You guys are ahead of teh news.

On my Homepage today i find

Suicide risk dims hope for anti-addiction pills
Once-promising treatments tied to psychiatric problems in patients

The Associated Press

CHICAGO - Two years ago, scientists had high hopes for new pills that would help people quit smoking, lose weight and maybe kick other tough addictions like alcohol cocaine, and chronic DB.com use.

The pills worked in a novel way, by blocking pleasure centers in the brain that provide the feel-good response from smoking or eating. Now it seems the drugs may block pleasure too well, possibly raising the risk of depression and suicide.

Stop teh tape! stop teh tape!

I always *did* look sideways when I saw "anti-addiction" pharmaceutical-development with a design-approach geared toward blocking or otherwise interfering with 1) endorphins, or which might 2) play around with the major neurotransmitters like dopamine. While the principle is impossible to predict, researchers are wise at least not to forget the law of unintended consequences.

"Of course you're going to feel like killing your f*cking self if a drug approach backfires and depletes those same neurochemicals (and the brain is very little understood, remember) which are intimately involved with the sense of wellbeing," I would muse.

Margaret Bastian of suburban Rochester, N.Y., was among patients who reported problems with Chantix, a highly touted quit-smoking pill from Pfizer Inc. that has been linked to dozens of reports of suicides and hundreds of suicidal behaviors.

"I started to get severely depressed and just going down into that hole .... the one you can't crawl out of," said Bastian, whose doctor took her off Chantix after she swallowed too many sleeping pills and other medicines one night.

Side effects also plague two other drugs:

-Rimonabant, an obesity pill sold as Acomplia in Europe, was tied to higher rates of depression and a suicide in a study last month. The maker, Sanofi-Aventis SA, still hopes to win its approval in the United States.
-Taranabant, a similar pill in late-stage testing, led to higher rates of depression and other side effects in a study last month. Its maker, Merck & Co., stopped testing it at middle and high doses.

The makers of the new drugs insist they are safe, although perhaps not for everyone, such as people with a history of depression. Having to restrict the drugs' use would be a big setback because it would deprive the very people who need help the most, since addictions and depression often go hand-in-hand, doctors say.

Well I mean DUH. I kinda foresaw this before even embarking on the article.

A bigger fear is that the whole approach may be in trouble. Researchers say blocking pleasure, especially the way the obesity drugs do, might take the fun out of many things, not just the harmful substances and behaviors these drugs target.

Read the full article here, which concludes predictably with

Psychiatrist Dr. Jesse Wright at the University of Louisville, said Chantix helped one of his schizophrenic patients, "who smoked like a smokestack," without worsening his psychological symptoms.

and a Dr. Geoffrey Williams, "co-director of the Greater Rochester Area Tobacco Cessation Center"--and a paid speaker for Pfizer

"The risk-benefit ratio is still very much on the side of use of the medication." "The alternative, smoking, is extremely highly risky."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reversed. This material damned well better not be rewritten or otherwise molested by some pillhead.

UH, oh.

Brought to you (entertainment and all) by teh venerable master of creative syntax manipulation: Stits, here showing off some formidable expressive dexterity and perspicacious prowess. (Writing students: Look for my use of combined assonance & alliteration.)

Stits

Well, my hubby and myself were 2 that became severly depressed. I went off of it first because I was hearing voices. My hubby continued and had multiple side effects including depression. He went off and it took him a good 2 weeks to get back to a somewhat normal life. I tell people considering this drug to don't do this. It is more harmful than it is helpful. Good article stits!

This last statement had me sadistically amused

Die next month, or in a few decades? sigh..

The bright side of all of this, to me, is yes its all linked together, yes we don't know what the hell we are doing... but, we threw a bunch of molecules together and it got a predictable response out of a common mean group of people. Now, how can we use this HUGE study we just undertook at the customers expense (quite literally) and apply it to mental health pharmaceutical research?

Seriously, I think this *could* be a big clue/jumpstart to the beginning of some breakthroughs with all of our constant mumbo jumbo of the Amygdala/Hippocampus -(pleasure/reward center) science jargon out there. Start deducing, experimenting and generally doing what those crazy but genius neuroscientists like to do and we might be on to something sooner than later. -- No, not the Chantix and its protoge's but the whole ideology behind what is occuring.

Nonetheless, excellent stuff as always Stits. Is it just me, or have you taken on a stronger interest in your non-verbal communication talents since I last visited?

