A discussion of medicational and recreational drugs that allows for the existence of M0 in society.
From: Alan Carter
Anecdote From A Programming Site:
Alan: "Colleauge - I seem to have found a bug in the database filter
object."
Colleauge: "I expect you have. But if you break the crust on that pile of
guano you'll regret it."
It is a figure of speech that has always stayed with me. Nevertheless I'm
going to lower myself into a hole in the crust so kindly broken by Joss :-)
I just hope the tendancy to rub woad into navels and go on crusades isn't too
great on this list, for the reason Joss gave.
There are a number of lifestyle drugs in play in Western sociteies. Most
have bad effects, some much worse than others. Some are socially tolerated,
even to the extent of being available on prescription from health services,
while others are not. The sort orders of tolerance and bad effects aren't
remotely the same, as one might think they would be without either random
noise or an X factor in play. I reckon it's an X factor. Social acceptability
is determined by whether or not the drug takes the user out of the dopamine
economy, whereby the user no longer needs to co-ritual fix.
Here are some examples of lifestyle drugs, which I've sorted by their bad
effects. Please note that here I mean the bad effects of the drug itself,
and not the lifestyle associated with the drug, or the state of mind of
people who then become involved with the drug:
Now I'd like to justify the sort order of bad effects I've given, and propose
an explaination for the social tolerance.
Tends to make users oversleep. Reduces the sperm count of rats if fed in
sufficient doses to require injection because the rats are unconscious
long before the experiment is seriously under way. More carcinogenic than
tobacco weight for weight, although effective doses for psychological effect
are far lower. Cures glaucoma and useful for pain relief in a variety
of chronic conditions. Users who then drive cars drive very slowly indeed
(but reactions are adversely affected so it's dangerous to smoke and drive).
World Health Organisation report that concluded that there is little evidence
that cannabis is particulary harmful was supressed in early 1990s.
Used by Rastafarians as a ceremonial chemical to enhance "spiritual
experience". Similarly used by artists (including creative programmers).
I conjecture that at least one effect of cannabis is to block (bind to) the
D4 receptor, without triggering it. This means that infrequent users get the
narcotic effect to balance the withdrawal of neuroinhibitor, while frequent
users are actually broken out of the addictive cycle. In packer societies,
users are often portrayed as disordered and feckless although from a mapper
perspective they seem more like people who don't engage in pointless pursuits
and are actually much more consistent, particularly in their ethical
stances. Anti-cannabis hysteria now includes mandatory random urine tests
with summary dismissal for a positive result in many major employers. Positive
results can occur from eating a salad with some chopped leaf in the dressing
up to three months prior to test.
Rots brain, liver, kidneys and pancreas. Leads to significant lost time
through hangovers. An addictive drug that is associated with violence and
dangerous driving with significant reductions in reaction times that users
suffer with no compensating perceptual changes. They don't know they've lost
the plot until they hit the tree.
I don't think alcohol does anything to the D4 receptor at all. It isn't
involved.
An addictive drug associated with circlatory and respiratory disease, that
produces no psychological effects once tolerance is established - only
withdrawal effects.
No involvement with D4 receptor.
An addictive drug that in large doses converts the user into a piece of
seaweed. Oddly enough, heroin does not screw you up. For example, its not
generally realised that a high proportion of the British Establishment
developed addiction in military hospitals in France during WWII while being
dosed up with morphine until they could be shipped home. Henceforth they
ensured they had regular supplies via the old boy network, and continued with
successful careers, maintaining their addictions but not using to the level of
gaganess. Currently used by gentle and intelligent but weak people who can't
stand the pointlessness of life and don't fight back. The snivelling mental
attitude that leads people to seek anaesthesia has more to do with junkieism
than the drug itself.
No direct involvement with D4 receptor, but seaweed does not ritual fix.
A sense numbing highly addictive drug that is still available on prescription
from health services. When I worked in a government establishment, many of the
junior clerical workers (who suffer most from endless circular blame dumping)
were on Valium. Breaking benzodiazapine addiction has been the greatest
challenge for many people through the 1990s. The addictive dangers were
known about in the 1960s, but supressed.
No effect on D4 receptor, but numbs any remaining sensibility to facilitate
ritual fixing and hence enforces "normalcy".
A highly addictive drug that can cause respiratory disease, paranoia, and
other delusional psychoses.
Known to increase dopamine production and cause a delusional sense of
well-being, unlike dopamine production increased by other means which causes
a wholly justified sense of well-being (in conventional thinking).
Anecdotal data: I know that I can geta high out of cocaine, and I do find
it pleasurable. So the either the polymorphic receptor that can't bind
dopamine can bind cocaine at least in some people, or cocaine does something
else as well.
Additional data: It is known that incidence of Parkinsonism (where the
body cannot produce enough dopamine to damp motor nerve excitations which
is its normal job) is higher in heavy cocaine users. The conjecture by Joss
that the high is authentic I'm questioning here. Possibly its more like
a way for at least some mappers to get a sense of what its like to be a
ritual fixing packer. As to the Parkinsonism question, we do have a model in
nicotine addiction. The reason why nicotine addiction is so pernicious is that
the body's own nicotine production capability actually shuts down with all the
stuff fromcigarettes flooding it, and takes a long time to restart.
