Thoughts on "The Jennifer Act"?

[Simfan34]

I absolutely support it.  It goes with my general philosophical standpoint that people, as a matter of principle, should not be able to make stupid decisions, and if they do, the power should exist to correct them.

[Simfan34]

I absolutely support it.  It goes with my general philosophical standpoint that people, as a matter of principle, should not be able to make stupid decisions, and if they do, the power should exist to correct them.

Are you serious? As a general philosophical standpoint, who's to say what's stupid and what isn't? That presumes omniscience on the part of those in power.
It's one thing to say that someone should be able to step in when someone's judgment has been compromised though an addiction.
But saying people aren't ever allowed to make stupid decisions is pretty much the definition of totalitarianism.

Well, I do not claim omniscience, but I can tell you that the effects of drugs such as these are greatly detrimental to one's health and general well-being. Why should I, in good conscience, allow a friend to do something that would hurt or harm themselves, that, if they were fully informed of the consequences, would not do? Such a belief is a logical extension of that. Totaliarianism? I'd call it Hobbesian paternalism.

[Simfan34]

I absolutely support it.  It goes with my general philosophical standpoint that people, as a matter of principle, should not be able to make stupid decisions, and if they do, the power should exist to correct them.

Are you serious? As a general philosophical standpoint, who's to say what's stupid and what isn't? That presumes omniscience on the part of those in power.
It's one thing to say that someone should be able to step in when someone's judgment has been compromised though an addiction.
But saying people aren't ever allowed to make stupid decisions is pretty much the definition of totalitarianism.

Well, I do not claim omniscience, but I can tell you that the effects of drugs such as these are greatly detrimental to one's health and general well-being. Why should I, in good conscience, allow a friend to do something that would hurt or harm themselves, that, if they were fully informed of the consequences, would not do?

Because they're an individual and ultimately responsible for their own decisions?

Surely it would be remiss of me not to try to help them? Vague ideas of "responsibility" aside, I care for them and would want to help them. That is the essence of the matter.

Who are you to
A. Decide what is best for someone else's well-being
B. Assume one does not know and accept the consequences of their own decision??

A. When such a course is obviously wrong, such as jumping off a cliff or shooting a random person, I feel like I can draw a conclusion on what is best in such a situation. If a friend is addicted to a drug and his life is being drawn away by it, I think that it's fairly clear that it's for his good that action be taken before he dies. Does he want to die? Likely not. If a person takes an action but wants a different result than that will occur, then something should be done. I don't believe in moral relativism.

B. Are you telling me that drug addicts want to become addicted and mentally and physically ill? Those who commit suicide don't usually want to die, they want to end their suffering and the misery they encounter in their life. I want to combat the misery and suffering, and they may not see the way to end it. So yes, many times, they don't know.

[Simfan34]

Shooting a random person is not the same thing as using drugs. Fail. You are relying on subjectivity to make an arguement that should be given an objective and logical rationale.

I thought we were speaking on broader terms here. Sorry. Unless you want to dispute the harmful effects of drugs, I don't think you can say that they are somehow ambiguous in their effect. And I return to my prior point (I wasn't entirely subjective, you see).  If a person is addicted to a drug and his life is being drawn away by it, I think that it's fairly clear that it's for his good that action be taken before he dies. Does he start taking drugs thinking "I'm going to slowly  drain my life away! Hurray!" If he does, he doesn't value his life and is foolish for not doing so. Most people, however don't think that way, and never do as their addiction deepens.

[Simfan34]

The summary, yes.