Is it me or is it the drugs?

[Indian]

What's your opinion?

Do drugs help you know yourself better or just make you think you know yourself?

In a way I built an image of myself, and I want to understand it better...

Am I just stoned right now?

[Pino]

Do you get stoned in Canada?

Please read the rules.

Swim isn't sure. It is a difficult question. Because it depends on how the drugs messes with ones brain. Certain drugs seem to lower ones inhibitions, makes one self-critical. So certain behavior can come out, which was first successfully suppressed. (Alcohol) Some drugs stimulate areas of the brain. For example if ones frontal lobe gets more active, seeing patterns in things would be easier. One would become more aware of ones social behavior etc. Some drugs seem to be able to revive forgotten memories. All these things will change one.
If this betters one or not, isn't easy to answer. Drugs can have positive effects on ones live or negative effects on ones live. It all depend on the results of the change.

If one become more aware of oneself is a philosophical question. Swim really isn't sure, if there is something as 'oneself'. But one can be sure, that every observation will change the thing one calls oneself. So it is unsure, if this leads to a deeper insight.

[Matt The Funk]

The only drug that makes SWIM unaware of his personality(his "sober self") is on dissasociatives and deleriants.

Originally Posted by Pino

If one become more aware of oneself is a philosophical question. Swim really isn't sure, if there is something as 'oneself'. But one can be sure, that every observation will change the thing one calls oneself. So it is unsure, if this leads to a deeper insight.

QFTW
But yeah drugs change your consciousness which can change your opinion on things, which can change who you are "sober". Drugs can help people learn about themselves and others, among other things.

[beentheredonethatagain]

I feel that the use of medicines like marijuana and LSD, allow the user to see the world and people around him in a expanded way. Then the same must hold true if he were to examine himself in a honest way.

There is a line however , where things are blown out of focus and will mis-lead the mind.

As long a small amount of mind altering takes place , Then it may help to open a door into a part of the brain , resulting in new view or desire, or even a direction to take.

Of course this is just my sometimes humble opinion.

[Pino]

^^ Swim agree. Another line is, if one spend more time in a psychedelic reality than in the sober reality. One doesn't get the time to cleanse one from obvious wrong ideas.

[Paracelsus]

Indeed. There is a limit to self-discovery and mystical experiences. If you start to think that the Earth Coincidence Control Office has named you its prophet on Earth (see John C. Lilly), it's time to ask yourself some serious questions. Just my opinion.

[Corksil]

Lilly may have been a genius. He may have been misunderstood. /off topic

SWIM feels it is entirely possible to know oneself better through proper use. To truly find oneself, one must first lose their mind. Or so SWIM hears...

[some_random_guy]

Originally Posted by Pino

Do you get stoned in Canada?

Is that a trick question?

jks.

[beentheredonethatagain]

If you are asking the question then its the drugs. but at least you are aware of it to ask.

[enquirewithin]

Originally Posted by Paracelsus

Indeed. There is a limit to self-discovery and mystical experiences. If you start to think that the Earth Coincidence Control Office has named you its prophet on Earth (see John C. Lilly), it's time to ask yourself some serious questions. Just my opinion.

LOL! Lilly's story is indeed a cautionary tale. I think it was ECCO's Agent rather than Prophet, but the point is well taken. If you have an urge to warn George Bush that solid state entities are taking over the earth, you need to cut down on your drug consumption!

Lilly was still a genius, but he lived on the edge-- or over it. I think was talking in metaphors much of the time-- or was he? His ketamine entities were only parts of his mind.

Lilly could afford to take his 'self-discovery' to extremes because he inherited wealth. Most of have to live in 'consensus reality' and hold down a job!

[molly5190]

swim's use of drugs have helped her become more aware of beauty, less competitive and irritable, and more easy-going. this change in personality has also allowed swim to explore herself more, and become more familiar and comfortable in her own skin when sober. if swim falsely analizes herself while high, well, i don't think that matters, as long as that doesn't stay with swim when sober.

i agree with pino