Sorry for the long post guys. I can't even fathom what exactly went on. I'm still having trouble processing it. This kid is absolutely DELUSIONAL. You wouldn't even believe it. Me and a friend had a sleepover, and we were discussing marijuana and the consequences of smoking in general, and he's been doing weed for years now. I tried to tell him that whether or not he smokes weed or cigarretes, he is inevitably going to damage his lungs and will ultimately end up getting lung cancer. He dismissed it entirely and claims that it's absolutely false. I even told him I would look it up online, and I found over a dozen people who even agreed with me and said that "Any smoke that enters your body WILL be detrimental to your health." So I looked up over a DOZEN sources that ALL prove that whichever way you look at it, SMOKING IS BAD FOR YOU PERIOD. You know what his response was? Brace yourself.. He proceeded to say that every single bit of information online is FAKE,INVALID, and nothing but a HOAX. He told me that the internet was designed for entertainment purposes ONLY and that it's not a reliable source for information because its all FAKE and if I try to disprove his Marijuana theory by using the internet to back up my claims, he said im "PLAGIARIZING". So basically, I brought to his attention FACTUAL evidence that disproves his marijuana theory by using the NET to ACCESS INFORMATION and all he said was that it's FAKE, and if you're going to back up your argument by taking info from the net, then you're PLAGIARIZING. He is just SO caught up in his own head that he believes NOTHING but himself. Even if I were to get a licensed doctor to tell him, HE STILL would NOT believe it. How in the hell is using information from the net considered plagiarism in the least? Not to mention he was DRUNK and acting extremely belligerent. You don't even understand what he was saying. You can't even begin to imagine how deluded he is and how corrupted his mind is from all the drug abuse and alcohol consumption. Then he threatened to hit me and it was just ridiculous. Could I get your takes on this?
I was with a guy who smoked it from the moment he woke, til the moment he fell asleep. He spent our food and bills money on it (even his new born would go without if he needed drugs, and then both children when our second was born). He didn't see anything wrong with it, and it is extremely normal for anyone with any kind of addiction to defend their addiction and state that there is nothing wrong with it. It isn't so much that they don't know it is doing them damage, because they really do, but it is more that they don't want to admit that they themselves are causing this damage to themselves. It is all psychological rather than anything else. It's a normal addict thing to do. My ex was on it from teenage years, he was in his 30's when he gave it up. He still, to this very day, doesn't believe how bad his addiction was and how greatly we all suffered, he even said he barely remembers most of our relationship and the things I have told him about. I think that is what hurts the most there for me, the fact that he doesn't 'know' or 'remember' what he put his children and myself through, but it is a very common thing. Don't be too hard on your friend, addiction is hard and takes over your thought pattern, even more so when it is a mind altering drug. Hopefully one day your friend wakes up to what he is putting his body through and can break free from the addiction. But yes, this experience is all too common when it comes to addictions of any kind.
I can tell you from experience: Your friend is not delusional. He is, as Cogito said, in denial. People who abuse drugs and alcohol can't admit the effect it's having on their body, or even claim they don't care, because they don't want to face it. It's hard to get through to someone in that state of mind. And the truth is that he won't change unless he decides on his own to do it. You can't make him do it. It's a tough spot to be in. I've been there. On both sides. Whatever happens, just always remember that you are not responsible for any choice he makes.
I understand, but what does his addiction really have to do with the entire 'internet is fake' bullcrap he brought up? How is he in denial about that though
Well, from your post, he was drunk. And it's not like he doesn't have a point. Just because it's on the Internet, doesn't make it so. Humans have a tendency to believe whatever they read or see, regardless of its source, although we do have skepticism and the like to help defend against it. But how many times have you seen an article and repeated it to your friends as truth without checking its sources?
i am living with a 45 yr. old step parent who is the dumbest person i know ... all thanks to weed. your describition of your friend is exactly how my stepdad acts. i never listen to a word weed smokers say, b/c whatever age they first started smoking,[and im talking serious smokers] that is the age they will mentally be/act. image being 17 and have to agrue with someone with the logic of a 14 year old. it sounds like your friends brain is toast, and if it bugs you to no end, i would slowly back away from the friendship.
That's absolutely ridiculous. Even though some sites online are false, that's not true for all. Smoking is terrible for you, any site that disagreed with that would be false. Your friend is so addicted, and convinced he is cool, he is in the right. I'm sorry to say it, but t's true. Tobacco and marijuana are among many substances that could possibly kill you, if not badly harm you. Many people quit if they find they have lung or mouth cancer, and realize smoking is not helping them on the road to recovery. I wouldn't date a smoker, and I would ask a friend or relative who smoked to do it away from me if I couldn't dissuade them from the habit.