Like Valium but much, much worse. In extreme cases, associated with domestic
mass murder.
A dangerous drug that can have the most extraordinary positive effects on
suitably prepared individuals, and induce permanent psychosis in unsuitably
prepared individuals.
No involvement with D4 receptor but would appear to open up the model of
an objective reality where everything fits together (as known by mappers).
Fixation on the novelty to be found within objective reality is enough to
hold non-immunes out of ritual addiction. Too much in one go blows the mind.
An incredibly dangerous drug that can have the most extraordinary positive
effects on suitably prepared individuals and cause brain damage (sometimes
leading to death) otherwise. For suitably prepared individuals, the bad
effects can be avoided.
I'll reserve comments on what I believe MDMA does for a later posting. It
is a topic in its own right. The later posting
is available here.
Now I'll set my affairs in order and await the lynch mob :-)
From: Basil Rathbone Fishburg the Infinite
"Philip W. Darnowsky" wrote:
On Wed, 3 Nov 1999, Bill Kress wrote:
Back when research on LSD was legal (LSD is the only drug
ever invented that ALL research is completely banned by the
government--at least this was true when I was writing my
report), there were some scientific experiments done
where they got people to stop certain negative traits
(Spousal abuse, substance abuse) by administering a
single "Massive" dose of LSD and a week of counseling
surrounding the "Trip".
Timothy Leary, while still at Harvard, was commisioned by the
Massachusetts Board Of Corrections to do a study with state prisoners and
psychedelics (I believe he used psylocibin, but I'm not sure) to see if
the one had any effect on the behavior of the other. He used the
psychedelics and an early form of group therapy (which he invented) in
conjnction, then tracked where these prisoners were two years after
release.
Your typical criminal, two years after release, is back in jail. None of
Leary's subjects were.
I did my own (little) research project into LSD, and I found a book by
Dr. John C. Lilly (MD) called "The Center of the Cyclone". Lilly was
also an LSD researcher before it became illegal, and after the first
round of banning he was one of very few (I think 6 or so) researchers
that still had access to it. Some of his research was on dolphins; some
of it was on LSD as a treatment for alcoholism (and it worked very
well). Before the crackdown he performed experiments on himself, to
understand the psychological effects better, and the book I refer to is
more or less what came out of that research. It's very interesting --
also goes into detail on alternate consciousnesses achieved through LSD,
hypnotherapy, and meditation (all three being different routes to the
same areas).
I have used LSD recreationally, and personally I feel completely
prepared for the alternate mindset. I don't do that anymore, however I
have recently been tempted to obtain a supply for experimenting with the
hyperfocussing aspect -- particularly applied to teaching myself
languages (beit programming, human, or music).
I see all drugs as tools, some more dangerous than others. I have my
own personal issues with drug laws, but I'm more concerned with personal
safety and responsibility during drug use (mine or anyone else's). I
use the drugs I use for a specific purpose and I try to make that
special (ritualistic, but spiritually so). On the other hand, I drink
and smoke cigarettes heavily. I recognize that my smoking is an
addiction (a rather nasty one at that), and I'm working within myself to
break it. My drinking as well serves very little purpose (although I
try to confine it to social occasions, or when I really need to unwind,
instead of making an every-day ritual out of it).
Use the tools, but use them wisely. Don't stick your hand in the saw
blade.
From: Basil Rathbone Fishburg the Infinite
I did my own (little) research project into LSD, and I found a book by
Dr. John C. Lilly (MD) called "The Center of the Cyclone".
The best research book on LSD is by a czech named Stanislav Grof. Don't
remember the name.
Best 'how to' is 'Varieties of Psychedelic Experience' by Leary, Alpert and
Metzner. (From 35 years ago).
Together, these three are the only decent texts about a drug used by
millions of young people who have only anecdotal maps to what they are about
to get into. They are exposed to misinformation intended to produce FUD
which is exactly what you don't want at that time. Stupid Stupid Stupid
Use the tools, but use them wisely.
yeah. but where's the FAQ :-))
Rob
"Criminals today have guns, soon they will have computers and other weapons
of mass destruction." - Janet Reno, US Attorney General
From: "Philip W. Darnowsky"
On Fri, 5 Nov 1999, Robert White wrote:
Use the tools, but use them wisely.
yeah. but where's the FAQ :-))
Funny you should mention this; I was thinking today about another drug
called DXM. DXM is a hallucinogen contained in a certain type of
over-the-counter medication. There is a FAQ for it; it is something like
200 printed pages long. I guess the difference here is that DXM, being
legal, is easier to find credible research on. While I'm on the subject,
does anyone else have any experience with DXM?
Actually, I've used it before. I used it recreationally in high school
(don't ask me how I got started), way before I ever met LSD. Aside from
a complete lack of urge to cough during the trip, here's the effects I
noticed:
I didn't ever do much of it. (Cough syrups are hard to swallow in mass
quantities.) Maybe 50-60mg (I think?) per "trip". The trip lasts about
8-12 hours, and you feel f**k'n great the next day, regardless of how
much sleep you got.
