This is such a thoughtful piece. You don’t jump to armchair diagnosing, just make observations and connections. And your Slate story is a smart, well-reported critique of an esteemed publication, the Atlantic, abandoning journalistic ethics. Well done!
No joke, I read your Slate article just a day before finding this one. The internet is great sometimes! That was the first I’d heard of the Atlantic story, and I was horrified. That man could have issues for the rest of his life, just so a magazine could monetize our rubbernecking. Told him to go “touch felt”?!? It’s just ghoulish.
I love Schitt’s Creek but had never analyzed the gray areas of Moira’s relationship to alcohol, nor the rarity of such a depiction. You can abuse a substance for years without become addicted, and that’s a meaningful distinction (ask me how I know!) All or nothing isn’t for everyone, but in certain circles that’s anathema, akin to enabling. Of course some people really need to quit their thing forever, but for those of us who don’t, the false binary just breeds shame, which… only fuels active addiction.
Knowing where you fall requires cultivating a certain degree of intention, self-awareness, and patience. Acting in accordance with that knowledge requires resources and support. It’s all very complex and rarely modeled in the media. So we desperately need more nuanced portrayals of living with addictive behaviors and substances; thanks for highlighting this one. I miss Catherine O’Hara already.
1) I've thought many times that Moira's substance use is a subtle set of character and plot points without its notes ever being played sourly. I also think that the obvious decrease in her use of alcohol (and pills, too, although this is more rarely brought up) over the years is part of her growth and arc as a character. When she was rich, she blotted things out more; now that her life is full of actual people, she has less motivation to blot them out, no matter what she says about being unhappy in SC. However, there's also a very sharp downward trend from after she wakes up in Roland's room, which is, again, characterization, imo.
2) There's one more I want to bring to your attention: at the end of the last season, when they're talking about her going back to Sunrise Bay, she specifically says she wants to nurse one drink when in the company of Tippy and Clifton (who is a roaring alcoholic with lots of funny lines related to his addiction, and who is nevertheless clearly the worse for his substance abuse).
Interesting and thoughtful insights on Schitt's Creek, which I never saw. Sounds like the show made some subtle choices that gave it depth. I'm sure Catherine O'Hara was the right person for it.
And
Ten thousand dollars! I am glad if the Atlantic is profitable enough to gamble with that much money. I wonder how much the writer gave them back at the end. And I think it's horrifying to encourage anyone to gamble. Hope this hasn't wrecked his life.
This was such a thoughtful perspective on a truly wonderful show and character. I was blown away at how good the show was, how wonderful the characters were, especially Moira, even as I also cringed a bit at the scenes involving alcohol.
But I'm sadly stunned at how tone deaf that Atlantic article was. What was their damn point in even floating that idea, in that manner. WTF, Atlantic?
This describes many people and I have never seen this addressed before. That people in real life misuse alchohol and don’t go to rehab they move on and try not to drink for awhile and many times just go back and forth. It is almost worse if you admit you have a problem as then you are labeled and expected to go into some type of 12 step therapy and many people do not want that label. So its a connundrum that keeps people drinking longer perhaps. I never watched the show but watch enough tv to have seen so much alcohol misuse go without any consequences, which always seems false. Its kind of sad that the portrayal of adults stil includes tying one on like the show Friends and Neighbors where everyone drinks and drugs in their fifties, quite often not a one off. Enjoyed this introspective piece.
I wish more people realized that going to your regular doctor is a great way to get over the first step of quitting. Just go to your doctor and say I have a drinking problem. They are nonjudgmental and have and seen just about everything. That kicked things off for me and it's been over 18 months.
As long as you know that will be in your electronic medical record, many people do not want that known as there is still a stigma and may effect medical decisions in your future. Here in the states pain meds are very difficult to obtain for real medical surgeries and conditions and there would definitely be rebound on people with even a mild alcohol misuse disorder being able to obtain pain relieving meds thats just an example. Many people have jobs that would be endangered by healthcare workers, doctors and insurance companies having this knowledge. That are some reasons people don’t report to their GP.
Thank you for this and for the link to your Coppin piece. For my part, I think Coppin and editor were justified in taking that risk. It was a skilful and powerful blend of entertainment and information, and will have reached far more people than any solemn straight piece about the dangerous of gambling. Sometimes you have to take a risk to get a result worth getting.
I have a bunch of questions and comments to your response.
Medical records are confidential How would that negatively affect someone going forward?
I highly doubt that if someone has surgery a doctor's not going to give them pain meds because they have an alcohol problem. I am guessing that situation is not uncommon and doctors know how to work with that.
I guess you believe that insurance companies use your records to harm your coverage. I'm sure they would like to but I don't believe that.
All in all I'm very disappointed in your response. You have picked what I think are unlikely and paranoid consequences and in fact you might be keeping people from going to their doctor for drinking which is a shame.
Another example: I’m sober and my doctor was very reluctant to prescribe me a quick-acting benzodiazepine for situational anxiety. We compromised on very few pills and more frequent appointments while the situation is in place, but prior to becoming sober I was given those pills without question.
Sometimes people are required to provide their medical records if they want special clearances or privileges - for example, my husband needed to provide his medical records during his application for a pilot’s license.
This is such a thoughtful piece. You don’t jump to armchair diagnosing, just make observations and connections. And your Slate story is a smart, well-reported critique of an esteemed publication, the Atlantic, abandoning journalistic ethics. Well done!
