Any of you use drugs to increase creativity?

guangong · Sep 17, 2019

Going to the dentist and afterwards becoming addicted sounds too much like “My dog ate my homework”. I have taken OxyContin after severe dental surgery, but never felt compelled to take every pill in prescription. Same was true of my wife, who had extreme surgery. Every junkie has an excuse, and this one seems to be uncritically accepted by so called experts, because they have already selected a villain.
Those who say, “Look at me, I’ve been doing ...(film in you favorite drug or habit)...for so many years, and I am in perfect shape”, have not been around long enough to see what happens. I have seen chain smoking friends die at 68 yrs or drag around an oxygen tank in their mid 70s, a close friend I knew almost my whole life live into 90s, but hardly able to walk. I have another friend in late 40s who only decided to refrain from booze when it was too late.
As I noted in an earlier post, it’s no fun to live a long life and be in bad shape. People are born ignorant, but it takes effort to be stupid.
As I learned from an executive head hunter, legalizing marijuana is powered by big business. An if legalization follows the pattern of abortion (another big business), in states like New Jersey we will see movement to legalize cocaine and heroine in the not so distant future.

Sirius Glass · Sep 17, 2019

guangong said:
Going to the dentist and afterwards becoming addicted sounds too much like “My dog ate my homework”. I have taken OxyContin after severe dental surgery, but never felt compelled to take every pill in prescription. Same was true of my wife, who had extreme surgery. Every junkie has an excuse, and this one seems to be uncritically accepted by so called experts, because they have already selected a villain.
Those who say, “Look at me, I’ve been doing ...(film in you favorite drug or habit)...for so many years, and I am in perfect shape”, have not been around long enough to see what happens. I have seen chain smoking friends die at 68 yrs or drag around an oxygen tank in their mid 70s, a close friend I knew almost my whole life live into 90s, but hardly able to walk. I have another friend in late 40s who only decided to refrain from booze when it was too late.
As I noted in an earlier post, it’s no fun to live a long life and be in bad shape. People are born ignorant, but it takes effort to be stupid.
As I learned from an executive head hunter, legalizing marijuana is powered by big business. An if legalization follows the pattern of abortion (another big business), in states like New Jersey we will see movement to legalize cocaine and heroine in the not so distant future.

So we can take it that you, yourself, have never been pregnant?

Vaughn · Sep 17, 2019

guangong said:
...An(d) if legalization follows the pattern of abortion (another big business), in states like New Jersey we will see movement to legalize cocaine and heroine in the not so distant future.

Interesting...are you implying that big-business is encouraging pregnacies in order to be able to perform more abortions?

...Edited...

Sorry, probably a stretch on my part. Plan Parenthood is a non-profit organization, and the US medical insurance industry is more into denying services than encouraging them.

But legalizing all drugs would be a good direction to go.

MartinCrabtree · Sep 17, 2019

Vaughn said:
Interesting...are you implying that big-business is encouraging pregnacies in order to be able to perform more abortions?

...Edited...

Sorry, probably a stretch on my part. Plan Parenthood is a non-profit organization, and the US medical insurance industry is more into denying services than encouraging them.

But legalizing all drugs would be a good direction to go.

As long as the UK model is the base.

Vaughn · Sep 17, 2019

MartinCrabtree said:
As long as the UK model is the base.

That would be a starting point.

jamesaz · Sep 18, 2019

Vaughn said:
Interesting...are you implying that big-business is encouraging pregnacies in order to be able to perform more abortions?

...Edited...

Sorry, probably a stretch on my part. Plan Parenthood is a non-profit organization, and the US medical insurance industry is more into denying services than encouraging them.

But legalizing all drugs would be a good direction to go.

Not necessarily legalizing but decriminalizing.
Also, addiction is a condition where a person, even while realizing how destructive the behavior is, has to continue because the body demands the substance. It is not an intellectual decision.
With regard to creativity, saxophonist Sonny Rollins, while incarcerated in the 50's, was one of the first people to undergo methadone treatment. He wondered if being clean would affect his musicianship. It didn't but that story is an example of what control addictive substances can have on people.
My opinions on abortion are unnecessary since I'm never going to have one, kind of like my opinions on owning an elephant.

