LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006) • Hacker News Board

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#151

Post by pyre » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 10:21 PM UTC

toolz wrote: post #97

pyre wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> LSD impairs your ability to feel cold. People have died by taking drugs and then going out into snow. I sadly can't find the proof to back up my claim, but I did read about a case of a girl taking ketamine and then going outside and succumbing to hypothermia. Unless I'm misunderstanding, the idea of a "sitter" is someone that is not under the influence, so this could negate such effects if one fully follows the adv…

> So don't do it unless you're sure you dislike yourself. This is, in my opinion, a terrible reason to stay away from LSD. You're effectively saying avoid anything that may have bad results. Not liking yourself has never been a prerequisite for being curious. I've seen people have panic attacks on roller coaster rides that almost certainly altered their chemical balance for a significant period of time with permanent…

You pull an excerpt from a quote that I included from the parent comment to my post. I'm not sure if the "you" is generic or directed at me, but I didn't say "don't do it unless you're sure you dislike yourself."

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#152

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 10:31 PM UTC

orasis wrote: post #80

pierrec wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Article L.3421-4 of the "Code de la Santé Publique" (law concerning public health) forbids incitation/encouragement of the usage or traffic of classified narcotics, even if it does not lead to anyone actually using them. The sentence is heaviest if it's done near schools. Isn't there something vaguely equivalent in US law? The interesting part is that the act of presenting classified narcotics under a favorable light…

"Isn't there something vaguely equivalent in US law?" Nope. The closest would probably be plans to make nuclear bombs. Oh, and the stupid thing about crypto. If I was bored enough right now I'd paste some long crypto key, but it would just make this thread look shitty.

[deleted]

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#153

Post by glynjackson » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 10:40 PM UTC

pmoriarty wrote: post #98

glynjackson wrote: post #96

My theory is that there is NO direct correlation between drugs like cannabis or LSD and creativity. I know some talented people, experiences when I was young was watching friends "stoned"/"high" but talking utter crap! The next day after the trip (without fail) these already smart people "think" they have said or done something profound, but they never did! Days later, their own creative genius is pushed on a search…

Not to discount your observations of a couple of your friends, but if you look at actual scientific studies of LSD's effect on creativity,[1] there is a very clear link. That said, it's not a panacea or a magic pill. You are not guaranteed to become more creative when you take LSD. You most likely will not become Mozart or Picasso by taking it. It is even possible to misuse or abuse LSD, as you can misuse and abuse a…

I agree, my few experiences don't prove anything. He mixed LSD, cannabis and alcohol on that night. I also agree, I knew very little about his mental health before that day. His section (involuntary confinement to a mental institution) was not taken lightly. What I do know is Doctors said the drugs (cannabis and LSD) had triggered an underlining mental illness. He developed severe paranoid personality disorder (PPD).

The other point you made is incredibly important, taking such drugs does not guaranteed you will become more creative. It is important you research, why you want to take it and your current/past health problems.

After a lot of research I have personally have taken nootropics on and off for many years. As a programmer I often work long hours, I need to function and problem solve. I found them to aid in learning and memory. Nasty ADHD drugs give me side effects and are just legalised amphetamines. Nootropics like Aniracetam seem to have the same effect with little to no side effects (for me).

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#154

Post by AgentME » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 11:03 PM UTC

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #82

jarin wrote: post #68

I actually tried LSD a couple of times because of this article, back when it was written. It was a pretty enjoyable experience, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in trying it, with a few caveats. First, you need to have an experienced sitter with you. You're in for the full 8-10 hours, and on the off chance you start having a bad trip (things getting really dark and scary), you need someone to ground y…

Third, go out into nature if you can. Preferably with just your friends and not a lot of people around. It's pretty cool. LSD impairs your ability to feel cold. People have died by taking drugs and then going out into snow. I sadly can't find the proof to back up my claim, but I read about a case of a girl taking ketamine and then going outside and succumbing to hypothermia. Here's another case of someone dying from…

>Before taking LSD, ask yourself: Are you sure you want to be a different person afterwards? People everywhere talk about the transformative nature of LSD, so that's what you'll be doing: transforming into a different person. Exploring land is fun because you get to go places you've never seen before. Exploring how chemicals affect your brain is fun if becoming a different person is fun. So don't do it unless you're sure you dislike yourself.

Couldn't you say that about any life experience?