Can some master of creative syntax manipulation explain what "teh" is supposed to mean?

I think it's a word scramble.

Surely you are joking?

If for some reason not,.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teh

So it's a sarcastic, Chinese/English accidental-on-purpose misspelling of 'the', used by gamers to mean 'the best', but at the same time 'lame', performed by, for example, John, but it was really Phil, when he was going to say 'pwn' after it, but didn't, because he was unscrambling the word.

Well that clears that up. As it says at the top of the Wiki article, "This article or section has multiple issues."

Maybe it stands for something, like 'lol'? Tchah, Er... Hell!

No, it is code for,.. all your base belong to us.

I think most acronyms are at best, people being LAZY. Though there are some common by all 'walks of life and ages' that I don't find somewhat annoying.

Teh is not one of them. I've never understand what was/is so 'cool' .. or perhaps dorky/nerdy (thats cool to some people) about mispelling a word on purpose. Technically teh isn't an acronym,.. its slang.. Again, I'm tired heh.. but you know what I mean.

Now for real, were you really at a loss? Or are you now continuing to be insiduously dumbfounded?

I always thought it was just a typo of "the" for those who don't care how 'duh' they appear.

Well the etymology is really tri-fold. Having evolved into a veritable neologism by now, the intentional misspelling of "the" belongs to the province of the younger generation. In other words, if you have to ask, it's a dead give away that you're not a gamer. lol

Also (#2), scruf is correct.

And finally... you know. It's teh "in" thing. Same reason many ppl will intentionally use lower-case for the proper first-person, "I."

hth,
Stits

yep, I am not a gamer. just an oldie who learns new stuff every day! I am going to have to get out my dictionary if these posts continue. etymology?? is that a new word, or just new to me? and altruism is a word I've heard all my life, but never knew what it meant. pi$$es me off that there are any words left I don't know the meaning of at my age! do't give a sh1t like I used to though.

What are you all so damn old that you don't remember the dumb $hit you guys did as youngsters.

The "kids these days" are the same ignorant kids we were. The only difference is the "world around them moves a little faster". Well, not really, information just moves in greater quantities and faster.

I get depression (a little funky) from some antibiotics. Certain medication after a week or so starts to mess with my head. I am not sure why that is, but it may be my relationship with medication (preconceived notions). I buy/pick-up pills take them for a week or two and flush them. It happens to me all the time. I know stopping medication early is a no no, but I have been lucky so far. I guess this is a bit different than full-blown depression, but I get really self reflective on certain medication.

"I'm A Freak"

Probably more insidiously, but bear in mind that there was recently a spyware program (SpySheriff - a particularly nasty one) which would download from the Merriam-Webster site, so be careful of using that to check the meanings or spellings of such words.

Seriously, the last game I played was Boulderdash on my Amstrad CPC464 from 1986, and I sold it because I was playing it too much. I've seen 'teh' many times but always assumed it to be an accidental typing error, but maybe half the time it wasn't.

Depression and computer games. Any relationship?

^ lol@JL, made me laugh


"more conspiracy-think or alarmist might be closer to what you're trying to express?


Mehh, idk.

I'm calling balderdash. j/k


lol... No, you are enough just as you are Scruffie-doodles. (((sruf))) I was tickled by your profile, saying you found DB.com from being freaked over the whole anthrax/post-9/11 scare. lol -I honestly cannot remember how I found this place, which was almost surely by accident and is why you see... "Dubious serendipity" in my Profile. lol

Hey Scruf, when you're game for another brain-drain (watch Nephro jump all over this: "Wait! Wait! i know some philosophy! i, i know philosophy!" *grr-hiss* lol) try out

Philology recapitulates ontology.

The assertion is a kind of lazy a priori dig at the recursive outcomes of the respective disciplines you encounter in philosophy. I wrote an easier to understand interpretation (or "answer") below.









Philology is the study of speech and literature (linguistics). Ontology is [ont- meaning being or existence + -ology, the study of]. The recapitulation descriptor simply indicts both as being one and the same for any practical purposes.


Oh you damned well bet: U.S.$63 for a single flippin' game. lol $400 game consoles that overheat and die (we're staring straight at you, Microsoft, Xbox 360; failures rates establsished at 16%-20%).

Causal relationship or exasperation of depression? Uhh. Yep.

