printing-spoon comments on Open thread, September 16-22, 2013 - Less Wrong

5 Post author: Metus 16 September 2013 05:18AM

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Comment author: printing-spoon 17 September 2013 01:43:55AM 7 points [-]

I wonder why addiction is common among celebrities

Are you sure this is true?

Comment author: Desrtopa 17 September 2013 02:34:21AM 6 points [-]

I'm guessing you had this in mind already, but to clarify anyway, there's a pretty major availability bias since anything celebrities are involved in is much more likely to be reported on, leading to a proliferation of news stories about celebrities with addiction problems.

On the other hand though, celebrities are a lot more likely than most people to simply be given drugs for free, since drug dealers can make extra money if their customers are enticed by the prospect of being able to do drugs with celebrities. And of course that's aside from the fact that the drug dealers themselves can be enticed by the star power and want to work their way into their circles.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 17 September 2013 11:39:49AM 2 points [-]

No real statistics, just claims.

This article uses the model that a fair number of people are just vulnerable to addiction (about 1 in 12), and celebrity doesn't affect the risk except that celebrities have more access to drugs.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 17 September 2013 01:05:22PM 0 points [-]

Second thought: What's implied is that either humans are less resistant to addiction than rats, or there's something about civilization in general which makes people less resistant to addiction.

Comment author: Viliam_Bur 17 September 2013 01:30:12PM *  4 points [-]

There are more addictive things for humans produced, and it is easier for humans to get them.

Human mind can create the "small cage" effect even without physical constraints. Sometimes people feel 'trapped' metaphorically.