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An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

arxiv.org

71–80 of 112 posts

Re: An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

#71
post #24

It does seem that people would wrongly associate the artificial influx of positive/warm feelings coming from a cannabis with increased task performance. Not unlike how people overestimate their own strength when drinking alcohol etc. However, if it decreases their performance but improves their feelings towards the work, might that still be a net positive? In other words, if you are going to be a little more pokey an…

Is it better to medicate than make steps ("thinking about changing jobs") towards being happy sober? I'm not against people using cannabis, I just don't think this is the right frame. It shouldn't be a bandaid for being in a bad situation and it's kind of sad if one would give up their aspirations for betterment because the high masks them caring enough about it.

Your point is valid in that being able to face life unaided by medicine is ideal, but often unrealistic.

Such that I think this comment of calling it a band aid for being in a bad situation is overblown, and that the situation in general is more comparable to drinking coffee to remain alert.

I'd be curious to know if you also think that drinking coffee to overcome tiredness at work is also equal to giving up aspirations for betterment.

Re: An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

#74
I credit cannabis edibles with burnout prevention and focus improvement. It seems likely that I have ADHD, and for whatever reason edibles keep me motivated in a similar way to adderall. I write SQL daily, if that’s considered coding in this context. Bugs are not really a concern with SQL, I triple check my results to make sure I’m not making calculation mistakes. One thing it doesn’t always help with is task avoidance (if it’s not something I want to do), pure stimulants are better for that. Everyone is different, but I have zero plans to alter course, edibles make my job more interesting and much less boring. I highly recommend Wyld brand sativa gummies.

Re: An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

#75
It really depends upon the dosage. If you get completely baked, of course you aren't going to be very productive. However, a lower end dosage can have a relaxing effect and sometimes stimulate ideas that might not be considered otherwise. The same is probably true of booze. A drink or two might have net positive effects but drink a 750 and you aren't going to do very much of anything good.

Re: An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

#76

Back in the day, maybe 30-40 years ago, when possession of any amount of cannabis could get you thrown in jail, we needed a code phrase to use when we called a friend to ask if they had any. So we would ask: "Do you have any programmer's fuel?" Also related, the phrase "fire an event" is a cannabis reference: https://retool.com/visual-basic

captain crunch would say "execute a nine-N instruction".. ask Woz! also the frat guy coders at Apple would openly hate on Andy Hertzfeld, who insufficiently hid his affection for an occasional toke in Palo Alto

I was friends with John Draper (Captain Crunch) in the 1970s.

But never as close a friend as he wanted me to be! (Anyone who knew John or the stories about him may know what I am referring to.)

He usually had some decent pot, so when I ran out, I would sometimes visit him at his Berkeley apartment and we would smoke and do some Forth hacking.

I never heard about the "nine-N instruction" though.

I ran into John again at the Computer History Museum's Homebrew Computer Club reunion in 2013. When I re-introduced myself, he didn't seem to remember me at first. Then his eyes lit up and he asked, "Did we work out?"

https://www.flickr.com/photos/geary/10861963196/

Re: An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

#77
post #24

It does seem that people would wrongly associate the artificial influx of positive/warm feelings coming from a cannabis with increased task performance. Not unlike how people overestimate their own strength when drinking alcohol etc. However, if it decreases their performance but improves their feelings towards the work, might that still be a net positive? In other words, if you are going to be a little more pokey an…

In the short term, for the individual: yes, it could be better to medicate.

However in the long run, it ends up giving license to shitty employers to continue being shitty, and perhaps to become even worse.

Such employers need to feel the negative consequences of their behavior. Their business needs to suffer from high turnover and poor quality work, and if they don’t change then they need to fold.

Businesses are, at the end of the day, just people - people who live together and participate in the same society. I can’t honestly say that the best outcome is for workers to medicate themselves to be able to tolerate their bosses. Work doesn’t have to be so toxic and awful, you know?

Re: An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

#78
post #24

It does seem that people would wrongly associate the artificial influx of positive/warm feelings coming from a cannabis with increased task performance. Not unlike how people overestimate their own strength when drinking alcohol etc. However, if it decreases their performance but improves their feelings towards the work, might that still be a net positive? In other words, if you are going to be a little more pokey an…

Is it better to medicate than make steps ("thinking about changing jobs") towards being happy sober? I'm not against people using cannabis, I just don't think this is the right frame. It shouldn't be a bandaid for being in a bad situation and it's kind of sad if one would give up their aspirations for betterment because the high masks them caring enough about it.

I see cannabis less as a bandaid (though it can be used that way) and more as an experience enhancement. Sure, maybe data pipelines seem a little boring. But spend enough time working on them under the influence of cannabis and before you know it you’re having fun.

Re: An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

#79

Guess the Ballmer Peak will remain the domain of alcohol.

Stimulants remain an under-researched, potential gold mine.

I'm also curious to see a study focused on psychoactive substances considering their proven track record of 'enhancing creativity'. It's also well known that early silicon valley was filled with microdosing enthusiasts.

Re: An observational study of programming and cannabis intoxication

#80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

captain crunch would say "execute a nine-N instruction".. ask Woz! also the frat guy coders at Apple would openly hate on Andy Hertzfeld, who insufficiently hid his affection for an occasional toke in Palo Alto

I was friends with John Draper (Captain Crunch) in the 1970s. But never as close a friend as he wanted me to be! (Anyone who knew John or the stories about him may know what I am referring to.) He usually had some decent pot, so when I ran out, I would sometimes visit him at his Berkeley apartment and we would smoke and do some Forth hacking. I never heard about the "nine-N instruction" though. I ran into John again…

... after he moved back to California from Hawaii
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