Aw, thank you and thank you! 🙏
No joke, I read your Slate article just a day before finding this one. The internet is great sometimes! That was the first I’d heard of the Atlantic story, and I was horrified. That man could have issues for the rest of his life, just so a magazine could monetize our rubbernecking. Told him to go “touch felt”?!? It’s just ghoulish.
I love Schitt’s Creek but had never analyzed the gray areas of Moira’s relationship to alcohol, nor the rarity of such a depiction. You can abuse a substance for years without become addicted, and that’s a meaningful distinction (ask me how I know!) All or nothing isn’t for everyone, but in certain circles that’s anathema, akin to enabling. Of course some people really need to quit their thing forever, but for those of us who don’t, the false binary just breeds shame, which… only fuels active addiction.
Knowing where you fall requires cultivating a certain degree of intention, self-awareness, and patience. Acting in accordance with that knowledge requires resources and support. It’s all very complex and rarely modeled in the media. So we desperately need more nuanced portrayals of living with addictive behaviors and substances; thanks for highlighting this one. I miss Catherine O’Hara already.
Thank you! And me too—she was such a treasure
1) I've thought many times that Moira's substance use is a subtle set of character and plot points without its notes ever being played sourly. I also think that the obvious decrease in her use of alcohol (and pills, too, although this is more rarely brought up) over the years is part of her growth and arc as a character. When she was rich, she blotted things out more; now that her life is full of actual people, she has less motivation to blot them out, no matter what she says about being unhappy in SC. However, there's also a very sharp downward trend from after she wakes up in Roland's room, which is, again, characterization, imo.
2) There's one more I want to bring to your attention: at the end of the last season, when they're talking about her going back to Sunrise Bay, she specifically says she wants to nurse one drink when in the company of Tippy and Clifton (who is a roaring alcoholic with lots of funny lines related to his addiction, and who is nevertheless clearly the worse for his substance abuse).
Yes!
As someone who has recovered from a drinking problem, I agree that each person deals with it, both the good and the bad, in a different way.
I love Schitt’s Creek!
Interesting and thoughtful insights on Schitt's Creek, which I never saw. Sounds like the show made some subtle choices that gave it depth. I'm sure Catherine O'Hara was the right person for it.
And
Ten thousand dollars! I am glad if the Atlantic is profitable enough to gamble with that much money. I wonder how much the writer gave them back at the end. And I think it's horrifying to encourage anyone to gamble. Hope this hasn't wrecked his life.
This was such a thoughtful perspective on a truly wonderful show and character. I was blown away at how good the show was, how wonderful the characters were, especially Moira, even as I also cringed a bit at the scenes involving alcohol.
But I'm sadly stunned at how tone deaf that Atlantic article was. What was their damn point in even floating that idea, in that manner. WTF, Atlantic?
Always spot on, Katie.
This describes many people and I have never seen this addressed before. That people in real life misuse alchohol and don’t go to rehab they move on and try not to drink for awhile and many times just go back and forth. It is almost worse if you admit you have a problem as then you are labeled and expected to go into some type of 12 step therapy and many people do not want that label. So its a connundrum that keeps people drinking longer perhaps. I never watched the show but watch enough tv to have seen so much alcohol misuse go without any consequences, which always seems false. Its kind of sad that the portrayal of adults stil includes tying one on like the show Friends and Neighbors where everyone drinks and drugs in their fifties, quite often not a one off. Enjoyed this introspective piece.
I wish more people realized that going to your regular doctor is a great way to get over the first step of quitting. Just go to your doctor and say I have a drinking problem. They are nonjudgmental and have and seen just about everything. That kicked things off for me and it's been over 18 months.
As long as you know that will be in your electronic medical record, many people do not want that known as there is still a stigma and may effect medical decisions in your future. Here in the states pain meds are very difficult to obtain for real medical surgeries and conditions and there would definitely be rebound on people with even a mild alcohol misuse disorder being able to obtain pain relieving meds thats just an example. Many people have jobs that would be endangered by healthcare workers, doctors and insurance companies having this knowledge. That are some reasons people don’t report to their GP.
Thank you for this and for the link to your Coppin piece. For my part, I think Coppin and editor were justified in taking that risk. It was a skilful and powerful blend of entertainment and information, and will have reached far more people than any solemn straight piece about the dangerous of gambling. Sometimes you have to take a risk to get a result worth getting.
You’re certainly not alone in that opinion!
I have a bunch of questions and comments to your response.
Medical records are confidential How would that negatively affect someone going forward?
I highly doubt that if someone has surgery a doctor's not going to give them pain meds because they have an alcohol problem. I am guessing that situation is not uncommon and doctors know how to work with that.
I guess you believe that insurance companies use your records to harm your coverage. I'm sure they would like to but I don't believe that.
All in all I'm very disappointed in your response. You have picked what I think are unlikely and paranoid consequences and in fact you might be keeping people from going to their doctor for drinking which is a shame.
Another example: I’m sober and my doctor was very reluctant to prescribe me a quick-acting benzodiazepine for situational anxiety. We compromised on very few pills and more frequent appointments while the situation is in place, but prior to becoming sober I was given those pills without question.
Sometimes people are required to provide their medical records if they want special clearances or privileges - for example, my husband needed to provide his medical records during his application for a pilot’s license.