Weasel1966

I saw a post by ThatDeliveryGuy about stats. Being on the board over two years there have been many who post on the topic. This was a post of mine way back as a response to what I was reading. I like to have fun with it. Hope you enjoy the perspective.

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I see every now and then, and most recently, a post about statistics. Sober statistics.

People want the reassurance that this is in their favor. That it won't be them but the other guy adding up to what no one wants to admit.

So, while certainly not a numbers guy, I decided to look at my life by the numbers.

Here's what I found out about myself.

There are 7,059,553,012 people in this tiny world.

In the US there are 314,967,442 of which I am only 1. Though the voices in my head would lead me to believe otherwise.

A simple google search of what number am I on earth tells me that I am the 3,401,031,718th person alive and get this.....

The 77,354,880,524th person alive since history began. Boy if I had a nickel for every person ever born....

Now of the US population, one estimate says 51.9% of us drink. A mere 130 or so million.

Again of which I WAS only 1 of.

To whittle things down to a more real perspective I am one of just over an estimated 11 million gay folk in the US. A number of little relevance but a number I was curious about.

Here's where the numbers start to crunch.

How many people do I know that drink. All of them but one. Really .... just one.

Alcoholics, like me, surround ourselves with drinkers. It made me feel normal.

How many people do I know that have stopped drinking and stayed stopped? Not nearly as many as drink. Other than SR and AA I don't know anyone.

Should that matter? Nope. Not at all.

I will be counted and used to compile many lists.

I can be dehumanized in equations that result in less than factual results.

Sober people give me a 50 / 50 shot at staying sober. Maybe even less.

I am not a number. I am not a statistic. I am ken. An alcoholic trying very very hard to make it and I believe I will. 110% everyday. I don't need the reassurance of a statistic. I need the reassurance of others like me.

That's all I need.



Disclaimer
**** all statistics obtained from the Internet. And we all know we can always believe what ever we find on the Internet. So this must be true.

LadyinBC

What a great post! Definitely puts it in perspective.

Dee74

Thanks Ken

D

Soberwolf

Thank you

biminiblue

I think we can all do it. I'm pretty idealistic, though. I believe in the basic goodness of people and their desire deep down in their soul to do the right thing. This hasn't always served me well, but I still want to believe it.

I want to be a reflection of that. I don't think I get there by drinking - it steals my essence. I can only do me. One out of. . . how many again, Ken?

Big numbers confuse me at 4:25AM.

ccam1973

Great stuff ken.

Thanks!

Ruby2

Thanks Ken. I laughed though at the comment that if the internet says it, it must be true.

I am one of many but I am me and this is my journey, with a lot of help from everyone sharing it with me.

Ruby2

Thanks Ken. I laughed though at the comment that if the internet says it, it must be true.

I am one of many but I am me and this is my journey, with a lot of help from everyone sharing it with me.

Altoids

I love this. I AM a numbers person, but I refuse to be a statistic. Great post!

NorMar

I'm going to repeat myself here. I made this same reply to the thread Weasel1966 is referring to.

I am 100% certain I will wake up tomorrow without a hangover.
Will handle the other 364 days as they get here.

Works for me, at least.

Stay Strong and have a safe Labor Day.

What a great place this is.

MIRecovery

What the numbers tell me is I better work at this sobriety thing pretty darn hard because the people who stay sober are definitely in the minority. I absolutely refuse to be a negative statistic. I know it can be done because I know a ton of people with 30+ years

Deckard

Thanks for the great perspective. I believe statistics don't matter when I alone have the complete ability to control the outcome. The odds of my losing $1000 at the blackjack table are zero if I never sit down there...