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if you've already made the decision to forego drugs and alcohol, it is clear that you're a person of higher thinking and reason
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<p>Now your just being silly. What does one have to do with the other? I become intoxicated all the time so I'm not as smart as someone who doesn't? Please explain why you think this. </p>
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no one actually WANTS to willingly share their drugs with you
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<p>This is true.</p>
<p>My personal mantra is to stay away from that kind of crowd--if they're really your friends, they'll understand. Plus, if you friends like that, they need a sober designated driver, so you can function as that--but why would anyone want to hang out with people who don't even have the brains to not smoke and kill themselves plus other people, is beyond me. As you can see, I am very anti-smoking and drinking, and for me it is a matter of principles and basic common sense</p>
<p>Citan,</p>
<p>I drink once in a while and smoke hookah and the occasional pipe and cigar, but I would never dream of pressuring someone else to drink or smoke. I'll offer a sip of a beer (unless it's a good one, in which case you can get your own damn beer, foo'). :p</p>
<p>If some asshat says, "Here, drink this, blabbity blabbity what are you, chicken?!" then they're an asshat, and you should just get up and leave. That's what I did, and it works great.</p>
<p>"but why would anyone want to hang out with people who don't even have the brains to not smoke and kill themselves plus other people, is beyond me"</p>
<p>No. The use of drugs is not a measure of intellect. It's probably more a question of personal values and priorities in life. You are drawing a very illogical conclusion. I've done drugs extensively for 5 years but have been clean for 2.5 years. Yet I've excelled more than many students (who seem drug-free) in my classes and will now join the rank of those who will be attending UCLA or UCB (engineering).</p>
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but why would anyone want to hang out with people who don't even have the brains to not smoke and kill themselves plus other people, is beyond me.
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<p>Yeah, you tell it like it is! Those dumb smokers, like Einstein, Tolkien, Virginia Woolf, Oppenheimer, Ed R. Murrow, Vonnegut, FDR, Bill Clinton, P. J. O'Rourke, Mark Twain, Salk...and of course, Groucho Marx.</p>
<p>Actually, you know what? Except for Marx, none of them are really that smart, you're right.</p>
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No. The use of drugs is not a measure of intellect. It's probably more a question of personal values and priorities in life.
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<p>We were not drawing a connection between intellectual abilities and drug use. We were drawing a (inverse) relationship between maturity, integrity, and drug use.</p>
<p>janel,</p>
<p>Not everyone drinks or smokes out of some sort of lack of integrity or maturity.</p>
<p>I drink beer and wine because I enjoy the taste. I find sitting and sipping a good beer to be a relaxing way to enjoy an evening. I don't really care all that much for the effect.</p>
<p>It's no different than someone drinking tea, despite the fact that it has caffeine in it.</p>
<p>janel, I was replying to Jassi's comment regarding having the "brains" to be drug free.</p>
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It's no different than someone drinking tea, despite the fact that it has caffeine in it.
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<p>Which is why true straight-edgers do not drink tea or caffeine, either: they are stimulants.</p>
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Not everyone drinks or smokes out of some sort of lack of integrity or maturity.
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<p>I never contended that everyone does. </p>
<p>Look, I've already gotten into the drug debate once on this forum and I don't care to do it again. I wrote a 100 page thesis paper on the ethical dilemmas of drug consumption and research into the drug trade over the last year and half -- and believe me, I could go on forever. With finals around the corner, I'll stop here.</p>
<p>I just wanted to give Citan encouragement from someone in similar shoes as him. Clearly Citan, jassi, and crew see the picture differently than most. Listening to a list of people tell him "yeah sure, dude, you don't have to do drugs, we'll just do them all for you" is not really helping. His reasons for departing from that lifestyle deserve to buttressed by those who understand his line of thinking. </p>
<p>Citan, you've done humanity and probably yourself a huge favor. I respect you big time.</p>
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Which is why true straight-edger do not drink tea or caffeine, either: they are stimulants.
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<p>Wait...so what exactly are you allowed to eat/drink? Are medications allowed? I'm seriously just curious.</p>
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I wrote a 100 page thesis paper on the ethical dilemmas of drug consumption and research into the drug trade over the last year and half -- and believe me, I could go on forever.
