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Re: drugs...? pathetic

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Hi,

I know that many people have the idea that if people can only have fun with
drugs then they are 'pathetic', but even if we were to agree that this was
true, does this mean that we shouldn't take drugs? The kind of enjoyment
one gets from drugs may be base and may no to compare to un-drug related
enjoyment, but as any sort of enjoyment surely it still has SOME value,
even if this value is very little indeed. AND, if there are some people
who really only can have a good time with drugs, then who are we to deny
them this?

People also take drugs for many reasons, not just pleasure. Some people use
drugs socially - alcohol is the prime example of this - and in a sense I
don't think that there is anything intrinsically wrong with this. There
are many activities that we do solely for social reasons which are
important for social bonding and showing respect of people and culture by
partaking in their activities etc.

Others take drugs because it makes them feel more comfortable, often
lowering their inhibitions. While, at first this may seem just as
'pathetic' as taking drugs for fun, I think that it is understandable and
often useful, once again, for social reasons.

Then there are people who take drugs because it gives them creative
inspiration. This is particularly interesting as there are many issues
here. Is it ok to sanction someone damaging themself with drug use if this
is the only way society will be able to enjoy what their talent creates
which may be works with real, intrinsic value (eg. Hunter S. Thompson,
Lewis Carroll, Aldus Huxley etc.)? If someone takes drugs to help them
creatively could this possibly be 'cheating' as it is if someone uses
drugs to help them in sport?

Here's an example, that illustrates my views on the matter:

Person A is very intelligent and creative, she gets many things done, is
sociable and respected by her peers, enjoys intellectual pursuits, and on
top of that writes many great works of philosophy that may remain
important the shaping of philosophy for decades to come. She also, in her
spare time (maybe even to help her with her work) often drinks alcohol and
takes drugs, although it rarely affects the rest of her life.

Person B, however, works in an office and spends her evenings watching Big
Brother and hanging out with her friends. She has no interest in writing
books or creating art, rather, she is hoping to earn enough money for an
early retirement. Person B has never taken drugs and drinks in moderation
only occasionally, never so that it effects her work. She is very
anti-drugs and sees Person A as pathetic.

Here, which is not so far-fetched an example, I really think that Person
A's drug-taking does not make her pathetic at all. Person A is living what
I (and possibly Aristotle) see as a full and flourishing life, and what's
more, even if Person B is also flourishing (something that could be
debated), I don't think it is to anything like the same degree as Person
A. It is if, and when, drugs begin to effect and destroy one's life that
the issue may change, but in many cases of recreational drug use this
really does not happen, and so if a person can still flourish with drugs
in their life, then I don't see anything wrong or pitiful about that at
all.

Sorry for going on for so long, but there is just so much to say on this
issue...


Cressida

Quoting Alice Evans <apyyae@nottingham.ac.uk>:

> To reply to this message or start a new topic please email:
> BUPS-DIS@bups.org
>
>
> ** For Your Eyes Only **
>
> Err.. i think that's ridiculous.
>
> No, i dont think we should take drugs, they fuck up ur brain, marijuana
> fucks up the brain growth of adolescents, coke just sits on the front of
> ur brain for ages, well all that jazz. frankly i think its pathetic,
> maybe im an old maid, i dont really drink either, i drink very
> occassionally, i just never really want to, all my friends do, but i can
> have fun without it and dont see the point. im not being very
> philosophical, im just rambling... apologies. for me i think there is
> something rather sad, as in depressing, about not being able to enjoy
> urself without artificial stimulation, its a bit like not being able to
> enjoy urself without spending loads of money, again pathetic, ok, that's
> just my personal rant.
>
> done
>
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