MarsKid: | Sputnikmusic

MarsKid 02.24.23	y'all feel like goin out and getting some water tho?
Mort. 02.24.23	not straight edge but am sober. gave up weed and alcohol last year at the end of april.
Mort. 02.24.23	never had much of an issue with alcohol but i smoked weed everyday for years and needed to give it up. gave up alcohol at the same time because it just seemed like the smart thing to do. didnt want to replace one vice with another.
pizzamachine 02.24.23	Not straight edge but edgy
MarsKid 02.24.23	Congrats on being sober my dude, I know it can be difficult but you're amazing and am 100% proud of you < 3
Mort. 02.24.23	thank you very much bro that means a lot < 3
budgie 02.24.23	no alc or smokes since first week of december life is a lot less fun but my sleep quality is incredible, worth it on virtue of restfulness alone social life feels gimped thoug, wtf am i supposed to do now to socialize, golf?
MarsKid 02.24.23	I don't think alcohol or any other recreational drug is required to socialize, and imo the cultural belief that it's a necessity is problematic and can isolate those that don't want to partake for any given reason. Definitely sympathize though, it can be rough to navigate. Went to a party school for two years and I felt like an outcast.
Mort. 02.24.23	'life is a lot less fun but my sleep quality is incredible, worth it on virtue of restfulness alone' the adage that the 'lows get higher but the highs get lower' is true from my experience. certainly miss getting high when i think about blazing in my garden while listening to music (was always listening to music while smoking) but i certainly dont miss the anxity, depression or constant disconnectedness.
MarsKid 02.24.23	I just started channeling the negativity/stress/etc. that would ordinarily dictate my addiction into art. I've realized my relationship to creating art is... problematic to say the least, since it seems I can only really get a creative rush when I'm experiencing significant pain. But better than the alternative.
budgie 02.24.23	"I don't think alcohol or any other recreational drug is required to socialize" just based on my own past habits i mean. i've moved a lot in the past and never had trouble making new friends or breaking into a new social circle because of bars, basically. now i'm in a new place once again and i'm like 🤷‍♀️ blind socializing without something psychoactive to motivate me sounds like a chore
MarsKid 02.24.23	Oh for sure, I gotchu. It can definitely be intimidating. But people that are chill won't have a problem whether or not you're having something. If they do, it's a decent red flag tbh
kevbogz 02.24.23	middle school/high school kev was about it. i was the kid with the camo cut offs and boston cap fuckin b9 records man
budgie 02.24.23	i'm trying to say that socializing more often than not for ME isn't worth the hassle if i'm not drinking or on drugs. couldn't care less if people think not drinking is alright
MarsKid 02.24.23	My bad, didn't mean to misinterpret. I'm socially awkward so shit's always fun lol
ConcubinaryCode 02.24.23	I did give up alcohol years ago but I'm stuck trying to not want to smoke atm.
MarsKid 02.24.23	Kinda wild how shit like Liquid Death grew from this metal scene thing and now I just see it at my local supermarket. Makin' water cool again I guess lol "I did give up alcohol years ago but I'm stuck trying to not want to smoke atm." Hard fight my man, but you're 100% capable of moving on, for sure.
DocSportello 02.24.23	I've struggled with severe anxiety and a penchant for self-medication for most of my adult life w/ benzos having been my most crippling crutch. fortunately was able to get alcohol abuse out of my system young, met my sober s.o. and haven't had but maybe 10 unmemorable drinks in the past 5 years. i do smoke weed fairly casually but also have no issue quitting for weeks at a time and aside from the odd shroom trip and nicotine (workin on it) am drug free and all the happier for it
MarsKid 02.24.23	That's fantastic! And yeah,there's no issue with recreational drug use and such, especially if you have a good grasp over your limits. People can like what they like; I just prefer staying sober and all that jazz. Glad to hear you've made some significant progress.
IsisScript80 02.24.23	Haven't remotely touched drugs for years... drink a wee bit now and then (controlled, only mildly inebriatedated at most. Almost never drunk anymore), but even that I'm absolutely fine with not doing for months on end. @MarsKid: Interested though, in your case, was there any particular reason that made you want to be specifically be straight edge?
