[ExI] effects of stimulants (was Bodies)

[Stathis Papaioannou]

On 22 March 2010 07:17, Lee Corbin <lcorbin at rawbw.com> wrote:
> Stathis writes
>
>>> Well, were I placed in a cell for a year with nothing
>>> to read except manuals on these subjects, and nothing
>>> to do except little experiments having to do with them,
>>> then SURELY you will agree that caffeine and---as you
>>> assert, amphetamines---would make *all the difference
>>> in the world* in how enjoyable that year was. Right?
>>
>> I wouldn't say "all the difference in the world". Maybe a slight
>> difference, but it might even make you more irritable, anxious or
>> dysphoric. I don't think there is evidence that any drug improves
>> productivity in any activity in a sustained way, although maybe small
>> doses of caffeine or amphetamines comes close.
>
> Evidently there is great variation. Suppose I were
> trapped in the aforesaid cell for a year, with *nothing*
> to do except study automotive repair manuals, and,
> not to make it too extreme, given an hour or two
> every few days getting to fix a car.
>
> Now I have *never* had any interest whatsoever in
> car repair, yet with the help of caffeine, I would
> arise every day and hit those manuals with gusto.
> I would immediately find automotive repair to be
> rather interesting, and after a few months, *very*
> interesting.
>
> Without caffeine, this simply would not happen. The
> tedium would rarely subside.

You're very fortunate if caffeine has this sort of effect on you. With
me, it does nothing at low doses and at high doses it just makes me a
bit jumpy.


-- 
Stathis Papaioannou