Raymond Bourque arrested for Driving Drunk

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

If he played for the Kings right now most of you on here would be claiming the Kings spiked his Gatorade then called the cops after he left practice just so they could rid themselves of his contract.

Your point is....

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Your Calgary Flames!

I do understand that you mean well but maybe do not know the extent of what alcoholism does.

I worked with a fellow a few years ago who was an alcoholic and would drink excessively. One time he went on lunch and came back wasted. He drove his car and could barely walk into the store. We had to call a cab. This is an example of the issue. There is no preparing and thinking ahead with this disease.

Maybe for some, I will agree. But there are many "functioning" alcoholics out there. While I won't profess to know Bourque's current status, I'd wager he falls into that category (if he's even an alcoholic) so I'd wager planning around his problem was an option.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Your point is....

Flames fans be tripping?.....

[Your Calgary Flames!]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Maybe for some, I will agree. But there are many "functioning" alcoholics out there. While I won't profess to know Bourque's current status, I'd wager he falls into that category (if he's even an alcoholic) so I'd wager planning around his problem was an option.

I understand what you are saying.

It's a fine line saying you are an addict without control or like quite a few people who like to drink once a week and can plan ahead to not put themselves in a bad position concerning transportation.

I think what bothered me was some posters calling others idiots when the fact is that there are truly people out there that have a disease that they can't control. And yes I have a lot of hate for this issue and for those affected but it truly is something that takes a hold of some people.

[Mr.Coffee]

But having a disease doesn't make it ok to kill people.

It is a reason why people behave the way they do but it doesn't make it anymore acceptable. Or, what exactly are you saying?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Your Calgary Flames!

I understand what you are saying.

It's a fine line saying you are an addict without control or like quite a few people who like to drink once a week and can plan ahead to not put themselves in a bad position concerning transportation.

I think what bothered me was some posters calling others idiots when the fact is that there are truly people out there that have a disease that they can't control. And yes I have a lot of hate for this issue and for those affected but it truly is something that takes a hold of some people.

#### off. Seriously. Worst type of attitude in this thread.

Alcoholism is a disease, and I understand it's devastation, believe me I do.

But drinking and driving is not the same as alcoholism. If you're an alcoholic you may not be able to stop yourself from grabbing that first drink, but you can certainly get rid of your keys. There's no impairment there. Grab a cab, call a buddy, walk home, sleep it off, freeze to death. All better options than getting behind the wheel and putting other people in risk and any 'responsible' alcoholic understand that.

Excusing drinking and driving as the same as alcoholism is a disservice to those actually suffering through alcoholism. Any one excusing drinking and driving can go to hell.

[IgiTang]

If you drink and drive, you're an idiot. Plain and simple.

If you feel there is a problem with that statement, you're an idiot too.

And not a "haha, look at that idiot".

A POS idiot who is making excuses for people who drink, get behind a wheel and kill families.

[Flashpoint]

Uber will keep you golden till that self driving car you've always wanted arrives.

Then it's time to repeal those silly open container laws!

In the meantime Bourque has no excuse. He could have been flown home in his private helicopter if he wasn't such a dummy.

[BloodFetish]

.249? Dude was Uber drunk!

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Your Calgary Flames!

I understand what you are saying.

It's a fine line saying you are an addict without control or like quite a few people who like to drink once a week and can plan ahead to not put themselves in a bad position concerning transportation.

I think what bothered me was some posters calling others idiots when the fact is that there are truly people out there that have a disease that they can't control. And yes I have a lot of hate for this issue and for those affected but it truly is something that takes a hold of some people.

Having a disease that destroys yourself is one thing, but the minute it crosses into endangering others it's another level. I know it's not easy to deal with, but allowing that behaviour (driving) is like giving a psychopath a gun.

I think the best investment we could make as a society would be mandatory re-hab centres for alcoholics and drug addicts. They clog up the health system and have the biggest costs to society (crime, etc.). Total violation of personal liberty, but I think it would be worth it.

[Frequitude]

Drunk driving is an inexcusable decision.

However it really bugs me that this sort of thing is a) made public and b) desired to be made public.

[IgiTang]

A high profile public figure getting caught drinking and driving is a great opportunity to raise awareness for the battle against the act.

Bourque has a responsibility as a role model and public figure to hold himself to a higher regard.
Whether he likes it or not.

As a military service member, I have the very same responsibility.

When my peers get caught doing stupid things and it's made public, I don't see anyone having any sympathy for the accused.

Nor should there be.

It's a duty and a privilege that shouldn't be taken lightly.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Having a disease that destroys yourself is one thing, but the minute it crosses into endangering others it's another level. I know it's not easy to deal with, but allowing that behaviour (driving) is like giving a psychopath a gun.

I think the best investment we could make as a society would be mandatory re-hab centres for alcoholics and drug addicts. They clog up the health system and have the biggest costs to society (crime, etc.). Total violation of personal liberty, but I think it would be worth it.

Unfortunately that's not really how rehab works. When you think about the ultra-low success rates, that's for people who (for the most part) want to be there. Can you imagine how ineffective it would be if people were forced to be there?

I think if we're talking investment, my vote would be to invest in strengthening the rehab system and trying to be pro-active with programs that target people that are at risk. And self driving cars. Tons of self driving cars.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Not that I approve of his behaviour, but before we all get high and mighty here we have all gone home after one too many. Those that say they haven't are being dishonest.

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Speak for yourself. Not all of us are idiots.

Originally Posted by T@T

You'll get very few to admit that in here and the ones who freak and say "no way" probably don't drink or have no life outside of mommy's basement.

