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Is you need drugs to become more open minded and empathetic, the source of the problem is your upbringing, and by proxy the culture. The contemporary liberal we

Is you need drugs to become more open minded and empathetic, the source of the problem is your upbringing, and by proxy the culture. The contemporary liberal western culture actively works towards shaping us into selfish materialistic consumerist narrow minded soulless beings. Half a trillion dollars per year go towards this effort, and the solution is start drugging ourselves with LSD? Bet, if that ever became common, advertisers would find some way to exploit that too, so that instead of enlightenment your mind starts flashing ads all throughout the high.

binaryorganic 8y ago
I agree with everything you’ve said from the consumerism perspective, but there’s something to be said for just... exploring the ‘other’ regardless of upbringing. People from cultures completely detached from capitalism have been altering their experiences with psychedelics forever, and I dare say many of them have come away feeling like better people as a result.
12bytes 8y ago
you're painting "drugs" with a broad brush psychedelics are not like cocaine, despite what the 'gubbmunt' would like you to believe - rather they are like a window into your 'self' - if you think of psychedelics in terms of frequency, you might better understand the tremendous potential they hold with regard to a laundry list of ailments, including depression, PTSD, etc.
- bfuller 8y ago
  I don't take LSD and go listen to electronic music because its a window to my 'self'. I take it because its fun and feels good, the same reason people take cocaine.
- freeloop10 8y ago
  Your comment doesn't address what he wrote. The answer to anything as far as the modern consumer is concerned seems to always be "Buy more stuff!" In this case, what's being pedaled is the cure to consumerism. And the irony that the proposed solution is to buy yet another product seems lost on most people here. Enough is enough. I agree with the original poster. Our solutions to every problem shouldn't be to buy yet another thing.
  - tree_of_item 8y ago
    I downvoted you because psychedelic culture is about as anti-consumerist as it gets, and it takes a pretty incredible reversal to try and paint it as a product being pushed for people to buy.
    - freeloop10 8y ago
      I don't understand psychedelic culture, admittedly, but I can't wrap my head around why you think it's anti consumerist. Drugs are being bought and consumed, right? Isn't that the core of the culture? "Do this one thing, that costs money, to improve your life." I don't see the fundamental difference between that and purchasing any other product. Thanks for saying why you downvoted, anyway.
      - nugga 8y ago
        Because drug culture isn't about buying things you don't need with money you don't have to distract yourself from the now so you wouldn't feel existential dread or have to face your runaway thoughts. Psychedelics take you to the NOW and almost force you to deal with YOUR shit. It's impossible to try to convey what it is like to someone who hasn't taken them. You just won't know what you're missing or how it is until you try because it works on your core being and whatever it is that filters the reality that is experienced.
        freeloop10 8y ago
        If that is the definition of consumerist, I'm not one in any way. I'm in my 40's, retired and living abroad in a small apartment. I have no car, and live well within my means. I've met a lot of people who have done a lot of drugs, including, but not limited to psychedelics, including close family members who I knew well and could watch their descent. The ones I know are depressed, some have suicided, others are in huge amounts of debt. If psychedelics are such a cure all, why have I never met anyone who took them who had their shit together? Writing in a diary, talking to a therapist, and opening up to people can also be ways of dealing with your own problems in a direct manner, without so much risk.
WhitneyLand 8y ago
I just hope you realize in part your comment is being down-voted to hell not because of your opinion, but due to a lack of critical thinking and good faith arguments. Consider even your first sentence “If you need drugs to become more open minded and empathetic...”, is a misstatement of the subject. The only question asked by the article and any commenter from what I can see is can you become a better person? I don’t know your religious leanings, but just probability tells us that they likely disagree with your premise that having a good “upbringing” is all it takes to become a person with no room for improvement. Likely your belief system encourages a lifetime of effort to improve these qualities. The question here is not about needing drugs. The point is most people would be interested in bettering themselves if possible. For thousands of years humans have pondered ways to do so, and they will naturally continue to consider possibilities to do so within a sea of possibilities. This article simply continues that tradition.
jack9 8y ago
> the source of the problem is your upbringing, Ok, so it's no fault of your own and you need a crutch, by your own reasoning. > and by proxy the culture. That doesn't follow at all. Lots of people remove themselves from their native culture, which is often toxic and sometimes benign.

binaryorganic 8y ago

I agree with everything you’ve said from the consumerism perspective, but there’s something to be said for just... exploring the ‘other’ regardless of upbringing. People from cultures completely detached from capitalism have been altering their experiences with psychedelics forever, and I dare say many of them have come away feeling like better people as a result.

