4 ms·
> Why don't you warn the readers of the chance of dying on it because you think you can fly? Or acid-flashbacks? I'm not disagreeing with your larger point, bu
by kerkeslager 7y ago
> Why don't you warn the readers of the chance of dying on it because you think you can fly? Or acid-flashbacks?
I'm not disagreeing with your larger point, but I wanted to point out that neither of the "risks" you're talking about are real.
1. The "LSD makes you think you can fly" story originates with the story of Diane Linkletter[1], who jumped to her death from her kitchen window. Her father, Art Linkletter, was a famous radio/TV personality, and he spread the story that she had died due to LSD. But she had a history of depression and there's no evidence she was on LSD when she jumped, let alone evidence she thought she could fly. So it's more likely her death was an ordinary suicide.
2. Acid flashbacks--where LSD is stored somewhere in the body and released unexpectedly at a later date--don't even make sense. LSD is an unstable molecule which decomposes easily, and cannot survive in the human body long-term. HPPD[2] is a real risk of LSD, but doesn't exhibit the symptoms people usually attribute to an LSD flashback. Additionally, flashbacks are a diagnostic criteria for PTSD, acute stress disorder, or OCD[3].
[1] https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-scarlet-linkletter/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-scarlet-linkletter/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinogen_persisting_perception_disorder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinogen_persisting_percep...
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashback_(psychology) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashback_(psychology)
- pstuart 7y agoThe flashbacks/flying/spider stuff was sarcasm. I was responding to this gem of a comment: > Eh, I think it's pretty good that it's only really taken by enthusiasts. It's not really a party drug, IME it's for drug nerds who want to 'expand their mind' etc. If everyone and their dog was taking it on a friday night to have fun, the world would be a much worse place IMO. It completely misrepresented my initial comment: > It's a pity that such a powerful drug has been demonized. What is untrue about that statement? 1. LSD is a powerful drug 2. The public has been taught to be afraid of it without understanding it. 3. For those who have experienced moments of "enlightenment" on it, could lead a reasonable person to think that there is value in the drug, they might reasonably concur that it is a pity that a powerful drug that could possibly change millions of lives for the better.
- kerkeslager 7y agoI missed that you were being sarcastic.
- pstuart 7y agoMy bad :-) Back when I was a kid, sarcasm was so much simpler then...
- lacampbell 7y agoMy comment was very simple. The fact that it's demonized mean less uninformed people take LSD. I don't know why you started ranting about people thinking they can fly etc. If you know anything about the drug you know that a bad experience can involve no physical harm. My argument is that it's naive to think that the average punter should start casually taking LSD. It's powerful, as you yourself thought out.