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<p>Actually, I'm a bit curious now that you've so cruelly piqued my interest (only to shoot me down later. Jerk. :p) </p>
<p>Do you lump all drugs together, including antibiotics?</p>
<p>sXe people are such self-righteous jackasses. Keep it to yourself.</p>
<p>Why do you say that? It seems more like a lifestyle choice, then anything. And it's certainly pertinent to the conversation.</p>
<p>I can see why someone would avoid consuming stimulants. I mean, the numbers of people with at least moderate caffeine dependencies is astounding.</p>
<p>aside from the fact that everyone has gotten a little off course with the subject...dude if you dont want to drink or smoke then dont do it. one of my best friends has never done either and we party like rock stars. he comes clubbing with me in la and new york (huge drug scenes in both). if you really dont want to then dont sweat it man no one is going to force feed you. just tell them the truth, it isnt your thing. most people who are mature enough to go to a good university wont freak out if you dont drink or smoke. granted, you might miss out on certain social functions and bonding experiences, no one is going to force you. its a personal choice.</p>
<p>This is off topic but I thought it was interesting. Maybe I'll start drinking more tea. Not scientific but interesting nontheless. <a href="http://www.holymtn.com/tea/caffeine.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.holymtn.com/tea/caffeine.htm</a></p>
<p>"The relief from fatigue that tea provides is a big reason for its popularity. This is due to caffeine, and caffeine has been a matter of controversy. It is a stimulant that has been shown to speed reaction time, increase alertness, and improve concentration. The physical effects include stimulation of digestive juice, the kidneys, and the metabolism in ways that possibly help eliminate toxins. An increasing of mental alertness, shortening of reaction time, and improving efficiency of muscle action is brought about by caffeine's stimulation of the heart and respiratory system, bringing more oxygen to the brain.
There has been much concern in the United States recently about the possible dangers of caffeine. As regards tea, it should be noted that all types of tea contain less caffeine than coffee. The caffeine content of some of our teas is available here."</p>
<p>I have no problem with people who don't drink/smoke/caffeinate, I think they're weird, but have no problem. I don't like the sXe people who give pompous ego-inflating speeches. A simple "Nah, I don't drink" or "No thanks" is fine. "I don't drink because I am straight edge and actually care about my body and life" is a pompous jackass thing to say.</p>
<p>i concur...its a personal choice. if you don't expect to be judged for not drinking then don't judge those who do.</p>
<p>It's like vegetarianism. "No thanks, I don't eat meat." "Nah, I'm actually a vegetarian/vegan." So be it.</p>
<p>"I don't eat meat because do you KNOW what these meat packers do and I actually CARE about animal rights, you cruel ****" is not okay.</p>
<p>Haha the first thing i am doing when at school on my own next year is buying a nice bong ;) but i respect others wishes not to smoke or drink no pressure here</p>
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Wait...so what exactly are you allowed to eat/drink? Are medications allowed?
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<p>False analogy.</p>
<p>Food, medications, and so on are not used for recreational purposes; they are used for subsistence. The distinction lies in the purpose of their use, despite their similar physical effects. We do not get "high" on food. We live on food. </p>
<p>Now you will probably counterargue that many things are used for the immediate pleasure that they bring that are seemingly innocuous. For instance: sex, music, riding roller coasters. In that case, why can't drugs take up the equally innocuous recreational stance? Well, a couple reasons. One: the former activities do not typically alter our perception of reality as drugs do. Two: when applied correctly, the consequences of the former activities are ultimately beneficial to the human spirit. Recreational use of drugs is almost never really benefiicial. Three: drugs are associated with a bloody web of social repercussions including human rights violations, class stratification, depletion of third world economies, political corruption, the list goes on. </p>
<p>Legalization, don't bother justifying your use on its possibility, it's not coming around ANYTIME SOON. Both parties are adamently opposed to it (assuming we won't count on Kucinich having much electoral success, ha). It is analogous to making the argument: I am entitled to make an action that is greatly hurting my community and world because oh well, the system is just ****ed up. Not good enough, sorry. </p>
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i concur...its a personal choice. if you don't expect to be judged for not drinking then don't judge those who do.
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<p>I am not judging anyone personally. I am simply judging the culture that we have been introduced to, and that we are blindly perpetuating.</p>
<p>"We were not drawing a connection between intellectual abilities and drug use. We were drawing a (inverse) relationship between maturity, integrity, and drug use."</p>
<p>Actually, come to think of it now, I know several science and engineering professors who smoke and i don't, for any minute, doubt their degree of maturity.</p>
<p>Edit: I should add that they are repectable professionals at my local CCC. Perhaps they were even respectable back when they were working in industry.</p>