12bytes 8y ago

you're painting "drugs" with a broad brush psychedelics are not like cocaine, despite what the 'gubbmunt' would like you to believe - rather they are like a window into your 'self' - if you think of psychedelics in terms of frequency, you might better understand the tremendous potential they hold with regard to a laundry list of ailments, including depression, PTSD, etc.

bfuller 8y ago
I don't take LSD and go listen to electronic music because its a window to my 'self'. I take it because its fun and feels good, the same reason people take cocaine.
freeloop10 8y ago
Your comment doesn't address what he wrote. The answer to anything as far as the modern consumer is concerned seems to always be "Buy more stuff!" In this case, what's being pedaled is the cure to consumerism. And the irony that the proposed solution is to buy yet another product seems lost on most people here. Enough is enough. I agree with the original poster. Our solutions to every problem shouldn't be to buy yet another thing.
- tree_of_item 8y ago
  I downvoted you because psychedelic culture is about as anti-consumerist as it gets, and it takes a pretty incredible reversal to try and paint it as a product being pushed for people to buy.
  - freeloop10 8y ago
    I don't understand psychedelic culture, admittedly, but I can't wrap my head around why you think it's anti consumerist. Drugs are being bought and consumed, right? Isn't that the core of the culture? "Do this one thing, that costs money, to improve your life." I don't see the fundamental difference between that and purchasing any other product. Thanks for saying why you downvoted, anyway.
    - nugga 8y ago
      Because drug culture isn't about buying things you don't need with money you don't have to distract yourself from the now so you wouldn't feel existential dread or have to face your runaway thoughts. Psychedelics take you to the NOW and almost force you to deal with YOUR shit. It's impossible to try to convey what it is like to someone who hasn't taken them. You just won't know what you're missing or how it is until you try because it works on your core being and whatever it is that filters the reality that is experienced.
      - freeloop10 8y ago
        If that is the definition of consumerist, I'm not one in any way. I'm in my 40's, retired and living abroad in a small apartment. I have no car, and live well within my means. I've met a lot of people who have done a lot of drugs, including, but not limited to psychedelics, including close family members who I knew well and could watch their descent. The ones I know are depressed, some have suicided, others are in huge amounts of debt. If psychedelics are such a cure all, why have I never met anyone who took them who had their shit together? Writing in a diary, talking to a therapist, and opening up to people can also be ways of dealing with your own problems in a direct manner, without so much risk.

WhitneyLand 8y ago

I just hope you realize in part your comment is being down-voted to hell not because of your opinion, but due to a lack of critical thinking and good faith arguments. Consider even your first sentence “If you need drugs to become more open minded and empathetic...”, is a misstatement of the subject. The only question asked by the article and any commenter from what I can see is can you become a better person? I don’t know your religious leanings, but just probability tells us that they likely disagree with your premise that having a good “upbringing” is all it takes to become a person with no room for improvement. Likely your belief system encourages a lifetime of effort to improve these qualities. The question here is not about needing drugs. The point is most people would be interested in bettering themselves if possible. For thousands of years humans have pondered ways to do so, and they will naturally continue to consider possibilities to do so within a sea of possibilities. This article simply continues that tradition.

jack9 8y ago

> the source of the problem is your upbringing, Ok, so it's no fault of your own and you need a crutch, by your own reasoning. > and by proxy the culture. That doesn't follow at all. Lots of people remove themselves from their native culture, which is often toxic and sometimes benign.