Words matter - time to retire the use of "addiction"?

[patkin]

The ANTZ are using the term more and more and when people wake up and see what they're up to it will be too late. That day will come when you no longer here smoker nor vaper.. the shorthand will just be addict for both. I see members here use the word to define themselves oblivious to what the ANTZ are up to and how they're falling right in line with the propaganda and instead say their "addiction" is no different than buying too many purses... that's hardly an addiction. Don't even use the word unless you're actually physically addicted and then it would even be better to use "dependent" because I seriously doubt you would steal or lie or physicall harm someone to support your "habit".... that word being another propaganda misnomer but this time used when trying to spin it for compassionate reasons.... herioine addicts committing crimes are just supporting their "habit" but smokers are "addicts." Yeh, words matter.

 

[Bramble]

butchered up cobblefunk of male cow excrement

sent from the s4 of DOOOM

I will probably use that at some point...

 

[8dragon9]

You know vapeing, and even smoking can be an addiction. If someone uses the term to describe themselves its not our place to judge there right to do so, or the applicability of the word. There was a time in my life ive done some pretty effed up stuff for a pack of cigs. And worse, for far worse substances.

sent from the s4 of DOOOM

 

[irwink]

If you have a dependency on a substance and obsessively crave it when denied access, display withdrawal symptoms, etc. then you are addicted. Denial and rationalization are common with addicts. Try as you might you can't repackage it for something other than what it is.

 

[8dragon9]

If you have a dependency on a substance and obsessively crave it when denied access, display withdrawal symptoms, etc. then you are addicted. Denial and rationalization are common with addicts. Try as you might you can't repackage it for something other than what it is.

Precisely hence why I dont think the term shouldnt be used. Just used cautiously.

sent from the s4 of DOOOM

 

[FearTX]

Addiction is an apt term for it. Our society loves labels, we can decide to call it something else, soon there will be groups labeled because of it, those groups will be looked at as "unsavory" at some point and the new label will have negative connotations.

All things come full circle.

I am a nicotine addict, I am ok with that.
It's not like I am one of those withdrawn shaky people lined up in skinny jeans at Starbucks every morning.

 

[Topacka]

You may think this thread is " pointless " why feel the need to have an attitude about it? I've noticed that you have some strong opinions in your posts which is totally ok, Not to start an argument or anything of the sort. Just feel like you don't need to say something like " this thread is pointless " when it's not. Just as someone said You added in your point of view so what are you really talking about ?

Simmer down Jr

I guess you're right, the wording was a little harsh. It's just that I've participated in enough of these 'define addiction' threads to call it out early, say the two views and get it over with. If the past is any indication, anyway.

And you're right on another thing too, I'm very opinionated, lol.

 

[r77r7r]

Addiction is just a word. Society made it a nasty word.

I'm addicted to hugging my kids.........

 

[Ref Minor]

Denial and rationalization are common with addicts.

Sums up the rationale of this thread pretty cleanly.

 

[TheReign]

I guess you're right, the wording was a little harsh. It's just that I've participated in enough of these 'define addiction' threads to call it out early, say the two views and get it over with. If the past is any indication, anyway.

And you're right on another thing too, I'm very opinionated, lol.

Good stuff

 

[LucentShadow]

People can argue about the use and meaning of any word, endlessly. I've seen quite a lot of that. It just gets tiring, especially in times when people increasingly like to divide between different ideologies. That makes it worse.

Trying to change common perception of the meaning of words, and how to apply them, is a grandiose ideal. I'm not a fan of social engineering, so I just shake my head at things I don't agree with, and go on my way.

I'm addicted to certain uses of tobacco products. Nicotine seems to play a minor role in that, for me.

 

[ScottP]

People can argue about the use and meaning of any word, endlessly. I've seen quite a lot of that. It just gets tiring, especially in times when people increasingly like to divide between different ideologies. That makes it worse.

Trying to change common perception of the meaning of words, and how to apply them, is a grandiose ideal. I'm not a fan of social engineering, so I just shake my head at things I don't agree with, and go on my way.

This has been going on for a while though. I think the most blatant example of that was:

 

[LucentShadow]

This has been going on for a while though.

True, and I shook my head at that. Got tired of it quickly, too.

