Addiction

[Srbo]

You know, in the last few days, since Philip Seymour Hoffman died, there is a lot of hateful comments about addicts.
Some also praise his work, some are really sad the acting world has lost such a talent, such a genius, but some people are pulling the trigger really fast.
Idiot, junkie, loser, no pity...and on, and on, and on.
Why, though?
When you think of Jim Morrison, Janis, Hendrix...does the word junkie immediately come to mind? Or are you happy they left a legacy behind them that we still enjoy, some 40 odd years later?
When you think of Bon Scott from AC/DC or Led Zepp`s drummer John Bonham...do you think of them as worthless alcoholics who choked on their own puke, or do you still hum along the songs they left behind?
Yes, they were all addicts...but what exactly does that have to do with me, who am I to judge them? I didn`t know them, biographies or not, I still didn`t REALLY know these people.
Nor did or do I ever want to.
They were there. They gave me their heart and soul, they gave me everything they had, they sang and acted like there is no tomorrow. And for some of them there wasn`t. Sadly.
Now I should spit on them, call them names, think of them as losers?
I can`t. I won`t. They made my life happy.
Still do. Their art didn`t die. Never will.
Hell, Elvis was a "junkie", died on the can, for Pete`s sake.
Anybody thinks of him as the worthless junkie or do you still bow to The King?
We all have our demons, we all have a monkey on our back.
It might not be heroin, coke, or booze...but it might be cigarettes, obesity, or just being a spiteful a**hole who is loved by no one.
I sure know I have my own vices.
You are all here my friends, or so you say.
If you hear tomorrow I died from whatever it is...lets say a heart-attack because I was too lazy to exercise and couldn`t let that pizza rest until it`s all done...you gonna spit on me, too?
Or if I get drunk and die...you gonna call me "that loser alcoholic" ?
Don`t, people, please don`t be so harsh.
Remember the better moments, remember why you loved and love those people. Remember the positive.
And remember that we love each other...for not one of us knows when death might come knocking....

 

[arista]

I am addicted to girlscout cookies.

 

[EMARX]

There are some who automatically judge someone negatively and will never change. They believe they are superior to everyone and nothing like what happened to Mr Hoffman could ever happen to them. Those people will never change, so I pay no attention to them. But I do think most of us react out of a fear that it could be us and we do and say things we don't really mean. And those are the ones we need to cut some slack. The overreaction to Mr Hoffmans death is natural. I just read an article in the NYTimes purporting to be an account of the actors final days. If what the sources claim is accurate, then it was a sad and lonely end.

 

[EMARX]

I am addicted to girlscout cookies.

You and me both. But I will say here that you lucky Americans have an amazing selection of cookies to choose from. The Canadian organization has no more than 3 or 4.

 

[Srbo]

There are some who automatically judge someone negatively and will never change. They believe they are superior to everyone and nothing like what happened to Mr Hoffman could ever happen to them. Those people will never change, so I pay no attention to them. But I do think most of us react out of a fear that it could be us and we do and say things we don't really mean. And those are the ones we need to cut some slack. The overreaction to Mr Hoffmans death is natural. I just read an article in the NYTimes purporting to be an account of the actors final days. If what the sources claim is accurate, then it was a sad and lonely end.

Thanks for the reply.
You got a link for the article, please?

 

[EMARX]

Thanks for the reply.
You got a link for the article, please?

I was afraid this might happen.
I am cyber-linkibly challenged, but if you go to the Times website I think it's on the first page if you scroll down a bit. Sorry.

 

[Out of Order]

Here you go...........

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/nyregion/a-complicated-actor-philip-seymour-hoffman-in-his-last-days.html?hp&_r=0

 

[Srbo]

Out of Order beat me to it.

 

[Spideyman]

Thanks for the reply.
You got a link for the article, please?

try this Srbo


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/nyregion/a-complicated-actor-philip-seymour-hoffman-in-his-last-days.html?hp&_r=0

 

[Out of Order]

Read the article.

