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I wonder why people care whether or not somebody else really needs them. For arguments sake, let's say they don't. Suppose they can just man up and learn to de
by lawnchair_larry 10y ago
I wonder why people care whether or not somebody else really needs them.
For arguments sake, let's say they don't. Suppose they can just man up and learn to deal with their first world problems. What do you lose by them taking something to make that easier?
Do you normally fix all of your other problems in the most difficult way?
We all seek ways to get an edge, if not against others, then at least to reclaim some of our own time and well-being.
From their perspective, there are 3 kinds of people. There's the positive, motivated guy who can't wait to get out of bed and go make his mark on the world. Then, there is the similar character who has to take SSRIs or whatever to keep that going. Then there is the lethargic person who has to fight every day to pretend to give a shit, can't keep relationships together, doesn't get promotions, and doesn't feel motivated to learn new skills or hobbies.
The last person doesn't really have the option of being person #1, but they may have a choice between being #2 or #3. Since all three of them end up in the ground after a few more decades anyway, why does it matter to others how they get there? Maybe the last 10 years or so of their life will cause them complications due to longterm use. It's hard to view that as a bad trade for folks who were miserable and/or suicidal for the first 50.
- omginternets 10y ago>What do you lose by them taking something to make that easier? Going with your argument, one stands to lose on at least two fronts: 1. severe side-effects 2. potential long-term harm stemming from chronic use (as per the present article) >Do you normally fix all of your other problems in the most difficult way? This is disingenuous. The argument is that fixing depression sans medication is a better (= safer, more effective) way. Granted, this argument is far from being obviously correct. Things also get murkier when we admit that there are various forms of depression, but that's not the point. The point is rather that you're arguing against a straw-man.
- lawnchair_larry 10y agoNeither 1 nor 2 answer the question. Why do you care if they do it? You suffer no side effects or long term harm.
- Gfdfgjjmbvcd 10y agoMaybe out of genuine concern for their fellow man, their suffering, and the possibility that parts of the medical establishment have perverse incentives. If you're arguing just to argue, you're an asshole. If you really feel that way then I feel sorry for you.
- omginternets 10y agoThey certainly do answer some of the questions you explicitly spelled out. As for the rest: 1. I generally care if people are being pushed towards (under|in)-effective treatments. I want people to be guided towards the safest and most effective treatments for ethical reasons. 2. I worry that there are misaligned incentives between the drug consumers and the drug suppliers.