Sense of humor

Betty Fowler said:Sure, but alcoholics feel shame and disgust too, and that doesn't mean they aren't getting a hit from the booze.

They aren't enjoying it. It's compulsive. They're just burying some unresolved trauma. They think they're processing it, but really, they're just subconsciously trying to shield themselves from the pain.

Betty Fowler said:Sure, but alcoholics feel shame and disgust too, and that doesn't mean they aren't getting a hit from the booze.

They’re actually getting a kick out of the shame and the disgust, not the booze. It’s all part of a defense mechanism—turning the "negative" into something "positive" just to run away from themselves.

Clearly, you don't know much about how people actually tick.

Peter Murphy6 said:They’re actually getting a kick out of the shame and the disgust, not the booze. It’s all part of a defense mechanism—turning the "negative" into something "positive" just to run away from themselves.

Clearly, you don't know much about how people actually tick.

I agree. Much like any other addiction or compulsion, the goal is to reshape how you perceive external (past) circumstances when changing the actual events is already "impossible."

But hey, alcoholics can be pretty funny sometimes, so, Rebecca Carter8... maybe you should consider taking up drinking? 😈

boldnomad45 said:They aren't enjoying it. It's compulsive. They're just burying some unresolved trauma. They think they're processing it, but really, they're just subconsciously trying to shield themselves from the pain.

Peter Murphy6 said:They’re actually getting a kick out of the shame and the disgust, not the booze. It’s all part of a defense mechanism—turning the "negative" into something "positive" just to run away from themselves.

Clearly, you don't know much about how people actually tick.

If I didn't have such a nice head on my shoulders, I might have hit it against the table after reading nonsense like that.

boldnomad45, you're talking about the causes of alcoholism, while Peter Murphy6 is discussing psychological mechanisms. Neither of those points refutes the fact that alcohol releases dopamine in the brain, creating physical pleasure. That’s all I ever said—alcohol provides pleasure. The same applies to cigarettes. Just because you’re coughing, smelling like smoke, and gasping for air after walking a few steps doesn't mean cigarettes don't provide satisfaction.

Peter Murphy6 said:They’re actually getting a kick out of the shame and the disgust, not the booze. It’s all part of a defense mechanism—turning the "negative" into something "positive" just to run away from themselves.

Clearly, you don't know much about how people actually tick.

I’d ask you to teach me, but I really don't want to be suffocated by another one of your mile-long messages.
☕

Joseph Bailey41 said:I agree. Much like any other addiction or compulsion, the goal is to reshape how you perceive external (past) circumstances when changing the actual events is already "impossible."

But hey, alcoholics can be pretty funny sometimes, so, Rebecca Carter8... maybe you should consider taking up drinking? 😈

That was the advice Dritokonj was always handing out. From what I can see, the strategy didn't exactly yield much of a return for him. 😬

Rebecca Carter8 said:That was the advice Dritokonj was always handing out. From what I can see, the strategy didn't exactly yield much of a return for him. 😬

What happened to him? Is he even still around? 😬

Betty Fowler said:If I didn't have such a nice head on my shoulders, I might have hit it against the table after reading nonsense like that.

boldnomad45, you're talking about the causes of alcoholism, while Peter Murphy6 is discussing psychological mechanisms. Neither of those points refutes the fact that alcohol releases dopamine in the brain, creating physical pleasure. That’s all I ever said—alcohol provides pleasure. The same applies to cigarettes. Just because you’re coughing, smelling like smoke, and gasping for air after walking a few steps doesn't mean cigarettes don't provide satisfaction.

I’d ask you to teach me, but I really don't want to be suffocated by another one of your mile-long messages.
☕

Oh, please don't—it would be such a shame to ruin a perfectly good table... ☕ .

Now, boldnomad45—you’re touching on the underlying causes of alcoholism, and then we have Peter Murphy6 over here discussing the biological mechanisms... but let's be real, neither of those points actually changes the fundamental truth: alcohol triggers a dopamine release in the brain, which creates a genuine, physical sense of pleasure. And that is truly all I was ever trying to say—that alcohol provides a sense of satisfaction. It works exactly the same way with cigarettes, too! Just because you end up coughing, smelling like an ash tray, or running out of breath after walking just a few blocks doesn't mean the cigarette didn't provide that initial hit of enjoyment...

