Those you care about

[Peace Frog]

I have a very relaxed view when it comes to drugs, I will admit that openly. I used to be very against them, because I didn't understand anything about them. Once I started reading up on the affects of certain substances, etc. I began to learn that they weren't as bad as the government or other propaganda make them seem.

I have an ex-girlfriend, whom I dated for 2 years, that I remain extremely close to, and I still care about her a great deal. She has always maintained quite the opposite view on drugs as I have. She will only listen to what the government tells her about drugs and other substances. For awhile I tried to convince her otherwise, or at least to consider the other studies done without government involvement, etc., but she is quite stubborn about maintaining her anti-drug life.

I respect her for that, because it's better than getting too involved in them. The problem lies in the fact that she does not harbour the same respect for me that I do for her. She always has a huge problem with my view on substances, whether or not I decide to... This DOES stem from an unfortunate past with substances, not of herself or myself, but of a family member. It happened so long ago that I don't understand how she could be still disrespecting me this amount.

I'm not sure what I can do, but I wouldn't mind some 3rd party insight into this situation... I don't want her to change her opinions, but just respect mine and be a little more open minded.


Maybe I can't do anything at all, which is harder than being able to. I'd just appreciate some insight... Thank you.

[podge]

Swim used to be in a similar situation with his ex girlfriend of two and a half years. She believe's that if someone takes any sort of drug they have a good chance of dieing there and then. She really knows nothing about the whole drug culture. Very conservative upbringing. Swim found the only thing that ever made her think otherwise is the fact that swim is still alive and well and happy. Swim finds it near impossible to convince such people that drugs are ok if used responsibly so he doesnt preach too much if he can help it (unless its about the war on drugs...then swim will defend his beliefs to thew death.lol)....these people will never have the same interest to learn about these substance's like swim does so they will never really understand. Its unfortunate but usually these people should stay away from drugs anyway so it's not such a bad thing. If swiy's friend isnt interested in the subject then she will probably never really listen as swiy blabs on enthusiastically about the subject. But no matter.....as long as swiy knows his shit and stays safe then its all cool.

[Streak of Blue]

Show her this website, seriously.

[Nature Boy]

^^^

Good suggestion.

To be honest, the above scenario isn't even a likely issue with SWIM anymore. He's quite confident that he can defend his views on the matter quite comfortably because the actual facts (and not some magical government-spun bullshit) far out-weigh the opposing arguments. Luckily for SWIM, he lives in Ireland. Here, women tend to be dogs for the old booze (not to say the fellas aren't either). It's very difficult for an individual with a head (and belly) full of booze to criticize SWIM's daily marijuana and occasional hallucinogen use which doesn't result in any significant health problems. Women in general probably aren't as liberal about drug views because they tend to be less rebellious in their upbringing perhaps. Still though, a rational person is a rational person and given a proper look at the information out there, they should come round.

[The Doors]

SWIM doesn't particulary care what others think of drugs anymore. SWIM defends his opinions on the subject, no matter who it is. It is a cause that SWIM takes really personnaly and SWIM will be a drug advocate until things change. SWIM grew up with a cocaine addict mother and I believe that if people can be educated properly that these things will be able to be avoided, or at least greatly reduced.

SWIM tries to discuss the subject but with some people, it really is a dead end road and SWIM gets really frustrated when he ends up with non open minded people that won't bother even listening to what SWIM has to say, in that case SWIM really ends up telling the person to stay blind and to keep believing everything that is fed to them.

[Shiacmkmleer]

Swis's Girl friend is anti-drug. I dunno I don't think it really matters as long as who ever you're in a relationship with doesn't get too on you about it. One of me close mates gave of drugs cause of his girl friend. I think when you've reached that point perhaps they're changing you too much. But note that a lot of the time you will not be able to convince them to change to use drugs. Never enter a relationship assuming you can change the person you're with

[grandbaby]

I think a lot of problems originate with the term "drugs" as a generic catch-all for anything ingested that can alter the mind or the body. Marijuana is not heroin is not 2C-B is not DXM is not methamphetamine is not alcohol (just to narrow the focus onto "recreational drugs"). I found, with my siginficant other, that eliminating the word "drug" from the lexicon when possible, and substituting with more precise terminology, has helped a great deal in opening her mind to the fact that not all non-government-sanctioned-recreational-drugs-except-for-marijuana-which-is-also-okay (her prior view, and the majority position, as far as I can tell) are the fruits of Hades. In being able to discriminate among different substances, your ex may come to recognize that having the occasional spliff (or trip, or whatever) doesn't make you in any way equivalent to the PCP-addled no-pants no-hoper taking the tasers in stride on the Sensationalist Evening News (or YouTube clip).

[Peace Frog]

I like your approach Grandbaby, i'll try that out.

Thanks to everyone for your contributions actually, they all have good points to consider.