comment: >
  
  I think your view and anything trying to change your view is purely semantics. 
  If you are taking about alcohol, sober means your not currently intoxicated. And sometimes that's a longer implication of you haven't been getting intoxicated recently.
  If your talking about drugs, it means you're not impaired. 
  For example if I'm taking an antidepressant (a medically prescribed drug), I'm definitely still going to drive a car as I am not impaired at the moment and consider myself to be sober. But I can guarantee you that drug is still heavily affecting my mental state.
context: /u/Clovis_Winslow (OP) has awarded 1 delta(s) in this post.
  All comments that earned deltas (from OP or other users) are listed here, in /r/DeltaLog.
  Please note that a change of view doesn't necessarily mean a reversal, or that the conversation has ended.
  ^Delta System Explained ^| ^Deltaboards >
  
  Your view is primarily one about defining the word sober. These people choose to define it in terms of their prior alcohol use. I would argue it's perfectly acceptable to consider yourself sober if you're consciously abstaining from the substances that cause problems/hardship in your life, even if you enjoy others that don't have the same consequences. 
  The easiest way to counter your point is to look at the dictionary definition. Per Merriam Webster, there are several accepted definitions of sober, including this one: "abstaining from drinking alcohol or taking intoxicating drugs : refraining from the use of addictive substances." Note the "or", implying that it doesn't need to be abstinence from both alcohol and drugs. >
  
  Δ
  This is the best response I have seen.  I guess if we choose to focus on the semantics of the word, than you are getting somewhere.  I am assuming the word "sober" fits my definition, but the real definition makes allowances for multiple scenarios.  
  So what you're saying is that someone can use this word to define an abstinence from (only) alcohol and they'd be correct, based on the "or" and I can't think of a way around that.
  Thank you! >
  
  Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/Professor-Schneebly (1∆).
  ^Delta System Explained ^| ^Deltaboards >
  
  Meh its just a pointless CMV. Obviously they know what they mean, and you know what they mean. >
  
  Yeah this is an argument over definitions, no one is going to change his mind because he looks at the word "sober" to have a different meaning I think.  Where as alcoholics are like, if I'm not drunk, it's an excellent day. >
  
  Do you draw the line at some drugs and not others? Is someone who drinks coffee sober? >
  
  I would draw the line at intoxicants which impair your ability to do something such as driving.  Pure oxygen is a drug as well. >
  
  Interesting distinction. Alcohol kills many on the road. However alcohol sobriety is something needing to be achieved. One drink leads to another when you have an issue.
  When cannabis leaves your system it typically does not leave you dependant. You sober up after use. Alcoholism is a "status" to sober up from. Cannabis gives you a temporary state of non sobriety, but there's no cannabis-ism (in the vast majority) which needs to be recovered from. >
  
  I disagree.  I know lots of cannabis addicts and they'd be the first to tell you they're not sober.  THC doesn't cause physical withdrawal, true!  That's a good thing. >
  
  That's their relationship with the drug. But your issue isn't people telling you they aren't sober, it's ones telling you they are.
  Addiction is about your relationship with the drug. You can have one drink a year and still be an addict. You can drink every night and not be.