Danger in Vice
I was listening to a podcast earlier, and I heard an ad for a hangover "cure". It was this supplement combo thingy that allegedly stops the alcohol from getting to (and subsequently damaging) the brain. Now, I may have stood for quite some grand bs in my time, but this I just had to turn off immediately.
I thought, what's the point?
To drink but not suffer the consequences of drinking. It's right up there with eating without getting fat, and other age-old mirages that modern pop science is trying to make accessible to the general population. I've noticed a lot of these alleged hangover pills trending lately. And I don't just mean something to stop your head from hurting and render you functional after a drunken night out. For that, a couple of aspirin before bed usually do the trick. And plenty of water. Of course.
(Sometimes, nothing works, and you ought to, ahem, take it like a man. It's your hangover. Own it.)
But no, these manufacturers actually claim to prevent the cumulative damage of alcohol that, down the years, can cause a number of diseases and ailments. Doesn't that sound like the most ludicrous, redundant, entitled bs you've ever heard?
It's very much in keeping with today's society. It's not enough to have our cake. We want to live recklessly, and not have to bother about the consequences. Doesn't seem like a healthy attitude to me. Cause and effect is a hugely important lesson, one I dare say has a defining quality in many a journey. Having the effect suddenly removed creates some really unpleasant opportunities for abusing said causes, don't you think?
Drink or don't. You're gonna die anyway.
Personally, I'm a pick-your-poison type of person. I tend to eat quite well, as you know. Keep a healthy diet. Don't over-indulge with alcohol, and don't smoke. The diet's for health reasons, and the alcohol is because I generally like to keep my wits about me, and to retain cognitive function (one of my points of pride). The smoking, I just dislike it. I'm not one of those people who doesn't smoke 'cause it kills you. News flash, everything kills you, and the one that does it best is time. And you can't escape that one.
Obviously, maybe don't live quite like Mr Thompson did. But I do agree with the sentiment about arriving at your grave in a well-preserved body. Source
But this trend of having your cake and eating it too first emerged in the world of smokers, hence my arrival here. The emergence of these phony e-cigarette thingies that claimed you could, despite expectation, smoke and not damage your body one bit. Naturally, as time wore on, we realized that all the nasty, dubious chemical substances they put in those e-cig mixtures may not be as healthy as we initially thought. Still, many persist in this fad thinking it's healthier. They're not regular smokers. They're hip smokers.
Guess what, though, if it sounds too good to be true, it typically is. Smoking without damaging your lungs falls in that category.
As does drinking without it damaging your brain. In fact no, there is a way to keep from damaging your brain -- it's called abstinence. Sobriety. Don't wanna fuck up your brain? Don't drink. Obviously, this doesn't apply to people with abuse issues. But then, I doubt these fad pills and supplements are targeted at them, anyway.
Mostly, they're targeting the young people obsessed with streamlining and optimization, who somehow buy into the notion that the occasional night out with the boys doesn't need to wreak havoc in their brain or the morning after. It does. It's called a consequence. Everything has those.
I've looked into these things a bit -- they're advertised as perfect if you want to go out drinking with the lads, but also want to be productive tomorrow. In the olden days, however, if you had a big day tomorrow and needed your brain at optimum capacity, you just didn't go out drinking with the lads. Or maybe you switched to non-alcoholic beverages after that second vodka tonic, you know? That was called being responsible.
Of course, not everyone succeeded in this endeavour, and for those who pursued the alcoholic path, the bitter hangover that greeted them in the morning was known as a consequence. Consequences typically make you regret your actions and consider twice before reenacting them. They're healthy and necessary in any society. All these attempts to remove them are dubious, and I dare say, outright dangerous.
There is no smoking that's not in some way damaging.
There is no "healthy" fast food.
There is no binge-drinking without a hangover.
There is no unsafe sex without unpleasant consequences.
There is danger. There always has been, and always will be. The 21st century's manic attempt to pretend otherwise only creates more danger in the long run. Teaching our younger generations that they can somehow bypass the perils of vice is moronic and irresponsible. It seems to me that by now, we should know better. And that, for the sake of future generations, we'd want to rear young people who are responsible adults able to face the consequences of their actions. Not run from them.
I have a great hangover prevention device. The device is called "lips."
If you can keep alcohol from passing the lips, mouth and tongue; then you are unlikely to get a hangover.
The great part of this device is that it can keep you from wasting precious money on booze.
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Haha, exactly! Saves both money and dignity -- great combo :)
This thing is actually simple. I believe everyone has a limit in the sense that when they begin to feel tipsy, they’d know and that’s the best time to stop drinking to prevent hangover or unnecessary things
Ain't nothing missing from this piece. You've hit every nail on the head and addressed possible counters. If this were some sort of questionnaire, I'd tick "strongly agree" x5.
I'd very much like to live like Mr. Thompson recommends. I read that quote with nods, a smile and a hell yeah! Next thing you're wisely sorta disagreeing 😭. My stance still remains though, no recklessless, definitely subscribing to cause and effect, no irresponsibility for sure, but who am I leaving a body in perfect shape for, a museum? Pfft, they can use my very many pictures. 😁
In the end, I'd love to say, "what a ride."
Thank you, my friend! There's a lot of wisdom in Hunter Thompson quotes (for some reason, I've always preferred isolated quotes rather than his full writing). Live boldly, and take charge of your life. Which is what I wish for you in 2024. Thank you for stopping by, my dear <3
Interesting.