Stits

LOL... was just reviewing the thread and that what got me--"why sugarcoat?" lol! JL: uhh-yep, prolly that's pretty close. Prolly.


Body and soul?

Little Silverchair, ne1?

Hey I apologize to everyone. I am an old Geezer. I was just kidding around. I actually remember playing "Leisure Suit Larry" on an Apple IIe (with floppy disks). I even had a Studio II game console in the 70s.

I like where this thread has totally slipped off the track.. rolled over and is now steadily tumbling down the ravine of reckoning.

Anyhow back to the offtopic topic,.. Neph, the whole 'teh' ordeal isn't specific to the US.. Those crazy kids in the UK are doing it to!

I am an avid gamer, over my illustrious career of FPS shooter on dial-up modems to MMORPG's and back to a little something I like to dabble with called ET:QW. I haven't hit 30 yet so I'm not quite a 'fogey' but I think gaming for a certain generation and 'up' (or down if you prefer), is here to remain. Yes, I anticipate 45, 55yr old men reliving their youth through an array of virtual bullets or 1's and 0's pummeling their comrad 3000 miles away.

As for depression and Chantix.. uh, yeah I think we've nailed that one.. Depression and gaming. Sure, any isolating experience will 'exasperate' it as Stits refers but I think those games in which you actually 'speak' to the others instead of type lessens the depressive effect a 'touch'. Casual gaming, though, I can't see having any long lasting disorderly mental properties

If I see any, and I'll give them the necessary slap. I don't mind them writing notes to each other in lessons, but any text message lingo and they'll lose their dinner.

Well, I have my Playstation II and really enjoy playing Buzz the Mega Quiz with my friends and neighbors.

It is developed by Sony of UK. Makes me think of Nephro when I play.

"It features: Point Picker, Winner Stays On and The Final Countdown, Buzz has also worked with producers to develop "Mystery Games" - special rounds where he takes to centre stage and challenges the contestants to take him on. These special rounds give Buzz the opportunity to show off his multi-talented nature as a card shark, horse trainer and all-round raconteur."

Sony of UK? It'll break down before long.

XDuke 360 is where's it's all at baby.

i can't get enough PGR4. Driving games are all I play.

I think I drove behind you on the way to work yesterday.

my wife and i have this board game! we love it! and no... i am not an old fogie...

although i thought it was balderdash. could it be a different game?

It wasn't a board game on the computer, and involved a character called Rockford I think, trying to obtain jewels without rocks falling on his head. Highly addictive!

That would be a novelty, board-game on a computer.

I still remember the code for "Mike Tyson's Punch Out" 007-373-5963. I saw a "King Hippo" t-shirt the other day.

For "Contra" it was up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start. I remember that krap and I forgot my sister's birthday this year. I called her a day late.

Hah, jl767. I remember both of those as well.. The Mike Tyson code is a rediculous number to remember from our youth, but it is funny you should mention that. I think something about the number has a 'ring' to it.

As for contra.. I thought it was up up down down left righ left right B A *select* start.

Maybe I just added that in from poor memory

I think you are right Neo. I am sure it would take me a few tries to get it (Contra) right. That is too funny. I have not played either game in twenty years. I can barely remember my own name and I have to use a thesaurus every day because I forget words. My skull is deep fried.

Sweet breads (I know it is thymus/pancreas) anyone?

Where on earth did the Sweetbreads reference come in? I cheated, I looked it up -- but not sure what your asking. The thymus is more common in our culture

Short and sweet here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetbread

Wiki is rediculously handy.

Many people consider sweetbreads to be cooked cow brain (it looks just like it), but I worked at a French restaurant and know that it is not the actual brain.



"My brain is fried" was what I was trying to get across.

Your brain is fine,.. Do you exercise? How do you eat? Supplements/vitamins?

I bet you could whip your brain into shape much faster than you think was possible.

Our brains don't become 'fried' , even with age,.. Unless you have a degenerative brain disease. Instead as we get older we neglect our health, and the use of certain parts of our brain that causes it to become 'dull' so to speak.

You can have that memory back, the sharpness, and remove the cobweb feeling if you would be willing to put forth a teeny bit of effort

I know people who are my age who seriously think their brain is friend, and their memory is gone. I'm 29. Come on.. These same people have gotten fat,.. exercise not a bit, eat ALL fast food 4 times a day.. and do the same thing everyday at work and at home.

