Jan 26, 2010
Strange how one completely destructive habit can be less shameful than another.
Like this post?
Lamott:
It’s so much hipper to be a drunk than a bulimic. Drunks are like bikers or wrestlers; bulimics are baton-twirlers, gymnasts.
(Traveling Mercies, 192)
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I don’t think a drunk would make it very far in the baton-twirling business. One could make the case that a lot of wrestlers are bulimic. Furthermore, drunks are bulimic when they drink too much.
I shouldn’t make light of these things, they are very serious matters in our society and around the world.
I was just discussing with my wife yesterday how in our culture the sexual sins are seemingly far more shameful than other sins, which only proliferates the downward spiral of sexual sinning. Very sad, but very true.
It’s a little disturbing to me how our tolerance of these habits seems to skew by gender. The more “masculine” habit is “cooler” than the one that typically affects more females.
Maybe a more marked hypocrisy: Cigarettes are really frowned upon, but somehow cigars and pipes are pretty cool.
I think that’s only an apparent contradiction. Cigars and pipes are obviously both bad for you, but I don’t know too many people who smoke either as a routine part of their day. Habitual pipe or cigar use probably wouldn’t get much support even from those Christians who like a cigar every now and again. Okay, maybe pipe use has a tacit blessing in some churches because of Saint C.S.L. . . .
There’s something wrong with the satisfaction that comes (apparently) on the part of those who campaign to illegalize (if “legalize” is a word, isn’t “illegalize”?) all cigarette smoking, forcing those who do smoke to do it outside in 20 below weather in West Central Minnesota–but the same people, who would have the power to do it, don’t illegalize cigarettes themselves. Interesting to observe which position(s) they choose to defend and promote. (I’ve never smoked, so don’t have a dog in this fight, but this one really bugs me. The 7-11 clerk has to stand outside for his cigarette, and he may get frostbitten, but hey–we’re looking out for his health.)
About a year, I was at a birthday party for a close friend. Another attender was both an alcoholic and a bulimic (was slammed w/in 30 mins and puked w/in minutes of eating a HUGE plate of food…and then passed out at the party…it was strange. btw, before the locals start trying to figure this out, it was not here in town). It was so obvious…so sad. I actually regret not saying something to her or her husband. There really was nothing to lose.
Love Anne Lamott. Good point: drunk can be funny; bulimic is only pathetic. Drunks, however, are more likely to harm others (perhaps getting behind the wheel of a car). But she hints at something much bigger: how we “scale” other people’s actions in regards to their health choices and even sin. That’s a deep subject!
“bulimic is ONLY pathetic” ???
Not the best word choice. I take it to mean bulimia doesn’t have the option of ever being considered “funny”. I also infer that both are “pathetic”.
Sincerely,
Pathetic and Funny
Down here in the South it is ok to be a fat glutton, but not even a casual moderate drinker, not to mention a persistent drunk. No alcohol, but fried chicken… to your heart’s delight.
…I don’t know, I think the perception has changed since Lamott wrote that. Being bulimic is hip. Just look at runway models. Besides, people usually don’t equate “getting drunk” as a destructive habit simply because you eventually sober up and…well, look pretty normal until you tie another one on.
Okay, I get your point.
However, you’ve kind of taken the quote out of context. Lamott herself WAS a bulimic (and so was I). I occasionally still struggle, but God has brought me healing. 15 years I was a slave to bulimia.
She was also an alcoholic. And I’ve had my issues with alcohol as well.
Her statement is true. People don’t LOOK at bulimia as they do alcoholism. Drunks can be funny, sexy, hip. A person throwing up in a toilet can’t ever really appeal to others in the same way.
That’s my two cents. ;)
Is the apparent assumption in this thread that “drunks can be funny” valid? To whom? My sister died of alcoholism at age 55. I see absolutely nothing funny about drunkenness, and I stopped laughing at Foster Brooks about the 2nd time I saw his schtick.
I shouldn’t have worded it that way. When a person is drunk, they can act silly, and that makes people think they’re funny. I see nothing funny about drunks.
My dad is an alcoholic. I’ve lived the reality and I’m so sorry for your loss. Truly sorry.
People who drink and get buzzed, crazy, silly…get laughed at. That’s all I meant. I’m sorry if I came across as insensitive.
Yeah, it seems that bulimic is something that is hip in some circles. But so is wrapping feet in China and girls wrapping their chest in the Olympics, and plastic surgery in America. I guess it’s all on which crowd you’re “in”.
Here in SoCal, skinny-ness is next to godliness. Bulimia isn’t exactly hip. But maybe it’s more common, so there’s less stigma about it?
Lamott is one of my very favorite writers. Love her. She’s full of provocative little tidbits like this, and you obviously got some interesting reactions from your readers!