4 ms·

The OP also wrote a very detailed study of how Silk Road works: http://www.gwern.net/Silk%20Road#lsd-case-study http://www.gwern.net/Silk%20Road#lsd-case-study

The OP also wrote a very detailed study of how Silk Road works: http://www.gwern.net/Silk%20Road#lsd-case-study http://www.gwern.net/Silk%20Road#lsd-case-study In it he mentions a potential test to verify that what you receive really is LSD: An Ehrlich test is a reagant for indole alkaloids, a category which includes psychedelics like LSD & psilocybin. As such, it can be used as a kind of quality check. I'd assume given the rigorous treatment I've seen so far in all his posts that he probably did this test.

Tenoke 13y ago
> I'd assume given the rigorous treatment I've seen so far in all his posts that he probably did this test. If he did, he would've said so in the write-up.
deutronium 13y ago
Wouldn't the test still come up positive even if it was mixed with other chemicals too?
joezydeco 13y ago
Yet, still no calibration. I admire the rigor of his work, really. It's just a nagging detail that's kind of key here.
leoedin 13y ago
The test addresses the presence of the molecule. It doesn't address the quantities present. If the doses he gave himself were smaller than he believed, even by 50%, then the fact that there's no perceptible effects isn't surprising. Given the tiny quantities that he's dealing with anyway, any slight variation of the input conditions (which he didn't account for) would make a huge difference to the output.
yock 13y ago
he probably did this test The only difference between science and screwing around is writing it down. If the author's goals were less lofty, I might be inclined to make this assumption, too. That said it's equally likely, given that he recorded so many other aspects of this experiment, omitting this from the record indicates that the test was not performed.
gwern 13y ago
> I'd assume given the rigorous treatment I've seen so far in all his posts that he probably did this test. No. See the final section: http://www.gwern.net/Silk%20Road#voi-ehrlich-test http://www.gwern.net/Silk%20Road#voi-ehrlich-test If I had been able to afford more tabs, I probably would've used one (it wouldn't've confirmed the dosage or anything, but it would at least reassure me I wasn't getting an RC), but I only had 2 tabs. I needed 1 for the microdoses, and 1 to trip with, so... Between tripping and testing, it was an easy choice.

Tenoke 13y ago

> I'd assume given the rigorous treatment I've seen so far in all his posts that he probably did this test. If he did, he would've said so in the write-up.

deutronium 13y ago

Wouldn't the test still come up positive even if it was mixed with other chemicals too?

joezydeco 13y ago

Yet, still no calibration. I admire the rigor of his work, really. It's just a nagging detail that's kind of key here.

leoedin 13y ago

The test addresses the presence of the molecule. It doesn't address the quantities present. If the doses he gave himself were smaller than he believed, even by 50%, then the fact that there's no perceptible effects isn't surprising. Given the tiny quantities that he's dealing with anyway, any slight variation of the input conditions (which he didn't account for) would make a huge difference to the output.

yock 13y ago

he probably did this test The only difference between science and screwing around is writing it down. If the author's goals were less lofty, I might be inclined to make this assumption, too. That said it's equally likely, given that he recorded so many other aspects of this experiment, omitting this from the record indicates that the test was not performed.

gwern 13y ago

> I'd assume given the rigorous treatment I've seen so far in all his posts that he probably did this test. No. See the final section: http://www.gwern.net/Silk%20Road#voi-ehrlich-test http://www.gwern.net/Silk%20Road#voi-ehrlich-test If I had been able to afford more tabs, I probably would've used one (it wouldn't've confirmed the dosage or anything, but it would at least reassure me I wasn't getting an RC), but I only had 2 tabs. I needed 1 for the microdoses, and 1 to trip with, so... Between tripping and testing, it was an easy choice.