I won't make this thread into a moralistic crusade for or against drugs, but I do look negatively on drugs and their users. None of the traditional categorical statements are true ("All druggies go to prison/have no prospects, etc."), and it is certainly possible to be good or successful and use drugs. At the same time, I think it is fair to say that success is not because of drugs. I find it perfectly possible to lead a happy and fulfilling life without ingesting or inhaling chemicals to try to control my mood. I see no need for or benefit in drugs, and especially when they are an expensive and often illegal habit, it seems like an exceedingly poor choice to do drugs. I can't stereotype and say that everyone that gets high is trying to run away from something, but certainly a common reason for getting stoned/drunk/whatever is to try to escape the real world. Not to mention, buying illegal drugs funds a black market economy that results in thousands of deaths a year (see the violence in Mexico).
One of the things that bothers me about most drug users coherent enough to argue intelligently is that they think themselves superior because they are not "sheep" who follow the establishment's anathema on drugs. Of course it is possible to use drugs in a responsible manner and lead an otherwise normal life. But someone like Ashamed comes off as a little belittling of those who don't agree with him.
In short, drugs are not going to ruin your life and prospects, but I see them as a totally unnecessary habit that is better avoided.
A few reasons:
1. It's exposure to chemicals that are altering your body. This is mostly a personal thing, but I think this carries more inherent and unforeseen dangers than other recreational activities. I know you can argue that this is similar to eating vitamins in your food or whatever, but like I said it's mostly a personal thing. I think taking anything unusual needs a damn good reason.
2. The large cost and illegality (in most cases).
3. While drug users can argue tirelessly debunking various "anti-drug myths" I also don't believe that drug use is completely free from any negative side effects. Unlike certain things (such as exercise), using drugs doesn't seem to carry any lasting benefit.
As far as video games go, I think when they are played beyond a certain point, they can be just as much of a problem as drugs, if not more (god forbid I say that on a gaming website). I think video games are inherently less dangerous, but can be abused like anything else. I don't have much a higher opinion of chronic video game playing (the ~7 hour a day kind) than of chronic drug use.
EDIT: At the bottom level, this is a moral argument, not a logical argument. I am morally opposed to most of what drugs are. I don't believe in using substances to chemically control your mood or stay happy; in my opinion doing so is unnatural and unhealthy. I am also opposed to the idea of trying to drown your troubles. Loud "music", senseless parties, alcohol, and the "rave drugs" all espouse this. It's a culture that makes my skin crawl.
I think you have this view because you've never done any of these things.
First off, all people do drugs. Your brain makes them, they're in coffee, tea, food, prescription pills, and everything else. My point is that there is as much variety in drugs as there are in anything else in life. Its just like how some machines are created to make things (tools), and some are created to kill things (weapons).
Next, don't look at it as a moment in time where you are hiding from reality. Because its quite the opposite. When I smoke weed and talk to friends or ponder on my own, I reach realizations that when sober, they take much longer to realize. My drug use is less about getting drunk and forgetting, but more about increasing my life's experiences. You can't justifiably say that drugs have no place in your life or hold no fascination to you because you HAVEN'T TRIED THEM. That's like saying you don't like white water rafting if you've never tried it.
So next time, before you try to comment on something, make sure you have some 1st hand experience on it. I, for example, can't tell you how heroin is, because I haven't tried it. That is a line Im not willing to cross after seeing people on it. But there are too many drugs worth while to just ignore recreational drug use.
Do your research, talk to friends, try a drug and expand your mind.
Salvia: be prepared to be eaten by your couch while on a roller coaster.
Alcohol: be prepared to lose motor function and stability under prolonged exposure.
Weed: from what I've heard, it's much milder than Salvia, but lasts 10x as long. Much more "efficient".
Crack: be prepared to suck dicks.
Yeyo: Enjoy your nosebleeds.
Meth: Riding a horse bareback into your parents house and trampling over the gnomes living under the bed isn't normal. But on meth it is.
Personally, I hate not being in complete control of my bodily functions, so I have limited experience with ingested chemicals.
Haaa, the salvia one made me laugh, that is exactly what happened to me. Every time I hit it right, I get swallowed by the room. Its because you EXIT reality and enter your mind, that's where the crazy shit is.
Sorry about the double post.
Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Aug 4 2009, 3:11 pm by JaFF. Reason: Don't get too pasionate about this. It's only Null, af
None.