Comments on: MAKING ADDICTIONS CRYSTAL CLEAR

By: Jaric

Jaric — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Tongue in cheek. Re tongue in cheek. Tjy's te dom, vokoff

By: Demyan

Demyan — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Joziboi. Culture. SO well put!!! Excellent!!

By: puyi

puyi — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to P.

typical but shortsighted response. You obviously haven’t heard of addiictive personalities! Tell you what, I CHALLENGE you to take your posting – word for word – and repeat it to druggies in rehab and ask for THEIR opinion. When you have done this, come and give some informed feedback. Perhaps it’s about time this debate isn’t cloaked in pseudonyms.. I’ll stand up and be counted – will you?
Just because YOU don’t “abuse”, doesn’t make it acceptable or right for everyone else. Your tacit support of (illegal) drug use impacts upon the gay sub-culture. And if YOUR definition counts, I’m outta here.
On another point – you’d rather do E than alcohol? This is assuming the dealer you use isn’t diluting the drugs you use with something else.. Nah, I’m wasting my literary breath.. “None so blind”… goes the proverb.
– Someone who knows!

By: puyi

puyi — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Joziboi. Brilliantly written. Enough said!

By: Joziboi

Joziboi — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Culture?. I agree that the first line of the article is incorrect – mostly because the word “culture” is thrown about far too loosely and applied too liberally to gay people. We as a “community” want to be part of the world, yet in articles such as this we are all lumped together in a separate “culture” by virtue of the fact that we are gay, by other gay people. This makes no sense to me. I have spent more than my fair share of time in gay clubs, drank a little too much on occasion and lived the scene. However, I have never fully identified with the supposed culture of gay men (which seems to be derived solely from the club scene) and applied to all. I have never understood the need to take recreational drugs (I find my life interesting and fulfilling without them), but do not object to anyone else making an informed decision for themselves (which I applaud this article for aiding), HOWEVER, I am struggling to reconcile how we have apparently reached the point where we accept the damaging effects of drugs in many cases, and at the same time accept them as being a part of “gay culture” knowing this? The writer states “Drugs and alcohol are part of our culture. Their use is rampant among gay men, since the bars are a main social outlet.” If this is a statement shared by many gay men, I am even more reluctant to involve myself in this so-called culture and the club scene. Are we not better served as people by trying to proactively improve ourselves, physically, mentally and socially, instead of falling back on the “safety” of belonging to a bogus “culture” and using this as a crutch to justify and rationalise our weaknesses as people? Using drugs to curb anxiety when walking into a club looking for Mr Right is a poor excuse, and the anxiety felt can be attributed to the pressures created from this “culture”. Are we not forever walking and talking in circles when it comes to the gay community?

By: P

Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Addict. Recriational use DOES NOT lead to addiction. I have been doing a few things (not serious stuff like crystal meth or heroine though) recreational for years, without any negative consequences. There is a HUGE difference between use and abuse. Most of us USE alcohol, but we do not abuse it. I can do drugs one evening out and not do or crave anything for months. I do it when I choose to. And I never do so much that I lose any control. In fact, most of these club drugs are really less harmful that alcohol. I'd much rather club on an E or a line of CAT and drink water the whole night, than on alcohol, because nowhere during that time do I do stupid things or lose control, or say and do things I never would normally. I am much more in control on that than alcohol ANYTIME.

Yes, I agree that you do get Abusive and Adictive users, but using drugs is not abusing drugs.

If I drink 15 cups of coffee a day I am an abuser, but if I drink 2 cups a day?

By: Jaco

Jaco — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Worthwhile. Thanks for a really worthwhile article!

By: Jaco

Jaco — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Recreational?. Wouldn’t it be paradise if we could live our lives without fear and anxiety…….naturally?

By: nolleh

nolleh — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I agree , the first line are wrong!!!

By: puyi

puyi — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

First line is wrong. Actually, Joe Kort is right.. Except for line one – it ISN’T part of our culture.. it might have ‘invaded’ our culture, but the implication is that we have accepted abuse as a cultural facet. I have a problem with that. I am part of the gay ‘sub-culture’ and substance abuse doesn’t fit in with my culture at all! Perhaps I’m splitting hairs, but the implication worries me.. now let me get back to my knitting.. *wink*