Animals & Nature9 mins ago
Time To Stop Accepting Mind Alteration?
292 Answers
I have been considering the effects of drugs - all drugs - and the reason people use them.
The conclusion I have reached is that every single person who uses any kind of drug - tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, does so in pursuit of a level of mind alteration.
Only the amount consumed, and the desired effect vary, the initial reason is identical throughout - to alter the mind's perception of the present.
Now this can vary from a glass or two of wine at the end of the day, or at a party, or a cigarette to 'calm the nerves' right through to the desired temporary oblivion of a large dose of heroin.
Of course, as a culture, we have absorbed the first examples as simply cultural norms, accepted and even encouraged, less so the last one which remains illegal.
But my point is, the subliminal desire to alter the mind to whatever degree is present in all of them.
Now the first argument would be - 'I drink because I enjoy the taste ...'.
Fine, then you can drink non-alcoholic wine or beer and not notice any difference can't you.
But no, we persist with 'acceptable' drugs because we, as a culture, accept that mind alteration is an acceptable thing to have in our society.
My question is - is it acceptable?
Should we not look at educating children and young people - the adults of tomorrow - that mind alteration is actually not a good thing at all, and is in fact creating a false reality, and leading to death through dangerous driving, liver damage, psychosis, and all the other results of ingesting drugs.
Drugs are not good, and we should be looking at getting rid of them as acceptable in society.
Thoughts please?
The conclusion I have reached is that every single person who uses any kind of drug - tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, does so in pursuit of a level of mind alteration.
Only the amount consumed, and the desired effect vary, the initial reason is identical throughout - to alter the mind's perception of the present.
Now this can vary from a glass or two of wine at the end of the day, or at a party, or a cigarette to 'calm the nerves' right through to the desired temporary oblivion of a large dose of heroin.
Of course, as a culture, we have absorbed the first examples as simply cultural norms, accepted and even encouraged, less so the last one which remains illegal.
But my point is, the subliminal desire to alter the mind to whatever degree is present in all of them.
Now the first argument would be - 'I drink because I enjoy the taste ...'.
Fine, then you can drink non-alcoholic wine or beer and not notice any difference can't you.
But no, we persist with 'acceptable' drugs because we, as a culture, accept that mind alteration is an acceptable thing to have in our society.
My question is - is it acceptable?
Should we not look at educating children and young people - the adults of tomorrow - that mind alteration is actually not a good thing at all, and is in fact creating a false reality, and leading to death through dangerous driving, liver damage, psychosis, and all the other results of ingesting drugs.
Drugs are not good, and we should be looking at getting rid of them as acceptable in society.
Thoughts please?
Answers
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I have no idea zacs, but again, it adds nothing to the debate at all.
My OP concerns the impact of mind alterations by use of recreational drugs.
Now people do all manner of things under the influence of such drugs, sex included.
But you'll need to offer something connected to my OP, and not to me, if you want any sort of response.
My OP concerns the impact of mind alterations by use of recreational drugs.
Now people do all manner of things under the influence of such drugs, sex included.
But you'll need to offer something connected to my OP, and not to me, if you want any sort of response.
It's natural, in that many animals do it as well.
https:/
It doesn't mention cats and catnip, but it isn't only humans.
It reminds me of the saying that in the 60s the world was normal and people took drugs to make it seem weird.
Now the world is weird, and people take drugs to make it seem normal. Lol.
https:/
It doesn't mention cats and catnip, but it isn't only humans.
It reminds me of the saying that in the 60s the world was normal and people took drugs to make it seem weird.
Now the world is weird, and people take drugs to make it seem normal. Lol.
Naomi - that is entirely the thrust of my OP.
Any recreational drug will alter the mind, it's only the degree that varies, depending on a variety of factors, with tolerance at the top of the list.
If you drink one glass of wine a few times a week, you are unlikely to notice a big difference, but that is not the same as stating that no change has actually taken place.
If I had a glass of wine, I would be slurring my words and unable to think straight.
The phrase 'mind altering' is being applied literally by me in the OP and throughout.
It doesn't mean going off at the deep end, but it does mean that some effect, varied as explained, does take place.
Any recreational drug will alter the mind, it's only the degree that varies, depending on a variety of factors, with tolerance at the top of the list.
If you drink one glass of wine a few times a week, you are unlikely to notice a big difference, but that is not the same as stating that no change has actually taken place.
If I had a glass of wine, I would be slurring my words and unable to think straight.
The phrase 'mind altering' is being applied literally by me in the OP and throughout.
It doesn't mean going off at the deep end, but it does mean that some effect, varied as explained, does take place.
Andy, yes, that's why I asked if you meant it literally. Obviously, there are drugs that are described as mind-altering, which are hallucigens basically. It doesn't include alcohol and nicotine, but they do have a temporary effect on the mind.
There is no real way of measuring though.... so, it is hard to draw a line- if even, we should be.
I would say each to their own, particularly, as so much is self-medication, even just mildly.
There is no real way of measuring though.... so, it is hard to draw a line- if even, we should be.
I would say each to their own, particularly, as so much is self-medication, even just mildly.
pix - // I would say each to their own, particularly, as so much is self-medication, even just mildly. //
And that brings me back to my OP.
I simply asked if anyone had considered if self-medication with drugs is a good idea.
I am not saying it is, although my view is that it is, I simply asked for anyone's thoughts.
You'd think from some of the nonsense printed that I was pitching for an overnight police state!!
And of course the half dozen posts where people have simply not read my OP properly, and argued something I have not asked about.
And the odd few who simply want to miss the point entirely in order to be hostile to me personally - but that's just AB.
And that brings me back to my OP.
I simply asked if anyone had considered if self-medication with drugs is a good idea.
I am not saying it is, although my view is that it is, I simply asked for anyone's thoughts.
You'd think from some of the nonsense printed that I was pitching for an overnight police state!!
And of course the half dozen posts where people have simply not read my OP properly, and argued something I have not asked about.
And the odd few who simply want to miss the point entirely in order to be hostile to me personally - but that's just AB.
It is. At first, until you said otherwise, I did read
//Drugs are not good, and we should be looking at getting rid of them as acceptable in society//
As your opinion, more than a hypothetical question. But my view is, people are far too varied and individual to be able to apply a ban which works for everyone.
Short-term mental health issues can lead to long-term ones, as easily as they could lead to an addiction instead. And as mental health care is pretty rubbish, unless it changes, we have to let people look after themselves.
A couple of examples- if someone has a very high pressured job, comes home and has 2 glasses of wine to relax... that could very well end up healthier than total stress.
And, if I were homeless, freezing, living in a cardboard box- i might very well decide being an alcoholic or drug addiction was a preferable escape. Even if it meant I died earlier.
Impossible to make a blanket decision, I think.
//Drugs are not good, and we should be looking at getting rid of them as acceptable in society//
As your opinion, more than a hypothetical question. But my view is, people are far too varied and individual to be able to apply a ban which works for everyone.
Short-term mental health issues can lead to long-term ones, as easily as they could lead to an addiction instead. And as mental health care is pretty rubbish, unless it changes, we have to let people look after themselves.
A couple of examples- if someone has a very high pressured job, comes home and has 2 glasses of wine to relax... that could very well end up healthier than total stress.
And, if I were homeless, freezing, living in a cardboard box- i might very well decide being an alcoholic or drug addiction was a preferable escape. Even if it meant I died earlier.
Impossible to make a blanket decision, I think.
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