It doesn't take a genius to figure this one out. =)

Its good news though,.. really.

This one is even handier:

http://www.rediculous.co.uk (with the usual amount of sarcasm of course, and I honestly didn't write it).

Board games on computers: Scrabble, Draughts (Checkers) and Othello (Reversi) are ones I had on the Amstrad. I love Scrabble, but playing against the computer on the hardest level was too much for me. It would score 75+ points on every word. It once extended the word 'burglar' to 'burglarious', which apparently means one who has a tendency to burgle.

"Typo" is my favorite.

sorry OT - Neo!! You are such a joy to read - so glad you've found your way back here

Arghh.. Neph! You really do enjoy yourself with such ease at picking on my spelling mistakes. I will have to actually watch my spelling around you. Why me? Why not everyone else? I see them in your posts, in others, but I don't point them out ever,.. much less more than once in two days

No its fine.. if you have links like that to words I misspell, I rather enjoy it heh.

Oddly enough I actually, normally, spell very well. (I know you are thinking, suuuure.)

I am humbled,.. Thank you Rubix! Do my spelling mistakes add to the humor?

You don't think Nephro is watching his typing. Where are all the blokes, bullocks, bonnets, fags (cigs), geezers, wankers, buggers, [censored] offs, lifts and loos.

Then there is the fight to not spell colour, realise, mumsy, honour, mould and tyre to name a few.

You have no idea the self-control he is exhibiting with each post. Now multiply that by 6600+ and you realise (he he) why he is such a stickler for spelling.

Bah, those words add character to a person. If I were British/English I would not avoid using those words one bit. It is a part of who you are. Now if Nephro just doesn't use those words in daily life, then it isn't a part of him.

I don't mind him picking on me,.. I'm just curious why just me, and not the other 32,000 thread heads?

I honestly didn't realise (realize) I'd stalked poor Neo around; I just like the rediculous.co.uk site. If you search this board for it, I've linked to it a dozen times or so. Everyone's game for a bit of rediculousness/ridicule.

Asking about legitimant/legitimate was a genuine question. Since I refuse to use those yellow faces and text message douchebaggery, nobody ever knows if I'm fooling around or not.

Neo, you should look at my rantings about wrong drug names (if they haven't been deleted); while you were away 2 people ordered the wrong medication due to this. The offending items were Phentramine (a play on phentermine, containing a useless plant) and pholcodeine (pholcodine, designed to catch searches for codeine, and has no analgesic value).

For years I spelled absorption wrongly, and I'd written papers in Environmental Physics Hazards where the word is used frequently. I was so mad at myself when someone finally pointed it out, but at the same time really pleased that someone did so that I didn't end up doing it on a job application form or something.

My knowledge of language as a whole is really rather basic; I failed an interview with flying colors/colours once because I had to fill in a Personality Profile Questionnaire and choose words which described my personality. Because I didn't know what half of them meant, the computer yielded no curve, therefore I had no personality. Ironically, the person who informed me about my failure was a psychologist, who said the test was a load of old bollocks anyway.

I had to choose something like 2 out of 5 words, eg:

Ubiquitous, Iniquitous, Cantankerous, Pernicious, Mallingerous.

Wish they'd have let me have a copy of it.

Poor neo -- Yeah you know me, ever so sensitive always causing drama and raging out on these forums. grin.

No, I just mention this specifically because you corrected me on, what was it... legitimate, I think.. just yesterday (or perhaps the day before). Now today it is ridiculous (I almost did it again, doh!) Wow, I am glad you pointed that one out, I've been spelling Ridiculous with an E for as long as I can remember. I do feel like an idiot =) Though as I said before for the most part I am above average in 'spelling'.

I have always scored very high in linguistical areas. I can deduce the meaning of just about any sensible word from syntax alone. Thus expanding my vocabulary without a dictionary. However, I suppose, occasionally that could be a folly if I incorrectly added to my repertoire, eh?

That PP you mention sounds , there is is again (maybe I need a thesaurus now ) ridiculous. I know what a few of the words mean and can guess on the others but if the entire test was like that,.. honestly, .. how many people do they think have such a vocabulary? In such a test they want accurate results of personality not intelligence. Not to mention the size of ones vocabulary is not directly correlated with intelligence, not in the slightest.

Somewhat humorous story though,.. you ever thought of doing some stand up? The dark-sarcasm,.. delayed laugh type of comic?

