Mayonnaise

This is a bit off topic but I didn’t want a bunch of kids responding to the question. That, and I’m nearing 50 myself.

I’ve been reading a book called “Can’t Find My Way Home” which traces the use of recreational drugs in the last half of the 20th century. VH1 Classic is also showing a documentary called “Drugs”. Both of these have stirred thoughts and taken me back to my adolescence.

I did my share of experimenting with drugs during my teens and twenties. While I drink wine now, my days of drug use are long over. I tried smoking pot again a few years ago and hated the way it made me feel.

In the book the author’s father says you kids are all a bunch of knuckle heads wasting your life. Was it worth it, he asks, was it really worth it?

I am not trying to glorify or romanticize drug use, instead, trying to find a perspective on what I was doing back then and what did I gain from it.

If someone offered you a little coke, LSD, or pot today would you try it or politely decline?

And

Was it worth it, was it really worth it?

LynnH

Didn't then, wouldn't now!

timmhaan

i'm only 30, but i'll go ahead and post since the thread caught my eye.

i will never forget the sheer fun we had with drugs in college. absolutely, without a doubt, some of the best times i've ever had. but, we all realized there was a time for it then, and had to move on to different and more important things. we all finished near the top of our classes, have good relationships and careers. so, i guess we were lucky that we never got carried away. too many people never get their heads on straight.

that said, i feel much richer as a person for having done at least some drugs. I honestly couldn't imagine what kind of person i would have become if i never experimented for myself.

jibi

for me to those days are long gone
If someone offered me them now I would politely decline
The '60s were my time
I tried dope in Morocco last year and wondered why liked it in the first place.as for all the others
NO
george

webist

Wouldn't then. Wouldn't now either.

crtreedude 

Nope, my life is exciting enough thank you very much.

bkaapcke

I grew up in Berkeley in the 60's and just said yes. Everyone I know, who didn't have prior personality problems, experimnted, did too much, had fun and moved on with their lives. The few that had problems, got trapped in self destructive addictive behavior. Would I do some weed again? sure. When my son turned 18, I partook with him and had a very interesting evening. We tore all the barriers between us down. We have had a great relationship since, and we don't do pot much. Go figure. bk

Blackberry

I tried it briefly on account of my friends doing it, but I found the drug experience to be mostly boring. Now sex on the other hand....

howsteepisit

Did then, would not now. Aint worth the risk.

stapfam

Had plenty of friends on drugs in the 60's and saw the way it screwed them up. Never even tried one. People now look at me and can't believe I never tried any but In the 60's I was into sport and Never needed them.

Now 40 years later and I see the youngsters on Drugs and it still screws them up. All I have is a failing memory- can't concentrate and get very grumpy at minor things that should not affect me...Whats the difference?

Beverly

Had enough bad reactions to prescription drugs....wasn't going to try any other kind

jppe

Not that I live for cycling (notice how I weave into the thread), but I don't even like the effects of alcohol and not eating right has on the cycling performance/abilities. It just makes it more difficult and eliminates the hard work and effort that has been invested!!!!

But maybe I'm just not drinking the right juice........let me ask Floyd.

Tom Bombadil

"Mayonnaise?"

Is that some kind of sock puppet name?

Are you or have you ever been a Diego? At least as far back as you can remember.

And see, see what happens when there is no Webb Diego around to counter drug threads. Webb's virtual body is barely cold and here we are, talking about coke, Mary Jane, and LSD.

NOS88

In the 70s there was a book out by Joel Fort called the Pleasure Seekers. One of the things he did in the book was trace the history of people deliberately altering their state of mind via the injestion of some substance. Turns out that since recorded history, every known civilization has done this. I suspect it's part of the way humans are wired... we seek a different state of mind. Why do I cycle so hard I get "in the zone"? Why do I like the rush of flying down a hill at 50+ MPH on a bike? Why do I like roller coasters? Cycling is my drug of choice for this time period in my life.

Velo Dog

I did what I assume is about the normal amount of drugs for a college student in the '60s, mostly weed. My brother is still a more-than-occasional user, but I haven't smoked in at least 30 years. Partly it's because I didn't like the way it made me feel (I don't drink much, either, for the same reason--beer always tastes good, but I don't like being drunk or even buzzed). Mostly, though, I just hated smoking ANYTHING. Smells bad, tastes bad, just never liked it.
On the other hand, I'm not sure it's a matter for government prohibition. We're spending tens of billions of dollars in mostly-failed attempts to stop something that you could argue should be the individual's choice.