MarsKid 02.24.23	Honestly, there are a lot of reasons I could give, but by the end of the day I just... kinda don't want to lol. Which is an anticlimactic answer I suppose, but I just have no interest in drugs, alcohol, etc. I only take issue when it becomes abused and therefore harmful to others. Sometimes people I've encountered are surprised and need an explanation, but it's really just a choice by the end of the day.
JesperL 02.24.23	don't rly call myself straightedge tho i'm sxe as hell but i have never had any alcohol/drug in my life ever and hopefully never will lol! only ever had problems with ppl being shitty/pushy when i was like 13-16 & then it turned into 'woah how tf are you rawdogging life' lmao
PotsyTater 02.24.23	Proud of you all
IsisScript80 02.24.23	MarsKid, that's fine. Wasn't probing, was just curious enough to ask as you made this thread and was vocally "edge" on the drink v. weed one, but definitely no need to explain further if you don't wish to. :)
MarsKid 02.24.23	@Jesp yeah I've gotten quite a few reactions of "Damn good for you" lol, we just too str0nk! @Potsy thank you dad < 3
MarsKid 02.24.23	@Isis not pushy at all! I tried to word it so I didn't sound like I was being testy, but text obviously makes it a bit harder. I made this thread partly as a joke, partly because I am straight edge and think that opting to not use drugs, etc. should be more socially acceptable. It can be difficult to muster up the courage to socialize/go to gatherings/etc. when the expectation is to drink. It isn't necessarily a peer pressure situation (although it can be), but it is a cultural pressure.
MarsKid 02.24.23	I've been fortunate to have people in my life that do not mind or judge the fact that I do not drink/smoke/etc. But I've also definitely been involved with people that actively questioned and excluded me, which was disheartening.
IsisScript80 02.24.23	^ Yeah, I see that, and get how those situations play out. Good to navigate through that social expectation bullshit.
DocSportello 02.24.23	One of my least favorite potential qualities in people is when someone excludes or otherwise alienates someone sober for whatever reason and at the same time that person cultivates an image of the sober individual as someone 'set apart' due to some vaguely defined moral excellence. So the sober individual often becomes a convenient springboard against which others project, test, or even justify their own behaviors and anxieties concerning 'substance use' drugs can be cool but people are way cooler ya know?
ArsMoriendi 02.24.23	I used to be straight-edge, but wait actually I had my first beer when I was 14 so maybe not
Teal 02.24.23	Checking in as well. Had a background check to start a career and was called a "choir boy" at twenty-two. Definitely had mixed emotions about it but don't regret it. Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz.
MarsKid 02.24.23	@Doc yeah the last thing I want is to be set aside or otherwise be labeled an outcast. I don't feel like above anyone for my choice, I just want to be normal. @Teal yeah I've had that tossed at me top, I sadly have done damage to my body beyond substances so I can't say I'm completely clean.
unclereich 02.24.23	not straight edge but am sober. [2] no significance to it ie not an addict(shout out to my bros/sisters in recovery or fighting tho), i just dont think drugs and alcohol serve any purpose in my life. I put health above all now and alc especially is just a wast of time in that dept.
JesperL 02.24.23	"an image of the sober individual as someone 'set apart'" hahaha i'm the dedicated 'you remember what happened at that party right?' guy so ig it can be a good thing??
DocSportello 02.24.23	lmao good point
MarsKid 02.24.23	It can suck to remember everything. My college friend group loved me when they weren't sober, forgot it all the morning after. Crippled my self-worth for a while.
unclereich 02.24.23	we had this friend in high school who would brag anytime you spoke to him about the copious amount of drugs he did. he made it his personality. saw him years later and he proceeded to tell me how high he was then. it was like 11am on a Tuesday at the grocery store. weed people are the same way but im from northern California and ive moved to other places and weed people are less cringe worthy outside of the capital of Mary Jane. still havent had weed in any form since 2014. would never go back.
