And now for something weird...

cmartinez

Joined Jan 17, 2007
8,783
In many cases mental illness is the product of a life style not the organic cause. Can we both agree that most on the streets are NOT former war vets or pain medication patients?
Disclaimer: I've had close family relatives fall into the pit of drug addiction and seen up-close/personal the resulting brain damage that presents as mental illness.
Yet another discussion entailing the chicken and the egg...
 

justtrying

Joined Mar 9, 2011
439
In many cases mental illness is the product of a life style not the organic cause. Can we both agree that most on the streets are NOT former war vets or pain medication patients?
Disclaimer: I've had close family relatives fall into the pit of drug addiction and seen up-close/personal the resulting brain damage that presents as mental illness.
Yes we can as I have family members in that pit as well...

I just do not like to use "many" and "most" as a qualifier. You fall into a trap of generalizing.

Are there people that systemically abuse the welfare system - yes

Are there people that would like to but cannot get out of their addiction cycle - yes

Are there people caught in financial circumstances beyond their control - yes

And so on and so forth... Can you paint all of these people with one brush? No.

https://www.veteransactionnetwork.net/4_states_battling_large_homeless_veteran_populations/

https://www.militarytimes.com/veter...tionwide-rises-for-first-time-in-seven-years/

Now to me those are large numbers...
 

justtrying

Joined Mar 9, 2011
439
Yeah... at least at the beginning... but then things get out of hand and whatever sliver of self-control existed is lost...
For people with mental issues there isnt. You just want to gain control over your situation.

I had health problems, not mental, epilepsy. There is no free will when you have no control over your health. I happen to take same meds they use to treat bipolar. Side effects are dreadful, but I have high tolerance for drugs. Nothing is easy and one needs to be very self aware. Who is self aware when they are young? Especially in a society that promotes eternal happyness and quick fixes for everything?

https://www.dualdiagnosis.org/bipolar-disorder-and-addiction/
 

nsaspook

Joined Aug 27, 2009
16,338
Yeah... at least at the beginning... but then things get out of hand and whatever sliver of self-control existed is lost...
To me that's why we can't just paper over the role of drug abuse in the American homeless problem with mental illness or poverty. If we want long term solutions then the need is early intervention into mental health and drug abuse, not a boarding home for beggars to keep them out of sight.
 

cmartinez

Joined Jan 17, 2007
8,783
For people with mental issues there isnt. You just want to gain control over your situation.

I had health problems, not mental, epilepsy. There is no free will when you have no control over your health. I happen to take same meds they use to treat bipolar. Side effects are dreadful, but I have high tolerance for drugs. Nothing is easy and one needs to be very self aware. Who is self aware when they are young? Especially in a society that promotes eternal happyness and quick fixes for everything?

https://www.dualdiagnosis.org/bipolar-disorder-and-addiction/
Sorry to hear about that ... I have a 19 year old daughter with cerebral palsy (she's an angel) and had epileptic episodes when very young. So we had to keep her medicated for a while, during which she was not her normal, cheerful self. She's fine now, epilepsy-wise, and has had no further episodes nor need for that sort of medication.

That modern society promotes the search for unabashed happiness being enjoyed in complete blissful stupidity, and quick fixes for all problems physical, emotional and spiritual is a sad subject that I think should be discussed in its own thread ... otherwise we'll never see the end of it here, I think.
 

spinnaker

Joined Oct 29, 2009
7,830

spinnaker

Joined Oct 29, 2009
7,830
The worst handshake is a dead fish handshake. For some reason Asian foreigners (to the US) don't understand how to give a proper American handshake.

As a member of a cycle touring organization, I get to host many people from all over the world. Most people I host know how to shake hands but those are mostly Europeans. The Asians on the other hand are horrible at it. My guess is it is because it is something they don't do much so they don't get much practice.

I am a bit bold so the first time we meet and I get a typical dead fish handshake, I ask them if they would be offended if I teach them how to shake hands like an American. Everyone I asked was very appreciative of the handshake lesson. Firm but not crushing. It is a real skill to get it right. Almost everyone picks it up during their stay and wished someone had taught them earlier in the trip. A lot of my guests have already traveled across the country staying at the home of other hosts.

The dumbest handshake is the fist pump with explosion.
 

spinnaker

Joined Oct 29, 2009
7,830
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