Matrix, this isn't something you should beat yourself up over. Some people smoke weed, or tobacco or whatever, and they realize it's not good for them but they do it anyway...it's their choice to make (or should be; I don't agree with the drug war), and it's his issue not yours. A simple "Hey dude, smoking too much isn't good for you, and if you ever need to talk about it let me know" will be sufficient...and then move on with your life.
He basically said that everything found on the internet is FALSE. If you want "INFORMATION", go to the "LIBRARY." If you're going to use data on the internet to assess you in your argument, you're not allowed to do that because everything on the internet is absolutely invalid. If you wish to back up your argument, you must either have first hand experience or go to a library. THATS what he was saying aside from the whole weed debate.
The drug habit protects itself. Drug use distorts the thought processes, and its effect on the mind motivates the mind to find or create whatever justification supports continued use of the drug. Furthermore, there are certain predispositins to drug use (the so-called addictive personality) that also support the self-perpetuation of drug use.
The so-called addictive personality predictors are just as likely to swing you into the realm of not doing anything as they are to being addicted. Furthermore, you are just as likely to become addicted to the internet, eating, exercising, relationships, pornography, gambling, or anything else you can think of as you are to drugs or alcohol. Honestly, I personally think the term is ridiculous, but that's just me. Although I DO agree that a drug habit protects itself, just like any other addiction. It's best to walk away before you're up to your neck in it.
Lots of things on the Internet are inaccurate. That's why you have to look at the source. It could be from a credited university professor's controlled research, or it could be a 6th grader's class project. Then again, that professor's research could have been biased. It could be a company or a government source, but again, companies and the government are both pretty biased, too. Not to say that you can't find anything sound online, because there's lots of great information out there, but if he's wary of accuracy then good on him....however, it seems here that he just doesn't want to admit the facts point toward a problem....again, my recommendation is that you say something like "Hey man, I really like being your friend, but I'm worried maybe you have a problem with smoking too much. If you ever need to talk, I'm here." But don't beat yourself up over it or stress out too much. You have the ability to make your own, drugfree choices.
I hate to say this, but you were sort of asking for it. What did you think was going to happen when you force someone to defend something they enjoy? He knows its bad for him. He knows the better decision would be to stop. He probably did not appreciate you pointing that out to him. Look, straight edge isn't for everyone. It sure isn't for me. I smoke cloves, drink two or three glasses of absinthe every night, and have a laundry list of favorite drugs myself. Don't tell me these things are "bad" for me. I know. I don't care. Leave the fellow alone. Let him smoke in peace. Literally. Let him smoke in peace. If his smoking bothers you, if his addictions are hurting you... leave him. *EDIT* I'm not defending drug use per-se, but I'm not the only one who's walked that razor's edge. Back in the '90s I was all over the rave scene, and all the goodies it came with. Frankly, I think marijuana should be legal, along with some other nebulous Schedule I substances like MDMA and LSD. It is possible to enjoy "illicit" substances in moderation, and genuinely come out better for it. This is the anarchist in me talking, because when I see recreational drug use pushed underground it becomes plainly obvious how it is stigmatized and abused. The socialist in me also desires to see these drugs legal, because government subsidy could be used elsewhere other than such fine American institutions like the DEA. I'm definitely not the person to ask about drugs if you're looking for a conservative opinion. That is for sure.
We are no longer friends after that night. He caused alot of problems for me. He kept my mom up, and made me get her to buy him alcohol. He's only 16. He is absolutely unstable and not the type of person I should be around at all. I didn't really realize this until that night. He said some very insensitive and unforgivable things to me that I didn't include in the original post, but if you guys were in my situation that night you wouldn't be saying any of that. I didn't tell him to quit weed, I was simply pointing out that weed is detrimental to your health. Any form of smoking is, it's inarguable. He's extremely full of himself, and he thinks he holds the answers to everything.
Ditto what TheGreatNeechi said, and I feel the need to point out that your profile says you're 20. He's 16? Did your mom know she was buying alcohol for him? Even if she thought it was for you, this is just bad all around. Neither of you are legal for your state (I know cause I'm in it with you) and this just seems to be a questionable decision for all involved. Why weren't his parents called at the very least?
I think that drugs such as ecstacy and certain kinds of amphetamines, while being dangerous for your health in the long term, can be brilliant for creativity.
When you believe you are right or fear the problems that will come if you are wrong...you keep doing what you're doing at all cost so you don't have to face a reality you're not prepared for. Secondhand smoke is worse. That sucks. You don't smoke, but are near those that do, and you get the worst of it without getting any of the positive. Which could imply smokers are selfish if they know that and still smoke around you. How much longer until someone is charged with murder via secondhand smoke? haha. oh... And if you need drugs to be creative, then either you're not creative to begin with or you're so uptight without the drugs you can't access it.
