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Some people use drugs for life-enhancement. You probably don't read HN because your life sucks, or play video games because your life sucks, or watching sporti

by maqr 16y ago

Some people use drugs for life-enhancement. You probably don't read HN because your life sucks, or play video games because your life sucks, or watching sporting events because your life sucks. For some people, drugs are just another enjoyable part of life, not an escape from life.

mburney 16y ago
I'm surprised how few people realize this. I guess drug use is one of those topics that tend to shut off people's rational faculties and make them react with emotion and a holier-than-thou attitude
- njharman 16y ago
  Near constant anti-drug propaganda from infancy through adult hood has that effect.
  - detst 16y ago
    That and I think a lot of people outgrow drug use or advocacy. They did it when they were young, stopped and now don't care about the rights of other people. Or maybe they just developed a cynical view of youth or see the negative drug culture. Basically, an "I don't care anymore so just keep them banned" attitude or an inability to do analytical thinking to see that the negatives of our drug culture aren't inherent to drug use.
    - maqr 16y ago
      You speak some depressing truth.
TGJ 16y ago
Sure, I would agree with you on that. But for the other people, the ones not included in your 'some' I believe that drugs are used as an escape. I've known plenty of people that had their nirvana moment and then continued to use for years after because it's better than coming home and watching tv while waiting to go to sleep and start the 8-5 all over again. Walk into a gas station at 5 pm and see how many people buy a six pack on their way home. Or ponder the large amount of the population taking the legal drugs to alleviate depression.
ghshephard 16y ago
And, for some, drugs can be a transformative experience, yielding spiritual and philosophical insight into the universe. So, beyond just being pleasurable (and that, in it's own right, is probably sufficient justification for their use), drugs may actually be a fundamental component of self awareness for many.
- kunley 16y ago
  This is a common wishful thinking but actually no one of the famous "drug-philosophers", starting from Huxley, managed to create any path or even small practice or routine which could be used by other people than themselves to improve their lives. You know, any way of living which can't be passed to other people is kinda useless.

by maqr 16y ago

mburney 16y ago

I'm surprised how few people realize this. I guess drug use is one of those topics that tend to shut off people's rational faculties and make them react with emotion and a holier-than-thou attitude

njharman 16y ago
Near constant anti-drug propaganda from infancy through adult hood has that effect.
- detst 16y ago
  That and I think a lot of people outgrow drug use or advocacy. They did it when they were young, stopped and now don't care about the rights of other people. Or maybe they just developed a cynical view of youth or see the negative drug culture. Basically, an "I don't care anymore so just keep them banned" attitude or an inability to do analytical thinking to see that the negatives of our drug culture aren't inherent to drug use.
  - maqr 16y ago
    You speak some depressing truth.

TGJ 16y ago

Sure, I would agree with you on that. But for the other people, the ones not included in your 'some' I believe that drugs are used as an escape. I've known plenty of people that had their nirvana moment and then continued to use for years after because it's better than coming home and watching tv while waiting to go to sleep and start the 8-5 all over again. Walk into a gas station at 5 pm and see how many people buy a six pack on their way home. Or ponder the large amount of the population taking the legal drugs to alleviate depression.

ghshephard 16y ago

And, for some, drugs can be a transformative experience, yielding spiritual and philosophical insight into the universe. So, beyond just being pleasurable (and that, in it's own right, is probably sufficient justification for their use), drugs may actually be a fundamental component of self awareness for many.

kunley 16y ago
This is a common wishful thinking but actually no one of the famous "drug-philosophers", starting from Huxley, managed to create any path or even small practice or routine which could be used by other people than themselves to improve their lives. You know, any way of living which can't be passed to other people is kinda useless.