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#155

Post by zethraeus » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 11:10 PM UTC

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #82

jarin wrote: post #68

I actually tried LSD a couple of times because of this article, back when it was written. It was a pretty enjoyable experience, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in trying it, with a few caveats. First, you need to have an experienced sitter with you. You're in for the full 8-10 hours, and on the off chance you start having a bad trip (things getting really dark and scary), you need someone to ground y…

Third, go out into nature if you can. Preferably with just your friends and not a lot of people around. It's pretty cool. LSD impairs your ability to feel cold. People have died by taking drugs and then going out into snow. I sadly can't find the proof to back up my claim, but I read about a case of a girl taking ketamine and then going outside and succumbing to hypothermia. Here's another case of someone dying from…

> Exploring how chemicals affect your brain is fun if becoming a different person is fun. So don't do it unless you're sure you dislike yourself.

This sentence isn't really logically sound. There are lots of reasons to make a transition from a place of satisfaction to a place of uncertain satisfaction. Happy people often explore!

Aside, 'Becoming a different person' implies a large amount of permanence. I'd really enjoy seeing this assertion sourced. Especially with regards to one-time or infrequent use of psychedelics. Could you point me to anything you've found particularly convincing?

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#156

Post by anonbanker » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 11:22 PM UTC

lomnakkus wrote: post #141

anonbanker wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, calling someone out on FUD is definitely unscientific. Thanks for that.

You have yet to substantiate your claim of FUD. (And your claim of unfitness-to-comment, but I'll leave it at that.)

Yeah, definitely adding you to the list of astroturfers to look out for on every pro-drug HN thread.

If we wanted the incorrect mainstream opinion, we'd go to the ONDCP's homepage.

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#157

Post by thinkofnothing » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 11:24 PM UTC

olefoo wrote: post #21

Is it the same six people that keep posting this every 6 to 12 weeks on here? The usual caveats apply: 1. lsd is illegal, so no quality control and no certainty that that is what you are ingesting. 2. lsd was and is a mythological drug in every sense of the word. Nothing you know about it is true either to the good or to the bad. 3. Just because there are 5 decades of propaganda about the evils of lsd does not mean t…

1. When in doubt, get a testing kit from dancesafe.org and test a sample. This has saved me on a few separate occasions, as 2-C's get passed around as a cheap substitute.

2-4. The past and present purveyors of L treat the substance as sacred. Even though the laboratory synthesis of LSD is rather difficult, it's still rarely sold and usually gifted to fortunate or lost individuals.

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#158

Post by lomnakkus » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 11:25 PM UTC

anonbanker wrote: post #156

lomnakkus wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have yet to substantiate your claim of FUD. (And your claim of unfitness-to-comment, but I'll leave it at that.)

Yeah, definitely adding you to the list of astroturfers to look out for on every pro-drug HN thread. If we wanted the incorrect mainstream opinion, we'd go to the ONDCP's homepage.

Sorry, what?

(If you're going to claim astroturfing you're going to have to come up with some evidence. Look through my posting history -- you'll find none.)

EDIT: Actually, scratch that. If you didn't already do that before accusing me of astroturfing, then fuck you and the horse you rode in on.

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#159

Post by kirsebaer » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 11:26 PM UTC

hajile wrote: post #143

jafaku wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say the first point is kind of important, considering it's a synthetic drug and not a plant. I have no anecdotes for LSD, but a few people died in my city after only a normal dose of ecstasy (no alcohol).

Ecstacy is known to cause the body temperature to rise. People write it off as just being the club, alcohol, etc. For some people, the temperature becomes high enough to cause death. This doesn't have anything to do with drug purity and has everything to do with the effects of the drug itself.

Millions of people take MDMA every weekend. Deaths from pure MDMA have happened, but they are extremely rare. It's important to think about risk from a statistical point of view. Everything has risks.

Re: LSD: The Geek's Wonder Drug? (2006)

#160

Post by anonbanker » Sat, Jan 24, 2015, 11:28 PM UTC

h1karu wrote: post #137

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These chemicals will change your brain, and your brain is who you are. It's not philosophical. It's physical.

> These chemicals will change your brain, and your brain is who you are. I suspect that your brain is who you think you are because you've learned to associate the concept of self with your thought processes, but I ask you if you are indeed your thinking then how is it that you're able to observe your own thought ? If you'll bear with me for a moment, doesn't it also make sense to think that you may be whatever is ob…

A reading of the Gospel of Judas shows that hallucinogens, and the exploration of the metaphysical self, were key (forgotten/censored) parts of the Christian biblical experience as well.