or as the gemora in hamafkid says: hai deshasak mishum d'lo yada....I simply do not know...the issue is a complex one

cordnoy wrote:

i'm with cordnoy on that

In all these discussions it helps to be clear, are we talking about someone who has an addiction, or are we talking yeitser hora?

I think that the Gemora quoted is talking about yeitser hora, but not addiction.

Lets take a classic example of addiction. An alcoholic. Does he drink because the alcohol that he has at home isn't good enough? No, the reason that he drinks is to have a mind altering effect.

Food. Most people eat beacause they are hungry and are then satisfied, untill they get hungry again later. However the compulsive overeater uses food for a different purpose. Its to get their fix. Now, we know that with addiction we are never satisfied. We get a momentory illusion of being satisfied but that quickly wears off. So the food addict will eat again, (because maybe more food will satisfy...). And when that doesn't satisfy he will try other delicious types of foods etc

Now, the food addict may have have loads of food in the house, but will feel compelled to go looking for food outside the house. Why? Because the tuna and pickles isn't giving him his fix.

The reason why the sex addict will go looking for "more" is because what he has already isn't satisfying.

There is a saying in NA (Narcotics Anonymous) "One is too many, a thousand is not enough..."

This is the nature of addiction. It NEVER satisfies. Thats why it is progressive, and i end up breaking new boundaries

A hangin' thread - that's for sure.

who knows?

but as D.W. or S.W. said:
In good times and bad times
I'll (this poisonous lust) be on your side forever more
That's what lust is for......

b'hatzlachah