Monoborracho

Didn't then, wouldn't now.

Normal amount of drugs? No such thing. Why do you think we called it DOPE?

Marijuana was a felony (yes, really) when I was growing up. One of my childhood friends did 5 years in Huntsville for marijuana.

Mayonnaise

[QUOTE=Tom Bombadil]"Mayonnaise?"

Is that some kind of sock puppet name?

Are you or have you ever been a Diego? At least as far back as you can remember.

Don't know what a sock puppet name is or a Diego but you can read this if you want to know more:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=40713


How about a Spotted Cow?

will dehne

Here is my view on any illegal drugs.
Illegal means dealing with criminals or their agents and helpers. There is no recourse if things go wrong.
I do not trust people easily and certainly no criminals or people who bend rules without knowing probable outcome of their actions.
Murphy's law says: Anything that can go wrong probably will go wrong. I live by that and have done fine.
There is enough risk and controversy with legal substances and drugs.

Coyote!

>>> If someone offered you a little coke, LSD, or pot today would you try it or politely decline?

Neither. I'd let them know that drugs have destroyed my son's life, neither killing him nor letting him live. . .that as a consequence drugs have left me and my family exhausted. . .that while we are still capable of happiness after a fashon, we don't smile much any more. . .that the most powerful force in the universe, Mother's Love can in end be destroyed. I'd end by allowing the bestower a decent interval for retreat prior to taking his knees 'cause the rage seeks a victim. How's that?

>>> Was it worth it, was it really worth it?

I'm a child of the 60s. Drugs were "nowhere" then and they're "nowhere" now. . .sorrow, expense, distraction, Damnable Waste, leading. . .nowhere. Friends killed, futures ruined, happiness extinguished. How's that?

AGGRO

Tried about everything cept acid back in the day. Wished I'd done none but the coke thing was pretty fun. I've always been able to walk away from it though some cannot. Lost 2 friends to hard drugs along the way. Glad they are illegal.

Know this, rich kids to as many drugs as poor kids. Parents, you need to be able to tell when they are.

-=(8)=-

I was a child of the 69's & 7o's and suffered/partook of all that came with that era.
As a kid who was more into art and music I was sort of surrounded by people who were
into that sort of lifestyle. Back then, you think you were having a great time.....exploring
new parts of your mind, experiencing epiphanies and kozmic trooths, etc, but in
retrospect all that wonderful stuff fades and a different memory and reality sets in.
Really, the drug / alcohol stuff held me back despite what I thought were all of
these 'awakenings' and groooovey times
If I could do it all over again I would try to find my 'answers' the way I do now....
With a cup of coffee and a long walk, ride or meditation period. The drug stuff
has no soft spot or sentimental value to me. I wish I had the money I wasted on it
and could take back some of the undesirable situations I ended up in and
people I hurt, too.

Roody

I quit drinking 26 years ago because it was making me stupid. I quit weed about the same time because it was making me paranoid and making me cough real bad. The hardest one was, I quit tobacco 5 years ago because it was making me have heart attacks.

I would gladly do acid if it was offered in a safe and enjoyable situation. LSD was always my favorite high and I truly believe that it helped me to find spiritual clarity. It was like looking through a new window with the Andersen sticker just peeled off it. Or riding a nice bike after you've been walking 100 miles.

Tom Stormcrowe

I'd decline. I wouldn't be very polite about it though, as the people who know me know my stance on drugs.

SaiKaiTai

Love wine, got no problem with pot. Anything else? Nah.

Tom Bombadil

I've never tried drugs. Not even in college when my roommate was a marijuana dealer. He used to bring in bags with a pound or two of MJ and sit in the middle of our room separating out the sticks and measuring one ounce bags. Most of his sales were to members of our football team.

I certainly saw some of the negative effects of drugs while in college. In my freshman year, I lived at the end of the dorm's hallway, where there were 4 rooms on the far side of the stairway. 8 students rooming in them. Of the 8, 6 got into drugs and 4 flunked out / withdrew before finishing the year. Near the end of the year, our floor RA got arrested for drugs and thrown out of school. The RA on the floor above ours OD'ed on drugs over the Christmas break and died.

OTOH, two guys on the floor did drugs all the time, both had GPAs of 3.8+ and went on to get PhDs.