Can people quit using nicotine without KTC? Yes. Every day someone walks away from cigarettes or tobacco. So why do I get so angry and (real talk: afraid) when someone who has been posting roll beside me for nearly 90 days decides to walk away? Do I feel like they are walking out on me? Not especially. A guy today in RANT who never did anything but post and ghost pulled this stunt today. I was talking to my wife about it. I told her I think he posted his excuse because he didn't want us to be mad at him. That some part of the KTC brotherhood had rubbed off on him enough to tell his conscience that was he was doing wasn't a good thing.
Will he stay quit? I don't think so. Here is why. The answer to my previous question I think deserves some introspection. Why do I get angry about someone being "cured" as we like to say around here? For me personally I think it might have something to do with what I call "veterans syndrome." I saw it from guys in the navy first. They had been in for 16 or 18 years, close to retirement and hating every minute of it. When someone with only 6 or 8 years comes along and starts getting close to getting out they circle like sharks.
"The job market is bad."
"You won't be able to live like you do now."
"You already have a lot of time in, just stick it out."
On and on. There were as many reasons as there are sailors. I learned they weren't talking to the guy in front of them. In a round about way they were trying to convince themselves that the decision they made (committing to the military for 20 years) was the right one. That getting out was dangerous and full of peril. While not a perfect analogy for why I act the way I do here, I think this idea suggests some of the thoughts I have when I see people walk away from KTC. Can I walk away from KTC? People stay quit with it right? Will there ever be a day where I don't need it to stay quit?
I can't speak for forever but a post from Lipi answers this nicely. I am an addict. As an addict I need accountability to stay sober. No form of accountability in my life has ever worked before reaching KTC. KTC is the only form of accountability that has kept me sober. Without KTC -- I --- can't stay sober. That is why I think we will see gas man again. I think that all the people who get weeks or months deep into KTC and walk away are making a huge mistake.
They can't see that this form of accountability (although one you wouldn't have guessed) works. And without it they are an addict unleashed. That is why I need KTC. That is why I hate to see guys walk away. That is why I defensive when people insult the flavor of this kool-aid. For most of us, we need it, this kool-aid saves our life, and without it we are done.
In 1992 I had to decide whether to get out of the Army or stay in. I was going to re-inlist, but the Army said I couldn't change my job, so I decided to get out. Like you, the sergeants would tell me that the economy was bad (end of Bush's term) and I would not be able to find a job.
I think that the Army knew they found a good soldier in myself, and maybe I was a bright spot in that part of their career; a chance to mold this guy into a soldier. I was 100% into the military. I went to the promotion board as an E-4 before PLDC. I soaked in everything that was the US ARMY.
Anyways, I decided it was in my best interest to leave the military and did so.
It would appear that after 100 days that soxfnn would be 100% into KTC and December. I buy into the koolade and try and steer people the right way with their quit the best I can. If someone like myself, you, or one of the dozens of people in December like us were to 'go it alone', that would be how those sergeants felt about a crack soldier leaving their ranks.
It's important who is in the foxhole with me. I want someone that will be there if I need them. Just knowing how passionate you and the other RANTERS are helps my quit. We are at war with Nicotine. There is no cure. There is no end. This is black and white. The only way to win is to follow the KTC plan or be stranded on a deserted island where there is no nicotine.
The quitter that can't get out of bed to post roll or do 40 pushups the sergeants cared less for, and so should we.
