Have you intolerant, fascist, mutually masturbatory maderators (
) ever considered a correlation between the onset age of MDMA usage and susceptibility to infantile symbology? I wonder if we don't use binkies due to using MDMA later in our lives, once we had already developed a stronger sense of self, and a greater distance from the memories of childhood. Of course, I imagine the 3 of us have a stronger sense of self than the average indivdual of comparable age, anyway.
I can easily draw similarities between dummy-usage now and the explosive popularity of Members Only jackets in the mid 80's, or
any fasion trend aimed at the younger generation. BTW,
Members Only has a completely different connotation now, doesn't it?
Pacifier usage could almost be described as surrealistic; candy ravers have taken this object completely out of its original context and placed it into a new picture. I must admit, I would have never considered using a binkie to relieve the jaw-clenching properties of MDMA. It's quite a leap, intellectually, since they weren't used for jaw clenching so much as a replacement for nipples...which opens up a whole new Freudian side to the debate.
Regardless, I'm just talking through random ideas. I don't really view binkie usage as a brilliant surrealistic symbol, so don't get all freaky on me. But I have always wondered why some E heads got all pissy about others using them. johnboy finally stated something that brought it all together: "its only a problem to me when i get lumped in with you..."
This is the same problem motorcyclists deal with. Some of them give
all of them a bad name (sorry, owning a motorcycle brought up this analogy). johnboy, this happens in all segments of society. I'd assume it's more of an issue on bluelight where people might not know what you look like, but it's not so much of an issue in real life when people base more on the way you look than what you do.
Instead of berating those who take E but don't represent your image, why not spread the information that not all E users are binkie suckers, that E users come from all segments of the population? I've seen 50 year old computer programmers and 25 year old angry Hell's Angels on E. I've seen parents and 14 year old kids on E. I've seen conservatives and liberals on E. You can't lump E users into one category...other than "E-heads."
"Especially regressive symbolic behavior that shuns people who are not part of their aesthetic ideal"
LO, you and jb are also shunning people not part of your aesthetic ideal. I not saying this isn't natural...just be aware of the fact that you do it as well. It becomes the time honored clash between the "mature" and the "immature."
"...who see their culture as THE culture..."
For what it's worth, most cultures have had the same perspective for millions of years.
Guys, we may see MDMA as a positive vehicle for self-exploration and growth, but we shouldn't determine that it should only be used as such. Our pattern of use may make us better people than we were before, but assuming our way is the proper way destroys that growth...we become as narrow-minded as those you speak against (just without the infantile symbology).
Guys, I don't mean to attack your viewpoint, only to show that all viewpoints are valid. Your viewpoint works well for you, but that doesn't mean it's going to work for the next person you meet. Getting riled up about it only serves to splinter any of the similarities E users actually have; we will spend more time fighting amongst ourselves than we will spreading any positive message to those who despise drugs or the drug culture.
Just my very Americanized 2 cents. Take care, compadres.
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Entropy requires no maintenance. -- Robert Anton Wilson
[This message has been edited by Mr. Sticky (edited 24 May 2000).]