Vaughn · Sep 18, 2019

I prefer legalizing....then take the money saved from the enforcement of drug laws, the cost of housing drug-related criminals in jails, and the other societal costs of creating a drug-funded criminal class, and use it for education and treatment of those with drug problems.

Sirius Glass · Sep 18, 2019

Vaughn said:
I prefer legalizing....then take the money saved from the enforcement of drug laws, the cost of housing drug-related criminals in jails, and the other societal costs of creating a drug-funded criminal class, and use it for education and treatment of those with drug problems.

I too prefer legalizing, since the legalization in California the gangs have had their income impacted. Now if we can get rid of the unlicensed sellers, the gangs would be hurting. Besides who am I to deny a cancer or glaucoma patient medical marijuana if it helps them deal with their medical problems.

Saganich · Sep 18, 2019

Anything you can do to transform a perspective will help with creativity.

Patrick Robert James · Sep 18, 2019

Vaughn said:
I prefer legalizing....then take the money saved from the enforcement of drug laws, the cost of housing drug-related criminals in jails, and the other societal costs of creating a drug-funded criminal class, and use it for education and treatment of those with drug problems.

Yeah, but that makes sense... Since when has sense had anything to do with laws? Lol.

I'd actually go one step further. The government should provide safe drugs. It would give people a chance instead of a dead end. Overdoses would go way down as well. Treat the drug problem as a social problem, which it is, not a criminal problem.

jamesaz · Sep 19, 2019

Vaughn said:
I prefer legalizing....then take the money saved from the enforcement of drug laws, the cost of housing drug-related criminals in jails, and the other societal costs of creating a drug-funded criminal class, and use it for education and treatment of those with drug problems.

(U.S. only)The only issue with legalization, at least in the case of cannabis, is that it also comes with regulations. Case in point: In the state where I live medical is legal. However, the state requires licensing of individuals and dispensaries. If I were to want to grow a couple plants for personal use I would be in violation because I live within some prescribed distance of a dispensary. The dispensary cartel tried to get recreational use passed with a bill that would exclude anyone not currently a dispensary owner from joining the club. This attitude, and the amount of money involved, and politicians and the weakness of their minds and will, will likely lead to some new forms of corruption. These are my reasons for decriminalization being preferable to legalization with regard to cannabis. As far as other, actual addictive substances, perhaps we should have a national dialog to determine what it is about living here that has so many seeking the escapism drugs provide. I just have thoughts, not answers.

Vaughn · Sep 19, 2019

Ah, but to be a young graphic designer right now in California. The packaging the cannabis industry has created is quite creative.

foc · Sep 19, 2019

jamesaz said:
what it is about living here that has so many seeking the escapism drugs provide. I just have thoughts, not answers.

A very good point and one that has no national boundaries or jurisdiction.
Since we as humans can be very selfish, seeking pleasure or escapism comes in many forms. If a pill, tablet or herb will provide either or both of those then some people will seek it out and use it.
As to why we seek escapism, well I am sure there are better and more qualified than me to explain that .

John51 · Sep 19, 2019

The subject of illegal drugs came up in conversation at a social event and out came the 'As a mother...' bs arguing for the continuance of prohibition.

The mother happened to have teenage sons who weren't there but there were a few early teens available to help set her straight. The eldest of them was 15 iirc. I asked them which of 4 drugs would be the quickest and easiest for them to get, if they had £20 to spend. Tobacco, alcohol, heroin or cannabis. The consensus was cannabis was the easiest for them to get and alcohol was the hardest.

warden · Sep 19, 2019

I'm guessing the adware pays attention to the content of the discussion, yes? This is the first time I've seen ads like this on Photrio, but then I haven't paid much attention so maybe they've been here all along.

guangong · Sep 19, 2019

Anyone who denies the fact that marijuana has not become a huge business with very large corporate backing has not been reading the financial and business press in recent months. As far as illegal distribution, once corporate interests are involved, the smaller independent distributors will be legally removed from the market. All depends on which is most beneficial to the politicians.
Or maybe not. NYC has a cigarette tax that brings the cost of a pack of cigarettes to about $10+ a pack, resulting in a very active bootleg business.
What is more interesting is the current view: that smoking tobacco is bad, but smoking dope is good. Oh, but then there are Hillary’s famous marijuana cookies...remember those?

removed account4 · Sep 19, 2019

Saganich said:
Anything you can do to transform a perspective will help with creativity.

i couldn't agree more !
i read nancy and zippy every day

jtk · Sep 20, 2019

the BS about "enhancing creativity" totally fails to address what "creativity" might be. That ignorance all assumes that "creativity" is a "good thing."