Tundra 02.24.23	I tried supplements but they didnt do anything for me, straight edge lyfe, I only smoked E-cig a couple times and only drink at a social event
MarsKid 02.24.23	Lol uncle, I 100% have had a friend like that. Being absolutely messed up out of their noggin is their thing and nothing else. @Tundra keep living the good life brother
JesperL 02.24.23	aw sorry to hear that mars! just remember the old saying that ppl are at their most honest when they're drunk!!
MarsKid 02.24.23	I know that's an old saying, but that inability to connect without a drink can make a relationship really flawed and toxic in a way. Those same friends ended up essentially using me as just a person that could be around, not much more. So it really said a lot about them and how they felt about me in the end.
DocSportello 02.24.23	yeah there’s a really fine line between being a sober member of a group and being the sober member of a group — and unfortunately such groups, esp if partying is any part of the group identity, aren’t mature or reflective enough to really know the difference/why it matters. I suppose everyone has a responsibility to choose their friends carefully cliche as it is but that advice comes with some insane caveats for people in your situation or a similar one, I feel for ya man
MarsKid 02.24.23	I definitely made some poor decisions in who I stuck around with. I was looking for acceptance and thought I could get it in the little validation I did receive, and that was just not the right call. Learning experience, for sure. Thanks for listening to be ramble lol
RogueNine 02.25.23	Wholesome thread y'all, well done.
artificialbox 02.25.23	I just hit 9 months sober. Best decision I ever made. I used to be so tired, angry, irritable and depressed all the time and it took me so long to realize that all the drugs and alcohol I was consuming to make me feel "better" were actually making everything 100x worse. Having decent mood regulation again for the first time in years feels fuckin crazy.
Ryus 02.25.23	good shit man, congrats
MarsKid 02.25.23	We always aiming for wholesome threads around here Art, that is awesome my friend. So happy you're feeling much better! Keep at it. I used to be addicted to self-harm and recently passed two years of being clean of the habit. Feels good.
Colton 02.25.23	how is being straight edge different from being sober
Epictetus 02.25.23	"how is being straight edge different from being sober" think about it bozo
unclereich 02.25.23	I remember I got into a pretty unfortunate altercation one night with a my former best friend and his then gf-this was probably 7 years ago now. She was very drunk and had the tendency to violently lash out when she got like that. She even went as far as to hit me one time! Well that night she said something so horrendous to me that I to this day really can’t believe she said it. Being who I was then, some not nice things were said and done on my end in response and that night I lost my best friend as a result. I recall a year later or so our paths crossed again and they acknowledged their fault and I acknowledged mine. Though before we left she had to get one last dig in and claimed she never wanted to hang out with me again because of my “drinking issue”. That seemed strange to me because I was always the one they made fun of for not drinking as much as others and never doing drugs. I hadn’t even drank that faithful night and was the DD. I eventually learned that they were just huge assholes, and I needed to pick better friends and maybe work on my poor decision making! Eventually they went on to alienate everyone from our former friend group and were a solitary power couple. Until of course they weren’t. My former best friend had enough of her unwillingness to grow and packed up and left her. He’s now in medical school. She is an onlyfans model who lives with her mom.
Colton 02.25.23	@epicectus is it just being sober but also being a douchebag
artificialbox 02.25.23	"how is being straight edge different from being sober" imo it's kinda the same as people being like "I'm not religious but I believe in a higher power". like having a relationship with something vs making it part of your identity. straight edge kids make fire hardcore music tho so I love them.
botb 02.25.23	Colton are you ever not just insufferable lmao
unclereich 02.25.23	Let’s get Ian mackaye in here to settle this
Snake. 02.25.23	used to be straight edge until my gf pressured me into drinking then she left me and now i'm alcohol dependent heyoooooooooo
budgie 02.25.23	team colton
GhandhiLion 02.25.23	Pretty wild that the straight edge movement produced a subsidiary movement of ecofascism in the 90s.
