When talking about vapes and booze specifically, the defensiveness is a symptom of addiction. Gambling is addictive, too, but unlike with booze and nicotine, you only have to go as far as your pocket & your phone is open for bets 24/7. You phone will also never deny you because it knows you've had enough.
Maybe doom scrolling is addictive to this level too. But the point is, we, and especially young people, are being targeted for addictive substances in a way that Joe Camel could only dream of, and yes, addiction is hard to escape.
I'm reluctant to say this since it's already been suggested once that I'm being condescending, but wrt to food delivery services, I don't know if it's addiction or some form of entitlement but something is going on there. What a phenomena. So many people I know complains about DoorDash, etc, and keep using it, and insist their life demands they use it.
When talking about gambling, whether it's sports betting, robinhood, etc. I have no doubts it is addiction. The article suggests this, too.
I don't personally know anyone who uses doordash regularly, but I've seen a handful of commenters on hn complaining about doordash while pretending there's no possible other way to get their food (even after getting possible alternatives). Just wait for doordash to come up in the news again and see if you can't ask someone anonymously about it here :)
> So many people I know complains about DoorDash, etc, and keep using it, and insist their life demands they use it.
I complain about DoorDash but still use it because around me there's no meaningful alternative for delivery. Even pizza places around here have ditched organic delivery service and just use DoorDash.
I don't use DoorDash all the time, I save it for when I've been busy and don't feel like cooking and cleaning. It's usually a replacement for going out to eat.
I can't understand people that use it all the time though. Even the relative convenience comes at a significant cost. A lot of restaurants have higher prices on DoorDash or have required up-sells be added to meals. With the fees you're spending more than you would if you ate the same meal at the restaurant.
I completely understand the occasional delivery where convenience trumps price but constantly paying a 20-50% markup on meals is ludicrous.
The past where you simply called the pizza place directly and you both ended up with more money in your pocket seems better to me. Most people can still do this today, too.
It’s unclear to me if people use Uber eats for places like pizza that already specialize in delivery. I know I wouldn’t, but I do use them for lots of other restaurants that don’t do delivery.
Maybe doom scrolling is addictive to this level too. But the point is, we, and especially young people, are being targeted for addictive substances in a way that Joe Camel could only dream of, and yes, addiction is hard to escape.