In article >,
C.H. > wrote:
>On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 13:13:49 -0600, Matthew Russotto wrote:
>
>> In article >,
>> C.H. > wrote:
>>>On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 16:29:59 -0700, Olaf Gustafson wrote:
>>>
>>>If you in any way feel compelled to drink you are an alcoholic, because
>>>that's what an alcoholic is, a person who _has_ to drink.
>>
>> You trivialize alcoholism. A desire to drink isn't alcoholism, any
>> more than a desire for ice cream is an addiction.
>
>Being compelled and having a desire are two different things. Please don't
>mix these up.

#1: It's not a matter of being compelled, it's a matter of _feeling_
compelled.

#2: In the widest sense -- and that IS how you used the term -- a
desire and a feeling of compulsion are the same thing.

>> It ain't quite that simple. I don't have to drink. But I want to
>> drink.
>
>Nothing wrong with that.

Except that you and the other neo-prohibitionists want to make it impractical.

>> I do have to drive if I want to get anywhere.
>
>No, you don't. There are taxicabs, public transportation or carpooling.

Thank you, Marie Antoinette.

>If you have 20 bucks to blow on alcohol and claim you don't have enough
>money for a cab you need to get your priorities straight.

Not a matter of 20 bucks. A matter of no cabs at all. And I rarely
spend $20 on alcohol for myself at a sitting. Besides, how am I going
to get my car back?