4 ms·

It’s possible to enjoy life without needing chemicals to do so.

by david2ndaccount 3y ago

eikenberry 3y ago
Not everyone is that fortunate.
Jotra7 3y ago
[dead]
goostavos 3y ago
Easier said than done : (
jkachmar 3y ago
sure but some people also find life more enjoyable with the addition of recreational substances. for such folks, especially ones who don't have much exposure to recreational drug use outside of drinking culture, i think GP's question is perfectly reasonable. there are plenty of people whose drug of choice used to be alcohol and have since switched to something else and found equivalent or greater satisfaction; seems like this thread might be a good forum to have that discussion.
jaggederest 3y ago
No, it is not. Asphyxiation is very unpleasant. Hint: anything made up of matter is a chemical. You probably also enjoy a lot of "chemicals" that are mind-altering or intoxicating without realizing it, unless you're very strict about your diet indeed. Casomorphins are delicious, you see, and can life without chocolate really be said to be enjoyable? Better skip fruit juice and bread, as well, given that they certainly include a percentage of alcohol and fermentation byproducts.
- netule 3y ago
  > Asphyxiation is very unpleasant. Nitpicking, but tell that to the asphyxiophilia crowd.
  - OkayPhysicist 3y ago
    I'd argue that the intoxicating part of asphyxiation is the rush from the reintroduction of oxygen, more so than the suffocation itself. Though there's also something to be said for the adrenaline rush of your body thinking its dying.
ranting-moth 3y ago
Of course it is possible. But I think in modern society which our brains are definitely not evolved to handle, people use alcohol as an temporary escape. Plus society (actually marketing, so society by proxy) tells you that you are odd/unusual for not drinking). It's peculiar how we as species have evolved into this destructive behaviour.
yodsanklai 3y ago
> It’s possible to enjoy life without needing chemicals to do so. I could list many pleasant things which are not required to enjoy life. Cannabis or alcohol are among them. Can be pleasurable without any adverse effect if used reasonably, which most people manage to do.
lrvick 3y ago
It is also possible to enjoy life without sex. For some people they would even prefer it. Others are depressed without regular access to it. Everyone is wired differently, and some of us need different things to get occasional boosts of dopamine that help keep us motivated and productive in life. Best not to judge others when their dopamine sources differ from yours and cause no harm to anyone else.
npteljes 3y ago
What you're saying is on an individual's level, and what OP saying is on the population's level. It certainly is possible for an individual to stop abusing chemicals and to thus achieve a higher quality of life, but I can't imagine a whole society doing this, because of the historical examples. So, social poisons are here to stay, and alcohol seemed to be resilient to government intervention, so, that's all there is really.

It’s possible to enjoy life without needing chemicals to do so.

eikenberry 3y ago

Not everyone is that fortunate.

Jotra7 3y ago

[dead]

goostavos 3y ago

Easier said than done : (

jkachmar 3y ago

sure but some people also find life more enjoyable with the addition of recreational substances. for such folks, especially ones who don't have much exposure to recreational drug use outside of drinking culture, i think GP's question is perfectly reasonable. there are plenty of people whose drug of choice used to be alcohol and have since switched to something else and found equivalent or greater satisfaction; seems like this thread might be a good forum to have that discussion.

jaggederest 3y ago

No, it is not. Asphyxiation is very unpleasant. Hint: anything made up of matter is a chemical. You probably also enjoy a lot of "chemicals" that are mind-altering or intoxicating without realizing it, unless you're very strict about your diet indeed. Casomorphins are delicious, you see, and can life without chocolate really be said to be enjoyable? Better skip fruit juice and bread, as well, given that they certainly include a percentage of alcohol and fermentation byproducts.

netule 3y ago
> Asphyxiation is very unpleasant. Nitpicking, but tell that to the asphyxiophilia crowd.
- OkayPhysicist 3y ago
  I'd argue that the intoxicating part of asphyxiation is the rush from the reintroduction of oxygen, more so than the suffocation itself. Though there's also something to be said for the adrenaline rush of your body thinking its dying.

ranting-moth 3y ago

Of course it is possible. But I think in modern society which our brains are definitely not evolved to handle, people use alcohol as an temporary escape. Plus society (actually marketing, so society by proxy) tells you that you are odd/unusual for not drinking). It's peculiar how we as species have evolved into this destructive behaviour.

yodsanklai 3y ago

> It’s possible to enjoy life without needing chemicals to do so. I could list many pleasant things which are not required to enjoy life. Cannabis or alcohol are among them. Can be pleasurable without any adverse effect if used reasonably, which most people manage to do.

lrvick 3y ago

It is also possible to enjoy life without sex. For some people they would even prefer it. Others are depressed without regular access to it. Everyone is wired differently, and some of us need different things to get occasional boosts of dopamine that help keep us motivated and productive in life. Best not to judge others when their dopamine sources differ from yours and cause no harm to anyone else.

npteljes 3y ago

What you're saying is on an individual's level, and what OP saying is on the population's level. It certainly is possible for an individual to stop abusing chemicals and to thus achieve a higher quality of life, but I can't imagine a whole society doing this, because of the historical examples. So, social poisons are here to stay, and alcohol seemed to be resilient to government intervention, so, that's all there is really.