[travis travis]

(to those who might have thought I was talking about the band in the subject line, sorry I rarely do that sort of headline cheesing but this time I couldn't help it)

anyway, today kids I'd like to bitch about addicts. you may meet people who seem so creative, cool, and on top of the world... but man if they've had big problems with substance abuse in the past take the clue and don't hang with them cause they are only going to use you bad. I totaled my parents car this weekend driving this little fucking crackwhore around all day on the worst, snow covered roads all year. She's never said sorry, I haven't heard from her since, and I don't expect to. She wouldn't even come home with me and my parents, she stayed at her friends house to party. but for christ sakes I hardly liked her to begin with and it only got worse everytime we hung out, as I saw how much she abused and fucked over everyone in her life. I kept thinking though 'well, I'm not getting myself into any trouble, and it beats doing nothing today' I was having fun observing the seedy side of life, and boy was I fucking stupid to think that I could just hang around there without getting eaten alive by all those friggin users.

here are some hints that you shouldn't hang out with a person and that they might be an addict: they are 16-years old and their last boyfriend was 24. they tell you about the vast amounts of drugs and hard drugs they just got off and show you the evidence, and explain what a connieseur they are of making their own rare drugs like ether... they go on and on about their ludicrous life of high adventures and point out how every other corner on your own street (no, every corner) they did something crazy on

but really, through all that, and being on stuff, this girl still somehow managed to act almost human. she was smart, cognizant, and acting relatively normal. that's why I hung with her, even though I didn't like her most of the time for all the shit she had pulled on OTHER people, I was so blind to not think she would take me down to. well, I thought I was always a hundred steps ahead, I mean I sidestepped almost every time she tried to take advantage of me, except for that last big screw up. but I was almost ready to just blow her off at that point, too bad I waited a little too long.

anyway, things learned from this girl --

1. the worst things you can imagine about people just may be true, be prepared for that. don't be paranoid, but use your sense, and remember that how they've treated other people is how they'll treat you

2. NO can be just as life-affirming choice as yes.

3. drugs are gay. to be an addict you have to be pathetic because drugs really aren't that great, I've done plenty and I'm honest about it. therefore, substance abusers are going to have some MAJOR character flaws, no question. and a lesson about addicts -- people who are using are also using all the people, resources, anything they can get their thoughtless hands on around them


and one thing I learned from her that I'm greatful for and doesn't have to do with caution - speak your way forward in life. every person you meet is a doorway to a billion new things, but you've got to open that door. it's ashame she uses this mostly to take advantage of people, because it can also be used to lead an exceedingly fufilling life

[Lunatique]

*sigh*

I couldn't agree more.

I've seen lives destroyed by drugs and alchohol. It's sad because these friends of mine had so much potential--yet they chose drugs over a real life.

You can't help them, because they'll only let you down, hurt you, lie to you, use you, and disappoint you. Substance abusers have to hit rock bottom to wake up and realize they are about to lose EVERYTHING.

You can handcuff them and take them to a detox clinic, but they'll just run away if they don't want to or can't kick the habit.

Ok, this makes me too depressed. I'm gonna stop. Thank God I have no interest in alchohol and drugs. I mean, everybody's done them, but you must have serious problems if you get hooked. Character flaw, I suppose.

[wayfinder]

yeah, these bastards. little fuckers, all o'them. GET OFF MY FUCKING LAWN!!!! and take your character flaws with you!

[aquamire]

My best friend in highschool was a freaking genius. Seriously, this kid was so smart and creative. He was extremely compassionate, and dare I say I loved the guy. (plutonic, hehe). Just a great friend to have. BUT he was depressed a lot. Very badly at times. Largely this was do to the fact that he was so damned intelligent but he didn't fit in, anywhere except among geeks who got made fun of. (like me, heh)

So.. he turned to drugs and gained popularity. I havent talked to him in a long time. I just couldn't handle it anymore. I couldnt have any long conversations with him while looking up at the stars.. all he ever talked about was drugs. Drugs this, drugs that, yadda yadda.

The thing about drugs, is they gain you a high place in highschool society since your going along with everything. But as soon as highschool is over, society turns against you and sees you as a looser.