I took the GMAT and had smoke coming out of my ears at the end.

Sample Questions

Quantitative Comparisons

In these questions you have to determine if the statements contain the necessary information to answer the questions.


Is x > 4?

1) x < 9

2) x is an integer

A) if statement (1) by itself is sufficient to answer the question, but statement (2) by itself is not;
B) if statement (2) by itself is sufficient to answer the question, but statement (1) by itself is not;
C) if statements (1) and (2) taken together are sufficient to answer the question, even though neither
statement by itself is sufficient;
D) If either statement by itself is sufficient to answer the question;
E) If statements (1) and (2) taken together are not sufficient to answer the question, requiring more data pertaining to the problem.

I hated these questions and the extra section was "Quantitative Comparisons". It sucked we had two of the sections instead of the normal/typical one.

That is memory driven. Believe it or not, those smoke propelling questions can and WILL sharpen your mind. Not to mention make doing such questions a breeze in time.

I know, it is just too tedious to do for 'fun' or 'self-improvement'. One time only deal.

I am a stand up comic; I'm a teacher! But I have done a couple of after dinners. Yes, it's very deadpan; basing it on cricket and teachers it's very easy to take the pi$$.

Oh I love those type of problems above, as I used to program computers a fair bit. Trouble is these days I just can't be bothered. Maybe I'm ADD and need Ritalin and Adderall from IOPs. With a script, of course.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I used Kaplan first and then three years later the Princeton Review. There are all types of tricks and tips that you can use to do well. I did not do too badly, but I am no rocket surgeon. LOL

There is much truth to that nephro,.. Teachers can choose to be funny, angry-mad-mean, boring, dumb, ambivalent, etc -- Or any combination of such.

I think that intelligent yet 'witty' and 'funny' teachers get ALOT more through to the students. I recall a college professor for my second math course *Dr. Richie*, 102, Advanced Algebra I believe it was. This guy was hilarious,.. but he knew his math and this is an example of how he would do something.

"Ok, you hooligans,.. this is how the book wants us to do this problem.. (Insert some long [censored], boring, method of working an equation of some sort)."

One that was done, and explained briefly,.. he would say ..

"Alright, now that , that is out of the way .. Here is the Richie Approved method" (Then take same said problem cut 60% of the work out of it and come to the same result)

That alone made most everyone in the class be like, woah. I've never seen a teacher encourage the 'creative' use of working something *not by the book* and further he is doing it on every problem we come across, all year.

Of course that doesn't sound all that 'funny', but it was the way he did it. Then of course he was witty and able to be on 'our level' many times even when he was ~50yrs old. In fact, I forgot. hah! A student of whom I knew all my life at the time, Lynn. Married him right after she graduated college. We all thought it insane,.. but they are still happily married till this day.

JL:

You are no 'Rocket Surgeon' .. I'll have to use that myself.. --

I think your a bit modest about your accomplishments/intelligence.

Kaplan taught (GMAT) us to learn the material and to work out the problems traditionally. Princeton Review showed us all of the shortcuts and tricks. I'll take Princeton's model any day. I guess it speaks volumes about my "skipping on the mother's recipe" type of personality, but if there is an easier way to do something why not use that method. I am not going to be an engineer so what the hell is the point of learning the basis behind the theory. I just wanted the right answer as quickly as possible so I could move on to the next problem.

I used to have a tutor in college named Simon. He was the king of shortcuts and helped me get an A in Calculus. Trust me when I say this I would have never even passed the course without his help. I made the "Dean's List" that semester and figured, no big deal. I went home for summer break and my Mom framed the letter. LOL She was so proud I had to laugh, but it made my parents day to have their underacheiving son do well.

Dude really.

Welcome to the globalization of the used-to-be regional or local.

Metaphysically, the future is an "inevitability already realized"-- just yet experienced (time is illusory); the epistemologist understands that the future has come, gone and has yet to be seen, therefore "being" (haha?) a superpositional chronological concept in spite of our natural cacoethes to oversimplify time and "progression."


Simplified Abstract (to above)
Everything changes with time and aging which can suck. Embrace teh suckage.

Stits

Why, stitsy, I thought you were up on the latest studies on aging. According to many of the latest studies, people actually get happier as they get older. (Here's a link to one article):
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/18/health/main4027635.shtml?source=RSSattr=Health_4027635

Personally, though, I've taken care of a lot of older people and come to the conclusion that crabby old men and women were probably crabby young men and women.

