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Aborigines are alcoholics because they haven't had enough time to build the genetic resistance to alcohol. It has nothing to do with trauma.

efficax 8y ago
I'm not familiar with the australian context but this is simply untrue in the american case: https://psmag.com/news/whats-behind-the-myth-of-native-american-alcoholism https://psmag.com/news/whats-behind-the-myth-of-native-ameri... There has not been nearly enough time since the invention of distilled liquor (really only 600-700 years of widespread consumption by Europeans) for a significant amount of evolution to have occurred. In any case, the 'genetic' theory of native american alcholism has been debunked. Poverty, destitution, and a history of trauma, a great gaping wound since the arrival of Europeans in the new world, is a better explanation than a naturalistic fallacy that is just barely disguised colonial racism.
- m1sta_ 8y ago
  There are cultural challenges too. Leaving certain communities and moving away from certain problems, physically or metaphorically, can result in attack from within those communities. There are some similarities with cults and with extreme conservatism.
m1sta_ 8y ago
That might make them get drunk more quickly. Low tolerance is not what makes a person alcoholic.
yesenadam 8y ago
It has nothing to do with trauma. Is that true? I mean, what's the evidence for saying it has nothing to do with trauma?
- tomhoward 8y ago
  They seem to be speaking without any knowledge of the matter. Australian indigenous people are some of the most traumatised people in the world. Addictions to many substances other than alcohol are rife, and begin at a very early age, and it's clear to any observer that multi-generational trauma and consequent poverty and despair are a primary cause.
  - yesenadam 8y ago
    Yes, Sydney here, I've had a few good aboriginal friends in my suburb over the years, who are homeless most of the time. Long story short: It's such a different world. How they survive I have no idea. One is alcoholic, and often talks about wanting to go back to jail - at least there's food, shelter and a bed there. I can't imagine being forcibly deprived of my culture, family, language, land - like many/most of their families, then treated as failed humans. A neverending nightmare. One of them is always introducing the (mostly white) locals to each other in the street, (she knows everyone) and we joke she's doing Aboriginal reconciliation... For a while I was always poor, and she noticed and started giving me food or cigarettes every time she saw me.
zaptheimpaler 8y ago
Your argument is totally circular and basically prejudiced or idiotic "Addiction is not caused by trauma because aborigines suffer from addiction. Aborigines are not traumatized because its genetic. Its genetic because trauma could not have caused addiction"
- soniman 8y ago
  It would be really surprising if alcoholism were not genetic but height and IQ and homosexuality were. "I drink because daddy diddled me" is not a great scientific hypothesis, but we have tons of evidence that pre-1492 populations have problems with alcohol.

efficax 8y ago

I'm not familiar with the australian context but this is simply untrue in the american case: https://psmag.com/news/whats-behind-the-myth-of-native-american-alcoholism https://psmag.com/news/whats-behind-the-myth-of-native-ameri... There has not been nearly enough time since the invention of distilled liquor (really only 600-700 years of widespread consumption by Europeans) for a significant amount of evolution to have occurred. In any case, the 'genetic' theory of native american alcholism has been debunked. Poverty, destitution, and a history of trauma, a great gaping wound since the arrival of Europeans in the new world, is a better explanation than a naturalistic fallacy that is just barely disguised colonial racism.

m1sta_ 8y ago
There are cultural challenges too. Leaving certain communities and moving away from certain problems, physically or metaphorically, can result in attack from within those communities. There are some similarities with cults and with extreme conservatism.

m1sta_ 8y ago

That might make them get drunk more quickly. Low tolerance is not what makes a person alcoholic.

yesenadam 8y ago

It has nothing to do with trauma. Is that true? I mean, what's the evidence for saying it has nothing to do with trauma?

tomhoward 8y ago
They seem to be speaking without any knowledge of the matter. Australian indigenous people are some of the most traumatised people in the world. Addictions to many substances other than alcohol are rife, and begin at a very early age, and it's clear to any observer that multi-generational trauma and consequent poverty and despair are a primary cause.
- yesenadam 8y ago
  Yes, Sydney here, I've had a few good aboriginal friends in my suburb over the years, who are homeless most of the time. Long story short: It's such a different world. How they survive I have no idea. One is alcoholic, and often talks about wanting to go back to jail - at least there's food, shelter and a bed there. I can't imagine being forcibly deprived of my culture, family, language, land - like many/most of their families, then treated as failed humans. A neverending nightmare. One of them is always introducing the (mostly white) locals to each other in the street, (she knows everyone) and we joke she's doing Aboriginal reconciliation... For a while I was always poor, and she noticed and started giving me food or cigarettes every time she saw me.

zaptheimpaler 8y ago

Your argument is totally circular and basically prejudiced or idiotic "Addiction is not caused by trauma because aborigines suffer from addiction. Aborigines are not traumatized because its genetic. Its genetic because trauma could not have caused addiction"

soniman 8y ago
It would be really surprising if alcoholism were not genetic but height and IQ and homosexuality were. "I drink because daddy diddled me" is not a great scientific hypothesis, but we have tons of evidence that pre-1492 populations have problems with alcohol.