I’m so tired of seeing people lose all compassion the second someone’s suffering is the consequence of their own actions. We’ve all screwed up and have (hopefully) improved or changed in some ways as people as a result. An addict shouldn’t be judged based on a dumb decision they made as a teenager that they’re now suffering the consequences of. A mom struggling with post partum shouldn’t be judged just because she made the choice to have a kid. Losing a ton of money to an MLM business shouldn’t be made fun of. An alcoholic that’s now having a health crisis doesn’t need your sarcastic comment.
I’m not saying we need to bail these people out of their problems or that you have to be helpful in any way, but I’m so tired of people treating people so badly when they’re probably already beating themselves up. Just be kind. Especially since 90% of the time the person didn’t do anything to hurt anyone and the behavior was just self destructive
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I tend to agree, but it comes with limits. I’m a doctor in the UK and there’s a lot of hate (rightly or wrongly) in the service for smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics et cetera. What is almost universal to alcoholics and addicts is trauma which should be treated with kindness and empathy, especially initially, at least from a moral and ethical point of view.
However, as the other answer suggests, this has limits. For example if you are the only immediate victim of your self-destruction and you are early into your struggles then judgement is hard to excuse. But, if you have children or dependents and continue to self-destruct, especially if you are fully aware of your problems but continue to indulge, then the onus is squarely on you.
I should note that in practice most of this is irrelevant to medical care and all patients should be treated with compassion and empathy, it is not our right to judge morally, but to advise and signpost (unless children are involved – in which case a referral to social care may be warranted). But you know what they say about horses and water.
Sorry that’s a jumble. Tldr: it depends, unless you’re destroying your children’s lives, in which case you’re getting judged and at risk of losing more than you bargain for.
If they had numerous warnings, came upon it on their own volition, and there were no extenuating factors, I thoroughly enjoy the schadenfreude.