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LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

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Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#61

Post by bluecalm »

M_Grey wrote: post #50
fsiefken wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is microdosing LSD compromising health? There is no evidence for that

I would put that into the "Copper wristband" category. Meanwhile Modafinil...

Meanwhile Modafinil and other drugs made lives of thousands of people better allowing them to get back on track in life, fight depression, be able to focus and get a job etc.

Drugs are demonized in our culture but a lot of people can get a lot of benefits out of them, that includes steroids as well if you know what you are doing.

You don't make anyone any favors by spreading illegal drugs = health problems attitude.

Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#62

Post by M_Grey »

SomeStupidPoint wrote: post #54
M_Grey wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>There's nothing inherently wrong with the drug, but there's something inherently wrong with the behavior around it, by people who are so desperate for edge. Down that road ultimately lies Lance Armstrong, and East German women with beards. In other words, if you're desperate for an edge and willing to spend money, compromise your health and integrity for it, then you'll eventually move on from expensive bullshit lik…

It only compromises your integrity if you're claiming that you're not doing it -- in my experience, most people microdosing LSD don't brag about how they're not doping. Lance Armstrong, however.... I personally am on the fence about LSD microdosing (and relatedly, most nootropics). There's evidence on both sides and much of it likely comes down to personal psychology and physiology. I think we are going to have to ac…

It definitely sounds like I want to regulate, but for all that I see these as problems, I see prohibition and the usual course of hamfisted regulation as even worse. I accept that people have varied natures and drives, and some will seek edges to the point of self-destruction. Of course, some few will find real edges and prosper too.

I would dream of the kind of solution you're talking about... changing the landscape, but it's hard to imagine that happening in a positive way anytime soon. You're right in your conclusion about the right of people to push themselves, even to destruction. Imagine if the Curies had been told to quit with the experimentation by modern Health and Safety?!

The problem is... Japan. Look at what it's like to work in Japan. They have all of these ideas about what you need to do to be working "110%" (roughly translated). You stay late, leave after the boss, drink like a fish, and a bunch of other things that largely do not improve life or productivity. If the search for an edge were not so tightly bound with how work cultures change, permanently, it would be less of a concern.

Still, the solution, whatever it may be, is not regulating essential freedoms.

Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#63

Post by e1g »

krisoft wrote: post #21
jb1991 wrote: post #11

I would strongly encourage anyone looking for new perceptions that aid in concentration and/or creativity to first really try, and properly try, and without giving up too soon, the art of meditation. It's cheaper, safer, longer-lasting, and most certainly a higher-quality experience once properly learned.

What would you recommend, how could one start meditating? Is there a practice, or book or something you would specifically recommend? And what time interval would be not "too soon" in your opinion?

I am a huge supporter of Headspace (the app), and 4 other people in my life stuck with it after passing through many other options.

Headspace offers a broad library of targeted programs, and I can pick a topic that causes the most friction right now - be it anxiety, productivity, relationships, health, etc. Each program has a supporting structure and provides continuity for my daily practice. I feel like I'm taking new baby steps every day, and that sense of progress is motivating for me. I decide on my time commitment (for me it's 10 minutes), and just put in headphones and sit down. I have my phone and headphones nearly all the time, so I've done this on the train, in the park during lunch, on a side street bench, in a taxi, etc.

In the year I've been using it, I have never finished a 10-minute session without feeling significantly lighter and more composed when I got up. I still don't do it daily (humans, hey), but for me it was the only thing that stuck. Give it couple weeks.

Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#64

Post by pmoriarty »

jb1991 wrote: post #11

I would strongly encourage anyone looking for new perceptions that aid in concentration and/or creativity to first really try, and properly try, and without giving up too soon, the art of meditation. It's cheaper, safer, longer-lasting, and most certainly a higher-quality experience once properly learned.

"It's cheaper, safer, longer-lasting, and most certainly a higher-quality experience once properly learned."

A lot of people say this, but most of them have never tried psychedelics at all, much less had high-dose, strong trips. In those cases, I'm not sure they know what they're talking about.

There are others, like Ram Dass, who definitely have had strong trips, and many trips at that. They tend to have a much more nuanced view of the value of psychedelics. Instead of merely saying "meditation is better", they can actually have a meaningful conversation on the relative value of the two approaches.

To anyone interested in another side of the subject, I recommend The Paisley Gate by Erik Davis.[1] In this and other talks, Davis explores the historical role of psychedelics in bringing many practitioners to Eastern religions and meditation, and their continuing role in enhancing the practice.

