Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature • Hacker News Board

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#121

Post by elevenoh » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 12:00 AM UTC

jatgoodwin wrote: post #41

The 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 problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are.

I've personally seen redirection, or orienting toward one's best self, more often than simply 'amplification of who you already are'.

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#122

Post by weerd » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 12:08 AM UTC

jp0d wrote: post #119

jp0d wrote: post #116

I got a call from a friend today, who is dealing with depression. He has ready many such articles and has been microdosing on psilocybin mushrooms. He wanted my help to be with him as a sober person when he goes through the experience. I had to say no. I've two simple reasons. 1. Mushrooms are illegal in Australia. I don't want him or I to be part of any illegal activity. 2. Even though he argued that the big pharma…

Wow.. Already been downvoted. I think my advice wasn't wrong. Going through such experience with someone like me who doesn't understand it can be risky. Hence, I suggested to see a psychiatrist.

The advice was not wrong. You probably would not have been a great sitter, and it's best to recognize that.

Your comment comes off in the wrong way for a thread about muyshrooms.

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#123

Post by throw_this_one » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 12:11 AM UTC

dezmou wrote: post #56

quantumwoke wrote: post #2

I've been microdosing psilocybin daily for the past six months during quarantine as a bit of a cognitive experiment. I feel a lot more switched on and focused in my work. Reading these posts I wonder what other diseases such as Parkinson's, seizures, PTSD, depression, anxiety have yet to be studied and require more research. Can anyone speak to this? Anything else I should add to my stack?

I started microdosing psilocybin since 3 years, sometime every day, sometime once every 1 or 2 weeks. When I take it the morning, I am very focused on my work, but also I am less stressed and anxious. I had a Tinder period with lot of date and psilocybin really help to build confident with women.

Do you take the psilocybin specifically before the date? Or just in general, the microdosing has made you better with women

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#124

Post by yowlingcat » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 12:14 AM UTC

jatgoodwin wrote: post #41

The 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 problem with psychedelics is they only make you "more" of what you are.

Not sure about "only" but I do think it's a valid thing to be aware of. It's only one half of the classical "set and setting" and the latter is really key. Are you doing it alone / who are you doing it with?

> these are extremely dangerous substances that can cause trauma and other serious psychological problems if not used extremely specifically and carefully

Don't know about this one either. I think it's certainly true that it can trigger latent trauma that hasn't been dealt with. But that's by no means a guarantee.

My take with this sort of stuff is that it's not really healthy to have an absolutist prohibitionist approach nor a free for all. I think the right approach is for interested parties to gently ramp up in the setting of an experienced sitter who can help reorient them.

> This isn't something you can do on your own.

This is probably the only part of your statement I'd categorically disagree with. Again, depends on the person, the set and the setting. Highly situational. Don't know if it's helpful to try and oversimplify this kind of thing.

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#125

Post by ghthor » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 12:32 AM UTC

jatgoodwin wrote: post #41

The 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…

Yes, psychidelics are more dangerous than alcohol. /s

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#126

Post by jp0d » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 12:33 AM UTC

weerd wrote: post #122

jp0d wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow.. Already been downvoted. I think my advice wasn't wrong. Going through such experience with someone like me who doesn't understand it can be risky. Hence, I suggested to see a psychiatrist.

The advice was not wrong. You probably would not have been a great sitter, and it's best to recognize that. Your comment comes off in the wrong way for a thread about muyshrooms.

You're right that I wouldn't have been a great sitter. Primarily because I don't understand them enough. Also psychiatric help is proven and should be the first step in dealing with mental health issues. There have been studies on the use of mushrooms to help in these cases. Some of those come from prestigious unis. However, only a trained psychiatrist can help a person prepare and go through such experiences. I'm not the right person. I'd be just helping someone get high on an illegal substance. As a friend I advised him accordingly with best intentions.

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#127

Post by travisjungroth » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:00 AM UTC

voisin wrote: post #94

jatgoodwin wrote: post #41

The 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…

> Especially when "bad" people take them they just become even more of an asshole Is this true? I have not partaken, but everything I have read is that people see the interconnection and interrelatedness of all things, which would seem to cause a “bad person” to become less of an asshole. Am I wrong on this?

It can go both ways. Some people watch their memories and realize they’re not the hero of the story, not even the villain, but just a jerk. And some people come back even more full of themselves. They’re so proud of this amazing thing they did and how amazing it makes them.

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#128

Post by travisjungroth » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:11 AM UTC

toss1 wrote: post #66

I received some very helpful wisdom on this topic, many years ago in my early teens, from a random guy I met on a beach. He said "if you are interested in tripping, you'll almost surely do it. Just be sure to never feel pressured to do it at any one time - it'll always be there. When you do, just be sure you feel comfortable, not tense, and are in a good situation, among friends, and so on. ", basically how to avoid…

I think that because psychedelics are illegal part of why people do them is to satisfy their need for danger. This is the person who thinks “why the hell not!” when taking acid for the first time from a stranger at a party. They’re in this rule breaking mindset already, so stuff like “set and setting” is just one more rule to break.

It’s like if scuba diving was illegal. I’m doubtful that people would do it as carefully.

The advice you got from that stranger seems like a good antidote to that mindset. “It’ll always be there.” That sentence alone seems to take the edge off. You don’t have to take it just because you were offered. It’ll come by again.

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#129

Post by sebmellen » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:13 AM UTC

narag wrote: post #57

wavefunction wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While your post has some truth I have to reject your general premise that an individual can't derive any value without some sort of formalized framework. It's simply not true.

The parallel I was making in my mind was sex. There are all kind of risks and corresponding safety measures, preparations... you can write a comment like the gp without changing too much. So many times it happens in suboptimal conditions, specially the glorified first times.

And is that bad? Sex is a natural process, just like taking psychedelics. We don't need to regulate or control sex beyond some very simple ground rules (age limits), so why do we have to regulate or control psychedelic use?

Just like sex, taking psychedelics is a (mostly) safe, natural process, with an important effect on the individual's maturation.

Re: Paul Stamets on the interrelationship among mushrooms, consciousness, and nature

#130

Post by lethologica » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:19 AM UTC

michalf6 wrote: post #68

It 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.…

I would highly suggest reading "The Immortality Key" by Brian C. Muraresku before dismissing this all as "hippie nonsense"