MarsKid 02.25.23	Colton, straight edge was started as a response to what was seen as punk and hardcore's excessive use of drug use, alcohol and otherwise. Nobody that is genuinely straight edge thinks they're inherently superior at all; it's just an identity we have, especially for those that feel excluded from scenes that have a lot of drug use involved. I'm sure there are people who are annoying while being straight edge, just the same as there are annoying people for an kind of ideology. As art said, there's a bit more of a... conscious relationship? I suppose? to our sobriety. I don't know if I described that well, but I tried.
MarsKid 02.25.23	"used to be straight edge until my gf pressured me into drinking then she left me and now i'm alcohol dependent heyoooooooooo" Hope you know my DMs are always open. I'm sorry this happened to you my man, that's awful.
MarsKid 02.25.23	This thread's a zero judgement zone Sputfam, it's all love here. < 3
Purpl3Spartan 02.25.23	Great thread
RogueNine 02.25.23	So for you guys, is straight edge more of an alcohol/drugs type thing or do you take it a step farther into vegetarian/vegan/abstinent lifestyles?
Colton 02.25.23	ok thank you for the explanations. I don't think straight edge people are douchebags I just kinda got my feelings hurt by epicectus calling me the B word
MarsKid 02.25.23	All good my man. The straight edge scene ended up producing some killer hardcore in its heyday, not sure if you'd be interested but it's a good time if you are! @Rogue I am transitioning to more of a vegetarian diet but still eat meat. I think straight edge at its base, however, is primarily about sobriety and not engaging with drugs, as that was what it was originally responding to w/r/t the punk and hardcore scene at the time. Vegetarianism/veganism/etc. take it a step further but are not requirements. I'm sure opinions will vary on that though.
Colton 02.25.23	how is abstaining from alcohol and drugs related to not eating meat though? those seem like two completely different things
MarsKid 02.25.23	So basically straight edge went from a movement confined to the punk/hardcore circles and more of an overall "clean' lifestyle sort of thing? So it can intersect with vegetarianism and veganism in that regard. Like I said, I personally don't think it's a requirement, it's just a possible component. Most straight edge people I've met at shows are not also vegetarian or vegan.
Ryus 02.25.23	listen to minor threat colton
GhandhiLion 02.25.23	Yeah, it would help if there was some clearly defined philosophy of the movement. Veganism does seem loosely connected judging from some of the 90s stuff. If it's rooted in minor threats/mackaye's promotion of altruism then the adoption of vegan ethics makes sense to me. https://youtu.be/Quqgdx09xRc I'm not sure if MacKaye ever talked about veganism. In this he just talks about how meat poisons your body or something.
MarsKid 02.25.23	"it would help if there was some clearly defined philosophy of the movement." which is why tbh you don't hear as much about straight edge as perhaps you once did. It can vary from person to person, so there's definitely a lack of consistency. I also believe that, overall, there's perhaps a bit more acceptance of people choosing not to drink/do drugs/etc., which lessens the perceived necessity to have a 'straight edge' identity perhaps. I stick to the OG definition of no drugs/drinking/etc., I think that's a pretty comfortable and all-encompassing umbrella.
GhandhiLion 02.25.23	https://youtu.be/W9q1IidazY8 Well this helps lol. uploaded 2 weeks ago including MacKaye
MarsKid 02.25.23	Oh very cool! Might need to check that out this weekend.
RogueNine 02.25.23	Cool Mars, yeah that's generally how I understand it.
artificialbox 02.25.23	Whoa this is weird, not something I would have expected Moby to put out but I also don't know much about him. As a low key vegan who used to idolize Ian MacKaye I think I have to watch it now
Colton 02.25.23	I feel like titles like straight edge can often be exclusionary because people have their own ideas of what it takes to actually earn it and they start to care more about the title than the actual actions behind it
MarsKid 02.25.23	Feel like the majority sentiment is grounded in abstinence from drugs/drinking/etc., which I think keeps the door relatively wide open. The whole thing kinda started so those that fell into that kind of overarching category could avoid being excluded, which can happen in settings that are based around or include a lot of drug use. So I'd contend the opposite occurs re: exclusionary, but as aforementioned, I have no doubt people twist it to bully others for their life choices. That shit's the complete opposite point of the whole thing and shouldn't be tolerated.
