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Abstract

alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink.</blockquote><blockquote id="b97c">~ The Big Book, page 24.</blockquote>I mumbled something about doing more therapy sessions to stay in touch with my baseline feelings, but my new sponsor was having none of it.‘This isn’t an emotional issue!’ he said, cutting in. ‘This is a memory issue that no amount of therapy you chose to throw money at will solve.’He even suggested that the mental blank spot could be similar to a form of amnesia or dementia that science hasn’t picked up on yet.‘But why hasn’t science picked up on it?’ I asked, holding the phone tightly.‘Probably because this blank spot only happens at certain times. Most of the time, it lays dormant.’ he replied before warning,‘And unfortunately, this dormancy feature gives us an illusion of power. We think we’ve got sobriety now because our memory and willpower function normally again. Until, the condition randomly comes back online, and we relapse, leaving us totally baffled as to why it happened.’My new sponsor sighed deeply.‘It’s heartbreaking,’ he said softly. ‘Especially if you’ve relapsed after being multiple years clean. But it is sadly needed to show you that you are genuinely powerless, regardless of how much you desire and want to be sober.’My head was spinning. Every sentence felt like the jolt of an electric cattle prod.Later that day, I looked back at my recent relapses. I found no real conscious memory of consequences before any of them.It appeared relapse was happening to me, not by me.<blockquote id="8aba">As soon as I regained my ability to think, I went carefully over that evening in Washington. Not only had I been off guard, I had made no fight whatever against the first drink. This time I had not thought of the consequences at all. I had commenced to drink as carelessly as though the cocktails were ginger ale. I now remembered what my alcoholic friends had told me, how they prophesied that if I had an alcoholic mind, the time and place would come — I would drink again. They had said that though I did raise a defense, it would one day give way before some trivial reason for having a drink. Well, just that did happen and more, for what I had learned of alcoholism did not occur to me at all. I knew from that moment that I had an alcoholic mind. I saw that will power and self-knowledge would not help in those strange mental blank spots. I had never been able to understand people who said that a problem had them hopelessly defeated. I knew then. It was a crushing blow.</blockquote><blockquote id="93f7">~ The Big Book, page 41.</blockquote><figure id="7922"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*n4r4HuNFWSnCD_WU"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@alicealinari?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Alice Alinari</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h2 id="287c">A Belief That It Will All Be Alright.</h2>Sadly, the ‘blank spot’ wasn’t all that was happening.My new sponsor later explained that something else was happening in my mind, a kind of twisting of my thinking that I couldn’t see either.This is the other main feature of the relapse condition.The Big Book explains it as follows:<blockquote id="f067">But there was always the curious mental phenomenon that parallel with our sound reasoning, there inevitably ran some insanely trivial excuse for taking the first drink. Our sound reasoning failed to hold us in check. The insane idea won out.</blockquote><blockquote id="4ad8">~ The Big Book, page 37.</blockquote>Anytime the ‘good idea’ of relapsing suddenly popped into my head, part of me would start to minimise the lunacy of this thought.I would begin to rationalise this catastrophic idea with excuses and reasons why it would be, in fact, okay to relapse despite being in recovery.No matter how insignificant and non-sensical those reasons were, they quickly became plausible and seemingly rational.At the same time, the urge to want to relapse would start to surge.A fear of missing out would relentlessly come crashing in like waves rolling in and out of my consciousness.Thoughts and narratives of why it would be okay this time would dominate my thinking.Finally, a tidal wave of justification would smother me into deep unconsciousness.Convinced of my rationale, I would carry out my plan, only to revert back to type and do everything I said I wouldn’t do, and again, find myself powerless to stop once I started.This twisted thinking was nothing more than a lie, but I believed the lie and didn’t see the flaw in the logic in light of my track record with partying.To any average person, this kind of thinking and decision-making would be termed irrational, unsound, or even insa

