Opinions - Is there any need to discuss non-drug related politics here?

[beentheredonethatagain]

I and everyone who know me , they know how I stand politically spiritually, medically, I can debate that stuff with them if I want to , I am attracted to Drugs-Forum to reach and remember places that I don't wonder much anymore, I come here to get away from the strife of more conflicts, so please lets keep it about what when have in common and focused on what attracted us here in the first place

[enquirewithin]

Originally Posted by beentheredonethatagain

I and everyone who know me , they know how I stand politically spiritually, medically, I can debate that stuff with them if I want to , I am attracted to Drugs-Forum to reach and remember places that I don't wonder much anymore, I come here to get away from the strife of more conflicts, so please lets keep it about what when have in common and focused on what attracted us here in the first place

Not sure what this means. Politics is relevant to most drug users because it profoundly affects their lives.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Yep, that's true, I don't even want to get into it with this guy. You speak for us all.

[~lostgurl~]

Could you be more specific? What exactly are you refering to? Information, experience and opinion is what this forum is about and we encourage intelligent debate, anything that goes beyond that - ie flaming, is dealt with appropriately moderators.

[old hippie 56]

Keeping up to date on politics related to the current drug policies is quite important to some people here, swim included.

Reputation Comments on this post:

yes, it is important to me aswell ,

[BackToBasics]

Unfortunately, Politics and drugs go hand in hand especially these days. As EnquireWithin said, politics profoundly effect most drug users lives.

Drugs are the very reason some people get involved in politics..when they start using, it broadens their mind and helps them to think in a much more profound way, which in turn causes them to question the environment around them.

Reputation Comments on this post:

yes, our minds are openned due to our using

[Alfa]

Beenthere refers to the discussion of Bush's war politics and other non drug related politics. I think he finds that the majority of posters that reply to such topics have very different opinions on the matters than beenthere. I very much agree with B2B that the use of psychoactives tends to let users question authority and I think this is what Beenthere is experiencing.

Some years ago I had similar heated discussions with a member about the same matter of Bush's foreign politics and the existence of US concentration camps around the world including the EU, illegal transport of people and the wiretapping of EU parliament by the US.
This was unheard of at the time and unbelievable as well. Especially if you live in the fishbowl of US media information sources. In the meantime these illegal monstrosities have been proven by EU commissions.

Most important about this is that I still have high respect for the guy and that I feel there is no reason to let a heated discussion get personal.

No matter if you wholehearted disagree with me or others, you will still have my respect and I expect you to do the same towards your fellow members. People will try to wake and shake you up on these matters. Thats normal. No matter what their opinion is. If you feel agitated our hurt about these topics, or feel it's difficult to respond without letting the borders of respect fade, then it is best to avoid such topics and move on to others. If not, then please proceed.

Reputation Comments on this post:

I agree , resepect is the key

[Sitbcknchill]

Sounds like an arguement you might have had with Woodman

Just a guess....

[beentheredonethatagain]

I don't get hurt or take it personal , my skin is thick , as with most people who have logged as many years in the drug culture as I have. I find Drugs-Forum a very unique place, the collective knowledge and experiences of drugs that are used medically as well as recreational.
I would rather focus on the similarities opposed to our differences, but that is just me.

[darawk]

Originally Posted by beentheredonethatagain

I don't get hurt or take it personal , my skin is thick , as with most people who have logged as many years in the drug culture as I have. I find Drugs-Forum a very unique place, the collective knowledge and experiences of drugs that are used medically as well as recreational.
I would rather focus on the similarities opposed to our differences, but that is just me.

Then why not simply not participate in those discussions? There are sections of this forum in which politics are rarely if ever discussed. For the most part, political discussion seems confined to the law and order and drug news forums...which are sections specifically created for that type of discussion.

[Heretic.Ape.]

^ a very good point.
Jill: "I don't really pay attention to politics"
Ben: "You should, it's only about as important as your breath."
(from Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein)
This is all the more true for people involved in some way with drugs. Current policy worldwide makes drug users second class citizens, terrorists, criminals, and a number of other absurd things. Being that many very close friends of people on this forum fall into this category it is not surprising that politics are a big hot issue with strong opinions. It usually takes those who are persecuted and oppressed to see that there is persecution and fascism occurring.

[Nagognog2]

Political discussion will stand in these forums. It's a sign of a healthy democracy (though we also maintain the right to be a part-time dictatorship). It's like watching a tree grow, or a pot plant, From a central stalk grow the branches. Each different than the others. And from these grow yet other branches. While the main branch may be "Harm Reduction - Play Safe!" - another branch might be titled "Bush is a War-Pig and should be put on trial!"

All these together make up Drugs-Forum. Taking out your Bonzai sheers to remove that which offends/doesn't interest a particular member would, no doubt, lead to one awful-looking botanical specimen.

Now back to my notes for a book: Drug Users - America's New Negro

Reputation Comments on this post:

good comparison

[beentheredonethatagain]

Lol we all can get along then, right?

[bcubed]

My personal beef W/R/T conservatism is that present-day ones are a bunch of hypocrites! (Well that and that they are fully in bed with big biz and screw over the working man, but that's for another forum...)

Case in point: remember 40-odd years ago, when CRA '64 was passed? The conservative viewpoint (and, up until then, there were quite a few conservative Southern Democrats) was "Well, we don't have a quarrell with them colored folk, it's just that the Federal gov't has no business getting involved in the affairs of the States." [aka States' Rights].

Now, just assuming for a moment that this wasn't a steaming pile of horseshit, fast froward to the passage of medical marijuana laws (particularly CA, where it was decided by referendum--the most democratic method possible). Conservatives FELL ALL OVER THEMSELVES to prostitute their "states' rights" principles and pass federal laws negating the state laws! WTF happened?!? We're not talking about CA wanting to sell med. pot to NV--that would (via interstate commerce) be the purview of the feds. No, this is (in theory) sholudn't involve the feds at all! The party that's ostensibly against "big gov't" pushed the Patriot Act, runs warrantless wiretaps on its citezenry, etc...not really sure what values, outside of "no Adam and Steve," they have left!

Incidentally, not all conservatives whore out so easily. When I was living in NM, Gov. Gary Johnson (R), a very, very conservative man, came out againt the drug war due to the excess of power it gave to the gov't, plus the fact that so many of his citizens were incarcerated as a result. I came to respect him as a result, not so much because this view agreed with mine, but because he examined his beliefs, compared them to the status quo, and realized that they forced him to take a politically unpopular stand.

Finally, GWB has been at the heart of the biggest power grab by the Exec branch in modern history and does not deserve the tile "conservative" in any way, shape, or form!