Apr 23Liked by Brandon Gorrell, Mike Solana, River Page
Thanks for sharing. It's a relief to see a writer come down off the surreal ivory tech tower, to acknowledge the real world of the ground below where people are addicted, starving, or dying in silence on the street. This hits on a personal level as well, with a few family members currently enslaved by meth and my own feeling of powerlessness in being able to help them. Exploring r/meth for ten minutes has already helped me understand the drug better and feel more empathy for what people that use it are going through, and given me some tools to better help them. I found this story that I wanted to share on the "pretty girl sober" thread that inspired me and also made me weep because it touches on such a deep level what I've been going through with my family. Thanks for this.
"Congratulations!!! Take pride in what you have already accomplished.. It does get better with time. But it's something that none of can ever just turn our back on like we are completely impervious to relapse. The fact that we have such a small percentage of people that don't get out of it for food, does not mean it's impossible. If you want it. You can achieve it. I know from my own life experience with my dad. He was the best dad ever for the first 12 years of my life. Had 3 tragic deaths in our family within six months. My dad that I had never seen even drink a beer went to full on head within a few months. He was completely a different person for about 3 years. For a 12 year old kid that has his dad turn from a poster dad that spent every second with me to a dad that was hardly home, and when he was it was to crash. That went on until I was almost 15. He went from the most loving and nurturing supportive dad ever to physically, emotionally and mentally abusive was a nightmare. I remember him coming home, and he started packing clothes which was a first throughout the entire few years. The only words he said to me was," Goodbye, son. Maybe will run into each other one day." I don't know for sure why, but I ran into my room and immediately started writing a simple note. It said,"Dad, I have always loved you, and I always will love you no matter what. There's nothing that you have done or will do that will change that." I snuck over to his truck and laid it on his dashboard. He just started driving away while I was completely sobbing while watching him leave for what I thought could be the last time I would ever see him. While waiting to watch him completely disappear in the distance his truck stopped in the middle of the road. Sat there for a minute or two. Then immediately started to turn around and drive back towards our house. I didn't know what was going on, but he pulled into our driveway. He got out with tears in his eyes. He walked up to me and said,"Son, I am so sorry. I have failed you. But if you will let me and give me an opportunity to be the dad that I was before and an even better dad than ever is what I want to do. I promise you that I will not fail you and will never hurt you again.' I jumped in his arms and said,"Please, do." It's been 28 years since that day. He never relapsed with any substance not even once. He became so much more than my dad before in every way. People can quite and make it, and of course it's never simple or easy. But it can and has been done. I wish you all the best in life because you deserve nothing less." - updownandblastoff https://www.reddit.com/r/meth/comments/uz84a0/comment/jheh4sz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
Wow. I just got my compassion increased by 1,000 times for these people. Gives credence to my mantra; never. Not even once. Dear God, what a dark, Satanic nightmare. Have mercy on these poor souls. Thank you so much, River, for writing this. ❤️
Fascinating read (as always.) The moderator you interviewed was interestingly poetic! The concept he describes in submitting to the drug mirrors the zen enlightenment principle of detachment. (The zen spiritualists call it flow.) Most ppl don’t know that. Instead, the world is framed as a dark, sort of mundane place. I often wonder - if ppl knew these states they reach for exist in healthier realities - would they be more inclined to strive for it? Life can be wildly colorful and overwhelmingly exciting. But how many ppl know to look for it?
Modern society crushes the soul. I think ppl get confused on how to escape.
So many tentative details without judgment, without condemning others for their actions. A very professional description of what is going on there and a chance for us, the readers, to make our own mind. This is the kind of journalism i haven’t seen for a long time! Thank you, River.
I’d like to do something like this on r/phillywiki. I was searching for Philadelphia server that’s when I was planning to move here and discovered this one. It’s an interesting one and just as illuminating on the city as r/philadelphia!
The Strange and Fascinating World of r/meth
Thanks for sharing. It's a relief to see a writer come down off the surreal ivory tech tower, to acknowledge the real world of the ground below where people are addicted, starving, or dying in silence on the street. This hits on a personal level as well, with a few family members currently enslaved by meth and my own feeling of powerlessness in being able to help them. Exploring r/meth for ten minutes has already helped me understand the drug better and feel more empathy for what people that use it are going through, and given me some tools to better help them. I found this story that I wanted to share on the "pretty girl sober" thread that inspired me and also made me weep because it touches on such a deep level what I've been going through with my family. Thanks for this.
