Aggregate the alcohol advice, please. Thank you?

February 26, 2009 10:00 PM

Which is the best thread/comment related to depression alcoholism on AskMe?

I have a million questions on the topic but don't know where to start. Aside from giving credit to PinkButterly for giving me words to use where I have none.

I know the topic is contentious so rather than original advice, I would prefer that people who post to this thread focus on comments from outside of this thread and don't argue.

There have been a million threads/comments on AskMe related to depression alcoholism. I figure that asking for people to point me toward what they figure to be a standout thread or a specific comment would be more helpful.

Yes, I did a search and was overwhelmed by all of the posts/comments. I figure if something is important to my life there are no stupid questions.

I appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks.

posted by christhelongtimelurker to MetaFilter-Related at 10:00 PM (33 comments total)

Ack, meant to strike through the second depression. Would have caught it on preview but I've been drinking so my game isn't as tight as normal.
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 10:03 PM on February 26, 2009 [1 favorite]

If you have a specific - or even general - question about alcoholism +/- depression then I suggest that you go and post a question to AskMetafilter.

If 'something' is important to your life then nuggets of wisdom according to other people are not going to necessarily relate to your circumstances. This is one subject where the quality of the writing is not of any importance: it's whether you relate to the anecdotes or information passed on by a similarly minded person.

And please don't tell us what we can or can't say or argue about here. This is Metatalk. Arguing is the currency here.
posted by peacay at 10:19 PM on February 26, 2009 [1 favorite]

I made an almost identical post to AskMe and was told to head over here.

Feel free to say anything you want; I hope its on topic and insightful but if its not and it still makes for good reading, sign me up for it as well.
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 10:30 PM on February 26, 2009

This, a favorite of mine, was posted in response to I have a drinking problem. Now what?

Researching dual diagnosis might be helpful.
posted by mlis at 10:44 PM on February 26, 2009

I've had this one favorited for a couple of years.
posted by Ugh at 10:45 PM on February 26, 2009

netbros' response to the question MLIS pointed out. Must read.
posted by allkindsoftime at 10:58 PM on February 26, 2009 [2 favorites]

I think you might find it worthwhile to browse through the 43 posts tagged with alcoholism, because there are a lot of different angles on the topic represented. Without knowing more about what angle you are looking for it's hard to say which are best for you.
posted by nanojath at 11:48 PM on February 26, 2009

I'm primarily interested in anything other than anecdotes.
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 12:15 AM on February 27, 2009

What it can be like to be a late stage alcoholic.
Some of the realities of alcohol rehab. [thanks allkindsoftime]
Dealing with depression following recovery.

christhelongtimelurker, judging by your questions in the post and your comments in the thread, it's difficult to determine just what you're looking for. Please feel free to MeMail me, or my email address is in my profile if you have specific questions you're struggling with. I'll be happy to respond the best I can.
posted by netbros at 12:53 AM on February 27, 2009

Nice use of the "Irish" tag.
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:47 AM on February 27, 2009 [2 favorites]

netbros' response to the question MLIS pointed out. Must read.

Yeah, this.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:48 AM on February 27, 2009

I don't understand the strikethrough of depression here. Are you equating depression with alcoholism? Because there are better ways to ask if you're looking for advice on the relationship between both.

I won't even get into the "Irish" thing.
posted by Eideteker at 5:24 AM on February 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

Stop worrying. It's quite natural to be a bit depressed when you're a drunken Irish loser.
posted by Hovercraft Eel at 5:27 AM on February 27, 2009

Dumb-ass, please try and figure out which one you are asking about. While depression and alcoholism are often comorbid disorders, it is stupid, even for the internet, to suggest a 1:1 equivalence between them.
posted by Mister_A at 5:59 AM on February 27, 2009

I figure if something is important to my life there are no stupid questions.

...only stupidly phrased questions.
posted by gman at 6:04 AM on February 27, 2009

And all you pricks are breaking the rules set forth by the OP.
posted by gman at 6:06 AM on February 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

Dumb-ass, please try and figure out which one you are asking about. While depression and alcoholism are often comorbid disorders, it is stupid, even for the internet, to suggest a 1:1 equivalence between them.

