specialK wrote:

] Special K: You're way more tolerant than I could ever be. Many
] aspects of our culture are based on the blame game, everyone
] blames everyone else for their problems and its never their
] fault. Sure, I'm a little overweight too (maybe 10 lbs or so)
] but I blame myself because I'm too lazy to get to the gym. I
] agree with Acidus--lay off the pizzas.

Yes, it's a fine line, idn't it? On the one hand you have the absolute truth that genetics do matter. Afterall, our brains are nothing more than electro-checmical computers. If there's an imbalance of chemical production, or an imbalance in chemical receptors, then you have a multitude of issues. Broken bio-instructions, broken thoughts, broken attitudes. It's very hard to actually use a broken tool to fix itself, right?

But then you also have human nature in general, which is to be selfish, lazy, and critical. Sure, some backbone and some discipline tends to help us overcome those issues, but imperfection always gets the best of us in the end. So no matter how disciplined you are, you'll eventually blame someone else for your own misdeeds.

But I think the more appropriate thing to consider is that perhaps it's not bipolar disorder that's to blame, but just bad genetics in general. Considering that actually being undisciplined, irresponsible, and lazy are BEHAVIORS, which are governed by your BRAIN, which in turn operates only as well as your GENETICS and subsequent maintenance allow it to... well, I think you get my drift there.

But while I'm stream of consciousness ranting, might I add more root cause analysis, because it IS society that ultimately is to blame. Because we may be born to a disadvantage, doesn't in and of itself mean it cannot be overcome. But in a world that feeds us shit, rewards laziness and irresponsibility, and thinks that popping pills is the answer to every malady, it sure gets harder and harder to swim upstream every day.

Be punk. Resist the constant reinforcement to be a lazy asshole. You'll truly be happy and you'll truly be novel. But moreover, don't blame other's inability to do that for themselves squarely with them. Not all of us are strong enough realize it or do something about it.

RE: Half-ton man: It was genetics