3 ms·

Yes.

metaphorm 10y ago
so then, when you encounter something interesting and mysterious that a large number of people have experimented with and had positive results from, why is your reaction to say "absolutely fucking not"?
- interfixus 10y ago
  Part of the reason may be that I absolutely fucking loathe the never ending evangelisation so many users of various chemical stimulants seem to glory in. A bigger part may be that I absolutely fucking dislike having my neurochemistry played silly games with, aka being drunk or stoned or tripping or whatever the requisite term may be. Staying in parent's vernacular idiom, assuming it to have some sort of point.
  - metaphorm 10y ago
    alright, let me annoy you just one more time than we can part ways amicably. I fully respect everyone's liberty to do, or not do, whatever they want with their mind and body. That said, I believe that there are some experiences that can be massively beneficial and I do advocate for them because I believe it is a worthy cause. I'll say two things, briefly, so please forgive any necessary lack of detail due to abbreviation. First, is that absolutely everything you do has a profound impact on your neurochemistry. That's just how the animal brain works. The air you breather impacts it. The food you eat impacts it. Watching a TV show or movie impacts it. Doing your work at the office impacts it. Everything. There is no experience you can possible have that is not also governed by changes in your neurochemistry. It is an illusion to believe there is such a thing as a "pure" state of neurochemistry. The chemistry of your brain is a reflection of your inner and outer environment. Taking a drug that causes sensations inwardly, through neurochemical action, is not particularly different, from a brain chemistry point of view anyway, than doing something else with your body that causes sensations and corresponding changes in brain chemistry. Second, is that not all drugs are created equal and they shouldn't be lumped together any more than you would lump together, for example, all activities done with your legs. Just as you distinguish between the value of going for a nice walk in the woods, and jumping off a bridge, you ought to distinguish between the different varieties of drug induced experience. There are very very few that I would recommend on their own merits because the sensation that arises from them is inherently worthwhile. Most of them don't cause inherently worthwhile sensations to arise. Alcohol certainly doesn't. Most stimulants don't. There are only two classes of drugs that I think actually do cause worthwhile sensations to arise, on their own merits: entheogens (classic psychedelics like LSD and Psilocybin) and empathogens (MDMA, basically). Why do I say these drugs create experiences that are worthwhile on their own merits? It is hard to do any justice to it with any amount of words let alone so few. The only thing I can really say is that these experiences are incredibly powerful tools for the exploration of your own mind and soul. That's not something I would say about a thing intended merely for entertainment or stimulation. The psychedelic experience is not about entertainment or stimulation. It's about discovering the nature of your own mind.
    - jungletek 10y ago
      Well said!
    - one__day 10y ago
      This strongly echoes my own personal experience, as well my understanding of how to more accurately think about these substances. Thank you for taking the time to write such an articulate comment. Mind you, being such powerful tools, they should be used with great care, as they can be used in damaging ways and by those who aren't prepared. And they aren't magic either -- they aren't going to save the world or cure cancer. But, I think that research done with an open mind reveals the mainstream perspective on psylocybin and LSD to be quite misguided and uninformed. Based off personal experience, as well as recent sciencific studies, it seems they have the potential to bring about much good. I suppose my main concern is that most people aren't interested, at this point in time, in having their perspective and worldviews challenged in the way that serious, introspective use tends to do. Just to clarify, I'm talking about special occasion, standard dose usage. I don't have any knowledge about the effects or safety of micro-dosing. Throwaway for obvious reasons.
      - metaphorm 10y ago
        thank you for your reply. can I ask you a question? why are you using a throwaway account? the reasons aren't obvious to me.
        one__day 10y ago
        Given the current stigma against even very informed, responsible usage of certain substances, I worry that comments like mine above could potentially have a negative impact on efforts to raise money for a company, found a non-profit, run for local office, etc. I don't know if I'll be doing things like that in the future, but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot. The internet is sometimes a little too good at holding onto information sometimes :/ Perhaps I'm being overly cautious. It's hard to say.
        10y ago

