Thats called a dry drunk.Thats NOT being sober......sober is having clarity of mind, body and spirit unfettered by dependencies.
Maintaining a self-image thats skewed by those same dependencies is a sure way to find yourself addicted to them again.
Sobriety isnt dependent on time as much as it is on recognizing this and working to effect a change in every aspect of your life.
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That is a perfect example of what the ANTZ would say about vapers (you are still smokers, you haven't truly quit...etc).
Let us examine this, for it is full of fallacies:
first, sober means "Not intoxicated or drunk". (dictionary.com). So, a person who is not using or under the influence of substances is sober... clarity of body.
Clarity of mind and spirit (especially spirit): these are completely subjective values, they have no fixed meaning, and in a statement like the one above they serve no purpose other than the attempted establishment of moral superiority by one party, over another party. This is number one in the zealot's playbook, for any cause. There is no way to prove anything with regards to these values, so it re-focuses attention away from real issues and onto a fight that can never actually be won. PRIMER could write a dissertation on the health of his mind and spirit, and we could dismiss it out-of-hand because he is obviously skewed and thus his opinion is inherently flawed, or lesser. He could become pope, but at heart he is still a DRUNK. This is exactly the kind of fight ANTZ want to draw us into.
Maintaining a skewed self-image: who determines what 'skewed' means? Or 'dependent' for that matter? Again, completely subjective value judgments. PRIMER simply said he used to use an intoxicant, and now does not; he never stated that he was addicted, or dependent. We have no idea what his self-image is. To the ANTZ, only the complete abstinence from inhalation of anything is worthwhile, and only those who meet that criterion are un-skewed in their self-image. Since the ANTZ will base this ideal self-image specifically around themselves and what they do or do not do, they automatically 'win'.
"Maintaining a self-image thats skewed by those same dependencies is a sure way to find yourself addicted to them again."
PRIMER is weak, and in danger, and he needs my protection, and if he does not agree with me and do what I desire he will suffer a negative consequence. All of his opinions stem from said negative behavior and can thus be dismissed immediately.
"Sobriety isnt dependent on time as much as it is on recognizing this and working to effect a change in every aspect of your life."
This is the most telling: sobriety actually doesn't have to do with a particular substance, but with the whole range of life choices: I define what sobriety means, and what views and choices must be made in EVERY ASPECT of your life. To the ANTZ it is a battle over worldview and morality, not vaping itself. I am superior, and I have the answers. You cannot defend yourself or your views because you are a skewed person, and cannot be trusted. You cannot argue. You cannot defend yourself. You cannot make any choice that I do not agree with.