 

[Plumes.91]

Got myself addicted/dependent of a couple substances I can't live without before I even got out of the wonderland of high school. If there were ever some mass hysterical chaos, I'd be screwed. S-C-R-E-W-E-DEEEEE. There's plenty of well-meaning good hearted strong minded people stuck & dependent on something to survive for LIFE because they tried a little powder they got in the center of town before they knew what life was all about. If I stopped vaping I'd have a damn hard time getting out of bed in the morning just like the addicts that can't get outta bed without a swig of liquor, or a pain relief wafer.

Lifes would be a pain in the *** for all of us if we could no longer get our substance. we're all one in the same. We all fell into some type of trap one way or another. Our nicotine might not get us high but it keeps us normal. Thats called dependance. Dependance is an addiction whether or not you get high along the way. I know the difference too well. Got a lot of friends that died chasing highs. Got a lot of friends taking just enough of whatever they're hooked on in the morning to be able to go to work to feed their kids.

Tell you what, if I can drop you in the middle of nowhere with enough gourmet food n water to last you a month, and you could go 1 week without wanting to pull ur hair out from having no nicotine, you win. You aint addicted.

 

[Harlen]

I'm addicted to nicotine and doing the slow cut down one day I will be free of it

 

[sneakerpimp]

...I personally do not feel that I have an "addiction" to anything related to vaping, including nicotine.

spoken like a true addict.

 

[Topacka]

spoken like a true addict.

Yes. This.

 

[CabinetGuyScott]

spoken like a true addict.

Did you really mean to just take that snippet and respond to it in a vacuum, or did you actually read my words, including the reference to the Carl Phillips piece, along with the extensive exchanges in the comments section?

See, if you didn't do that, and gain an understanding of the context of those words you chose to quote, then you have no basis to make what appears to be a rather snarky comment.

And I do think that if you had read it all, including ALL of my words, you'd have more than just a snarky response.

In the meantime... define addiction if you possibly can (especially after you go off and read what real intellectuals have to say to the challenge that Carl put to them.)

Btw, I take it all back if you just forgot the smiley face - then your response actually is chuckle-worthy by the turn of a well-worn cliché )

 

[Fisheeboy]

I'm addicted, ummmm.... whatever addicted means! It is habit forming? Can't really say I have a habit of vaping, that just doesn't even sound right to me, to me, that's just me though. Ask me if I'm addicted to nicotine and I will gladly answer, Yes I most certainly am and I love it. Can I live without it? yeah, unfortunately. And I have and could do so again. God forbid that ever happens again though because I sure did miss my addiction. I have read another thread much like this one and I feel like I keep missing the point. Is saying I'm addicted to nicotine a bad thing? Is the word nicotine a four letter word? Or is "addicted" the four letter word? So what if I say it's addictive or that I'm addicted to it? Is this harming anyone? Am I making vaping out to be a lesser of evils? I just don't understand what any of this matters. Help me understand the purpose of this thread please. I'm pretty good at being an opened minded feller. So can you give me a good reason why this thing against the use of the word addiction matters? (note) I'm not trying to be combative I just want to understand so please don't lash out at me. I am friend not foe.

 

[rurwin]

I feel like I keep missing the point. Is saying I'm addicted to nicotine a bad thing? Is the word nicotine a four letter Aword? Or is "addicted" the four letter word? So what if I say it's addictive or that I'm addicted to it? Is this harming anyone? Am I making vaping out to be a lesser of evils? I just don't understand what any of this matters. Help me understand the purpose of this thread please. I'm pretty good at being an opened minded feller. So can you give me a good reason why this thing against the use of the word addiction matters?

Going by the content of the thread and by half-remembered stuff...
A habit is something you can give up pretty easily
A dependence is a need to continue, but does not have a negative impact on your life.
An addiction is something that rules your life to the exclusion of all else.
It seems to me those are social-science definitions, not medical ones, and I'm not sure I can justify them. But the OP does have a point if, by using the medical term addiction, we are allowing ourselves to be lumped into the social-science addict definition. An addict in those terms is pretty much a helpless victim who must be forced (or aggressively helped) to quit in whatever way is necessary. Their own sense of reason and perspective is hopelessly compromised. That certainly is not descriptive of anyone on this forum.