4 ms·

I'll take these "findings" seriously when they show that pot smokers are getting divorced and fired at statistically significantly greater rates than the genera

I'll take these "findings" seriously when they show that pot smokers are getting divorced and fired at statistically significantly greater rates than the general population. In a country where a huge percentage of marriages end in divorce and many fields are grinds with high turnover, it's naive to just nod our heads and accept self reports of "ruined marriages" at face value. In our highly regimented, low paid holiday, socially isolated, pedestrian hostile society, doesn't every leisurely outlet result in a fairly large percentage of heavy/habitual users? And yet some will never stop looking for a convenient bogeyman to pin all of our ills on, whether it's addictive videogames or internet porn or pinball machines or weed.

WhompingWindows 8y ago
Isn't it still a problem if people identify as users with a problem, users who would like to quit but struggle to do so? I believe it's the same with video games or porn or other "non-toxic" addictions. Even if it's healthy and useful for some, and not dangerous to anyone, if it's a negative habit that's hard to shake, public health should pay attention and study, and perhaps employ a policy nudge.
- failrate 8y ago
  A personality type exists that can be addicted to literally anything. I have this type. It feels like an OCD and is triggered by high stress. My theory is that for some people, it will manifest as pharmaceutical addiction, others sex or videogame addiction. This doesn't imply that sex, drugs, or videogames are bad.
  - opportune 8y ago
    Is this personality / propensity towards addiction well studied enough that you can test for it, or are you just relying on your previous experiences? Previous experiences would suggest that I have this but I’d be interested in a test or DSM-like diagnostic assessment
    - failrate 8y ago
      Anecdotal. History of alcoholism and other fun stuff in the family, so maybe I'm trying to gussy up the truth.

WhompingWindows 8y ago

Isn't it still a problem if people identify as users with a problem, users who would like to quit but struggle to do so? I believe it's the same with video games or porn or other "non-toxic" addictions. Even if it's healthy and useful for some, and not dangerous to anyone, if it's a negative habit that's hard to shake, public health should pay attention and study, and perhaps employ a policy nudge.

failrate 8y ago
A personality type exists that can be addicted to literally anything. I have this type. It feels like an OCD and is triggered by high stress. My theory is that for some people, it will manifest as pharmaceutical addiction, others sex or videogame addiction. This doesn't imply that sex, drugs, or videogames are bad.
- opportune 8y ago
  Is this personality / propensity towards addiction well studied enough that you can test for it, or are you just relying on your previous experiences? Previous experiences would suggest that I have this but I’d be interested in a test or DSM-like diagnostic assessment
  - failrate 8y ago
    Anecdotal. History of alcoholism and other fun stuff in the family, so maybe I'm trying to gussy up the truth.