Sinternet 02.25.23	nice one brother(s), keep doing you
artificialbox 02.25.23	and remember the most important part... no sex!
artificialbox 02.25.23	I have to say this Moby documentary is kind of poopoo. The first part describing the history of punk and veganism was interesting, for example I didn't know that it was a Youth of Today song that basically cemented the link between straight edge and veganism. Then it just becomes a montage of ppl being like "I'm so good and puritanical cause I love animals". Confirmation bias dopamine fodder for activists.
GhandhiLion 02.25.23	"no sex!" That's the ecofascist Hardline spinoff! "I'm so good and puritanical cause I love animals". Confirmation bias dopamine fodder for activists." That wasn't my impression of the documentary at all. Though I do have my own criticisms of the editing, who had the most screen time and some of the messaging. Also all the skits with moby were bizarre and mega cringe. Especially the satan one.
deathschool 02.25.23	I’ve worked down to only shooting heroin into my eyeballs, so I’m doing okay
Storm In A Teacup 02.25.23	My lil sibling has never once had a drink or anything.
someguest 02.25.23	In a lot of ways straight edge came to be due to early punk's rebellion against rock and roll of the time. Everyone in a rock band was completely fucked out of their gourd back then. It was another way to be different and allowed those not into drugs to have a support group as well.
Storm In A Teacup 02.25.23	Is that why they are called Hot Water Music instead of Wine Cooler Music?
Ragnavius 02.25.23	X
chemicalmarriage 02.25.23	Knew this guy once who would crush some dmt on the regular when he wasn't drinking handles of tequila. Hes a youth pastor now or some shit. I'm fuckin proud of him
GreyShadow 02.25.23	omg is this a safe space for edgies like me ?!?!
Storm In A Teacup 02.25.23	Mars will beat up anyone who has it be anything else
MarsKid 02.25.23	I am strongest man
Manatea 02.25.23	Never touched a drug besides nicotine in m’life. That being said… I do smoke. I have a drink 1-2 times a year but that’s about it lol. That’s close enough-ish right? Not really but still
bgillesp 02.25.23	Don’t do drugs or smoke anything but I do enjoy a good tasting beer on the rare occasions I’m in the mood for one
Ragnavius 02.25.23	IIIIIIIIII DONT SMOKE DONT DRINK DONT FUCK AT LEAST I CAN FUCKING QUEEF
JohnnyoftheWell 02.25.23	ian mackeef for prez
botb 02.25.23	The pipeline in my city of straight edge kid that used to beat up people who smoked cigarettes too close to them in like 2006 to actively talking shit on straight edge while drunk on white claws is real. All the edge bands here broke and they’re all like 40 and super sloppy and embarrassing on stage
GhandhiLion 02.25.23	That's very believable
botb 02.25.23	But on the other hand my best friend has been straight edge for like 25 years and he’s one of the best people I know, more power to ya MarsBro!
GhandhiLion 02.25.23	https://youtu.be/lJNHk89yPuU?t=3521
MarsKid 02.25.23	Big love botb, we just doin our best m/ I do not claim the aforementioned posers lol
GreyShadow 02.25.23	the more i grow i up the more i realize edge is kinda just what you make of it. ive had no desire to smoke/drink and in hs/early college it was moreso aversion but i eventually realized lol who gives a shit just do what you want/be safe and dont hurt anyone/be respectful of others and their choices i subscribe to the philosophy still but idk i dont feel the need to label myself as such anymore .
Storm In A Teacup 02.26.23	I think you should at least every so often feel proud of it as it does have a significant impact on who you are.