One of the posters actually claims Hitler was "creative." That explains the appeal of POTUS to some people.

Cameras are never "creative" and most camera users simply make useless snaps of kitty kats and kids and flowers.

jtk · Sep 20, 2019

Saganich said:
Anything you can do to transform a perspective will help with creativity.

OK, I'll bite: since military training, like cult group membership and stage 4 cancer "transform perspective" ... that means to you that they "help with creativity"..??

blockend · Sep 20, 2019

With the exception of an occasional beer, stimulants aren't my thing. Young street photographers live on coffee, if YouTube is to be believed. Loading a Leica is tricky enough without balancing a 2 pint venti mocha frappuccino. My mind is a 3-ring circus by default, consensus reality is weird enough for me.

John51 · Sep 21, 2019

Choose which portrait you prefer and that's the drug for you...

https://indie88.com/this-artist-drew-self-portraits-on-50-different-drugs-photos/

awty · Sep 21, 2019

John51 said:
Choose which portrait you prefer and that's the drug for you...

https://indie88.com/this-artist-drew-self-portraits-on-50-different-drugs-photos/

Damn! where am I going to find DMT around here.
I like someone who can suffer for their art.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 21, 2019

guangong said:
Going to the dentist and afterwards becoming addicted sounds too much like “My dog ate my homework”. I have taken OxyContin after severe dental surgery, but never felt compelled to take every pill in prescription. Same was true of my wife, who had extreme surgery. Every junkie has an excuse, and this one seems to be uncritically accepted by so called experts, because they have already selected a villain.
Those who say, “Look at me, I’ve been doing ...(film in you favorite drug or habit)...for so many years, and I am in perfect shape”, have not been around long enough to see what happens. I have seen chain smoking friends die at 68 yrs or drag around an oxygen tank in their mid 70s, a close friend I knew almost my whole life live into 90s, but hardly able to walk. I have another friend in late 40s who only decided to refrain from booze when it was too late.
As I noted in an earlier post, it’s no fun to live a long life and be in bad shape. People are born ignorant, but it takes effort to be stupid.
As I learned from an executive head hunter, legalizing marijuana is powered by big business. An if legalization follows the pattern of abortion (another big business), in states like New Jersey we will see movement to legalize cocaine and heroine in the not so distant future.

Not sure if my NJ will legalize it. The governor is pushing but he's run into issues with the legislature. Also, what with the problems with e-cigarettes lately, I think people are re-thinking pot. Frankly, who needs more stupid people driving on the road high going to a photo shoot thinking they're creative artists? Do we really need to add to the mayhem caused by drinking? Let them continue to take boring snapshots soberly.

removed account4 · Sep 22, 2019

Alan Edward Klein said:
Not sure if my NJ will legalize it. The governor is pushing but he's run into issues with the legislature. Also, what with the problems with e-cigarettes lately, I think people are re-thinking pot. Frankly, who needs more stupid people driving on the road high going to a photo shoot thinking they're creative artists? Do we really need to add to the mayhem caused by drinking? Let them continue to take boring snapshots soberly.

There have been people driving and doing that for 30 or 40 years . I’m more worrried about someone on their cellphone than anything else. Completely and utterly distracted. Saw a 3 car pileup tonight. Cars and trucks &c should have something that completely disabled telephones except for directions/maps or emergency services...

( written on phone, edited on computer, fixed typos, only consumed a barly ripe banana for my creative typos )

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 22, 2019

jnantz said:
There have been people driving and doing that for 30 or 40 years . I’m more worrried about someone on their cellphone than anything else. Completely and utterly distracted. Saw a 3 car pileup tonight. Cars and trucks & can. shiuld habe a something that completely disabled telephones except for directions/maps or emergency services...

I agree cell phones are a menace on the road. But having more stoned drivers is going to make it worse.

Any of you use drugs to increase creativity?

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