Options

ne.The Big Book calls this thinking an ‘obsession to beat the game’.Whether it’s a vague idea that this time it would be different, that I would do it differently and party like a gentleman.Or the well-loved excuse that this will be my last relapse. After this final time, I’ll be done for good. I’ll get on with my life.But, it never was different and that last time never did happen.My new sponsor would remind me often,‘You aren’t changing your mind when you’ve decided to give in and party; your mind has been changed for you.’<h2 id="4c19">It Centers In Our Minds</h2>Of course, there is a body element for the addict.Naturally, as a consequence of the constant extreme usage of powerfully addictive substances and processes that are designed by their very nature to make you want more and more, addicts have developed a sky-high tolerance.But there’s this annihilation approach to our acting out and using once we start, which the Big Book describes as the ‘phenomenon of craving’.In the Doctor’s opinion in the Big Book, Dr. Silkworth calls the phenomenon of craving an ‘allergy’, but my new sponsor wasn’t too keen on that idea.‘If it’s an allergy, then why doesn’t the phenomenon of craving happen every time?’Regardless of whether it is an allergy, the body part becomes irrelevant, as most people with a severe peanut allergy don’t tend to keep repeating the total lost cause of trying to have another peanut to see if they will react differently.They don’t touch or go anywhere near peanuts because they remember how terrible it was last time.Once or twice is enough.Not so with the real addict because of the first two features of the disease; they will not only be back gorging on peanuts, but they will eventually take up residence in a peanut factory.<blockquote id="e3f6">There is a complete failure of the kind of defence that keeps one from putting his hand on a hot stove. The alcoholic may say to himself in the most casual way, “It won’t burn me this time, so here’s how!” Or perhaps he doesn’t think at all.</blockquote><blockquote id="d5e6">~ The Big Book, page 24.</blockquote>That’s why the Big Book says the real problem ‘centers in our mind’, not our bodies.‘What will happen now,’ my new sponsor forewarned, ‘as the relapses get worse, the time between them will get shorter and shorter.’This condition is progressive.Therefore, the blanking and twisting will naturally grow in scope and reach until you can no longer differentiate the true from the false.<h2 id="869b">Turning To Something Else</h2>If you believe in the disease concept of addiction, that this is a disease, a fatal illness precisely like any other life-threatening condition, then you have it for life.There is nothing you can do to change that.If you constantly can’t remember why or how you relapsed despite your honest desire not to.Or if you continually relapse, believing some trivial reason or silly excuse to relapse while dismissing the genuine consequences, then you are a real addict.You have this relapse condition.You crossed a threshold where, at certain times, your inability to use reasoning and rational thinking won’t even register for you.The tragic truth is that once that threshold has been crossed, you have no choice but to relapse.A compromised part of your brain will always fire the thought of using or acting out. That will never change. It’s wired like that for life.There is no cure.Even this information won’t save you, as at certain times, you won’t be able to recall any of it when it matters.So, let go of trying to change that.Let go of any old ideas around fighting it and instead get out of the way and trust in something else.After all, that’s all you’ve got.There’s nothing you or anyone else can do to stop this relapse condition.But there’s everything you can do about everything else.There’s everything you can do about building a spiritual dimension to your life, by giving back, helping others, living in genuine faith and trusting in something greater than you.There’s everything you can do to improve your awareness and intuition, raise your consciousness and develop another part of your brain.And let this part of your brain grow bigger and stronger than that addictive part so that it can embrace and look after that compromised part.Just like a bigger and wiser older sibling can care for and comfort a much younger upset sibling by giving that stressed child a big hug.There’s everything you can do about deciding to take on a new attitude, direction, and way of life that will keep this condition dormant one day at a time.If this article speaks to you, please follow, share and subscribe to me for more.Click <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDarrenJames">here</a> to follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDarrenJames">X</a>.</article></body>

Gaming

How Online Video Games Are Hacked And Why These Methods Are Unethical

Here are different types of hacking methods in video games.

In a previous post, I spoke about the most annoying types of gamers. In this post, I will discuss cheaters who use unethical methods to win competitive online games.

Hacking in the context of online gaming refers to using unauthorized methods to gain an unfair advantage over other players.

This can include using software tools, known as hacks or cheats, to manipulate the game’s mechanics and gain advantages such as increased speed, aimbots, wallhacks, and other abilities that are not normally available to the player.

Hackers often use various techniques to gain access to the game’s code, servers, or other components to modify or alter the game in their favor. This can include reverse engineering, packet sniffing, or exploiting vulnerabilities in the game’s security systems.

Hacking is considered a violation of the game’s terms of service and can result in severe consequences, such as permanent bans from the game or legal action taken by the game’s developers.

In addition to ruining the experience for other players, hacking can also create an unfair advantage for the hacker, which goes against the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship in online gaming.

Here are a few examples of the different types of hacks that some players use in online video games.

Aimbots

Aimbots are among the most popular hacks used in competitive online gaming. An aimbot is a software tool that automatically adjusts the aim of a player’s weapon to target other players without the player having to aim manually.

This tool can provide a significant advantage to the player, ensuring accurate and quick shooting, making it easier to take down other players and win matches.

The aimbot works by scanning the game environment for targets, and it tracks the enemy player’s movement, allowing the hacker to shoot accurately, even if they are not skilled at the game. This is particularly advantageous in games where accuracy is critical, such as first-person shooters.

However, the use of aimbots is highly controversial as it undermines the core principles of fair play and sportsmanship in online gaming.

Players who use aimbots are often accused of cheating and are disliked by other players. They also ruin the game experience for others, particularly those who take the game seriously and work hard to improve their skills.

Game developers and anti-cheat software providers use various techniques to detect and prevent the use of aimbots in their games.

This includes pattern recognition, heuristics, and behavioral analysis, among other things. They also update their software regularly to stay ahead of new hacks and to prevent players from exploiting vulnerabilities in the game’s security systems.

Wall Hacks

Wall hacks are a type of cheat used in video games that give players an unfair advantage by allowing them to see through walls or other objects that are normally opaque.