[1] - https://techgnosis.com/tantra-of-psychedelics/

Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#65

Post by clccbcfd »

Thrillington wrote: post #34
clccbcfd wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine not being totally clueless, dosing appropriately, and having a relatively normal (perhaps a bit more open-minded) day at work. Not all drugs are created equal, and almost all of them can be used responsibly. I find the micro dosing trend distasteful, but I hate anti-drug propaganda even more. This is just another BS comment from someone who has never done drugs and looks to force their misinformed values and…

Drug abuse is a real thing and has extremely negative effects for individuals and those in their lives. That being said, it's a public health issue, not a criminal one. Abuse can also be significantly curbed by open and honest discussion about the benefits and negatives of various drugs. The DARE and scare model is an abject failure.

Absolutely. I have no interest in partisan arguments on the issue, that's all.

edit: fwiw imperio59 has a post history repeatedly denigrating LSD, psychology as a valid scientific practice, in addition to advocating for and linking to Drug Free World, a Scientology-backed nonprofit. Not even worth replying to.

Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#67

Post by dTal »

imperio59 wrote: post #7

How about not? Drugs still have incredibly harmful effects. Some people take trips and never come back off these drugs. Imagine going to work in the morning on a supposed "micro"dose just to realize you had an overdose and end up in a psych ward for two weeks. You'll also likely lose your job as most tech companies have no drug in the workplace policies... This is just another BS article from someone who knows nothin…

I'm sorry, but this sounds extremely ill-informed. You completely fail to distinguish between different drugs (which can be anything from caffeine to meth to "approved" medical drugs). Despite high school propaganda, it's not appropriate to lump them all together. Referring to them as "these drugs" is revealing.

Nobody "never comes back off" LSD - it isn't even addictive, and tolerance builds rapidly so it soon stops working anyway. It can be dangerous, if taken to extreme excess and/or combined with other factors like sleep deprivation or other drugs - but you'd really have to try, and "ending up in a psych ward for two weeks" is very unlikely.

From your perspective, I'm going to guess that the "drug addicts" you worked with were on something altogether more addictive and damaging, perhaps tobacco or alcohol. Don't generalise that experience to "drugs", unless you want to be dismissed as someone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#68

Post by mixedCase »

drwl wrote: post #49
fsiefken wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is microdosing LSD compromising health? There is no evidence for that

I'm not sure there is or isn't evidence but if you study the brain I think you can come to some plausible conclusions that it does compromise health to some extent.

Can you go into a little more detail? I have never heard anything like that.

While it is just anecdote, the first person to synthesize the drug (and use it, and later practiced microdosing), Albert Hofmann, died from heart attack at the ripe age of 102 with a healthy mind.

Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#69

Post by nisa »

M_Grey wrote: post #12

Ah yes... you see it anywhere that people are closely matched and seek perceived "edges". Athletes wear their copper bullshit, Valley types take stimulants and psychedelics. It's a symptom of people not understanding the nature of survivorship bias, hindsight fallacy in general, and an inability to delay gratification for a greater reward. There's nothing inherently wrong with the drug, but there's something inherent…

> East German women with beards.

FWIW Doping was common not only in the GDR at that time. USA and even Western Germany also did quite a lot of doping.

What was special in the GDR (As far as I know) that it was done without consent or even information to the athletes and it started quite early. Athletes were told to get vitamin injections and stuff like that.

This was a case of the system wanting to be the best in sports and sacrifing the health of it's people for it.

It's a complete different thing than to consuming drugs to be more effective or successful in the system.

Re: LSD 'microdosing' is trending in Silicon Valley

#70

Post by tclancy »

krisoft wrote: post #21
jb1991 wrote: post #11

I would strongly encourage anyone looking for new perceptions that aid in concentration and/or creativity to first really try, and properly try, and without giving up too soon, the art of meditation. It's cheaper, safer, longer-lasting, and most certainly a higher-quality experience once properly learned.

What would you recommend, how could one start meditating? Is there a practice, or book or something you would specifically recommend? And what time interval would be not "too soon" in your opinion?

I've done a fair bit of reading for it, but I have to say the Calm app is the thing that really got me to stick with it. The presenter works for me (some people swear by other apps, I think it's going to be a matter of taste) and there's a bit of commitment there that guilted me into sticking with it. There's also a free 7 day trial so there's no cost to trying.
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