It would seem, as is the case too many times, both with the rich and the not so famous, that the warning signs were missed. You have to wonder that if Mr. Hoffman did not live by himself if things may have turned out better for him, gotten the help that he desperately needed? Don't know what the situation was for him moving out from his family, but that may have been the beginning of the downward spiral for him from which there was no escape.

 

[fljoe0]

There are some who automatically judge someone negatively and will never change. They believe they are superior to everyone and nothing like what happened to Mr Hoffman could ever happen to them. Those people will never change, so I pay no attention to them. But I do think most of us react out of a fear that it could be us and we do and say things we don't really mean. And those are the ones we need to cut some slack. The overreaction to Mr Hoffmans death is natural. I just read an article in the NYTimes purporting to be an account of the actors final days. If what the sources claim is accurate, then it was a sad and lonely end.

I agree. I don't think some people realize what a fine line all of us walk between being in control and becoming completely unhinged.

 

[Srbo]

I agree. I don't think some people realize what a fine line all of us walk between being in control and becoming completely unhinged.

Lucky for us, SK did.
Like I said in the OP, I don`t wanna know all these famous people, the art they create is more than enough for me to make my life happy, and I might be wrong about this one, but I`m pretty sure that if you asked Mr. King today, after decades of sobriety if he is still an addict, he would say that he is.
There is no other way for addicts, there is only one way - one day at a time.
Should we be negative towards him as well or count our blessings?
It`s just really sad, IMO, that some people judge so very, very fast...

 

[Spideyman]

 

[VampireLily]

First of all.... don't get it twisted. Yes, i used the word Idiot but i never said anything about hating him and i certainly never used the word Loser. I'm a writer and an artist. I've lost friends to addiction and let me tell you, i mourned them no matter what the circumstances of their death. Do you know who i think the real losers are? The people that create this **** and then put it out there to turn an f'ing buck. They don't care if their **** kills anyone and will continue to process it even when it does. So please don't label me as a careless hater.

I've had juvenile diabetes since i was 7 years old..... i'm 46 now and not a day goes by that i don't wonder if i'll become just another statistic. Another person whose body has failed them and i lose my kidneys or my eyesight or a limb. Do you know what i'd give for a healthy vessel? Do you wonder why watching people ruin their bodies with this junk pains me? Well now you know.

I need to rethink coming here anymore... the bitching and judging is like a plague.

 

[mustangclaire]

I agree whole heartedly with this post. As I've said before, I haven't walked in his shoes, therefore I shall not judge him. I have an addictive personality, I know I do. I thank the Lord the "Just say no" campaign worked on me regarding drugs. I have a problem with alcohol. I don't drink a lot. But when I DO drink, I actually don't know when to stop. There. I said it. I have made a distinct effort since Christmas to watch what I do around alcohol. And I've stopped hanging around friends who drink a lot. I noticed that last year, when I DID go out for a night out, it resulted in me waking up in bed with no idea how I got there. Black outs. Every time. That has scared me so much. I'm very proud with how I'm doing now. Sorry, bared my soul a bit there. Might regret doing so, but on here, maybe not.

 

[HollyGolightly]

I am addicted to girlscout cookies.

Oh hey then - I have about a million to sell!

 

[Sundrop]

