Doctors and researchers in the field of addiction aren't all alcoholics are they? I'm studying musical culture of the late eighteenth century and I feel qualified to talk about it even though I wasn't there.
Anyway, I can talk about whatever I want, Jim. I don't feel a need to measure up my experiences to a contradictory self-imposed label of "alcoholic". I only label myself with words that i understand...and I'd never label myself just to fit in with the AA crowd, or to blame my bad behavior on an undefinable illness.
That reminds me, if alcoholism is defined by personal experience, then its not a disease. Most diseases are defined by physical symptoms.. not our actions. There's already a word to describe our actions: behavior.
Sorry, gneiss. Didnt mean to take over your thread