John Kintaro Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 I am twenty years old. I have been a drug addict for four years, about six months ago I cold turkeyed the only drug I was left doing which was cannabis and I manage to stay away from it most of the time. Do not get the wrong impression here, I am hardly looking for advice and care because I can look after myself. I am very keen on Objectivism, something I have only started learning about the past few months. Before then I was interested in Zen Buddhism. I delt with a Buddhist Temple in my suburb, they helped me get off drugs with various mediation techniques which have worked in calming me. I helped them because my skill is programming and UNIX/Linux, so I could help them with their computers. My dillema is how to go about helping other people, I have so little to exchange with others yet for some reason I despite myself if I am ever selfish - yet reading about Ayn Rand's philosophy: being selfish made the world (would be the conclusion I can come to in life.) You see, I know a lot of people on drugs and many of them are quite useful to me despite their problems, they are good friends. However, I constantly find myself sacraficing things I shouldn't to keep them on their feet. Most of them I have cut the line for, they can drift on their own for a while for I have bigger problems and an education. There is a girl, who introduced me to Objectivism who is to shy to seek other people of this philosophy. We met at a train station, my train was delayed and we both were off work due to bullshit strikes in my near socialist bullshit country. She is addicted to heroin, at the same time she works a good job. We both want to study Business at Swinbourne University and she is very intelligent and articulate, her story is that she was kicked out of home at a very young age and got involved with the wrong people to put it simply. Should I help this girl maintain herself in living, for I love her, in hope that she will improve? Or will giving her a hand handicap her? That is my dillema. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimpy Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Certainly help her if you value doing so! If she is important to you and you want to better her life so that it will better your own, then there is no reason to not do so. It is impressive that you just stopped doing drugs altogether. Though not impossible, I know it is very difficult. If there's anything that'll change one's habits, it's good philosophy. Welcome to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sieur Bertrand Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Certainly help her if you value doing so! If she is important to you and you want to better her life so that it will better your own, then there is no reason to not do so. It is impressive that you just stopped doing drugs altogether. Though not impossible, I know it is very difficult. If there's anything that'll change one's habits, it's good philosophy. Welcome to the forum. agreed, or better yet help each other. Watch out for altruism, don't let your guard down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kintaro Posted March 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 (edited) I do watch out for it! I spent an entire youth wasting my time helping low-life idiots, in no exchange. The difference with this is it is hard to know how to value someone who cannot cope on their own. I do not like helping people when there is no way they can help themselves. The good thing about this girl, Annie, is that she is getting some sense into herself. She has gotten charity, without being a religious nut, to do rehab. She clearly wants to help herself, all I want to do is make sure that by the time she has gotten out of the hole she has dug with needles she has something to make of herself. I should probably give her some kind of responsbility she can handle. Edited March 25, 2008 by John Kintaro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Radiaki Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Your story has value, I think, which is something to consider if you are worried about exchange and avoiding harmful altruism. The facts in your case are a wealth of information useful to people wanting to escape addiction, as well as others who may encounter it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aequalsa Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Should I help this girl maintain herself in living, for I love her, in hope that she will improve? Or will giving her a hand handicap her? That is my dillema. It seems to me that you must believe two things for this endeavor to be worthwhile. One, that she is more likely to improve then to stay the same or get worse with regard to her addictions and life, and two, that you are strong enough to be able to help her. To not get pulled back down to her level. If either of those are not true, then you risk ruining yourself, not even as a trade for someone else's improvement but as a loss all around. Without your full context, it's not likely that any of us can answer for you. I just encourage you to be as honest as possible with yourself regarding your own capacities and her ability to change. Avoid wishful thinking, in other words, and be as objective(small 'o') as possible in your decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kintaro Posted March 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Thanks, that makes a lot of sense. I am away from my addiction and I am strong enough to help her. I have set myself up so I have all the time in the world to study, and experience. However I have never been addicted to the drugs this girl is on I see an obvious path for her to leave them behind. I will supply her with any books she needs for school I think will be the agreement I make with her. Thanks for your consultation of my issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenure Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 If that's all you came to this forum for, then welcome and goodbye, but it has been a pleasure reading this short thread. Your attitude and words are very refreshing. I hope you do come back soon and keep us updated on what you're upto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kintaro Posted March 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Thanks, I'll probably be sticking around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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