Posted by Cam W. on August 4, 2001, at 19:45:23
In reply to Cam..Erowid's 'street-drug info' isn't right! ... » Cam W., posted by gldngodess on August 4, 2001, at 19:08:57
gg - I know all about erowid's info, and their statements do not make it into my files. I do find what they have to say curiously amusing, though.
I do not look at any drug (chemical, food, herb, nutritional supplement, etc.) as good or bad. Objective evidence comes from experiments using the scientific method, and it must be implicitly acknowledged that any evidence that is found, is subject to modification or change.
Subjective experience may be a beginning point that can be used to develop methods of finding objective evidence; but alone, subjective experience must be viewed with the utmost caution (more so than objective evidence from a well planned and executed research experiment).
Too many people look at drugs (et al) as either being black (bad) or white (bad), because it is in our nature (and is much easier) to compartmentalize and store, as information. Many do not want to, or have the time to, listen to all the angles being presented on both sides of any debate over drugs; to realize that with the good comes bad and with the bad comes good.
Even my use of the words "good" and "bad" are extremely subjective. Nothing is good nor bad in itself, but in one's perception. For example, a side effect of one medication is the mechanism of action of another. A simple case in point is Desyrel™ (trazodone). It was originally approved as an antidepressant, but at antidepressant doses it caused profound sedation that many people could not tolerate. Now Desyrel is used (at about one-tenth the dose) as a relatively safe and effective hypnotic (sleeping pill).
I try to see all substances that we put into our body to elicit a change in body functioning as drugs (including foods - prunes, for instance). Therefore, I do not see any black or white issues when I think about drugs, only shades of grey. Saying this, I do find myself sometimes slipping to the white or the black side of a drug debate, but I am getting better at deciding when it is appropriate to do this. It is not always easy to remain impartial < VBG >, it is vital in order to progress from subjective experience to objective evidence.
Just some random thoughts. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:73014
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010804/msgs/73571.html