Did you even check the links in the post? He is quoting a previous MeTa post by PinkButterfly (click "Pink" above) word for word except substituting "alcoholism" for "depression." I know this is MeTa not Ask but is there really a good reason to harsh on someone who is looking for our help?
posted by Bango Skank at 6:30 AM on February 27, 2009 [5 favorites]

IMO the most insightful stuff I've read on Mefi about alcoholism has been written by netbros. His experience is very similar to my own, and I strongly recommend following the links in his comment.
posted by Bango Skank at 6:35 AM on February 27, 2009

Well then why not just ask for whatever the fuck he is asking for, eh? Why not avoid saying something like this:
"Would have caught it on preview but I've been drinking so my game isn't as tight as normal"

Why be clever and glib about conditions that ruin people's lives if you are looking for advice? Why repeatedly couple the words "depression" and "alcoholism" ? Just ask the fucking question.
posted by Mister_A at 6:39 AM on February 27, 2009

There was a good one, but I got drunk and forgot it.
posted by jonmc at 6:43 AM on February 27, 2009

Why be clever and glib about conditions that ruin people's lives if you are looking for advice?

Why call people dumb-ass and act like you're trying to help? The question was in AskMe and belongs here but not so you all could take your potshots at the OP. I know for a stone cold fact that some of you have been there. Does treating someone like this help them?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:01 AM on February 27, 2009 [7 favorites]

I think part of the problem, christhelongtimelurker, is your main question, "Aggregate the alcohol advice, please." That's what tags and searching do. Without knowing exactly what sort of information you seek, we can't aggregate information for you much further. (And yeah, you're coming off as both vague and glib, which doesn't help the direction of this discussion.)

I would think you would probably get more helpful responses (and more links to other relevant threads) if you put together a more specific question for AskMe. Not "help me use this site," but "I need advice on dealing with [these issues]; links to other relevant threads would be helpful too, as I'm a little overwhelmed trying to sort through all of the threads on this subject."

If you don't want to post your own Ask, could you provide a little bit more direction regarding what kind of questions you have?
posted by desuetude at 8:12 AM on February 27, 2009

OK, I over-reacted. Sorry about that. The point that I was trying to make is that the presentation here, to my eye, trivializes the condition(s) being discussed, and gets things off to a poor start.
posted by Mister_A at 8:23 AM on February 27, 2009

What desuetude said.

If you're looking for something specific, ask about it in AskMe. (Not "What other askme questions are about x," but "Tell me about x...")

This question belongs in MetaTalk because it about MetaFilter. Thing is, you ain't gonna get AskMe-level answers here. Penis.

Do you want to know about MetaFilter, or about alcoholism?

Do you want to know where on metafilter you can read about x?
posted by Sys Rq at 12:27 PM on February 27, 2009

I'm deprebssed drunbk.
posted by Hovercraft Eel at 1:00 PM on February 27, 2009

See also the At what point does a person have a drinking problem? thread.
posted by plexi at 1:17 PM on February 27, 2009

So... here's the thing: this member originally posted this question in Ask, and was told to bring it here because it's a question about Ask Metafilter instead of a question for Ask Metafilter. So, this is someone who is probably not familiar with Metatalk, or the fact that for whatever reason people relish the relative freedom to abuse at will here. Maybe we don't have to do that so much in this thread?

chris...lurker, I can't help that much, but I can advise you to note netbros' and essexjan's comments (among others) in related threads, because they are two wonderful people I know who have come out successfully on the other side, have spent a long time sober, and are willing to share what they've learned. congrats to essexjan, 10 years today!
posted by taz at 2:03 PM on February 27, 2009

MetaTalk: Thing is, you ain't gonna get AskMe-level answers here. Penis.
posted by SpiffyRob at 2:21 PM on February 27, 2009

christhelongtimelurker, please feel free to contact me with any specific or general questions that you don't find the answer for in AskMe. I've become somewhat of an expert on the subject and I'd be very happy to assist you.
posted by item at 3:10 PM on February 27, 2009

also: penis.
posted by item at 3:10 PM on February 27, 2009

netbros' response to the question MLIS pointed out. Must read.

He weighs in on this topic from time to time, his attitude, experience and tone are always admirable.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:05 PM on February 28, 2009

Can you "help" an alcoholic friend?

christhelongtimelurker, we're here. we can help.
posted by greekphilosophy at 4:25 PM on March 2, 2009

MetaTalk: I will sound judgmental and you will sound defensive.

Actually, that's a great link, greekphilosophy. Some good stuff in there.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:42 PM on March 2, 2009