I'll do my best. Many thanks!
Have a great year ahead. :D
There's been a piece of trending news in this part of the world these past few days about a well-known Asian actor who committed suicide after becoming embroiled in a drug scandal. His squeaky clean reputation came crashing down, and he was on the verge of being "canceled" by society. There are consequences to everything, even if you're just indulging in a vice occasionally or for fun. Bypassing the consequences of indulging in vices using magic pills or tricks is simply foolish.
I saw! It was boggling to me, as so much of the West seems to be celebrating drug addiction in a strange way. People talking about their vices is now lauded (which is, partly, a good thing), and to see someone contemporary end their life prematurely for the shame of drug use is very odd.
You're right. In Western culture, there have been songs that sometimes seem to glorify drug addiction, but it's different in many Asian countries. In several parts of Asia, there are strict laws against drug abuse or possession, and some even have capital punishment like the firing squad or the gallows for these offenses. The approach toward drugs and their consequences can indeed vary significantly between different cultures and regions.
Well said @honeydue!
Yet people still will believe that there's a pill for every ill, and the big pharma/ corporates rake in the profits!
The phrase for every action there's a reaction is so true! Abuse your body and suffer the consequences, no pill can reverse that!
For me being in control is a matter of dignity. Nothing wrong with having a drink within limits, and if you overstep the line, well, then suffer the consequences.
But, when people need to consume alcohol to enjoy themselves and have fun,they have a big problem.
Blindly believing what the manufacturers claim, is simply foolish.
Happy New Year to you, my special young friend!
Remember those 'letters' we were prompted to write in @ericvancewalton's 'time travel 101' to our 20 year old self and then our 80 year old self?
You wrote one to your 50 year old self in true @honeydue style!
I just read my 80 year old letter and sadly my one wish did not come true as I now find myself with no Arthur beside me. However, I cannot believe that big number will be my next goalpost, but I will do my utmost to make the most of each day of the years ahead!
I was taught the same. It's very rare to go out of control, and always in trusted company. Perhaps it's outdated, but I was taught it's not ladylike for a woman to get out of her head drunk while out with people, and somehow, it's stuck.
I remember those! Eric always comes up with wonderful ideas. I truly am sorry about your wish, my dear. But I know the years to come will bring joys untold, if different to the ones anticipated. It's not always the case, only for those who know where to look for them :)
We are devolving into a society that observes constant application of the deadly sins. It’s foolish to indulge in alcohol in excess but then get mad that your body is pissed off the next day. I think it’s quite sad the way people have no concept of self control and consequences. I don’t know how it’s been a societal shift but it’s fascinating and terrifying at the same time lol
It's hilarious how some new "snake oil" remedy pops up every so often with miraculous claims. I think alcohol is among the slipperiest of "vices" in our society. It's so easy to normalize and rationalize overindulging.
When I was a teenager in the 1980's and alcohol permeated every aspect of American society. When we were kids my Dad gave my brother and I little glasses of beer from time to time growing up so it was never forbidden fruit. This was unconventional here in the US because most parents had strict rules against it.
A childhood friend and I were being served in a neighborhood bar at 15. The first drink I ordered in that bar was a "Roman Coke" because I misheard some old guy in the same bar order a "rum and Coke". Lol. We also had a few liquor stores that would knowingly sell us alcohol when we were underage (15-20). Still, I managed to survive my younger years without what would be considered a destructive alcohol habit. I am among the lucky who can stop at one or two drinks.
I started having a glass or two of red wine with dinner in the mid-nineties and have continued that through to today. The only times in my life where I feel I've treaded dangerous territory with alcohol were times when I surrounded myself with other people who were heavy drinkers. I overindulged then because over time it started to feel "normal" and sometimes being drunk was the only way I didn't feel bored when we hung out. I also had a super stressful job and would drink more to try to escape from the anxiety surrounding it. After a few years of this my liver enzymes tested a little high during a routine physical so that put an end to it for me. Plus, the hangovers are beyond the worse flu you can imagine once you get over forty years of age. So bad you just wish someone would put you out of your misery. It's just not worth it.
Overall, I feel so much happier and healthier now at 52 than I did during those younger years. I truly enjoy my glass of wine or two a day or the occasional beer or whisky. You're so right when you say there's danger in everything, it's a matter of deciding what is worth the risk. I think it's not so much the now-and-then indulgences that are dangerous but rather our habits. I think the company we keep can be the worst vice.
Happy New Year, my friend. I wish you wonderful things in 2024!
So well sald!
Truly. I think it was you who taught me that thing about the 5 people we surround ourselves with defining our personality/life the most, and it couldn't be more true in this. Even the most temperate people can be rendered chaotic by the wrong company. It's a brief leap between "this is something I do occasionally for fun/to fit in with these people" to "this is my lifestyle now". Particularly when you start messing with the brain.
Happy 2024, Eric :) Still feels surreal that it's here. I hope it brings adventures and pages, and so many wonderful things to you and your family.
I was so bad at this when I was younger! Life gave me a lot of harsh lessons because of it and they eventually "stuck". : )
Happy 2024 to you as well! It feels to me like it will be a year of great volatility and we all know that where there's volatility there's also great opportunity. Cheers to you and your family, may this new year bring everything you wish for!