"Congratulations!!! Take pride in what you have already accomplished.. It does get better with time. But it's something that none of can ever just turn our back on like we are completely impervious to relapse. The fact that we have such a small percentage of people that don't get out of it for food, does not mean it's impossible. If you want it. You can achieve it. I know from my own life experience with my dad. He was the best dad ever for the first 12 years of my life. Had 3 tragic deaths in our family within six months. My dad that I had never seen even drink a beer went to full on head within a few months. He was completely a different person for about 3 years. For a 12 year old kid that has his dad turn from a poster dad that spent every second with me to a dad that was hardly home, and when he was it was to crash. That went on until I was almost 15. He went from the most loving and nurturing supportive dad ever to physically, emotionally and mentally abusive was a nightmare. I remember him coming home, and he started packing clothes which was a first throughout the entire few years. The only words he said to me was," Goodbye, son. Maybe will run into each other one day." I don't know for sure why, but I ran into my room and immediately started writing a simple note. It said,"Dad, I have always loved you, and I always will love you no matter what. There's nothing that you have done or will do that will change that." I snuck over to his truck and laid it on his dashboard. He just started driving away while I was completely sobbing while watching him leave for what I thought could be the last time I would ever see him. While waiting to watch him completely disappear in the distance his truck stopped in the middle of the road. Sat there for a minute or two. Then immediately started to turn around and drive back towards our house. I didn't know what was going on, but he pulled into our driveway. He got out with tears in his eyes. He walked up to me and said,"Son, I am so sorry. I have failed you. But if you will let me and give me an opportunity to be the dad that I was before and an even better dad than ever is what I want to do. I promise you that I will not fail you and will never hurt you again.' I jumped in his arms and said,"Please, do." It's been 28 years since that day. He never relapsed with any substance not even once. He became so much more than my dad before in every way. People can quite and make it, and of course it's never simple or easy. But it can and has been done. I wish you all the best in life because you deserve nothing less." - updownandblastoff https://www.reddit.com/r/meth/comments/uz84a0/comment/jheh4sz/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
Once again, River hits it out of the park.
Loved this. Reminds me of what the Internet was like in the early days, even Reddit as a whole before it got dominated by angry brainwashed leftists.
Wow. I just got my compassion increased by 1,000 times for these people. Gives credence to my mantra; never. Not even once. Dear God, what a dark, Satanic nightmare. Have mercy on these poor souls. Thank you so much, River, for writing this. ❤️
This was way more interesting than I expected. Kudos for profiling this in such a respectful and humorous way.
LOVED THIS.
Medicinal meth aka Ritalin is one of my favorite drugs.
If only it were easier to get, maybe we’d have less people addicted to the harmful, regular meth.
Also, fascinating about the Shadow People theories.
That article was a wild one. Thanks!
Does anyone know if the “shadow people” phenomenon is referenced elsewhere?
Forgotten people, just trying to get by.
Fascinating read (as always.) The moderator you interviewed was interestingly poetic! The concept he describes in submitting to the drug mirrors the zen enlightenment principle of detachment. (The zen spiritualists call it flow.) Most ppl don’t know that. Instead, the world is framed as a dark, sort of mundane place. I often wonder - if ppl knew these states they reach for exist in healthier realities - would they be more inclined to strive for it? Life can be wildly colorful and overwhelmingly exciting. But how many ppl know to look for it?
Modern society crushes the soul. I think ppl get confused on how to escape.
So many tentative details without judgment, without condemning others for their actions. A very professional description of what is going on there and a chance for us, the readers, to make our own mind. This is the kind of journalism i haven’t seen for a long time! Thank you, River.
I’d like to do something like this on r/phillywiki. I was searching for Philadelphia server that’s when I was planning to move here and discovered this one. It’s an interesting one and just as illuminating on the city as r/philadelphia!
I know so many people who use meth. I've never tried it because I know I will like it. Fascinating read.
This is wild