Oh, and I still take DXM (in the form of OTC cough syrups) to help me
sleep. In small quantities it does make me drowsy (or maybe that's
another ingredient), but the euphoria-in-the-morning effect makes me
happy to get up when my alarm clock goes off. I spent one week earlier
this semester using it for that purpose every night, which I think was
overdoing it a bit; now I only use it when I absolutely positively have
to be somewhere after only 3-4 hours of sleep (like an exam).
I think the current topic about alcohol and drugs are interesting as, and I
don't mean any disrespect, naive Mappers may be drawn to them.
Perhaps. If that's true then I would fall into the naive Mapper category.
I am alcoholic to the core. I'm not sure what your definition of a naive
mapper is. From your message, I got the impression that it is a mapper
that has a faulty or incomplete map that precludes further, useful
mapping.
I can't really speak on recreational drug use, but I can give a view on
alcoholism and addiction. (They are synonymous to me) I've heard the insanity
of alcoholism defined as "doing the same thing over and over again and
expecting things to change". Somewhere along the way, I was confined to a
small, dysfunctional map which seemed to be designed to keep me thinking
within that map. In that way, it's similar to MO. In fact, now that I
think about it, it is very similar to MO. The marked difference is that
alcoholism is more destructive and produces a more distorted perception.
To survive, I was forced to change my thinking. I can thank alcoholism for
that. I sobered up 9 months ago and since then, life has taken on an entirely
different light. I got a job, and within a few months went from being an
administrative assistant to a tester and on to a programmer and database system
administrator. I have learned more about computers in the last five months
than I had in the 15 years before. I am learning quicker every day. My map
is growing, and my ability to learn an innovate seems to be on an exponential
curve.
I don't know if I am inherently a mapper or have been forced into mapper
thinking by the disease of alcoholism. I tend to lean towards the former.
Partly because of some things I excelled at even through my using, and
partly because I don't like the idea of being a packer at heart. :)
Could it be that some people who are inherently mappers are installed,
by their environment, a faulty map which inhibits their growth?
I suppose it depends on what you want out of life, but probably the latter.
So why is it that some mappers think to leave those people and situations,
and some try to figure out how to keep them in their life and manage it?
I am very fond of some people who fit the packer description. I wouldn't
want to leave them behind. Really though, I don't think that's necessary.
When you have seen a larger picture, the details are easier to manage.
Same goes for the goal to overcome inhibitions: either a Mapper could
realize that inhibitions are purely imaginary and willpower could overcome
them on a constant basis, or he could sporatically rely upon some other
chemical body to do the same and take the side effects?
Speaking for myself, I can say that self-knowledge alone didn't lead to
recovery or growth. It was surrender to the fact that my thinking wasn't
working, and the willingness to look outside myself. When I did that, the
world opened up to me. But again, this comes from an alcoholic perspective.
It may not fit into what you are talking about.
From: joss@software-that-works.co.uk
MDMA just gets people off their heads by opening their eyes to what they'd
know anyway if they weren't M0 victims, and exposes them to danger of
brain damage (leading to death if it's in the wrong place). They don't get
any more out of the experience than being off their heads however, since
they are totally cognitively unprepared for what happens to them.
I've used MDMA 3 times, and found it exceedingly effective
for communicating with fellow mappers. I've only ever done this
with one person at a time. In particular it enabled us to express,
comprehend and then merge maps thus clearing up a fair amount of
misunderstanding and resentment that had built up. Taking a walk in the
woods or along a beach is a far more sensible approach than going to a rave.
Going to a club on the stuff is fun, but ultimately pointless and dangerous.
It had never occured to me to use it for solitary problem solving, and
it would have to be a very important and difficult problem for me
to bother trying. I haven't used the stuff for a couple of years since
it has very harsh after effects that take a couple of days to manifest.
The death effect is extremely rare, but real. For several years MDMA was
hugely popular in the UK, even to the extent that alcohol consumption
fell
10% and football holiganism nearly died out. A significant proportion of
young people were taking it every weekend and dancing all night so the
handful of resultant deaths can easily be over-emphasised.
Of course there was a large backlash against it since drug dealers
always protect their patch (breweries of course and possibly Customs
and
Excise - tax on alcohol is a major revenue source for the UK
government).
My main concern though is that the brain has extremely effective
negative feedback mechanisms. As a rule any action has a reaction,
so my fear is that using it to could effect the
brains ability to map effectively without it. I've also heard that
it is very toxic.
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Drug Tolerated Cannabis No Alcohol Yes Tobacco Yes Heroin No Valium Yes Cocaine No Prozac Yes LSD No MDMA (Ecstacy) No
Cannabis
Alcohol
Tobacco
Heroin
Valium
Cocaine
Prozac
LSD
MDMA
many people are very shallow in conversation. Is it better to alter
yourself in such a fashion that you can lower yourself to their level, or
to stop wasting time with them and start searching for people at the higher
level?
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