PotsyTater 02.26.23	Group identity tends to become less important as you get older. It’s very valuable while you are growing and finding yourself.
pizzamachine 02.26.23	do what you want [2]
Egarran 02.26.23	Shall be the whole of the law.
protokute 02.26.23	Why not use psychoactive substances, though? Drugs aren't inherently bad if you know what you are taking and doing, or you don't have an abusive/problematic relationship with them, or it's more of a destructive experience for you than otherwise. You can do drugs, and still care about your health, you can go out for a couple of drinks with your mates once in a while responsibly, but then that are also a dozen of social activities that doesn't involve drugs, it's not like it's the only possible kind of social gathering. I'm not going to judge or exclude you in your choice of not using drugs, but I just don't see the reason honestly, it's like you're only limiting your range of possible experiences and perspectives.
DDDeftoneDDD 02.26.23	Gave up smoking recently yay...I'm almost 40 though
MarsKid 02.26.23	The reason is because I don't want to. It's that simple, my man. There are a lot of experiences in life, "denying" myself a handful does not impact me whatsoever, I don't think I'm missing out on anything. I can explain if need be, but I also feel the constant need for anyone to explain themselves in this scenario is inappropriate. If someone doesn't want to do something, they don't want to; it doesn't always go deeper than that. And to your point, I can easily go out without taking any kind of drug. It doesn't change social dynamics for me at all, as I have friends that don't care whether I do or do not take anything.
protokute 02.26.23	I wasn't expecting an elaborate reason, and I don't mind you simply not wanting to. And as I said, social activities doesn't need to include drug use.
MarsKid 02.26.23	Yeah 100%! I've brought it up before because I do believe there can be a cultural pressure to partake, and I have been in friend circles before where not drinking caused me to be excluded. You don't NEED to, but you can often feel like you HAVE to.
rhinocerosmilk 02.26.23	I'm straight edge because I'm poor. I'm really looking forward to the day I've got enough money to support a marijuana use disorder.
Colton 02.26.23	I spend like $30 a month on weed it's really not expensive
porcupinetheater 02.26.23	Gave up smoking and psychs recently, something changed and they got a lot more anxiety inducing than rewarding, made it pretty easy Still drinking more than I’d like though and probably ought to cut it
normaloctagon 02.26.23	So much good stuff in this thread, proud of y’all
rhinocerosmilk 02.26.23	I either smoke everyday starting when I wake up or stay sober. Can't drink anything at all because of real bad family history/genes.
Colton 02.26.23	i’ve noticed that people who like drinking tend to not like weed or eventually start to get anxiety from it. makes sense it you think about how alcohol works i guess
protokute 02.26.23	You mean how alcohol dulls you down, and weed on the other hand can sometimes trigger a lot of repetitive, and sometimes difficult looping thought patterns?
Colton 02.26.23	basically yeah. if you’re used to alcohol then that aspect of weed feels more intense
artificialbox 02.26.23	I used to not be able to drink without smoking weed. Once I started feeling drunk I had an irresistible urge to smoke just to "level me out". I hated the way alcohol felt on it's own. Wasn't the same in reverse tho, I could smoke all day every day without a craving for alcohol.
budgie 02.26.23	"i’ve noticed that people who like drinking tend to not like weed or eventually start to get anxiety from it. makes sense it you think about how alcohol works i guess" sort of but it's not a perfect relationship. weed was fine from junior high until i was about 19 when something switched in my brain and since then small doses of THC made me feel like the universe wants to kill me. but every other drug incl. LSD and cubes are completely fine makes me feel sad when so many ppl push weed as a near cureall for psych issues. in my cause it uniquely causes them
MillionDead 02.26.23	I was straight edge for like 8 years. Started feeling like "My mom doesn't do anything, and she doesn't call it anything" and kind of started to resent the cultish/cliquey mentality around it that seemed to be present in hardcore. And I started thinking that if I wanted to try drinking and other things, that I trusted myself to be moderate and responsible with it, cause I'd seen my dad's alcoholism (big catalyst in my being straight edge) and enough counterexamples among my peers to know how I didn't want to be. Tried a decent amount of shit since those days. Nicotine, alcohol, the occasional smoke and the occasional psych are my chosen vices. A lot of that other shit is overrated or dangerous and I don't like to dabble outside of my lane too much. Everybody's just trying to live in the way that's best for them.
heyadam 02.27.23	I don't smoke or take edibles/psychedelics at all which is hella weird being an adult in Los Angeles, and will only occasionally have like one beer when out at a dinner. It's just a personal thing and I generally never mind it being around me. I used to struggle with feeling like an outcast, but that was 100% self-imposed. That feeling only sometimes creeps in every now and then, because absolutely everyone around me will take edibles or drink any time anything social is happening lol. I get it, but it can feel always being the sober person.