Attitude and perspective. Makes all the difference in the world, don't you think?

It probably explains why I get on so well with miserable old gits three times my age in hospital.

Kserah, that's an awesome article. The line, older people generally have learned to be more content with what they have than younger adults is one to which I can relate. I've been big on the principle of voluntary simplicity--that is, cutting out as much sheer material distraction as possible and coveting less. You know what I mean? Like that new ridiculously large 60" plasma TV.

I like the article. At the same time, I know the perspective from which you are coming--that "these threads are depressing."


Absolutely, m'dear! But we want to be careful not to conflate normal happy aging with depression in people of any age. Talking things out, having forums dedicated to that mission, and exploring and learning treatment options is vitally important, and I'm sure you'd agree with me there.

Stits

I think people get happier (if that's a good word to use) as they get older simply because they've "been there and done that." My grandson will be a year old in a couple of weeks and I remember thinking today, "Thank God I don't have to go through that high school/teenage thing again! It's THEIR turn now!" LOL Those years scared the heck out of me. It's those kind of things that you think about.

And, because as we age and know that our mortality is limited, we tend to enjoy the simpler things more (as you mentioned) and appreciate the little things. And the big things--like good health. I'm grateful every day that my children are alive, healthy and relatively happy. Having known people who have lost their children, well, it makes me feel very fortunate, no matter what else is going on.

I don't think there is anyone who has not gone through depression at some point in their lives. It's just so---life!

Great observations and conclusions.

As we age, we absolutely have a change in perception. This change continues the older we get imo. I am becoming health conscious as I approach 30. No longer am I 'invincible',.. but actually conscious of my cardiovascular system, what I eat, and so on. Ten years ago I might work out, and take supplements but not for 'health', simply for the vanity of increasing muscle mass. The side effect of increasing bone density/metabolism/working the heart and so on was just a bonus.

We all know we can die at any moment of any day,.. Whether getting hit by a Drunk driver, or just having a freak heart attack. Though as we age the inevitability of our mortality, as Kserah mentions, penetrates our THICK skulls. The outcome/result is generally a positive one.

I would agree, almost. At least with me, I'm not the easiest person to know, and I've decided a long time ago that I don't want children. I've not been in a serious relationship in a long time, nothing beyond the flirting->lust->general indifference combo for the past several years.

which leads me to my point: If it is a matter of time and perspective, what about those of us who seem generally incapable of going down those roads that lead to marriage and family? I can't imagine my perspective ever changing that much, and other than the family I was born into I can't imagine creating another one.

(Rephrased: Far too many people, when observing me and finding me depressed, state 'the cure' to be little more than getting into a serious relationship. Well, its raining today and I'm not so sure they're wrong, but the whole thing seems a little....selfish?)

I understand your point of view Jardar. It is not 'normal' by societies standards to 'not' get married, have 2.3 kids, and work 9 to 5 until 65, and retire. People who do not wish to get married and ultimately fall in line with the 'mold' society has cut out for a person just have to realize this. That it is simply what people think is right and is UNORIGINAL thought, more importantly it has no basis for being 'right', and anyone (as you mention) who thinks this is the ONLY way to exist is, indeed, being selfish. Now whether they realize it is a selfish thought, highly unlikely, is beyond me.

Unfortunately that is the common value the majority stand on. Follow the pack, do what everyone else does whether or not it is something they 'feel' they want or not. So many people are scared of being abnormal it is lunacy imo.

With all of that said,.. I do think many people who are not in a relationship or do not strive for a partner for 'life'.. have a root cause mentally they either do suspect, or are totally oblivious to. Whether it stems from a broken home at an early age (ie: Divorced parents) or abuse, or even things of a lesser and less commonly associated magnitude.

I simply think there are *few* terminally unique people who would NOT be happier overall without a partner to 'love', and 'share' life with. I think there are MORE that would be just as happy NOT having kids , however, but being with another 'mate' for their days.

Fear of the unknown, along with rejection and self-esteem.. (not being able to imagine yourself in a relationship, sleeping every night with a partner, waking up next to them,.. being accountable to them, etc..) *basically unable to comprehend the change, and ill-belief that one is capable of succeeding in such a situation.. all , imo, leads to a large portion of the single men AND women that have all but written the possibility out of their futures.

