From 37Signals:
During health class in high school they taught us that taking LSD would make you jump out windows (y’know, cuz you think you can fly) and give you flashbacks. Here’s the other side of the story (from Wired’s recap of “LSD: Problem Child and Wonder Drug, an International Symposium on the Occasion of the 100th Birthday of Albert Hofmann�): Steve Jobs told a NY Times reporter that taking LSD was “one of the two or three most important things he has done in his life.� Nobel-prize-winning chemist Kary Mullis told Hoffman that LSD helped him develop the polymerase chain reaction that helps amplify specific DNA sequences. Kevin Herbert, an early Cisco employee, fought to ban drug testing of technologists at the company because, as he put it, “When I’m on LSD and hearing something that’s pure rhythm, it takes me to another world and into another brain state where I’ve stopped thinking and started knowing.� Hofmann, who’s still alive, says, “There is global healing in these compounds which have been used for millennia by indigenous people that have much to teach modern man and modern woman.�
28 Comments
So I guess it’s a gamble you make. Either you jump out the window to your death or you win the Nobel Peace Prizes. You just don’t get to know until you wake up not-dead on the sidewalk.
While I am well read and experienced in the subject and know of the dangers, I would not look at the world the same without my experiences with this “productivity booster.” We used to call it “getting our house in order.” But I’m sure glad that God stepped in and showed me the real path to spirituality and life-changing experiences without drugs. Comedian Bill Hicks does have some classic stories on this subject that are worth searching out though.
The following are not stories from a textbook or the web, this is about real people.
Most of friends have tripped in college and regret it.
Having known two guys that have do have severe flashbacks on and off I would say it is not worth it, they trip out unexpectably especially if and when they exercise, so… bottom line… they function as purely mentally disabled most of the time…
no job…no marriage or girlfriend…can barely speak coherently in and out of the mental ward …etc.
One of these two friends entered the spiritual world and saw satan on his throne compelling him to bow, he called out the name of Jesus and came down off his trip.
He could barely get out of the house for over 10 years.
Without Jesus yes LSD is probably is a signficant life experience. For me surfing 6-8 ft face waves in 25 degree air temp and 34 degree water in a NY snowstorm 250 yards off shore experiencing wild nature was a signficant life-changing experience. So what… big deal.
I could on and on about the dangers of this drug in particular, it is a huge risk…one that could mean Permanent damage and IMHO insane.
I’m with Jared. I’m grateful for the many experiences that add to the tapestry of my life experience but I’m more grateful for the truth I can now stand firm upon. I’m also freakin’ lucky to be alive and I can thank God for that too. I have an uncle who was a government guinea pig in the sixties during his military service. They fed him enough LSD to disable him for life. They stole his life. I’ve always wanted to write about this but he’s old now and I’m not in contact with him.
Government guinea pigs fed LSD? I’ver never heard of that program.
It was done in secret.
this isn’t really “the latest” productivity booster, but whatever. if you can know numbers as colors, than you can know that yellow and blue make green. i don’t really have a point.
Agreed that this is far from the “latest.” Not sure if anyone does acid anymore. Kids seem to be more concerned about cell phones and jeans. whatever. Here is a link to a book that goes deep into this topic and how the combination of the 2 things mentioned in Jared’s inital post lead to all this technology that we get to enjoy today.
Amazon.com3A20What20the20Dormouse20Said3A20How20the2060s20Counterculture20Shaped20the20Personal20Computer3A20Books
What the Dormouse Said: How the 60s Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer
sorry I suck at submitting links.
Amazon.com: What the Dormouse Said: How the 60s Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer: Books
I decided not to post as much but I am compelled to do so on this subject.
I have heard about that government lsd dosing program in the early 60s before it was illegal to use LSD. Also that CIA agents expermented with dosing each other on some ” spy retreat “.
About half had very bad reactions and half good trips.
Have heard from students that many high school students take lsd and that is a weaker version and lasts for about 4 hours. My kids have also told me that mushrooms ( psyocylim ?? psychodelic ) are widely used in buena and ventura high. One student I know personally was tripping daily and could hardly stop and he finally came to a place where God helped him to do so. Last word from him was that he still was clean. He doesn’t go to the bridge.
That is part of the seduction of lsd — you can expand your mind. It’s a retread of the same bs from the 60s. It’s a lie.
I bet a large percentage of the guys walking up and down the coast talking to themselves started with this type of drug.
Carlos Castenatas ( not sure of the spelling ) recorded several experiences with mescaline.
I believe his spirit guide was a demon.
So, let’s see - possible brain damage, possible tempoary/permanent psychosis,
possible addiction, and finally possible demonic activity in your life…yeah that’s worth some possible enlightment..
I hope noone here is considering experimenting further.
Why not try huffing glue? A high school aquaintance stated he saw things in a much different perspective and got super high, he also spent time in the psych ward for his trouble. His brain after was crap.
Please note my perspective isn’t from a puritanical distance, I grew up in the late 60s and early 70s, seen it close up, it wasn’t pretty,
While it’s been interesting to see all the comments on here without really participating in the discussion, I thought I should probably clarify that I’m not encouraging and/or endorsing the use of LSD.
that’s good
that’s good man, you were starting to freak me out, I was getting this bad vibe…I thought you dosed my drink when I wasn’t looking…
that’s a joke, a poor one for sure man.
Jared? No. He’s clean, man.
7:09
9:42
Dave, ya, that was a good one, if you’re referring to that one new years party. I don’t think your drink needed any additional help…
To the time nazi’s - don’t worry about it. I’ll get around to fixing it sometime.
i’m a time facist, thank you very much. someone needs to take a politics class!
note: for the love of mussolini, don’t take a politics class. the last thing we need is for jared to be more political.
ha ha, that was the last new year’s party I went to…
The nazis were facist, but I am aware that not all facists are Nazis. However, the “*-nazi” term is in more common use in society (ie: soup-nazi) and it’s just more fun and insulting to say.
I don’t think I’m very political at all. I guess it depends on how you define that.
ha ha re: you are not political …are you working on a stand up comedy routine?
the last new year’s party until 2006/2007 that is.
http://freepressblog.org/category/politics/
I guess I see a difference between “being political” and talking about politics or the things that politicians do. Maybe I should say that I don’t view things from a politically polarized point of view.
i can dig that.
But, on the other hand, after I posted that I realized that it was to some degree a load of crap and that I’m probably just deluding myself. I do sometimes get a little too political, and you called me on it.
I have been trying to lighten it up a bit lately, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. Also, some things that I write about I honestly don’t think of as “political” even though they are to some degree.
Like today, for example, when I was listening to some news reports (which I’ll post on later) and getting all upset about people who speak out against some of the current policies of our administration being labeled as “anti-American” or unpatriotic because of it.
Sometimes when I hear stuff like that, I tend to want to post about how it is actually the people who are waging unjust and illegal wars and essentially using the bill of rights as toilet paper in an effort to sacrifice freedom for a little (perceived) security who are really the ones spitting on the graves of the people who died to preserve those freedoms.
Now, see, I don’t think of that as political….
What is important to us and our particular perspective will and should outflow to views on politics.
with all the freedom of choise in the usa making everybody crazy, it’s funny that political parties still exist.