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What's so "snobby" about having psychedelics as one's drugs of choice?

MyDoorsAreOpen

MyDoorsAreOpen

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Aug 20, 2003
Messages
8,542
A number of times over my years here at BL, I've heard people who don't frequent PD describe this subforum as "snobby". Now I'm mostly a lurker in PD, but every time I've had a question or comment, I've never felt like I was bumping up against a wall of cooler-than-you. On the contrary, I've found folks here very approachable and welcoming.

I'm reminded very much of mainstream ravers (an oxymoron, I'm aware) who've blown off psytrance fans and their scene as "snobby" too. I somehow doubt it's a coincidence that psychedelics play a more major role in the psytrance scene than in raves featuring other genres of music.

Can anyone here speculate as to why this is? I have my own theories, but I think I'll touch a few nerves if I articulate them, so in the interests of not making this initial post too inflammatory, I want to hear others' ideas first.
 
Well, there are a fair number of psychedelic users who insist that they only use drugs for psychological healing/spiritual growth, and that this usage pattern is in fact the "correct" one or otherwise superior to hedonistic drug use (a false dichotomy if there ever was one, I'd say). So there's definitely some pretension from some parts of the crowd.
 
Not to come off as a snob :\ but.... I feel that psychedelics can be a "challenging" high in that they involve your mind. That's pretty much the main reason why I choose psychedelics. I don't like drugs that don't include this mental aspect. Out of all the others I have tried, psychedelics give me all the same effects (euphoria, energy, sociability) plus the visuals and duration are a huge bonus for me. But then again I have limited experience with most other chemicals.

My explanation I think would come off as pretentious to someone who say.. does a lot of coke.
 
Given that psychedelics are very hard to abuse - which is the opposite to most other drugs, some psychedelic users might not like to see themselves compared to, for example, an opiate user.

Personally, I'm the opposite. Drugs are drugs are drugs, any drug can be abused or made into a bad habit, some are riskier than others but at the end of the day the key is in safe responsible use and having a good head on your shoulders. I think psychedelics have many benefits, but I think euphoria can be seen as a benefit, so all drugs can be beneficial in one way or another.

I think the "snobbery" people talk of may come from peoples' limited experiences with users who have only used psychedelics or psychedelics and Cannabis. I've noticed it more with Cannabis actually, though not at all here on Bluelight in CD - mainly on other sites. Some people will say "I smoke weed, it isn't a drug, so you're still tarred with the junkie brush and I'm all clean over here :D" and I assume there are some people who use psychedelics who say the same. Overall I think that's a very wrong approach though, even irresponsible users are usually good smart people who've just let their guard down at the wrong time, so judging anyone for choice in drug, ROA, reason of use etc is bad. :)
 
I'd say taking only psychedelics can be hedonistic (arent they supposed to open your mind?). Although a bit ironic seeing as doing drugs like coke, H, could be viewed hedonistic as well, in a different way though.

eh

guess drugs in general are like that. But what do you have if not for hedonism...?

asceticism could be seen as pure hedonism as well.


in the end youre going to to whatever makes you happy.
 
Never Knows Best said:
Well, there are a fair number of psychedelic users who insist that they only use drugs for psychological healing/spiritual growth, and that this usage pattern is in fact the "correct" one or otherwise superior to hedonistic drug use (a false dichotomy if there ever was one, I'd say). So there's definitely some pretension from some parts of the crowd.
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I think these are the 'snobby' people you are talkin about. My opinion, a lot of the people here on BL that do this are just trying to justify why they do drugs. You know how I justify my drug use? ---> I enjoy doing them.
 
If you are someone truly knowledgeable about psychedelics then it's very likely that you won't be snobby. You will be informative and have respect and appreciation for each compound you ingest.

I have spent years obsessively studying psychedelics so i feel i've earned the right to take them as i please. :)
 
There is defiantly a difference between psychedelic use and other drug use. Other drug use like coke, brown, e, booze, whatever is more for the pleasure of the drug. Psychedelics, even the word itself comes from Greek for Mind Expansion, teach you something, but there is the sense that you have to open to the teaching for it to occur and if you aren't the results might turn into a dull trip or maybe a bad one. Either way drugs are drugs. Its like the only difference between medicine and poison is dosage, and like all things in life moderation is the key. This can be easy for some and hard for others, but ultimately depends on the individual and the substance/activity.
 
I've never heard about people thinking psychedelics users are snobby because of their DoC, tho i have had many encounters with people who try them and are then all-knowledgeable about drugs, and others who think if you haven't tried everything or open to everything then your a 'poser' type, especially if you haven't touched the harder stuff, which imo i think acid, dmt, and 2c-x although may not turn you into a shell of the former person you used to be through addiction, are much 'harder' then say meth, they are to be respected
 
I have found that within the drug culture, many of those who are into the most addictive and dangerous drugs tend to have a sense of pride as to their experience and tolerance, yet cannot handle psychedelics. Then, while still being part of the drug culture, hearing from psychedelic users about how they feel their mind has been opened and they feel like they have become better people, it hurts their pride on two levels.

The hard, cool druggies cannot handle the drug of the gentle, tree-hugging hippies. Love it.

What I wish all those outside of the psychedelic community would understand is that psychedelic use is not easy, but the payoff of repeatedly putting one's mind to that test is indescribable. I have had very few trips that were not difficult at some point during the trip (usually during the onset and first couple hours). I have also never in my life been as frightened as I have been during certain trips. That said, as hellish as some trips of mine have been, there was never once that I did not come out of the experience feeling like a stronger individual.
 
i think most drugs made me feel super-human tripping made of feel like a god
 
^Some drugs make me feel more comfortable or confident, but I have never experienced a drug that made me feel like I was God.
 
perKeceT said:
i dont think its snobby at all. the snobbyness comes in cuz there are definitely some pretty elitist psychedelic lovers.
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Yeah I think the general intelligence level of primarily psychedelic users is higher than for primarily depressant (opiates, benzos, alcohol, etc) or stimulant (cocaine, meth, etc) users.

Are there really any other classes for recreational drug users? Pure pot smokers and maybe you can add "physical health" groups: mind (nootropics) and body (steroids, growth factors, prohormones, etc). A nootropic-only user group would act pretty elitist I'd have to think...
 
Never Knows Best said:
Well, there are a fair number of psychedelic users who insist that they only use drugs for psychological healing/spiritual growth, and that this usage pattern is in fact the "correct" one or otherwise superior to hedonistic drug use (a false dichotomy if there ever was one, I'd say). So there's definitely some pretension from some parts of the crowd.
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Exactly. I had a boss that boasted that he had done acid 300 times by 18 and mushrooms 200 times. He was a total dick to me once he found out I had tried opiates.
 
MyDoorsAreOpen said:
A number of times over my years here at BL, I've heard people who don't frequent PD describe this subforum as "snobby".
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Perhaps because many psychedelic users are quite knowledgeable about their DOCs and try to share this knowledge with those less informed people. Like when someone posts how they're going to eyebell 40mg of 2C-i cuz they're such a 'psychonaut' and they get replies telling them it's too much, get a scale, titrate up, etc. Some people can't handle criticism ans take it as snobbery.
 
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