As a pub owner I can safely say drinking and driving is not a rare occurrence, I have personally paid for some patrons to get home safe but I or the staff can't catch them all. fact is a big percentage of people make bad decisions under the influence of alcohol, the only way to stop drinking and driving is to ban alcohol or have a blow system in every car.

I love how T@T is the first one to take issue with a post saying "not all of us are idiots"...

Anyway, I like my beer and whiskey. I drink maybe a bit more than the average Canadian (which is 25 per month), and that's way less than I did when I was in University (as is probably true of most people). The point is, I'm not exactly a teetotaler. And yet, I've never driven drunk. Part of the reason is that I didn't have a car until I was in undergrad - before that I took public transit, so I was always pretty comfortable with that method of getting home from the bar.

The second reason is that I worked in a fairly busy pub when I was in university, on the door or occasionally at the bar. Just before I'd started there, one of the regulars had had a few too many and, being the responsible guy he was, started walking home, and was hit and killed on the side of the road by another patron who decided he'd drive. From then on, the place had a policy that the servers kept track of how much each person had had to drink, and if it was more than five, you didn't drive. We'd organize taxis for everyone and made sure they got in them. Obviously we couldn't stop people if they were determined to drive, so in that case, one or more of the doormen would follow you to your car, take down your license plate, and call the cops. You can imagine that can create some tense situations, but all in all, it worked. And after doing that for a few years, dealing with the police just trying to manage the problem and seeing the types of people who will arrogantly put their own convenience ahead of other peoples' safety, I'll never drive if I'm anywhere close to the limit.

I realize that's not practical in every bar and nightclub out there, but this wasn't a quiet joint. It'd get over capacity on most Fridays and Saturdays, and even on nights like new year's and hallowe'en when it was packed, the powers that be made a decision to do everything to prevent drunk driving, hiring shuttle buses that would actually drop patrons who stayed until closing off at home (provided they lived within striking distance). They made it a priority.

To sum up, it is in fact possible to make decisions to significantly reduce, if not altogether eliminate, drunk driving. That's a policy that was put in place by a small private establishment of its own accord, and even at that level, you can make a difference. You don't need to "ban alcohol".

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I think the best investment we could make as a society would be mandatory re-hab centres for alcoholics and drug addicts. They clog up the health system and have the biggest costs to society (crime, etc.). Total violation of personal liberty, but I think it would be worth it.

This is just idiotic, for many reasons.

[Your Calgary Flames!]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

#### off. Seriously. Worst type of attitude in this thread.

Alcoholism is a disease, and I understand it's devastation, believe me I do.

But drinking and driving is not the same as alcoholism. If you're an alcoholic you may not be able to stop yourself from grabbing that first drink, but you can certainly get rid of your keys. There's no impairment there. Grab a cab, call a buddy, walk home, sleep it off, freeze to death. All better options than getting behind the wheel and putting other people in risk and any 'responsible' alcoholic understand that.

Excusing drinking and driving as the same as alcoholism is a disservice to those actually suffering through alcoholism. Any one excusing drinking and driving can go to hell.

Settle down. No need to respond that way.

If you are thinking I'm making excuses for making it okay you are totally off base. I just think it's a lot easier said then done when a disease has full control over you. No way I ever said this was okay! And in no way shape or form Iam saying that this is the case with Ray.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

This is just idiotic, for many reasons.

Such as?

My wife is an ER physician. Many days she spends nearly half her time dealing with the same people. Keep that in mind next time you're waiting in agony for healthcare.

How about the recent spike in bike theft? Unrelated to perennial substance abusers?

In a perfect world these facilities would be clean and safe...of course that's easier said than done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Your Calgary Flames!

Settle down. No need to respond that way.

If you are thinking I'm making excuses for making it okay you are totally off base. I just think it's a lot easier said then done when a disease has full control over you. No way I ever said this was okay! And in no way shape or form Iam saying that this is the case with Ray.

Your crappy attitude is getting people killed. The whole "hey guys, it's not their fault they have a disease" is a terrible attitude.

Excusing their decision to drink and drive because "there is no preparing and thinking ahead with this disease" deserves to get called out. I can't believe you don't understand how you are excusing their actions. I have all the sympathy in the world for people fighting with addictions like alcoholism. I really do. I do not give two ####s about #######s who get behind the wheel and put other peoples lives at risk. When I hear about innocent victims being killed by those #######s, I can only hope it's people like you who try to excuse their actions.

[Five-hole]

Oh good, a competition of who can get more righteously indignant! I love these.

[Your Calgary Flames!]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Your crappy attitude is getting people killed. The whole "hey guys, it's not their fault they have a disease" is a terrible attitude.

Excusing their decision to drink and drive because "there is no preparing and thinking ahead with this disease" deserves to get called out. I can't believe you don't understand how you are excusing their actions. I have all the sympathy in the world for people fighting with addictions like alcoholism. I really do. I do not give two ####s about #######s who get behind the wheel and put other peoples lives at risk. When I hear about innocent victims being killed by those #######s, I can only hope it's people like you who try to excuse their actions.

Let me tell you once again I don't excuse anyone's actions who would drink and drive. If I choose to not swear and talk the way you are confuses you then so be it.

I have first hand experience with alcoholism in my family. A family friend chose to drink and drive and wrapped his car around a pole. So excuse me for coming off a lot more calm then you when that is furthest from the truth.

The sad truth of the matter is what lengths people with a disease go to get what they want and put themselves first in that state of mind. This absolutely doesn't make it right. And I'm not saying it's okay whatsoever it's horrible. There needs to be a better solution for this type of problem. My whole point is that these type of people who let the disease control them will continue to put themselves first. It's very scary to think that they are on the roads.

I hope you get what I mean. It had nothing to do with saying it's okay. But these people don't care about anything but their disease.