I find this really sad

[Chaerophon]

I suspect that, if the article was genuine, the author either truthfully doesn't understand how his addiction is harmful, or he is acting boastful and proud as a sort of ego barrier. Sort of telling himself that his addiction is okay so that he doesn't have to feel bad about it.

This, I realize, and fair enough if he was alone, but...

Witness barflies, frat boys, a large proportion of the punk subculture, etc.

Just as I refuse to sympathize with alcoholic barflies that leave their wives and kids alone at home in order to enjoy the night life, I'm not about to excuse this ass for his lack of personal responsibility. It's not their lack of self-awareness that bother me - it's their inability to care about anyone BUT themselves, that I find abhorrent. Accountability is a wonderful thing. Many on the board will certainly attest to my "leftist" leanings, but despite all that, when someone chooses a game, alcohol, even drugs over their own children (which was the impression, right or wrong, that I was given by some of his statements, and they're all that I have to go on), the line is drawn, and he is WRONG - not pitiable, and not worthy of my sympathy. If he can right himself, then by all means, I will respect him for overcoming such an addiction. Unfortunately, the people being hurt most by his addiction are his child and wife/girlfriend. Until he realizes that, any compassion that I might have had for his condition flies out the window.