What Ever Happened to the Concept of "Poor Character"?

There is an interesting article in Slate about the dangers and pseudo-science behind the recent phenomenon of labeling any remotely obsessive behavior an addiction. It discusses the physical differences between say, a drug addiction, that does, in fact, over time alter the brain's chemistry, and a "shopping addiction" or an "internet addiction" that merely involve dopamine.

It is my belief that this new way of talking about people's compulsions is a way of avoiding judgment. Now, let's be clear: I'm not saying the world should be a rigid, regulated hard-to-live-up-to-standards kind of place where everyone is a failure. But in the quest to make everyone feel good, I think we are weakening our collective character. Vaughan Bell appears to mostly agree with me.

Judgment is not always a bad thing. Good judgment, for instance, is an important thing to have. As are self-control, the ability to delay gratification, and balance. (The capacity to be appropriately gentle and indulgent with oneself is also healthy, I believe -- key word being "appropriate".)

It's weird to me that the Republican party is supposedly the party of "personal responsibility". What have they ever taken responsibility for? My sense is that no politician has the huevos to imply that the people who are actually their constituents (as opposed to the people their constituents fear or don't like) should buck up and act like grown-ups. It's not a message that polls well, shockingly.

How do we find an appropriate balance in our collective culture that truly helps people fulfill their potential, one that doesn't scold and yet doesn't enable? It's tricky. But I think avoiding inappropriate use of the "addiction" meme is a good place to start.