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Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

politics.salon.com

21–30 of 173 posts

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#21
post #8

I've taken LSD and 'shrooms a few times, and while I can understand what Jobs is saying, I think he was wrong. I had mystical experiences where I thought I understood that the whole world was connected together, and I was connected to the world, and other deep insights. I think this was just brain-addled delusion, not any insight into how things really are. That said, I fully support these things being legal, and (fo…

Everything is connected.

It is understandable to discard insight on psychedelics as being 'brain-addled delusion' if the materialistic supposition is already implanted. Furthermore, such insight is usually overwhelming with assimilation into baseline consciousness being difficult.

However, the same mystical states have been achieved by many without the use of drugs - a gradual onset over a lifetime of discipline.

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My dad died nine months after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, which was three months longer than expected. Steve Jobs died years later, after the Whipple Surgery and a liver transplant.

I'm sorry for you loss. Jobs had a rare type of pancreatic cancer, islet cell neuroendocrine tumour, which accounts for ~1.3% of cases. With early enough treatment, the prognosis for this type of cancer is much better than other types of pancreatic cancer.

Ah, didn't know that. Thanks.

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#23
I will never understand how HN manages to be so (maybe relatively) anti-drug, even in a latent fashion on this topic. I do, not, understand this sentiment. For all of the things that HN does not take at face value, there is a blind acceptance of the "drugs are evil" viewpoint espoused (often exclusively in the face of their own studies, dozens of times, over 20 years) by the United States Government.

Downvote within 3 minutes, immediate comments touting how evil and unhealthy they are (which for the majority of lower level drugs are simply untrue, but you wouldn't know that unless you thought for yourself and read the literature).

Maybe I should clarify, there is an unusually large amount of effort that seems to be exuded in terms of keeping others from taking drugs, either through culture, pressure or laws than I am used to expecting on HN.

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#24

I will never understand how HN manages to be so (maybe relatively) anti-drug, even in a latent fashion on this topic. I do, not, understand this sentiment. For all of the things that HN does not take at face value, there is a blind acceptance of the "drugs are evil" viewpoint espoused (often exclusively in the face of their own studies, dozens of times, over 20 years ) by the United States Government. Downvote within…

They may not be evil, but they aren't particularly good for you either

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#25
post #8

I've taken LSD and 'shrooms a few times, and while I can understand what Jobs is saying, I think he was wrong. I had mystical experiences where I thought I understood that the whole world was connected together, and I was connected to the world, and other deep insights. I think this was just brain-addled delusion, not any insight into how things really are. That said, I fully support these things being legal, and (fo…

Everything is connected. It is understandable to discard insight on psychedelics as being 'brain-addled delusion' if the materialistic supposition is already implanted. Furthermore, such insight is usually overwhelming with assimilation into baseline consciousness being difficult. However, the same mystical states have been achieved by many without the use of drugs - a gradual onset over a lifetime of discipline.

downvoted for irrational mysticism

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#27

I will never understand how HN manages to be so (maybe relatively) anti-drug, even in a latent fashion on this topic. I do, not, understand this sentiment. For all of the things that HN does not take at face value, there is a blind acceptance of the "drugs are evil" viewpoint espoused (often exclusively in the face of their own studies, dozens of times, over 20 years ) by the United States Government. Downvote within…

Maybe because is better to be safe than sorry? The fact is that there are a lot of people whose life is very publicly destroyed by drugs.

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#28
post #4

I wish that his article had delved more into the long term effects (benefits or otherwise) of taking psychedelic drugs rather than going off into a complaint about US drug policy. Anyone got interesting, concrete data to share rather than anecdotes about Steve Jobs?

"Anyone got interesting, concrete data to share rather than anecdotes about Steve Jobs?"

Here are all of the Johns Hopkins studies on psilocybin:

http://csp.org/psilocybin/

You might also be interested in going to Horizons if you're going to be in NYC this coming weekend:

http://www.horizonsnyc.org

It's all of the talks on the latest scientific research on psychedelics for therapeutic use. You can also watch many of their previous talks here:

http://vimeo.com/horizons

As well as many of the talks from the huge MAPS conference that took place last April:

http://www.maps.org/media/videos/

If you're looking to read any books on this, a couple I'd recommend would be:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1594774021/erowid-20

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1594772509/erowid-20

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0892819278/erowid-20

I have an entire page with many more links to this stuff, but it's on Squidoo so if I linked to it then my comment would be auto-deleted. Heh.

edit: Changed Amazon links to donate affiliate fees to Erowid

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#29

I will never understand how HN manages to be so (maybe relatively) anti-drug, even in a latent fashion on this topic. I do, not, understand this sentiment. For all of the things that HN does not take at face value, there is a blind acceptance of the "drugs are evil" viewpoint espoused (often exclusively in the face of their own studies, dozens of times, over 20 years ) by the United States Government. Downvote within…

Maybe because is better to be safe than sorry? The fact is that there are a lot of people whose life is very publicly destroyed by drugs.

What? And there are a lot of peoples' lives destroyed by greed. Does that mean you don't seek to make money?

A greater percentage of water drinks drown than marijuana/lsd/mushroom users die from marijuana/etc usage. (As in, no one dies from them.)

Re: Steve Jobs, LSD and Drug Freedom

#30
post #8

I've taken LSD and 'shrooms a few times, and while I can understand what Jobs is saying, I think he was wrong. I had mystical experiences where I thought I understood that the whole world was connected together, and I was connected to the world, and other deep insights. I think this was just brain-addled delusion, not any insight into how things really are. That said, I fully support these things being legal, and (fo…

I too have taken LSD. Microdots were prevalent circa 1995 in South Yorkshire, which were strong to the point of not being funny. However, I did manage to get my grubby little junkie mitts on a few paper trips which were a lot more pleasant. My own personal view that it did change the way I look at the world in some strange and indescribable ways and the experiences made a large contribution to the person I am today,…

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