[ExI] video which changed my perspective

[Adrian Tymes]

On Mon, Mar 28, 2022 at 10:14 AM Will Steinberg via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> But for something like psychedelics, pleasure isn't really the point.  The
> point is a novel sensory/learning experience that specifically has
> long-term positive effects.
>

Uh huh.  A quick google on "lsd long term effects" brought up multiple
references that strongly disagree.  Listed symptoms of long term LSD use
(to take just one of the more well known examples) include:
* Diarrhea
* Restlessness or agitation
* Vomiting or nausea
* Irregular or rapid heartbeat
* Fever or high body temperature
* Seizures
* Hallucinations
* Loss of coordination
* Rapid changes in blood pressure

Many of these may indeed be novel, by definition, to those who have never
experienced them before.  But they strike me as neither learning
experiences (save for, "don't do this again") nor positive effects.

Maybe the hallucinations can be tapped to drive learning - but those who
can do that, can use non-psychedelic-induced pathways without the more
unambiguously negative effects.

While the trip could be confusing or difficult, the aftereffects are the
> real meat.  In that sense they are almost opposite to alcohol.
>

Insofar as the effects include reduced mental and physical capacity, they
may differ in the details but are close enough to alcohol's.


> Taking a psychedelic is like visiting the most unbelievable museum, using
> your brain in ways you did not think possible.
>

Do you really not believe that this can be done without using psychedelics
at all?

Every human being can dream, man.  Start by dreaming.  Let them guide you
toward these "impossible" ways, close enough that you can leap the rest of
the distance.
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