Xenogears said:
I agree I dunno why people would act all high and mighty about people's actions when they were teenagers. Sure teenagers do the dumbest things out of all people in the world, but if you say you were any different than you are either lying or you were sheltered...Also many people enjoy taking psychedelics (shrooms, LSD, etc) and going to a psychedelic show. In fact these psychedelic bands make music FOR PEOPLE ON PSYCHEDELICS...How would you go to a Shpongle party, and NOT trip?
Not everyone is a spiritual shaman, I enjoy using psychedelics for inner exploration and to help give me motivation and inspiration for life, but I see nothing wrong with taking a dose or low dose of mushrooms and having fun with your friends, as long as you know you can handle it and are responsible.
Let me start out by saying I fully agree with your last statement. It can be a nice way to unwind or bond as a group and if people are responsible, I see nothing wrong with that. Very few people are spiritual shamans or even strive to uphold those ideals. Those of us who do approach psychedlics with such a mindset, or a similar attitude, are usually viewed as weird or a little off by many recreational drug users (I'm speaking from personal experience here), to say nothing of the straight people.
As to the first part of your quote, I did many dumb things. Me and my friends throughout junior high and highschool engaged in antics, that, if we repeated them at our current age and got caught, would undoubtedly end with us in prison. Many of these antics, especially in highschool, involved alcohol and weed at some point, either prior to the act or following it. I just wanted to lay it out there that I've done dumb shit and had experienced substances as a teenager.
Fast forward to freshman year of college. I ate two grams of mushrooms with some friends, having researched them extensively, but not really knowing what to expect. We ate them in my dorm and then wandered over to the large park/forest on the edge of campus and proceeded to trip out in nature. This one experience taught me so much. It was instantly apparent, to me, that these were not substances for taking in high doses and Hunter Thompsoning through your local town center. At age 18, it was apparent to me that these things needed to be treated with respect and responsibility. I saw the larger implications that many of my friends missed. So, yes, I feel that I can say that while I was not sheltered (nor am i lying) I was never irresponsible with psychedlics because they made it quite clear not to be. As such, I have no problem calling people out who are doing irresponsible shit with psychs, even if they are teenagers, because I had the option to and never did. It's a distinction that's very obvious, the same way that when we were throwing produce off of apartment rooftops, no one accidentally or intentionally threw a person off the edge, or threw rocks, etc...There are certain things that should be inherently apparent or at least visible within the realm of common sense, in my opinion, that psychedelics must be used responsibly is one such obvious thing. Dumb shit is dumb shit, regardless of age.
Yes people enjoy taking psychedelics and going to shows, but not every person at a given psychedelic show is tripping face, or even tripping at all. Weed is a great mild psychedlic to take at a show that leads to no tripping whatsoever in the traditional sense, and many people only smoke at shows. I've gone to pink floyd shows (well technically Roger Waters) and various other psychedlic and psychedlic inspired events without tripping. That's not to act pretentious or lord it over people, just a simple fact. It's not necessary to trip just because you are going to a pink floyd laser light show. Again, if you
need to take something, weed is always a relatively safe option that increases the user's appreciation of the experience without many of the risks that taking psychedelics out in the hustle and bustle of everyday society carries. I've taken acid and gone to shows, it was ok, nothing special. I've seen shows coming down from or on shrooms, again, they were nice experiences, but prevented the depth that I find to be one of the most compelling aspects of tripping. Any show I've been to on psychedelics has been in a small venue, relatively low key, and usually removed from society's center and after experiencing this a couple times, I have since refrained from doing it as I feel it hampers the experience. These are just my opinions, and I am in no way trying to pass judgement on other people's action either now or 15 years ago. This is my perception and how I choose to live my life.
peace
SB