PitchforkArms 02.27.23	couldn't be me - shrooms are too fun
MarsKid 02.27.23	That's all good my dude, shroom on. Places near me are stocking more and more of that PRIME drink bullshit, fuckin Paul brothers.
PitchforkArms 02.27.23	Throughout my pre-legal years I was pretty hardcore against practically any substance use. I saw it as a bit of a character flaw to need mind-altering shit to live or have fun or whatever. Obviously those edges got rounded a little bit as time wore on.
PitchforkArms 02.27.23	I may have missed in the thread, but do you have specific reasons for keeping the straight-edge?
MarsKid 02.27.23	I have a lot of reasons, but it's just a choice by the end of the day. My preference and how I like to live my life, nothing too deep!
PitchforkArms 02.27.23	Sure sure - obviously it’s a choice! Was just wondering what motivations you have to stay the path.
Zakusz 02.27.23	I lost my brother to alcohol two years ago. I still drink on occasion and I understand that its not necessarily the substance, but the attachment those individuals have in their mind when without it. He would fixate and obsess and then slam a handle of vodka and fall asleep, but to him it was a way for him to "feel normal". My parents found him in his apartment. He was a really great big bro when he wasn't drinking (he was even sober for three whole years right before he died). If you have trouble with an addictive personality, please understand we are all routing for you.
MillionDead 02.27.23	Genuinely sorry for your loss man. It's tragic and I'm wishing you all the best in healing from it. Take the best parts of him with you for the rest of your life. You're being rooted for too.
MarsKid 02.27.23	So sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how difficult that is.
Storm In A Teacup 02.27.23	Logan Paul should be in prison. Fuck the Paul Brothers (2)
Storm In A Teacup 02.27.23	Zaku I'm sorry that happened. This is how I was able to stop doing so much back in the day. My brother is 23 months younger than me and is my best friend even tho we live in different states we call and text every day and try our best to hang out on video games. It still freaks me out how he's so healthy and I'm so not.
MarsKid 02.28.23	You can start a wellness journey any time my man. You absolutely have the power and resiliency to do it, if you see a need for change and want to make that change happen.
Egarran 02.28.23	You can be reborn right now as the person you currently are.
PitchforkArms 02.28.23	What an absolute dread, Zak. I know the feeling - lost a cousin to suicide after battling with H. Egarran is so right - you can indeed be reborn as you currently are. Every time you say "we are all rooting for you" you can take a moment to realize that the same applies towards yourself. All love. Sputnik is the craziest community ever. Getting dogpiled about videogame perspectives in one thread - and this going on here hahaha.
MarsKid 02.28.23	The Sputnik world is one that is vast and all-encompassing, but true throughout each corner is that the love is real < 3
artificialbox 02.28.23	I feel for you Zak. My best friend is currently fighting the same battle and it's so tough to watch. He drinks to feel normal, and because he has anxiety when he's not drunk (which is ironically a symptom of alcohol dependence). I give him like 5 more years until he either dies or has an epiphany and decides to change his life. He is one of the reasons I got sober, and now all I can do is try to be a positive force in his life.
MarsKid 02.28.23	That's the best you can do my man. Be there, be supportive and encouraging.
denboy 02.28.23	Been sober from alcohol for 4+ years now. But I reserve the right to drop acid once or twice a decade
MarsKid 02.28.23	Congratulations on the sobriety, that's awesome! And this is a no-judgement zone my man, you 100% reserve the right. Don't drop it though, it'll fall on the floor and get germs.
MarsKid 02.28.23	that's a dad joke and yeah that's the best I got tbh