NO thewarn it is not a thread about an antacid vs a U2 song.

It's about giving things up, and human evolution.

The example.

Making a broad statement and declaration of intent, such as "i am giving up smoking" is easy.

What is difficult is enforcing this statement. At every moment. Being able to, in the moment at which you find yourself weakest, still know and believe the reasons you had in making that decision and stick to your judgement rather than allowing yourself to indulge your instincts.

This is seemingly the difference between human self-control, and more animalistic modes of behaviour. You could say that society and civilisation are built on a trust in each other's reserve. Such as when you walk down the street, you trust everyone else to not kill you just because they feel like it.

But. Does it then follow that the denial of bodily or 'animal' instincts is the key to progress in civilised society? Because that leads to a Catholic, right-wing sort of denial of self, and self-flagellation situation, in which progress requires denial and or suppression of hedonistic impulses.