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The most effective rape drug ever, turning adults into children who can be exploited. “I got dismissed from Harvard because I had given psychedelics to an unde

The most effective rape drug ever, turning adults into children who can be exploited. “I got dismissed from Harvard because I had given psychedelics to an undergraduate. We had agreed with the dean that we would not give psychedelics to undergraduates.” Ram Dass flashes a mischievous grin. “He was an attractive kid.” So do you suspect, I ask, that Maharajji had a hand in making you attracted to men because it would ultimately lead you to him? “I suspect,” he replies with a nod. “He's a rascal.” “Maharajji?” I ask. “Yeah,” Ram Dass says. There are truths to be seen through the eyes of a child, but there's also the rape-facilitation, too.

thebigspacefuck 8y ago
Psylocibin is the most effective rape drug ever?
- Antimachides 8y ago
  It's so effective I had an out-of-body experience and raped myself.
  - 8bitsrule 8y ago
    Ouroboros then!
toofy 8y ago
Other than this article, I’m pretty much unfamiliar with Ram Dass, so I’m curious what leads you to believe some form of rape took place. Is there something in Ramm Dass’ past that the article doesn’t cover? I feel like I must be missing something, surely it’s not the drug use alone that has led you to believe this, right?
- brianberns 8y ago
  You really don't get it? He was using drugs to seduce his students from a position of power and influence over them. That wasn't cool even in 1967.
  - toofy 8y ago
    Fair point, I definitely should have been more charitable in my reading, I got stuck on this: > The most effective rape drug ever, turning adults into children who can be exploited I was looking to tease out some clarification, because the implication that these drugs turn adults into children and prime them for rape seems like a strange leap from my perspective. I’ll happily chalk it up to my lack of charitable reading and assume in good faith the commenter was referring to the drugs combined with the power dynamics.
    - brianberns 8y ago
      I think "turning adults into children" is just a reference to using drugs to reduce their inhibitions and/or ability to resist. Not much different from getting someone drunk.
    - Nomentatus 8y ago
      https://www.inverse.com/article/25716-lsd-brain-imaging-lysergic-acid-psychedelic-research https://www.inverse.com/article/25716-lsd-brain-imaging-lyse...
  - neonate 8y ago
    What are you basing this on? I've been reading up on Alpert and had not heard anything like it. The student who got him fired at Harvard, by the way, was Andrew Weil, who later became famous as a holistic physician. I haven't heard any suggestion that Alpert raped or seduced Weil. Listening to some of Ram Dass's talks from the 70s, I've been struck by how far ahead of his time he was in facing up to the power dynamics between gurus and disciples, and especially the sexual power dynamics between them. His statements on this from over 40 years ago sound pretty contemporary today. That's unusual, given how different a time that was. So unless you guys have specific evidence that Alpert raped people, I can't help but think you're picking on the wrong figure.
    - brianberns 8y ago
      Why do you think he was fired at Harvard then? I'm not saying he actually raped anyone. I'm saying that he attempted to seduce a student with drugs. He seems to admit that himself.
- Nomentatus 8y ago
  Ram Dass admits in the article using LSD as an attempt to seduce a male student, against the specific strictures of the University. You aren't allowed to drug people to seduce them. That shouldn't need to be said. But he still thinks that's fine.
  - adrice727 8y ago
    No, he doesn't. "...I got dismissed from Harvard because I had given psychedelics to an undergraduate. We had agreed with the dean that we would not give psychedelics to undergraduates.” Ram Dass flashes a mischievous grin. “He was an attractive kid.” That's all that is said about the situation.
lalos 8y ago
I think that quote is talking about Ram Dass being gay, and his friend having a theory that his guru (Maharajji) made him gay for Ram Dass to find him easier.
qwerty456127 8y ago
> The most effective rape drug ever, turning adults into children who can be exploited. LSD certainly is not. It's not the safest of psychedelics from the psychological point of view (give it to a kind loving person and they will become even more loving and enlightened, give it to a psychopath and they will become even more dangerous) yet it usually doesn't switch consciousness and reason off (quite the opposite) and doesn't stimulate sexual desire. At least when taken in reasonable doses.

thebigspacefuck 8y ago

Psylocibin is the most effective rape drug ever?

Antimachides 8y ago
It's so effective I had an out-of-body experience and raped myself.
- 8bitsrule 8y ago
  Ouroboros then!

toofy 8y ago

Other than this article, I’m pretty much unfamiliar with Ram Dass, so I’m curious what leads you to believe some form of rape took place. Is there something in Ramm Dass’ past that the article doesn’t cover? I feel like I must be missing something, surely it’s not the drug use alone that has led you to believe this, right?

brianberns 8y ago
You really don't get it? He was using drugs to seduce his students from a position of power and influence over them. That wasn't cool even in 1967.
- toofy 8y ago
  Fair point, I definitely should have been more charitable in my reading, I got stuck on this: > The most effective rape drug ever, turning adults into children who can be exploited I was looking to tease out some clarification, because the implication that these drugs turn adults into children and prime them for rape seems like a strange leap from my perspective. I’ll happily chalk it up to my lack of charitable reading and assume in good faith the commenter was referring to the drugs combined with the power dynamics.
  - brianberns 8y ago
    I think "turning adults into children" is just a reference to using drugs to reduce their inhibitions and/or ability to resist. Not much different from getting someone drunk.
  - Nomentatus 8y ago
    https://www.inverse.com/article/25716-lsd-brain-imaging-lysergic-acid-psychedelic-research https://www.inverse.com/article/25716-lsd-brain-imaging-lyse...
- neonate 8y ago
  What are you basing this on? I've been reading up on Alpert and had not heard anything like it. The student who got him fired at Harvard, by the way, was Andrew Weil, who later became famous as a holistic physician. I haven't heard any suggestion that Alpert raped or seduced Weil. Listening to some of Ram Dass's talks from the 70s, I've been struck by how far ahead of his time he was in facing up to the power dynamics between gurus and disciples, and especially the sexual power dynamics between them. His statements on this from over 40 years ago sound pretty contemporary today. That's unusual, given how different a time that was. So unless you guys have specific evidence that Alpert raped people, I can't help but think you're picking on the wrong figure.
  - brianberns 8y ago
    Why do you think he was fired at Harvard then? I'm not saying he actually raped anyone. I'm saying that he attempted to seduce a student with drugs. He seems to admit that himself.
Nomentatus 8y ago
Ram Dass admits in the article using LSD as an attempt to seduce a male student, against the specific strictures of the University. You aren't allowed to drug people to seduce them. That shouldn't need to be said. But he still thinks that's fine.
- adrice727 8y ago
  No, he doesn't. "...I got dismissed from Harvard because I had given psychedelics to an undergraduate. We had agreed with the dean that we would not give psychedelics to undergraduates.” Ram Dass flashes a mischievous grin. “He was an attractive kid.” That's all that is said about the situation.

lalos 8y ago

I think that quote is talking about Ram Dass being gay, and his friend having a theory that his guru (Maharajji) made him gay for Ram Dass to find him easier.

qwerty456127 8y ago

> The most effective rape drug ever, turning adults into children who can be exploited. LSD certainly is not. It's not the safest of psychedelics from the psychological point of view (give it to a kind loving person and they will become even more loving and enlightened, give it to a psychopath and they will become even more dangerous) yet it usually doesn't switch consciousness and reason off (quite the opposite) and doesn't stimulate sexual desire. At least when taken in reasonable doses.