The Revolving Door of Rehab
If there were a class in “Victimology” conducted in major American colleges and universities (and maybe there already is) one of its major themes would have to be “Rehab as the centerpiece of your victim-centric life”. It would encourage everyone to lose their amateur standing and to constantly play the victim card by celebrating ones weaknesses.
And how would one best do this? By going into rehab early and often. The mere act of going into rehab serves at least two purposes for the victim driven life:
1. It affirms the primary tenet of the permanent victim – appear to do something while in fact doing nothing to get your life in order.
2. It is perceived by victim nation as an excellent form of self loathing and self-flagellation while at the same time it does not have the nasty side effect of leaving marks.
The professional victim can score feel good points by trumpeting these trips to rehab in as many people as is humanly possible. Rehab is thus ironically a badge of courage to be constantly displayed signifying acceptance of ones status as a permanent victim.
For those not immersed in the diverse culture of the professional victims practicing this philosophy, such behavior may seem to be a peculiar form of insanity. Ignoring for the moment that victims do not use such words as “insanity” because they are too judgmental, let me explain how a victim does not see repetition of trips to rehab while expecting different results as being insane behavior.
The answer lies in the primary tenet mentioned above. The professional victim consciously goes into rehab not expecting it to actually change in any way their habits, behavior, or life. Rehab is but a “show trial” one must go through to maintain “street cred” while retaining their victim card. Perverting into a carnival sideshow what could be a positive force for use in turning around an empty and purposeless life is an added bonus to the victim who strives for the ultimate in cynicism.
This show trial aspect of rehab can also be a cover for the more practical reason for going to rehab. Sometimes a time-out is needed from a life of drunken or drug laden debauchery. Rehab can be very useful to keep the press, drug pushers, and hangers-on away for a while so the victim can at least temporarily protect themselves from the depredations of their chosen lifestyle and build up stamina for the next round of those same depredations.
Regardless of what they say, those that parade their shortcomings in front of the world for the sake of cheap publicity, money, or other similar reasons are not deserving of either our sympathy or attention. Because if we give these we should realize they are not victims, we are.
And how would one best do this? By going into rehab early and often. The mere act of going into rehab serves at least two purposes for the victim driven life:
1. It affirms the primary tenet of the permanent victim – appear to do something while in fact doing nothing to get your life in order.
2. It is perceived by victim nation as an excellent form of self loathing and self-flagellation while at the same time it does not have the nasty side effect of leaving marks.
The professional victim can score feel good points by trumpeting these trips to rehab in as many people as is humanly possible. Rehab is thus ironically a badge of courage to be constantly displayed signifying acceptance of ones status as a permanent victim.
For those not immersed in the diverse culture of the professional victims practicing this philosophy, such behavior may seem to be a peculiar form of insanity. Ignoring for the moment that victims do not use such words as “insanity” because they are too judgmental, let me explain how a victim does not see repetition of trips to rehab while expecting different results as being insane behavior.
The answer lies in the primary tenet mentioned above. The professional victim consciously goes into rehab not expecting it to actually change in any way their habits, behavior, or life. Rehab is but a “show trial” one must go through to maintain “street cred” while retaining their victim card. Perverting into a carnival sideshow what could be a positive force for use in turning around an empty and purposeless life is an added bonus to the victim who strives for the ultimate in cynicism.
This show trial aspect of rehab can also be a cover for the more practical reason for going to rehab. Sometimes a time-out is needed from a life of drunken or drug laden debauchery. Rehab can be very useful to keep the press, drug pushers, and hangers-on away for a while so the victim can at least temporarily protect themselves from the depredations of their chosen lifestyle and build up stamina for the next round of those same depredations.
Regardless of what they say, those that parade their shortcomings in front of the world for the sake of cheap publicity, money, or other similar reasons are not deserving of either our sympathy or attention. Because if we give these we should realize they are not victims, we are.
posted by tovarich at 11:24 AM
0 comments
