I ask: Do you know anything about addictions?---

They respond: Of course, everything. I'm an addictionologist. I treat addicts and teach CAC's and administrators according to what I know. I'm the expert.

Of course, everything. I'm a CAC. I treat addicts according to what I know.

Of course, everything. I'm the administrator of the addiction program and the addictionologist here tells me everything about addictions. I make decisions on addicts based on what I know. I'm the boss.

OK, but before I ask you further questions about addictions, let me ask you some simpler questions.---

Is the earth flat or round?---

Round, of course.

It actually is spherical. But, can you prove this?---

Uh……., no.

Does the sun go around the earth or earth around the sun?---

The earth goes around the sun.

Can you prove that?---

Uh……., no.

How old is the earth?---

4 billion years old.

Can you prove that?---

Uh…….., no.

Is there a god?---

Of course, yes.

Can you prove that?---

Uh…….., no.

You have never THOUGHT critically about these things. How is it that you know these things?---

They are what I believe and what experts whom I believe have told me.

OK, now. What is an addiction? What causes addiction?---

It's…a behavior that….a disease that….genetics…environment….in a predisposed person…keeps doing it despite negative consequences….

What does cause mean?---

What's a behavior, disease, environment?---

Uh,…..

Are diseases voluntary? Are diseases immoral? Are people with diseases immoral?---

A disease is …..blah blah

What does predisposed mean?---

blah blah

Is it voluntary, conscious, by choice?….

A little of both blah blah.

What does voluntary mean? What does choice mean? What does conscious means?

Uh,……blah blah.

What is alcoholism?---

blah blah

What is compulsive gambling?---What does "compulsive" mean?---

blah blah

What is opiate addiction?---

blah blah

Can you prove any of this?---

How does the brain produce this stuff?---

You don't know any of this, do you?---

Uh……, No.

You have never THOUGHT critically about these things. So, what do you know about addictions?---

It's what I believe and what experts whom I believe have told me. It's all in the books.

Can these experts prove it? Do the books prove it?---

Uh……., No.

Then why do you say you know about addictions?---

Is what you know based on the scientific method, a method devised by men to distinguish between empiricisms and actual reality?---

Uh……., No. I don't know much about addictions. I believe these things about addictions the same way people used to believe the world was flat, the sun went around the earth, the earth is 5000 years old. I use my own empirical observations and besides, experts say so and the people believe them. You've got to believe the experts and your own eyes, No?

Magicians can pull rabbits out of a hat too.---

Do you burn people at the stake based on your beliefs?---

I guess I do. Maybe I shouldn't?

Do you question your beliefs?---

No.

Does this make you prejudiced?---

Yes

Should you question them?---

Yes.

So why don't you?---

I like my prejudices too much.

Your beliefs are based on paradigms that throughout history have fallen and fallen and fallen even though all people at the time believed them and experts expounded them without proof. Even when something is actually proven, the believers believe and still don't know the proof. Consensus is not proof. Proof is not decided by majority vote. Policy based on beliefs are as easily right as they are wrong. Why do you stand by your policies so irrevocably? Because you believe you are right - you're self-righteous. Will you critique your beliefs? No. Aren't you as stupid about addictions as someone who believes the sun goes around the earth? Yes. And you make policy based on your stupid beliefs? Yes.

So, what do you know about addictions?---

Uh,……….Nothing. But, do you know anything about addictions?

No, but I never said I did. I have questioned everything we just queried in my book, shown that the current paradigm is scientifically invalid and wrong, and presented an alternative hypothesis that is based on real science, is amenable to the scientific method, and fits real life addictions infinitely more than what is currently believed. You won't read my book. You won't debate the issues that differentiate your believed paradigm from my hypothesized paradigm. You won't even question your beliefs that are currently helping only 5% of addicts, if that. What gives you the validity to call yourself a CAC, an addictionologist, an addiction administrator?---