In the context of online multiplayer games like first-person shooters, wall hacks are a particularly egregious form of cheating, as they allow players to easily locate and kill opponents who are unaware of their presence.

Wall hacks can be implemented in various ways, but they typically involve modifying the game’s graphics engine to display information normally hidden from the player.

Some wall hacks work by exploiting vulnerabilities in the game’s code, while others are external programs that run alongside the game and intercept data being sent between the game and the server.

While wall hacks can be difficult to detect and prevent, many game developers have implemented anti-cheat measures to identify and ban players who use them. These measures can range from automated detection algorithms to manual reviews of gameplay footage and user reports.

In addition to being a violation of the game’s terms of service, using wall hacks can also be illegal in some jurisdictions. In 2020, a man in Japan was arrested for allegedly selling a wallhack for the game Valorant, which violated the country’s Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

Speed Hacks

peed hacks are a type of cheat used in video games that give players an unfair advantage by allowing them to move faster than they normally would.

In the context of online multiplayer games, speed hacks are particularly problematic, as they allow players to quickly traverse the map, escape danger, or engage enemies before they have a chance to react.

Speed hacks can be implemented in various ways, but they typically involve modifying the game’s code or memory to change the player’s movement speed.

Some speed hacks manipulate the game’s physics engine, while others involve external programs that inject code into the game’s memory.

While speed hacks can be difficult to detect and prevent, many game developers have implemented anti-cheat measures to identify and ban players who use them. These measures range from automated detection algorithms to manual reviews of gameplay footage and user reports.

Using speed hacks can also have unintended consequences, such as causing glitches or crashing the game. In addition, speed hacks can be illegal in some jurisdictions. In 2017, a man in the United States was sentenced to 27 months in prison for creating and selling a cheat program that included speed hacks for the game Grand Theft Auto V.

ESP Hacks

ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) hacks are a type of cheat used in video games that give players an unfair advantage by allowing them to see the location of other players, items, or other game objects that are normally hidden or difficult to detect.

In the context of online multiplayer games, ESP hacks are particularly problematic, as they allow players to easily locate and target opponents who are unaware of their presence.

ESP hacks can be implemented in various ways, but they typically involve modifying the game’s graphics engine or intercepting data being sent between the game and the server.

Some ESP hacks work by highlighting objects or players on the screen, while others display detailed information about the game world, such as the location and health of other players.

While ESP hacks can be difficult to detect and prevent, many game developers have implemented anti-cheat measures to identify and ban players who use them. These measures range from automated detection algorithms to manual reviews of gameplay footage and user reports.

Using ESP hacks can also have unintended consequences, such as causing glitches or crashing the game. In addition, ESP hacks can be illegal in some jurisdictions.

In 2021, a man in the United States was charged with wire fraud and computer intrusion for allegedly selling ESP hacks for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

Why is hacking unethical?

Hacking in online video games is unethical because it undermines the fairness and integrity of the game.

Online video games are designed to provide a level playing field for all players, with each player having an equal chance of winning or losing based on their skill and ability. Hacking disrupts this balance by giving certain players an unfair advantage over others.

Hacking also violates the terms of service of most online video games, prohibiting any software or modification that gives players an unfair advantage.

Violating these terms can result in a player’s account being suspended or banned, which can be frustrating and demoralizing for players who are playing the game fairly.

Furthermore, hacking can create a negative environment for other players by encouraging toxic behavior and undermining sportsmanship.

Players who use hacks may become overconfident and bully other players, creating an unpleasant, hostile environment for everyone.

Players who choose to cheat in this way are not only cheating themselves out of the satisfaction of winning through skill and effort but also harming the experiences of other players who are playing the game fairly.

Summary

In conclusion, hacking in online video games is unethical because it undermines the fairness and integrity of the game, violates the terms of service, and creates a negative environment for other players.

Hacking in competitive online gaming has become a common problem that disrupts fair play and sportsmanship.

Hackers manipulate game mechanics through software tools, such as aimbots, wall, speed, and ESP hacks, to gain an unfair advantage over other players.

These hacks can be difficult to detect, and their use is considered a violation of the game’s terms of service, leading to severe consequences such as permanent bans or legal action taken by the developers.

Such unethical practices undermine the gaming experience for other players, ruin the spirit of fair play, and hinder skill development.

Therefore, game developers must implement anti-cheat measures to detect and prevent hacking and maintain a level playing field.

If you enjoy my posts and would like to stay updated on the latest gaming-related news, technology advancements, design trends, and social media insights, I invite you to follow my profile.

I will continue to share my thoughts and insights on a wide range of topics in the world of entertainment and technology.

With that being said, thank you for reading my post, and have a good one.

About Me

I write articles in my field covering gaming, film-making, social media, and design. I am also a YouTuber. Thank you for subscribing to my account to get notifications when I post on Medium. I also created a new website to share my content for free and promote stories of writers contributing to my publications on Medium. Let’s connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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