Yes.

so then, when you encounter something interesting and mysterious that a large number of people have experimented with and had positive results from, why is your reaction to say "absolutely fucking not"?

interfixus 10y ago
Part of the reason may be that I absolutely fucking loathe the never ending evangelisation so many users of various chemical stimulants seem to glory in. A bigger part may be that I absolutely fucking dislike having my neurochemistry played silly games with, aka being drunk or stoned or tripping or whatever the requisite term may be. Staying in parent's vernacular idiom, assuming it to have some sort of point.
- metaphorm 10y ago
  alright, let me annoy you just one more time than we can part ways amicably. I fully respect everyone's liberty to do, or not do, whatever they want with their mind and body. That said, I believe that there are some experiences that can be massively beneficial and I do advocate for them because I believe it is a worthy cause. I'll say two things, briefly, so please forgive any necessary lack of detail due to abbreviation. First, is that absolutely everything you do has a profound impact on your neurochemistry. That's just how the animal brain works. The air you breather impacts it. The food you eat impacts it. Watching a TV show or movie impacts it. Doing your work at the office impacts it. Everything. There is no experience you can possible have that is not also governed by changes in your neurochemistry. It is an illusion to believe there is such a thing as a "pure" state of neurochemistry. The chemistry of your brain is a reflection of your inner and outer environment. Taking a drug that causes sensations inwardly, through neurochemical action, is not particularly different, from a brain chemistry point of view anyway, than doing something else with your body that causes sensations and corresponding changes in brain chemistry. Second, is that not all drugs are created equal and they shouldn't be lumped together any more than you would lump together, for example, all activities done with your legs. Just as you distinguish between the value of going for a nice walk in the woods, and jumping off a bridge, you ought to distinguish between the different varieties of drug induced experience. There are very very few that I would recommend on their own merits because the sensation that arises from them is inherently worthwhile. Most of them don't cause inherently worthwhile sensations to arise. Alcohol certainly doesn't. Most stimulants don't. There are only two classes of drugs that I think actually do cause worthwhile sensations to arise, on their own merits: entheogens (classic psychedelics like LSD and Psilocybin) and empathogens (MDMA, basically). Why do I say these drugs create experiences that are worthwhile on their own merits? It is hard to do any justice to it with any amount of words let alone so few. The only thing I can really say is that these experiences are incredibly powerful tools for the exploration of your own mind and soul. That's not something I would say about a thing intended merely for entertainment or stimulation. The psychedelic experience is not about entertainment or stimulation. It's about discovering the nature of your own mind.
  - jungletek 10y ago
    Well said!
  - one__day 10y ago
    This strongly echoes my own personal experience, as well my understanding of how to more accurately think about these substances. Thank you for taking the time to write such an articulate comment. Mind you, being such powerful tools, they should be used with great care, as they can be used in damaging ways and by those who aren't prepared. And they aren't magic either -- they aren't going to save the world or cure cancer. But, I think that research done with an open mind reveals the mainstream perspective on psylocybin and LSD to be quite misguided and uninformed. Based off personal experience, as well as recent sciencific studies, it seems they have the potential to bring about much good. I suppose my main concern is that most people aren't interested, at this point in time, in having their perspective and worldviews challenged in the way that serious, introspective use tends to do. Just to clarify, I'm talking about special occasion, standard dose usage. I don't have any knowledge about the effects or safety of micro-dosing. Throwaway for obvious reasons.
    - metaphorm 10y ago
      thank you for your reply. can I ask you a question? why are you using a throwaway account? the reasons aren't obvious to me.
      - one__day 10y ago
        Given the current stigma against even very informed, responsible usage of certain substances, I worry that comments like mine above could potentially have a negative impact on efforts to raise money for a company, found a non-profit, run for local office, etc. I don't know if I'll be doing things like that in the future, but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot. The internet is sometimes a little too good at holding onto information sometimes :/ Perhaps I'm being overly cautious. It's hard to say.
        10y ago