Pet Peeves

[Frank the Tank]

Originally posted by Flames Draft Watcher+May 19 2005, 03:26 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Flames Draft Watcher @ May 19 2005, 03:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Frank the Tank@May 19 2005, 08:12 PM
I hate people who milk the system, of which there are many. This does not make me greedy/ignorant/dumb all things that were said/implied about me afterwards.

Well I'd say that suggesting that most people on welfare are free loading alcoholics who've chosen to "milk the system" is pretty ignorant but we've already agreed to disagree on that point. You obviously aren't interested in milking the system and neither are most well adjusted, mentally and emotionally stable people who have the tools to make something better of themselves. I'd say to want to make a better life for yourself is a pretty normal thing. Desire and a certain amount of ambition seem to be basic traits in humans.

If you believe that then you have to wonder why these people are on welfare. Perhaps it's because they aren't normal and well adjusted, perhaps they aren't mentally or emotionally stable. Perhaps they need some help to make something better of themselves. Perhaps they are trapped in an addiction and now have a problem getting out. And even if most people on welfare were alcoholics does that mean they are worthless human beings? Should we write them off? Maybe we should just execute them now and save ourselves the trouble? (don't worry, I know you weren't suggesting that by any stretch)

You know there's a good chance we stand a lot closer on this than it would appear. It seems like you believe that handing them money is not the way to go. I tend to believe that as well. If someone is alcoholic then giving them money won't cure the addiction. Our welfare system is dysfunctional and has problems. I guess what we disagree on is the approach. You see it's not working and earlier in this thread you suggested we take it away as the solution. Probably a more ideal solution would be to help these people with whatever unique problem they have that is preventing them from bettering their lives. We need to help the drug and alcohol addicts to break the addiction and change their outlook.

But it's easier said then done. Welfare reform is certainly needed. But I don't think just taking it away is a good idea. [/b][/quote]
I do agree with many of your points, but, for as much as I think welfare cases are alcoholic freeloaders, you think they are all mentally unstable and mentally ill.

All perspective I guess.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally posted by Frank the Tank@May 19 2005, 08:29 PM
I do agree with many of your points, but, for as much as I think welfare cases are alcoholic freeloaders, you think they are all mentally unstable and mentally ill.

All perspective I guess.

No, I believe there's definitely a mix of the two.

I guess what we disagree on is our approach to alcoholics. I'm assuming neither of us are or have been so we're not experts on the subject. So it's hard for us to know exactly what it's like. But they don't call it an addiction for nothing. While I've never been addicted to alcohol I have struggled with an addiction in another area of my life and therefore I can somewhat relate. Addiction is not usually something you can easily choose to fix or change. It's habit, it's compulsion. There's constant temptation and cracking once can get you back into a cycle of abuse. There's a reason some of the more well adjusted alcoholics still need a support group to break the habit, it's not easy. And a lot of addictions tend to be cyclical. You do the drug or what you have, then the next day you feel depressed or withdrawl or whatever and then you're tempted to do it again to get rid of your current mindset. Drugs can change your mindset, they can conceivably remove this ambition and desire that you want to see in these people.

Anyways, I don't think alcoholics have necessarily chosen to be freeloaders. Sometimes the alcohol ruins a person's life and causes them to go on welfare. Perhaps they did have their shinguard together before they started drinking and now they are just stuck in a rut and can't get out without help from the outside.

Giving them free money is not the answer because that doesn't address the root cause. Some sort of rehabilitation should be the goal IMO. But I don't think we're going to solve things by cutting them off, writing them off, and ignoring the role the addiction plays in the whole thing.

[Buff]

Originally posted by Flames89@May 19 2005, 12:55 PM
Thursdays before long weekends!

Make that the enitre week before a long weekend!

[Bill Bumface]

Originally posted by Flames Draft Watcher@May 19 2005, 02:39 PM
I have struggled with an addiction in another area of my life

I've got dibs on either porn or dungeons and dragons.

[Five-hole]

Originally posted by hulkrogan+May 19 2005, 02:18 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (hulkrogan @ May 19 2005, 02:18 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Flames Draft Watcher@May 19 2005, 02:39 PM
I have struggled with an addiction in another area of my life

I've got dibs on either porn or dungeons and dragons. [/b][/quote]
Close. Dungeons and Dragons porn.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally posted by hulkrogan+May 19 2005, 09:18 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (hulkrogan @ May 19 2005, 09:18 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Flames Draft Watcher@May 19 2005, 02:39 PM
I have struggled with an addiction in another area of my life

I've got dibs on either porn or dungeons and dragons. [/b][/quote]
Haha.

Yes, I failed my saving throw on your insult and am now emotionally wounded by your sword of mockery!

[FlamesAddiction]

I have a new one today:

Those people who have those massive baby carriages that take up way too much space on the bus. You know, the ones that are like Sherman tanks of the baby carriages. There is no reason for that.

I got on the bus today, and 2 ladies had one and wouldn't let me past to sit down.

I guess in general, I hate people who think they deserve special privileges because they have kids.