Posted by Cam W. on May 8, 2000, at 7:46:19
In reply to Drugs for Creativity? , posted by DC on May 8, 2000, at 7:06:44
DC - I don't recommend either high doses of stimulants (problems with heart basically exploding) or inducing mania (some psychotic symptoms may make you less creative).In the 1950s LSD was used by acadamia to increase insight into their studies. It may have worked in a few cases (eg Cary Mullens - PCR; Steve Jobs - Apple), but Timothy Leary got ahold of it and ruined it for everyone by giving high doses to the masses. LSD is a powerful drug, and taken in the wrong "setting" or "mindset" can do quite a bit of pyschological damage (or even physical damage due to accidents).
In 1967, there was some graffiti on a wall in Haight-Ashbury that read "speed kills" and the author was basically correct. Even though many people have tried to boost creativity and intelligence, there has been no sure-fire ways to do it. Inspiration, a large part of creativity, needs to bounce around in your subconscious for a while before it emerges as an idea.
Even those with mania will not recommend inducing a manic state, for any reason. The bad definitely out-weighs the good.
Jack Kerouac used many types of different drugs to try to boost his creativity. It only led to an early grave. Allen Ginsberg lasted longer, but much of his writing can only be understood after quite a bit of introspection and thought (not an easy read).
IMHO use what you've got, outside of that, the gains you may receive from chemically induced ideas just aren't worth the risks.
Sincerely - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:32741
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000508/msgs/32749.html