Also, tieing into all of this, those who don't meet the 'time standards' that society has developed join this pack. Example: If you aren't married or seriously involved with another by age *xx* then all is lost.

So I almost contradict myself with the previous .. but, again, I think the majority of humans , by nature, are happier with a life-partner. Although I do cognizantly recognize that there are a less common breed of people who truly are happier alone, forever. Although even if one thinks they are of this 'breed', they should exercise an attempt at many relationships before completely diagnosing themselves as such. Also, one should always keep an open mind until the day they die in regards to relationships... even if sex is not a part of the equation. (But that leads into an entirely different subject. heh)

Good twist of the topic,.. interesting.

"I simply think there are *few* terminally unique people who would NOT be happier overall without a partner to 'love', and 'share' life with. I think there are MORE that would be just as happy NOT having kids , however, but being with another 'mate' for their days."

I like how you put that. Terminally unique. Its a very apt description.

I mean, It makes me nauseous to think about all the kids who are born just because their parents want something to live for...I think its taboo to talk about, but really, it happens all the time. Children to save the relationship, pregnancy to force someone into a commitment. This is an extreme example, but I always think about those Maury Povich episodes where they troubled teen girls talk about how they want to have a baby so they can have unconditional love...

I think more people have children for that reason alone than any of us would care to think about.

"Fear of the unknown, along with rejection and self-esteem.. (not being able to imagine yourself in a relationship, sleeping every night with a partner, waking up next to them,.. being accountable to them, etc..)"

Yeah, all of the above there. And it just makes me wonder: If I'm such a miserable person (a fact that can be said to be true 75 percent of the time), then why would I want to inflict it one someone else.

Its been a terrible Monday...

Because a miserable person doesn't care if they hurt anyone else. You do. I think that makes you, at a minimum, 75% really, really sensitive and caring.

I hope Tuesday is better for you.

By existential philosophical standards, we are all alone in the sense that no one can live out our lives and our destinies.

The quintessential self-help book of the 70s was Dr. Wayne W. Dyers's Your Erroneous Zones. In it, he posited a myriad of anti-establishment scenarios for the day in which the individual can lead a blissfully fulfilling life.

The whole book is simply must-read material for everyone and very easy to understand. One of the chapters--rather representative of the book itself--is called Breaking The Barriers of Convention.

See, Dyer's mantra was "do what has meaning and fulfillment for you" and current societal norms be damned.

He authored dozens of books and I've pretty much followed his whole carrier and evolution in thinking from basic self-improvement principles and assertiveness training to a far deeper, more spiritual awareness and near epiphanic change in his perspective of life and reality.

But let us go back. There is no way to chronicle one man's growth in a single post on a forum!

Jadar? It's important to understand that many people - countless people - marry young, have children and live our purely miserable lives.

A man or woman's happiness is ultimately the byproduct of being true to self.

Loneliness is real, and there are pathologies which can stand in the way of ever find a mate in life, in spite of the yearning. Yet what the healthiest, most content among us learn is to just... cool it. To surrender the panic and distress of not getting what we once idealized to a calmer acceptance of who are (in all are imperfection) and of what we have in life.

The answer comes full-circle; Kserah's point is validated.

And if the reader takes nothing else away from my effort here, let him/her remember some of the most god-awful existences are caused by pathologies that snake in and through families which should never have been formed. Families or the dream life-partner is not the alpha and the omega of happiness. They have nothing on grattitude for what is.

Stits

kserah,
There is no doubt that "crabby old men & women were probably crabby young men & women." Of course "attitude & perspective" makes all the diference in the world. This is why WE all need to do some soul searching from time to time. All in all, the real key to aging is... doing it gracefully. Take care, MrJR

I'd imagine I would be one of those crabby people you're talking about. But I've done far too much research to think its all "attitude and perspective". We all have a neurochemistry that is quite beyond our choice of attitude or perspective.

Jardar, I knew I should have been more specific!(LOL) I'm talking majority. I've also done much research on issues relating to depression, anxiety, mood disorders, you name it. Since you have done "much research" I'm sure you know what (Disqualifying the Positive)means, much to be said on the subject. I believe ones attitude & perspective can be reversed with a little effort, even yours. MrJR

if you drink on this medication. this will greatly increase the side effects...there was a guy in dallas that i heard about who got drunk on the med, went physco, tried breaking down his neighbors door and his neighbor smoked him with a magnum.