ChatterBank4 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 refuse to read 187 posts any any thread.
The heading didn't appeal to me.
I agree with A-H....recreational drugs are dangerous and mind altering and need abolishing.
But how?
Education and criminalisation hasn't succeeded so where do we go from here.....any ideas?
That is my summing up of 187 posts.
The heading didn't appeal to me.
I agree with A-H....recreational drugs are dangerous and mind altering and need abolishing.
But how?
Education and criminalisation hasn't succeeded so where do we go from here.....any ideas?
That is my summing up of 187 posts.
Sqad - // Education and criminalisation hasn't succeeded so where do we go from here.....any ideas? //
Criminalisation has been and continues to be a colossal waste of time, money and resources.
But i do believe that education is the solution, as it is to many of society's problems.
If we educate children from nursery onwards to develop a sense of respect for themselves, and others, then the massive levels of insecurity they experience as adults, resulting in the need for narcotics to feel something like comfortable in the company of others, will reduce, and over generations, disappear.
It will never happen because education of children is not important, because children don't vote so they don't count.
Criminalisation has been and continues to be a colossal waste of time, money and resources.
But i do believe that education is the solution, as it is to many of society's problems.
If we educate children from nursery onwards to develop a sense of respect for themselves, and others, then the massive levels of insecurity they experience as adults, resulting in the need for narcotics to feel something like comfortable in the company of others, will reduce, and over generations, disappear.
It will never happen because education of children is not important, because children don't vote so they don't count.
roy - // It's not getting any better is it...or is just me? //
Is what just you?
The need to come on and moan and carp and add nothing to the discussion?
Sadly, no it's not just you, but you and the usual suspects are happily in a tiny sad miserable self-centred minority who think that registering their bile and dislike adds anything remotely useful to any thread, anywhere, ever.
Is what just you?
The need to come on and moan and carp and add nothing to the discussion?
Sadly, no it's not just you, but you and the usual suspects are happily in a tiny sad miserable self-centred minority who think that registering their bile and dislike adds anything remotely useful to any thread, anywhere, ever.
naomi - // ^....He says as he registers his bile. How funny. :o) //
I don;t believe my response constitutes 'bile' - it is frsutration and annoyance at the need of a happily tiny minority who feel they have to post only to register their dislike of myself, my views, others' views, or any combination thereof.
They contribute nothing, they clutter up discussions, and they could surely occupy themselves with something more profitable - like gazing at a wall.
Ok, onwards ...
I don;t believe my response constitutes 'bile' - it is frsutration and annoyance at the need of a happily tiny minority who feel they have to post only to register their dislike of myself, my views, others' views, or any combination thereof.
They contribute nothing, they clutter up discussions, and they could surely occupy themselves with something more profitable - like gazing at a wall.
Ok, onwards ...
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