or quart of distilled liquor.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#46

Post by newprint »

ldjkfkdsjnv wrote: post #5

Call me crazy, but as a highly analytical person that has spent 70% of my waking hours in the last five years working on something technical, my social skills are best when I'm hungover. The logical analytical side of me is diminished and I am much more "normal". I have a much higher rate of success on dates with women when I have a really bad hang over and then a few drinks. It does feel like a lobotomy, and that's…

I had zero social circle and no significant other in my life, until I started drinking. World opened up for me after I started consuming alcohol. Edit: However, you need to be responsible. Alcohol badly derailed my life once.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#47

Post by giraffe_lady »

jcims wrote: post #43
zarakshR wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If I am in my normal raw intellect, I will begin going deep on some topic thats outside the range of normal human discourse. It will be hard for me to stop, because of my interest. Alcohol removes that to a large degree. Peak HN.

The description might be a bit indulgent, but the experience resonates. Having a conversation about flowers and your mind wants to talk about why there seems to be an innate attraction towards the scent of certain flowers. Like what is the electrochemical process that creates sensation in your mind of attraction and beauty and a pleasant experience when a certain set of chemicals bind to receptors in your head. But t…

There's no brain so big it prevents you from just enjoying the smell of the flower instead.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#50

Post by ProllyInfamous »

kibwen wrote: post #16
shortcake27 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eh, I don’t think it’s that deep. I take drugs because it feels good and I have a good time, so the risks are worth it. I have zero interest maximising my lifespan at the expense of enjoyment. I’ll never understand why the general population is so hell-bent on preventing people from enjoying their own life.

There's an important distinction to be made between recreational drug use and habitual drug use, though the line can be blurry. For individuals who are predisposed to start at recreational and end up at habitual, it can be better to abstain altogether.

This is a really good response. I definitely "have an addictive personality."
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