That sense of "satisfaction" comes at a steep price—it really does. Sometimes you pay it all upfront in one go, but other times... well, it takes years of grit and persistence to finally settle the tab...

neonsailor26 said:Oh, please don't—it would be such a shame to ruin a perfectly good table... ☕ .

Now, boldnomad45—you’re touching on the underlying causes of alcoholism, and then we have Peter Murphy6 over here discussing the biological mechanisms... but let's be real, neither of those points actually changes the fundamental truth: alcohol triggers a dopamine release in the brain, which creates a genuine, physical sense of pleasure. And that is truly all I was ever trying to say—that alcohol provides a sense of satisfaction. It works exactly the same way with cigarettes, too! Just because you end up coughing, smelling like an ash tray, or running out of breath after walking just a few blocks doesn't mean the cigarette didn't provide that initial hit of enjoyment...

That sense of "satisfaction" comes at a steep price—it really does. Sometimes you pay it all upfront in one go, but other times... well, it takes years of grit and persistence to finally settle the tab...

Exactly. I wasn't disputing that for a second.

neonsailor26 said:Oh, please don't—it would be such a shame to ruin a perfectly good table... ☕ .

Now, boldnomad45—you’re touching on the underlying causes of alcoholism, and then we have Peter Murphy6 over here discussing the biological mechanisms... but let's be real, neither of those points actually changes the fundamental truth: alcohol triggers a dopamine release in the brain, which creates a genuine, physical sense of pleasure. And that is truly all I was ever trying to say—that alcohol provides a sense of satisfaction. It works exactly the same way with cigarettes, too! Just because you end up coughing, smelling like an ash tray, or running out of breath after walking just a few blocks doesn't mean the cigarette didn't provide that initial hit of enjoyment...

That sense of "satisfaction" comes at a steep price—it really does. Sometimes you pay it all upfront in one go, but other times... well, it takes years of grit and persistence to finally settle the tab...

Too late for that—did your wife get the bed ready for you?🤔

Betty Fowler said:Exactly. I wasn't disputing that for a second.

Too late for that—did your wife get the bed ready for you?🤔

Ready to turn in for the night?

Betty Fowler said:If I didn't have such a nice head on my shoulders, I might have hit it against the table after reading nonsense like that.

boldnomad45, you're talking about the causes of alcoholism, while Peter Murphy6 is discussing psychological mechanisms. Neither of those points refutes the fact that alcohol releases dopamine in the brain, creating physical pleasure. That’s all I ever said—alcohol provides pleasure. The same applies to cigarettes. Just because you’re coughing, smelling like smoke, and gasping for air after walking a few steps doesn't mean cigarettes don't provide satisfaction.

I’d ask you to teach me, but I really don't want to be suffocated by another one of your mile-long messages.
☕

Work on your poker face—my opinion shouldn't even matter to you.

Peter Murphy6 said:Work on your poker face—my opinion shouldn't even matter to you.

I’m a sensitive person—you really should have known that by now.

Betty Fowler said:I’m a sensitive person—you really should have known that by now.

I really wanted to see you.
My bad, that was pretty low of me.

Peter Murphy6 said:I really wanted to see you.
My bad, that was pretty low of me.

Are you happy now?

Betty Fowler said:Are you happy now?

Nah—giving in to stuff like that doesn't make me happy, it just makes me feel blue.

Peter Murphy6 said:Nah—giving in to stuff like that doesn't make me happy, it just makes me feel blue.

Well, as long as you're feeling down, I guess I'm doing alright.

Betty Fowler said:Well, as long as you're feeling down, I guess I'm doing alright.

Glad to hear you're feeling good 🙂

Peter Murphy6 said:Glad to hear you're feeling good 🙂

Fair enough. I suppose one day you might actually find my grasp of psychology useful.

Those folks from San Diego really are just pure geniuses...

Rebecca Carter8 said:Anyway...
Does anyone have any recommendations on how to actually learn how to be funny?

And why does that matter to you?

I wouldn't say I'm particularly witty, nor is the wit of others a major priority for me. I laugh at funny things, and I certainly enjoy witty people and good comedy, but it isn't anything I focus on intensely...

I haven't found that it has ever caused me any issues in life. 🤔

mistybison said:And why does that matter to you?

I wouldn't say I'm particularly witty, nor is the wit of others a major priority for me. I laugh at funny things, and I certainly enjoy witty people and good comedy, but it isn't anything I focus on intensely...

I haven't found that it has ever caused me any issues in life. 🤔

Because I value self-improvement.