You know, in the last few days, since Philip Seymour Hoffman died, there is a lot of hateful comments about addicts.
Some also praise his work, some are really sad the acting world has lost such a talent, such a genius, but some people are pulling the trigger really fast.
Idiot, junkie, loser, no pity...and on, and on, and on.
Why, though?
When you think of Jim Morrison, Janis, Hendrix...does the word junkie immediately come to mind? Or are you happy they left a legacy behind them that we still enjoy, some 40 odd years later?
When you think of Bon Scott from AC/DC or Led Zepp`s drummer John Bonham...do you think of them as worthless alcoholics who choked on their own puke, or do you still hum along the songs they left behind?
Yes, they were all addicts...but what exactly does that have to do with me, who am I to judge them? I didn`t know them, biographies or not, I still didn`t REALLY know these people.
Nor did or do I ever want to.
They were there. They gave me their heart and soul, they gave me everything they had, they sang and acted like there is no tomorrow. And for some of them there wasn`t. Sadly.
Now I should spit on them, call them names, think of them as losers?
I can`t. I won`t. They made my life happy.
Still do. Their art didn`t die. Never will.
Hell, Elvis was a "junkie", died on the can, for Pete`s sake.
Anybody thinks of him as the worthless junkie or do you still bow to The King?
We all have our demons, we all have a monkey on our back.
It might not be heroin, coke, or booze...but it might be cigarettes, obesity, or just being a spiteful a**hole who is loved by no one.
I sure know I have my own vices.
You are all here my friends, or so you say.
If you hear tomorrow I died from whatever it is...lets say a heart-attack because I was too lazy to exercise and couldn`t let that pizza rest until it`s all done...you gonna spit on me, too?
Or if I get drunk and die...you gonna call me "that loser alcoholic" ?
Don`t, people, please don`t be so harsh.
Remember the better moments, remember why you loved and love those people. Remember the positive.
And remember that we love each other...for not one of us knows when death might come knocking....

 

[Autumn Gust]

Everyone has something they're addicted to. I know some people who are addicted to drama and if there isn't any they'll be sure to whip up some in no time.

 

[VampireLily]

Everyone has something they're addicted to. I know some people who are addicted to drama and if there isn't any they'll be sure to whip up some in no time.

Truth.

 

[HollyGolightly]

You know, in the last few days, since Philip Seymour Hoffman died, there is a lot of hateful comments about addicts.
Some also praise his work, some are really sad the acting world has lost such a talent, such a genius, but some people are pulling the trigger really fast.
Idiot, junkie, loser, no pity...and on, and on, and on.
Why, though?
When you think of Jim Morrison, Janis, Hendrix...does the word junkie immediately come to mind? Or are you happy they left a legacy behind them that we still enjoy, some 40 odd years later?
When you think of Bon Scott from AC/DC or Led Zepp`s drummer John Bonham...do you think of them as worthless alcoholics who choked on their own puke, or do you still hum along the songs they left behind?
Yes, they were all addicts...but what exactly does that have to do with me, who am I to judge them? I didn`t know them, biographies or not, I still didn`t REALLY know these people.
Nor did or do I ever want to.
They were there. They gave me their heart and soul, they gave me everything they had, they sang and acted like there is no tomorrow. And for some of them there wasn`t. Sadly.
Now I should spit on them, call them names, think of them as losers?
I can`t. I won`t. They made my life happy.
Still do. Their art didn`t die. Never will.
Hell, Elvis was a "junkie", died on the can, for Pete`s sake.
Anybody thinks of him as the worthless junkie or do you still bow to The King?
We all have our demons, we all have a monkey on our back.
It might not be heroin, coke, or booze...but it might be cigarettes, obesity, or just being a spiteful a**hole who is loved by no one.
I sure know I have my own vices.
You are all here my friends, or so you say.
If you hear tomorrow I died from whatever it is...lets say a heart-attack because I was too lazy to exercise and couldn`t let that pizza rest until it`s all done...you gonna spit on me, too?
Or if I get drunk and die...you gonna call me "that loser alcoholic" ?
Don`t, people, please don`t be so harsh.
Remember the better moments, remember why you loved and love those people. Remember the positive.
And remember that we love each other...for not one of us knows when death might come knocking....

Srbo - I love this post - people are so much more than their demons. I've loved addicts of all sorts, in my opinion addicts often feel and love too much to be able to bear this world. I think we'll always remember both their talents and their tragic end, and hopefully it's a reminder to us that we have to take care of each other and be careful not to judge.