7 ms·

I do think that trying a psychedelic drugs might be a positive thing for many people. The problem is that not all people can are suitable for it, not everyone i

• bil7 7y ago
  it's interesting that you see a value in psychedelics but have not personally tried it. May I ask why?
  • mankyd 7y ago
    I might give a similar response: I see that they might be valuable for some people but I have not tried them. The reasons are numerous: - Negative outcomes. They _might_ be valuable, but they might be incredibly harmful, especially if taken at the wrong doses. - Legality. I have a family to take care of. I am not going to put them at risk for this. - Availability. Where does one obtain illegal drugs safely. - How much upside? Caffeine also can be helpful. Is this more or less helpful than something relatively harmless?
• codingslave 7y ago
  Almost everyone that I meet who has done considerable, or even moderate, amounts of psychedelics has clear and obvious personality changes. Personality is a poor word to use, but something like their disposition, "hippy" attitude is extremely common. So much so that I think these drugs cause long term physical damage to peoples cognitive faculties. This is completely anecdotal, but I have seen it so many times in my life that I wouldn't touch a psychedelic with a ten foot pole. And yes, I have tripped on acid, but only once, and do believe that while in some ways it was earth shattering, in many ways I would take it back if I could. The most productive and successful people I meet almost always have been mostly sober their whole life, exhibiting balance and clear headedness. If psychedelics are doing any good, it is because those who are taking them are already so broken, any kind of change could be construed as positive.
  • leadingthenet 7y ago
    Those are big claims you're making, and I doubt you could find much actual science to back up them up. Remember, psychedelics are not a new phenomenon in human society...
    • codingslave 7y ago
      Growing up I was friends with a large group of people deep into psychedelics, I watched them transform from who they were before the drugs to who they were after. These are people took the drugs seriously, the dosages, their "set and setting". Society tells us that anecdotal evidence is false, but thats brainwashing. I can see with my own two my eyes what drugs do. Most likely certain areas of people brains are dampened or flattened by these drugs, and so if youre and anxious person, maybe you experience "relief", but that comes at a cost.
      • RealObama 7y ago
        Society doesn't tells us that anecdotal evidence is false, it tells us that it is generally not representative of the whole. What may have been true for your friends does not make it true for all. That doesn't deny your experience, just means you shouldn't make broad generalizations without data to support it.
      • leadingthenet 7y ago
        What cost?! If all you have is anecdata, then here's mine: Psychedelics have been the catalyst to some of the most profoundly positive experiences in my life, and any changes that I've experienced afterwards were wholly positive. Same with my group of friends who did the same. There. You won't take my anecdotes seriously, just as I won't take your anecdotes seriously, so I hope you see now why this kind of hyperbole is worth nothing if not backed up by peer-reviewed science. Are you seriously suggesting I'm brainwashed because I asked for sources? Jesus man, you're very far gone.
        • codingslave 7y ago
• jacobwilliamroy 7y ago
  They're really helpful for healing psychological trauma, but not necessary. If you plan to use them for economic domination, you're gonna embarass yourself pretty hard and maybe even die. It's just not what they're for.
  • 52-6F-62 7y ago
    I'm surprised Elon Musk hasn't come up here yet. He's a pretty massive counterpoint to these ideals. I have no skin in this game, but I find it curious.
    • jacobwilliamroy 7y ago
      What about Elon Musk? We don't talk so I don't know much about him.
      • 52-6F-62 7y ago
        He's been known for his penchant to take certain substances and hang out at Burning Man—and it certainly hasn't hampered his coffers or brainpower. Not to say it contributed anything, either.
        • jacobwilliamroy 7y ago
          Maybe if Elon Musk had published a diary detailing his experiences we could talk about how psychadelics have affected him, however in the absence of such a record, I don't think anyone else other than his close friends or family could really light up the dark of that relationship. Wait. Wikipedia says Elon Musk skipped out on his mandatory South African military service. Is he still allowed back in South Africa? Does he still have their citizenship?
          • 52-6F-62 7y ago
            I wasn't saying anything beyond his usage hasn't inhibited him economically. He wasn't born with an electric car company, a rocket company, and a tunnel-boring company so he has amassed those things at the very least in spite of his usage.
• GuB-42 7y ago
  > The problem is that not all people can are suitable for it. It is the big problem with psychedelics. Too random. And it is not just from one person to another. The same person can have very different experiences depending on the situation. "Set and setting" as experienced users call it, but even with that knowledge, bad trips happen. And for the studies you linked, none of them seem to be controlled (no placebo group), and from my limited experience, the placebo effect is very real. I've seen people feel high on blotters with nothing on it, at least before they realize they have been scammed. Not saying that psychedelics can't do yourself some good. But I tend to be skeptical of studies suggesting a reliably positive effect.