smoking laws

[Tongue_Ring]

Then I'll pose the ultimate question:

Why does one drink, smoke or take drugs? What is the desired purpose or goal of these substances.....other than an effective coping tool. To either relieve stress and tension.....or to loosen one's inhibitions. Surely it cannot be for health reasons. One person may smoke or have a drink when they get home from work in order to unwind. Personally.....I go for a quick 20 minute run or bike ride. Those are my coping mechanisms. Each is used.....however.....to get to the same place. We just use different paths.

It's no different than people's inability to go anywhere nowadays without feeling connected with their social network.....and the cell phone and blackberry are prime examples. It's people's fear and insecurity that forces them to stay connected.....because they don't have the social coping skills or belief in themselves to be alone with their thoughts for even one moment. In reality.....these are drugs too. And they're used in the same way. To cope.

BTW.....I do have a cell phone. But I'm simply rasising an issue. And from a personal stance.....I want to feel everyting that life has to offer. And I can handle it head on without dulling the sensation. Life is pretty scary these days. And I don't blame peole for wanting to withdraw. But I choose to take the world head-on. And I can't do that if I don't have my full faculties firing on ten!

I'm not trying to judge or start a war. But I will never allow any substance to enter my body that alters either my physical or mental capabilities. It's not a religious or moral issue. It's just a peronal choice that I've made for myself. And that's where my strength lies.....in my convictions.

you obviously post on the philosopher's forum, that was [by far] the most inteligent thing that's ever been on the pop-culture forum

 

[Demilich]

Then I'll pose the ultimate question:

Why does one drink, smoke or take drugs? What is the desired purpose or goal of these substances.....other than an effective coping tool.

People drink, smoke and do drugs for all kinds of reasons. I won't deny their effectiveness as coping mechanisms, but to assume that that is why every single user of those substances uses them is ignorant and shortsighted. Until you observe and document this phenomenon in every single user, I have no reason to believe that, like everything else, people do it for a variety of complex reasons that are not simply reduceable to one cause like you say.

It's no different than people's inability to go anywhere nowadays without feeling connected with their social network.....and the cell phone and blackberry are prime examples. It's people's fear and insecurity that forces them to stay connected.....because they don't have the social coping skills or belief in themselves to be alone with their thoughts for even one moment. In reality.....these are drugs too. And they're used in the same way. To cope.

Why are you so judgmental of the coping mechanisms of others? You've admitted that you have your own, and thinking that yours are superior, more "natural", etc. is ridiculous. In order to prove that people use cellphones/black berries, etc. exclusively to cope with their fear of being alone, you'd have to discredit any other possible use value that they have. People do things for complex reasons, and even if they are using drugs/communication tech. to cope with anxiety, this is likely not the ONLY reason they're using these things.

BTW.....I do have a cell phone. But I'm simply rasising an issue. And from a personal stance.....I want to feel everyting that life has to offer. And I can handle it head on without dulling the sensation. Life is pretty scary these days. And I don't blame peole for wanting to withdraw. But I choose to take the world head-on. And I can't do that if I don't have my full faculties firing on ten!

Your assumption that drugs/alcohol/smoking simply dull our stimuli and reduce our exposure to life experience is hilarious. Seriously, if you want to continue to allow your ignorance to limit your possibilities, at least acknowledge that this is what you are doing. You want to experience everything life has to offer... yet refuse to experience many of the psychoactive substances it offers? Hypocrite. Marijuana (of which I speak because I use it frequently) allows me to connect to my world and experience life in a way which I do not normally. Drugs do not simply dull experience, they alter how our mind and senses percieve reality. I drink and do drugs, and I choose, just as you, to take the world head on! My use of substances doesn't change this one bit. I deal with my problems, think about serious issues, etc. all while under the influence of these substances.[/quote]

I'm not trying to judge or start a war. But I will never allow any substance to enter my body that alters either my physical or mental capabilities. It's not a religious or moral issue. It's just a peronal choice that I've made for myself. And that's where my strength lies.....in my convictions.

Starting a war or judging your convictions is the last thing on my mind here. You've made some seriously ignorant, fallacious statements that offend me as a user of alcohol and marijuana, and I've chosen to make an attempt to remedy your lack of exposure to my side of the story. I hope these words can help to open your eyes to a world of possibility from which you bar yourself. I don't expect you to end up doing drugs because of my posts, but if I can get you to stop making judgements about people who do choose to indulge, I'll be satisfied.

 

[Demiurge]

Why does one drink, smoke or take drugs? What is the desired purpose or goal of these substances.....other than an effective coping tool.

Clearly, you do not have experience with hallucinogens, nor do you know people who do. I assure you, they fail miserably as coping tools. They will make the problems you are coping with far more pressing, should you attempt to use the substances for this purpose.

To either relieve stress and tension.....or to loosen one's inhibitions.

They do not relieve stress and tension, but will exacerbate them if you foolishly (mis)use them to do so. They don't make you a hit in social situations, either.

"Drugs" is not a monolithic, undifferentiated classification, which people have a difficult time coming to grips with. Who could confuse the effects of MDMA with N,N-DMT or heroin with ketamine? They are all "drugs" but have little in common. They are different chemically, psychopharmacologically, and in most every way you can imagine.

 

[Demilich]

^ A lot of very good points there! I hope this guy comes back and replies!

 

[Tongue_Ring]

^ A lot of very good points there! I hope this guy comes back and replies!

the Winnepeg Warrior prolly won't come back, the other threads here are too superfical for him to pay attention to pop culture board

 

[Demiurge]

the Winnepeg Warrior prolly won't come back, the other threads here are too superfical for him to pay attention to pop culture board

You are making yourself appear ridiculous.

 

[Boru]

I hate damn cigs. I think they should be outlawed everywhere in Virginia.