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Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

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Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#121

Post by meitham »

TheEzEzz wrote: post #27
Blahah wrote: post #9

Drinking slows down my brain and reduces the number of threads running in parallel. Sometimes very useful to enable normal-passing interaction in social environments. Or just to be able to focus. Lots of people with ADHD drink to achieve a more single threaded experience. Edit to add: I don't meant to encourage drinking as a tool for managing ADHD. It works but it's a blunt and dangerous tool. If you're at that point…

Interesting analogy. I feel like I talk and think faster when I'm drunk but am also more focused and can hold less in my mind. I'm wondering if it's because I'm switching into single threaded mode instead of multi-threaded mode, and that single thread is actually faster, but more limited.

Ballmer Peak comes to mind https://xkcd.com/323/. The right amount of booze to keep that single thread of execution focused on the programming task!

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#124

Post by wbobeirne »

meitham wrote: post #120
thenoblesunfish wrote: post #114

Let's consider this quote "All human life, we may say, consists solely of these two activities: (1) bringing one’s activities into harmony with conscience, or (2) hiding from oneself the indications of conscience in order to be able to continue to live as before." Note that he has defined all of life as two points about "one" and "oneself". This is why I and I assume many others roll their eyes. Because Tolstoy, and…

People are far more social in middle eastern countries where alcohol is banned.

Citation needed? How do you measure being far more social?

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#125

Post by b800h »

fferen wrote: post #118

Everyone warns you about alcohol, but I have only had positive experiences, and in fact, wish I started drinking sooner in life. When I was going through a period of general anxiety and loneliness, I used to drink alone every weekend. It was a lot of fun and led to some of my best decisions, such as applying for a new job. Nowadays, I'm in a more stable place and only drink socially. I feel like my mind is by default…

"There is too much blood in my alcohol-stream", yes?

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#126

Post by sibeliuss »

thenoblesunfish wrote: post #114

Let's consider this quote "All human life, we may say, consists solely of these two activities: (1) bringing one’s activities into harmony with conscience, or (2) hiding from oneself the indications of conscience in order to be able to continue to live as before." Note that he has defined all of life as two points about "one" and "oneself". This is why I and I assume many others roll their eyes. Because Tolstoy, and…

I was as social as one could be while drunk and am as solitary as a hermit now that I'm sober. I miss the social life at times, but really, as Tolstoy remarks, it was just an escape from my true nature which I hadn't yet figured out. And what a mess that was.

So yes, its a social thing, but is it good? It's something. There are other ways.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#127

Post by jasfi »

fferen wrote: post #118

Everyone warns you about alcohol, but I have only had positive experiences, and in fact, wish I started drinking sooner in life. When I was going through a period of general anxiety and loneliness, I used to drink alone every weekend. It was a lot of fun and led to some of my best decisions, such as applying for a new job. Nowadays, I'm in a more stable place and only drink socially. I feel like my mind is by default…

They're not trying to ruin your fun. Alcohol increases the risk of cancer: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/alcohol/

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#128

Post by lxe »

If you subscribe to this, it's easy to see how drinking can be a vicious feedback loop. You drink, do whatever that is you do, then feel "ashamed" after you sober up, then drink more just to dull your view.

Many spiral out of control like this without their families or coworkers even knowing how far astray from the "path" directed by the conscious compass they are.

Another interesting point is that "stupefiers" allow you to do things your "conscience" wouldn't allow you otherwise. Tolstoy brings up things like murdering or stealing, but there are also beneficial things like socializing or creative process.

Yet, regardless of the positives, it seems like the health detriments of alcohol are becoming more and more accepted by society. I noticed that less and less younger people drink these days, and I'm seeing more and more N/A options in bars and stores, at least in some parts of the U.S.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#129

Post by NovaDudely »

Blahah wrote: post #9

Drinking slows down my brain and reduces the number of threads running in parallel. Sometimes very useful to enable normal-passing interaction in social environments. Or just to be able to focus. Lots of people with ADHD drink to achieve a more single threaded experience. Edit to add: I don't meant to encourage drinking as a tool for managing ADHD. It works but it's a blunt and dangerous tool. If you're at that point…

This is a very common theme in neuro-divergent communities. Used occasionally it can be great, but if you become dependent on it, it is trouble.

In that sense it reminds me of Alan Watts writings on LSD. Get the message and then go away and work on it, don't get fixated on getting the message. As a transient thing some drugs are neat, but to become dependent on them is a dangerous thing.

Re: Leo Tolstoy on why people drink (2014)

#130

Post by NovaDudely »

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.

It is said that drugs like alcohol are bad solutions to bad problem.
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