George Best RIP

[Woolly]

Just for the record, i hope i kick the bucket in an incredibly stupid way (nibbled to death by a gang of angry hamsters, for example) so that people have no choice but to find it amusing.

And i want my tombstone to say: 'I knew this would happen!'



Just so you know.
-Wul

[Mudcrab]

"Alcoholism is a disease"

Is it fuck, it's an addiction. You can't catch alcoholism can you? So quit spouting AA rhetoric and get off you moral high horse.

In fact blah blah blah blah blah...

[NSFTM]

AA rehetoric where did you read that.. the daily mail

People are genetically predetermined to have a susceptibility to certain conditions..such as depression, alcoholism and other diseases

nicked off the internet definition of disease

'A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. Sometimes the term is used broadly to include injuries, disabilities, syndromes, symptoms, deviant behaviors, and atypical variations of structure and function, while in other contexts these may be considered distinguishable categories.'

[Matt Timson]

What about internet gobshitery?

[House of Usher]

I'd say that's a contentious definition right there.

[Matt Timson]

While somebody who is an alcoholic will always be an alcoholic, they can actually stop drinking any time they want to (although I'm not suggesting for one minute that it's easy).

When you've finished moralizing from your backside, maybe you can explain to me why you think it's ok to drink your liver to death, be lucky enough to get another one and then continue drinking- literally pissing your second chance up the wall.  

Whether drinking was the cause of his eventual demise or not, that's what George Best did with his new liver and that seems to be what most people object to- as is their right in a society that allows (gasp!) freedom of expression.

Quick!  Accuse me of being a Daily Mail reader!

[NSFTM]

"What about internet gobshitery?"

Dunno know, i'll go and take a look at what symptoms you've exhibited and make a diagnosis

[Wils]

I object to the tone of your last post, Eyebrows. It's the same as getting into your car pissed and ploughing through a bus queue, then reversing back over them. Repeatedly.

If you carry on this way, I may be forced to TAKE...YOU...DOWN! ;)

[NSFTM]

"While somebody who is an alcoholic will always be an alcoholic, they can actually stop drinking any time they want to (although I'm not suggesting for one minute that it's easy)."

so you admit that it is an endemic condition?
 

"When you've finished moralizing from your backside."

Not entirely sure what you mean by this..as you seem to be taking the moral high ground because he was an alcoholic.. i must apologise for not agreeing with you..because you are correct...oh hold on i'm not your a 'moaning old giffer'

"as is their right in a society that allows (gasp!) freedom of expression."

oh the irony

"Quick! Accuse  me of being a Daily Mail reader!"

sorry i Forgot you seem to get your insight into the human condition from Comics and Buffy...my sincerest apologies

[Slippery PD]

But there is an issue here isnt there.  

Its an immotive subject that seems to be getting everyones back up, it is turning a tad nasty.  Which is why I stopped posting when I asked for a touch of resect for a dead man, I felt shouted down.  I dont think anyone here has condoned George Bests behaviour have they (and if Im wrong Ill take it on the chin)

Now if we want to talk about alcholism lets do so in a sensible way.  Its a serious issue that kills thousands of people a year and its really difficult Habit/Disease to kick (and anyone whose grown up with an Alchoholic will tell you this, I can say so:)).  Is this bit contencious?  Im not sure it is.  So what is the contention, is it the fact that a poor (he had no money) irish boy who didnt know better drunk himself partly into the grave after becoming rich and famous for kicking a ball?  Would it be any better if he was Dylan Thomas/Richard Harris and did something worth while (tm) or is it the whole counter media thing that going on?

Anyway theres my thoughts....

Slips

[House of Usher]

"or is it the whole counter media thing that going on?"

For my money, it's exactly that. I personally don't give a toss what George Best chose to do/couldn't help doing with his health and his chances in life; that's up to him. What I find nauseating is the fact that the news media, both fuelling and fuelled by public fascination, decided that George Best's last dying week and a half warranted rolling news coverage even though the outcome was a given.

Moreover, I can't identify with the public wallowing in pity and outpouring of sentimentality that ensued. I've never felt moved to heap bunches of flowers on an impromptu shrine to a total stranger, nor sign a book of condolence for the same.

[Matt Timson]

"so you admit that it is an endemic condition?"

I like the way that you say that as if I ever implied that it wasn't.

I'm not fussed by your generalisations regarding my reading/TV viewing habits at all- it's what I'd expect from somebody who argues himself into a conversational cul-de-sac.  Sarcasm is no substitute for a proper argument*.

As for the rest. I think you've got it arse backwards.  You're entitled to your opinion, and I only object to your backing it up with bollocks FACT!s.  An alcoholic can choose to stop drinking at any time- in much the same way that you can stop talking out of your arse at any time.  I've every sympathy for 'George Best, the alcoholic'- just not as much sympathy for 'George Best, the alcoholic that indulged himself'.  Poorer men and women suffering from alcoholism have managed to turn their lives around- but this is a man who had the money and support system to help himself in every conceivable way, but chose not to.

You seem to be ignoring this, my only point, in favour of stuff that, quite frankly, seems to be seeping from your arse like a big wet fart.

I notice you didn't bother to answer my question about whether or not you thought it was ok to piss his new liver up the wall either.









*Unless your only other option is talking out of your tail pipe.  Oh... wait...  I see.

[Matt Timson]

Wils- you read my mind.

Slips- have had an extremely selfish alcoholic in the family myself- but see your point.  As it goes, I couldn't stand the sight of Richard Harris or Oliver Reed either.  Being pissed up all the time didn't make them 'special' in any way and being actors didn't make them 'special pissheads' either.

Usher- couldn't agree more with your last paragraph.

[Mudcrab]

"AA rehetoric where did you read that.. the daily mail"

lol, I now feel thoroughly ashamed. I made that up myself but that comparison is cruel! I'll admit it was a rather silly turn of phrase ;)

Anti-media thing? Yeah, me too, although I don't think I've actually posted anything against the defendant in question m'lud. It's the BBC I've been annoyed with. Can't speak for the tabloids, but I imagine they've been worse.

I don't think I'd 'laugh' at anyone dying for any reason, unless it was fictional of course.

...although, should we laugh with imperial glee when Saddam Hussein gets the death penalty? Maybe another one for the Daily Mail :o)

[Thursday]

"... with imperial glee..."

With democratic glee, surely?