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Monday, May 7, 2007

Not A Vice!

Here are two seemingly contradictory definitions of VICE, from Merriam-Webster dictionary:
 
1. “moral depravity or corruption”
 
2. “a habitual and usually trivial defect or shortcoming”
 
I would argue that the word “Vice” is highly over used in modern times. Perhaps because we like to make an enemy out of one thing or another. Many people consider chocolate a vice, yet chocolate can be a healthy and delicious treat. The reality is that almost anything can be a vice in extreme doses. Even drinking too much water kills, but we haven’t gotten to the point where we call water a vice, thankfully.
 
Well, I don’t consider moderate consumption of luxury tobacco a vice. It is an organoeleptic delicacy: luxury tobacco is a sensory pleasure, like a great sunset, glass of wine, soak in the tub, or even chocolate. Ultimately, the dose makes the poison, and even the National Cancer Institute says that there are no known negative health consequences from the enjoyment of less than one cigar a day.
 
So what’s the point? …………… Stop calling everything a Vice: unless it is a moral depravity, corruption, or a habitual defect. And stop trying to turn every healthy human indulgence into a Sin or Vice.