Addicted to...stuff
I sometimes have to wonder whether the human animal really is at the top of the food chain. Compared with other animals we have these massive brains which are supposed to be used to our advantage, but I can't help but think that we're not nearly as smart as we think we are.
For instance, we seem to have as many self-destructive tendencies as we do self-protecting ones. Is there any activity, substance or behaviour that humankind can't take and abuse all heck out of? Online gaming, shoplifting, pokies, cigarettes, alcohol, prescription medication, not eating, bingeing and purging, caffeine, sex, shopping, Shortland Street and tanning - to name but a few.
I swear, right now, someone somewhere is finding a way to be addicted to kittens, cuddles or the smell of babies' heads. Can you blame a gal for feeling like our species has a strong tendency towards wackadoo behaviour? I wonder if all the other animals and creatures are cringing, silently begging for the "crazy guy" on the bus that we call planet Earth not to sit next to them. If I were an antelope I'm sure I'd be putting my backpack on the seat next to me just in case.
Take as an example of our strange obsessive tendencies, tanning. A BBC documentary currently being filmed apparently has found that some children are visiting a tanning salon every day and feel ugly when they're pale. To which I say, you are English. Paleness of complexion is your birthright. Embrace it...or move to the Costa Del Sol like every other lobster-skinned chav with a passport. Jeez, these kids today, ay? When I was a young'un you just slathered yourself in coconut oil, lay out on the patio and cooked like a rotisserie chicken, the old-fashioned way.
The real tragedy is that we don't have these obsessive addictions to things that are actually awesome. I am so addicted to Robert Downey Jr sending me flirty text messages. He's such a saucy wee scamp. See? Instead, it's all blimmin' cheesecake and impractical footwear and, in weaker moments, Twitter. Life would be immeasurably more fulfilling if I could be addicted to reading great literature (rather than the trashy tomes I favour), or other intellectual pursuits (RDJ is very clever and therefore counts as an "intellectual pursuit" in case you were wondering).
Addiction, of course, is a strong term and generally should only be used to describe behaviours that persist even when we really know that we ought to stop and which can have really very negative effects on our lives...but I don't think that should stop us from having a little fun with it. What in your life are you "addicted" to? Is there anything that you'd prefer to have an addiction to?
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currently I'm addicted to checking the world earthquake site... and am getting more nervous every week... Okay so I may be being a total drama queen but is anyone else concerned that the earthquakes are merrily making there way right round the ring of fire (as expected) which we are at the bottom of (and divided into two by no less)
...does that mean the zombies will come too... i really need to change my addiction!!
Chuck Bass, hosiery (footless tights and jeggings inclusive), improbably large corsages, kitten heeled shoes, hydrangeas, vietnamese spring rolls, Mrs Higgins cookies ... these are a few of me favourite thangs.
I have no serious addictions, as Brothers and Sisters and Grey's Anatomy are currently not on tv and therefore I am not experiencing addiction. They'll be back soon though!
I atually got quite addicted to gambling for a while (which is actually quite shameful to admit). I don't fit the stereotype that I pictured in my head of people who would be addicted to gambling. Mind you, I don't know if I was really addicted per se, or if I just liked gambling a lot. Anyway, I now avoid places that promote gambling (by gambling I mean mainly pokies).
I was addicted to smoking, but I quit that, thankfully.
Now I am addicted to fishing, going to the beach, gardening, and reading, which are all good addictions I think :) I wish I could be addicted to exercise, because going to the gym is still a damn hard slog!!
Im not terribly addicted to anything. right this moment :p
unless procrastination is an addiction, in which case i concede fully.
Like Leon, i like shiny things. generally of the small and expensive variety however. i also like small furry things, cats, bunnies, girly stuff.
i dont smoke anymore, so thre goes one expensive addiction.
being addicted to healthy stuff would be so much better in the long run. then i would fit all the nice fanccy girly stuff i never actually buy.
I think I may be addicted to sleep can't seem to get enough of it.
Perhaps its because we are at the top of the food chain that we have the ability to become addicted to things.
If we hadn't reached the point we're at now then would we: a) wouldn't have time to become addicted to anything b) wouldn't have all the shiny things we can become addicted to
I'm not addicted to anything, except maybe Katie Holmes, but Tom Cruise is making me go cold turkey on her.
I would like to be addicted to exercise. Being the kind of person who jonesy's for an Ironman would be nice.
"C'mon man.... just one half-marathon... y'know I'm good for it...I just gotta have my medicine...."
I'm horribly addicted to V...... must go out and buy some shares in Frucor :D
Other than that, sport mainly, I hate not being basically fit (preferably nutty fit but don't have time with kids/job/rest of life stuff.
i blame all our addictions on technology. we truly have created a monster that has become our pandoras box.
we wanted more time so great-time saving technology like the remote control gave us an extra 3 seconds (the time it takes to walk to the TV) and what do we do with it? Find an addiction to fill that 3 seconds because we cant bear to have nothing to do! (Apologies for the gratuitous double negative)
Speaking of smelling babies heads, I saw a scary site when i was in Dunedin the other weekend so I just had to blog about it (as you do) http://www.pogostick.co.nz/would-you-let-a-baby-wee-on-you/
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I don't think I am addicted to stuff, but I like stuff and things. Shiny things, things with screens, things with wheels, things with boobies, things that come out of a coffee shop. These are all things that I like and want more of.
I was addicted to an online game, but when I came to the realisation that I was truly hooked, I immediately quit it and went outside a lot.
I could do with being more addicted to (or at least interested by) steamed vegetables, salad, and exercise. But now I'm off to get a small bucket of latte instead.