I am, perhaps wrongly, a bit cynical when people start blaming their
problems, on something other than themsalves.

I spent a few years playing with boats, those fairly big ones that carted 200, or 300 tourists around the barrier reef.
We worked 10/11 hour days, with one 17 hour day each week. Through the peak season [5/6 months] we rarely had more than 2 days off, per month.

Up in my wheel house, prattling away with my commentary, I always had a coke, or a coffee by my elbow. I averaged at least 12 a day, & more on the 17 hour day. All were caffeine, & sugar.

I have never gone to bed so early, or slept so well, as I did then. Those long days are very tiring, as is all that fresh air. Just check the tourists, coming back to port on an outer reef trip, 70% will be asleep.

I was also neither stressed, or aggressive, so I am either a superior being, [who should be cloned for the good of society], or, blaming these things for our problems, is just a prop for those who are struggling.

I reckon Gibo's on to something here. CAFFEINE was planted on Earth by SATAN to lead people into HELLFIRE and ETERNAL DAMNATION!

The proof is all those latte-sipping COMMOS and ATHEISTS you see lurking around those coffee shops that are springing up everywhere.

CJ, you've convinced me.

Lets stamp out caffeine, & save all gods children.

You know what else is often seen in those coffee houses, CJ?
.......Books!
That's a dead giveaway of Satans influence, that is.

Hasbeen

"I am, perhaps wrongly, a bit cynical when people start blaming their
problems, on something other than themselves."

I was too, until I succumbed myself a few years back. Your own experience tends to colour your view on other people's weaknesses!

You were lucky to survive the long hours at sea on a diet of caffeine and sugar. You were possibly young and fit at the time and probably don't have the genetic susceptibility anyway. Besides, there were good offsets to the long hours and the coffee and sugar diet like the fresh air, open seas and mixing with relaxed people. No doubt, of course, you are a 'superior being' as well!

I guarantee though if you'd maintained those high stress/low sleep levels for many years, continued on the coffee and sugar diet, didn't exercise enough and had the hereditary predisposition, you would have eventually come unstuck to one degree or another.

My understanding is that it's the coming together of several factors and it builds over time, often coming to a head in times of hormonal flux like puberty and menopause or periods of high stress.

CJ's that's preposterous. I never thought you'd buy into such ridiculous notions.

Clearly, the caffeine is a residue left behind by the flying saucers, in an effort to weaken our minds and open them up to capitalist heathen pursuits.
Someday, when the anti-christ comes, he will know the sinners and rally his followers via the barcodes on their hands, which will only have been put there due to the dark influences that have crept into society through the twin evils of caffeine and secularism.

I'd have thought this was patently obvious.

Duh.