I am trying to understand your comment:
"I can assure you that if someone is an alcoholic, they do not choose to become one." that seems to cut against everything AA thinks about alcoholics. In essence, you can choose to drink or not !
I think if you asked most alcoholics (in recovery) they would tell you "yes, my recovery depends on my choosing not to take a drink today."
BTW, most alcoholics will tell you that they are still alcoholics, but they just chose NOT to take a drink today !
One day at a time theory.
Originally Posted by Whirlaway
What I meant is ... and I know that I didn't state my thoughts clearly, is that bottom lining it, having the alcoholic "gene" as it were (new alcoholic "speak" is referring it to being almost like an allergy), isn't a choice that an individual would make for themselves.
I think that one is probably born with the predisposition for alcoholism. I'm very close to the subject, actually.
As with homosexuality, I also think that it's something that well ... it's just hardwired for most people. I don't think that being a homosexual is a personal choice.
One can choose to not drink. One can choose to not fuck a person of the same sex.
But what's inside, the deep parts of your psyche, etc., aren't really up for the whole thing of "choice".
If a person is an alcoholic, and in recovery or trying to get there, each day (minute/hour and sometimes seconds) is a struggle to get to that point where you're not craving a drink.
And one has to repeat that mental process (whatever works for them, personally), and getting outside support (AA is one of them), to help with getting through those constant cravings, which tend to pop up again and again throughout the sobriety process, which will last a lifetime.
Completely different topic than a sexual desire for someone of the same sex. They do not intersect.
Being homosexual isn't a choice to me. It's just who the person is. It's an inherent trait.
Complicated topic.
Honestly, I just wanted to bitch about Rick Perry, who I've not admired for a very long time.
He should have never been governor. Texans are often perceived in an unflattering light. Perry doesn't do anything to change that perception when he opens up his mouth.
Or as people might write in this forum, his pie hole.
Hugs,
Elisabeth