My criteria is rather high, I suppose.

I see them every week through work duties. Desperate, sometimes pathetic people; physically wasted, depressed and lost looking. People who need other, legal drugs to help them get through the physical and mental phases of addiction. People who's addiction has seen them lose their kids, which either adds to their desperation, or is a powerful motivator to kick it for good.

Cousins has never physically succumbed to whatever he's been taking, some people would argue the exact opposite has been the result. And the only evidence we have that he is mentally addicted comes from his own media statements. I think 'Addict' is a status he and his manager have openly milked to extract some consideration from the AFL. I don't think an addict would be capable of playing professional sport.

I don't hate Cousins as such, I find him pathetic, manipulative and narcissistic.

Ok point taken. Go sort him then will you please?

There are maintenance users of all sorts of drugs who can function quite ably while being physically or psychologically addicted - ie, incapable of readily stopping the use of said drug.

It would help in the upkeep of a maintenance addiction if you were paid half a million dollars a year, were widely feted and were mates with the sort of dealers who would get a buzz out of fixing up the famous guy.

But if anyone needs proof Cousins was lapsing wildly in his ability to maintain a functioning life while dipping his piggy little snout into the feelgoods, then they just need to have another squizzy at him at the Weavils Family Fun Day where he is hopping around like a flea on a hot brick, molesting grannies and generally looking more blasted than a Motley Crue bandroom.

Addiction is, in its simplest form, the difference between "can't" and "can't be bothered" in terms of stopping. From this disctance, I think the little "can't" in this this case just never thought he had to stop, he was Ben Freakin Cousins, why should he stop. The people who got hard on him were previously the same guys letting him get away with it which contributed wildly to the overall problem.

All this addiction stuff is well and good, but we need to settle the enduring side issue once and for all. I want a "hate-off" with Mr Dore and I still haven't found a way to get it.

I like guy smiley's Knob Scale, but can't connect it with the resolution we need. MM was on to something but I couldn't drop him quicker than 1m either. Perhaps the fact that I tried to do it 20 times before stopping indicates that I'm up on Stevedore. Who can tell.

Drubbing's right about most addicts. Mission Man's right about Cousins.

If (and I repeat, if) Cousins is an 'addict', he's one with more power, money and privilege than I suspect most on this site, my very humble self included, could ever dream of.

Sympathy for Cousins? I'd rather listen to The Stones.

But, really, all I want is for The West to stop calling him 'Cuz'.

I don't fix them, hypen, I simply come into contact with them and hear their background.

So maybe my definition of addict is skewed towards the severe end. MM makes a good point as well, and maintenance users can fall into both categories of 'can't' and 'can't be bothered to stop.'

No matter what category Cousins falls into, it's beyond me why the AFL would allow him another crack.

That's twice with the crack crack, Drubbing.

Got anything else in the pipeline?

Imagine the scope and dimension of his martyrdom if he was not given another crack at it.

And understand every incident, every infraction and every stuff up he makes in life from that point on will be attributed to the AFL wrecking his life after he worked so hard to rehabilitate himself.

Its all down to Cousins now, even West Coast fans are starting to understand that. From here on end, it's no one else's fault and his ways won't be tolerated anymore. Isn't that what you want?

I guess it is.

I wouldn't assume that a lot of WCE supporters don't already think he is a martyr. Though the globalisation of the cab industry has come to Perth, and what with all that World music they're playing, I haven't managed to catch up with the 6PR freakshow lately.

Nothing hidden up my sleeves, or even in my pipeline Guy.

I hate him.

Fair enough Drubbing, I was hoping to smoke you out with another decent line or two but it might be a wasted effort.

Cousins is no more hateable than the next outrageously belligerent young punk who runs around being unaccountable for his immaturity and indulgence. It's the societal values that hold that **** up as something to admire that gets my skin crawling with the hate itch of the truly vengeful.

I'm happy to make him the object of all that vague amorphous angsty stuff, though.