I saw this on Twitter today (mushroom related) by Dr. Inés Dawson.
Why do mushrooms always have double-barrelled surnames? They're hyphae-nated!
Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
101–110 of 155 posts
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#102The problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are. It's the spotlighting effect multiplied. Especially when "bad" people take them they just become even more of an asshole, or dare I say when stupid people take them they just revel in the intoxication. You just have to read the old research literature on LSD like stuff from James Fadiman to understand that these are extremely dangerous substa…
As you say, there are risks and benefits. "How" matters a lot. I think you exaggerate though. A lot of the risk is down to extremely irresponsible use... many steps removed from the high level of medical supervision you laid out. The basics are some mental preparation, a trip sitter, correct dosage and a proper set. I don't consider psychologists the only or necessarily best guides. Like all drugs (including alcohol)…
> Like all drugs (including alcohol), they can interact with [...]
Interesting aside, some mushrooms contain the mycotoxin coprine. Coprine is normally harmless but can make you quite ill if combined with alcohol. Common ink caps are generally considered edible but contain this toxin. This toxin can be used to treat alcoholism and a similar substance (disulfiram) has been approved by the FDA for this purpose.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#103The problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are. It's the spotlighting effect multiplied. Especially when "bad" people take them they just become even more of an asshole, or dare I say when stupid people take them they just revel in the intoxication. You just have to read the old research literature on LSD like stuff from James Fadiman to understand that these are extremely dangerous substa…
The article above is discussing psilocybin not LSD. Those are two completely different substances with different effects.
I highly recommend you read Michael Pollan's book "How to Chnage Your Mind" if you wish to become informed on the use and effects of psilocybin along with other psychoactive compuonds.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#104I'm sorry but this is just hippy nonsense. It's not the lack of mental integration into nature that is stopping us from taking care of the enverionment. And you don't need to trip on mushrooms to see the filth all arround us. The real issues include: not being able to stop production and consumption for obvious reasons. Energy production and distribution logistics. Understanding natural ecosystems and setting priorit…
> And you don't need to trip on mushrooms to see the filth all arround us. For you. A lot of people don't see what's around them on a daily basis, good or bad. Mushrooms can help with that since they remove a lot of the filters we have built up.
An example of useless filters: today I spent like 15 minutes searching for my teapot on my kitchen bench.
I did not find it.
Later I walked in my kitchen and immediately spotted the teapot. It was standing next to the kettle in the middle of the kitchen bench, the same place where it has been standing for the last 2 years...
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think one of the biggest fallacies is that alcohol "shows who the person really is". It definitely loosens you up, to a point. Maybe 3-8 drinks in it is definitely closer to "the true self". But in large amounts it definitely creates an over-emotional person. In it's own way it creates emotional reaction spirals that could cause suicide, or lashing out at people, irrational love or hatred of self, etc. Like i said,…
> Maybe 3-8 drinks in it is definitely closer to "the true self". 3-8? 8 drinks in and I'd be passed out on the floor.
Well they did say 3-8. A petite short person won't be able to drink as much as a tall heavy person, all else being equal.
Tbh one or two beers is all I drink these days, but six or seven is what it takes for me to be 'properly drunk' (which I don't enjoy.)
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#106It can't save the environment from cultures that will bulldoze over incapacitated and non-competing westerners who buy this hippie nonsense. Is there any good data on the effects of taking psychedelics on aggression / ambition / aggreableness / conscientiousness? The "becoming one with Nature" theme seems to be pretty common among enthusiasts, although I personally didn't notice a lasting effect after eating shrooms.…
Usually users on HN are conscientious and civil, until they are out of their comfort zone or world view, then it becomes like any other trashy forum with insults like "hippie nonsense".
Science and data are some of the best tools humans have ever found, but they are not the sole arbiters of truth and efficacy.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#107The problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are. It's the spotlighting effect multiplied. Especially when "bad" people take them they just become even more of an asshole, or dare I say when stupid people take them they just revel in the intoxication. You just have to read the old research literature on LSD like stuff from James Fadiman to understand that these are extremely dangerous substa…
The ‘more of what you already are’ idea seems very reductionist and unhelpful to me. There are definitely real risks that need to be made known around pre existing mental conditions and psychedelic use. Those are appreciated. But your thesis suggests that transformative experiences are unlikely to happen which from personal experience I can say is false. The impact of a breakthrough psychedelic experience can be prof…
> transformative experiences are unlikely to happen which from personal experience I can say is false. The impact of a breakthrough psychedelic experience can be profoundly positive especially for those starting from a less enlightened place.
I don’t think they are downplaying the transformative potential, but saying that you don’t get to choose what you transform to. Increase in neuroticism is also a type of transformation that occurs with psychedelics that seems to be downplayed or exclusively attributed to set and setting.
Anything that gets you out of your default mode network and amplifies your brain activity non-selectively will indeed be that “more of you” as OP claims, and where you land or how much of that experience you can integrate heavily depends on your original psychological organization.
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#108Paul stamets is also the name of the Astromycologist on Star trek discovery.
One of the weirdest things about that show. Who does that? Did they ask him for permission first?
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#109See also "What Bodies Think About: Bioelectric Computation Outside the Nervous System" (youtube.com) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18736698
Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature
#110> Evolution is the evolution of intelligence Where can I read more of this idea?
Gregory Bateson, "Steps to an Ecology of Mind" and "Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity".