Poll: What drugs have you used? | Hacker News Reader

Poll: What drugs have you used?

16 pointsEgeBamyasi25 comments

This article http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2364425 argues that more "intelligent" persons tend to take more drugs than "less intelligent" persons.

"People – scientists and civilians alike – often associate intelligence with positive life outcomes. The fact that more intelligent individuals are more likely to consume alcohol, tobacco, and psychoactive drugs tampers this universally positive view of intelligence and intelligent individuals. Intelligent people don’t always do the right thing, only the evolutionarily novel thing."

I´m going to make a generalization and categorize you all as "intelligent people" and ask you to vote for the drugs that you have taken as I am curious about what drugs "intelligent people" tend to take.

Also, if you guys would write a line or two about why you use/used drugs or why not that would be swell.

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Where's the option for "None" - I've never used any of those you cite, but equally, I'm not going to condemn them (or their users) out-of-hand.

ADDED IN EDIT: Wow - a drive-by down-vote. Can anyone suggest why I got a downvote for my comment? (Even though it's now been countered by a balancing up-vote - thx)

I tried to counteract your downvote but I guess my votes don't work.

Have you never tried anything really, not even the legal things like alcohol?

I've only ever had alcohol and caffeine (since someone else mentioned it) and the alcohol I only have once or twice a month in like 1 beer quantities but other than that I've never even tried anything.

Growing up I was asked if I wanted to try other things plenty of times but never pushed by friends or anything so I guess that is a big reason I haven't ever done any other drugs.

If we are counting caffeine I have a cup of black tea almost every day.

I think wewyor has a pretty good idea - someone might find an overt declaration of abstinence to be troublesome given the nature of the poll. Maybe they feel insecure about their personal use, maybe they feel the best "abstinence" vote is simply not choosing any of the options, maybe they simply feel that you haven't got anything to contribute (sort of like if you asked for a Starbucks' option in a poll on your favorite independent coffee shop).

Also, downvotes happen. You have enough karma that it seems odd to take someone else's view of your contribution seriously. Unless I'm missing something, I'd just say don't worry about it. Karma's like age - it's nothing but a number.

I have caffeine (hence my comment about those cited) but I have never had alcohol. (Long story, not very interesting, I wouldn't bother asking)

If you don't mind me asking is it because of other people that you stay away from everything or something else?

I try and keep away from alcohol I've seen enough family members die and go down the wrong road because of it, and friends with the other drugs that I kept away.

> I´m going to make a generalization and categorize you all as "intelligent people" and ask you to vote for the drugs that you have taken as I am curious about what drugs "intelligent people" likes.

But you asked which drugs the people here have used - not which ones they liked..

I've used various drugs for various reasons. I no longer use illegal drugs because of my job, but I've used quite a bit in the past.

Cannabis is great for unwinding when you just cant force yourself to stop thinking about work or other worries. It's also just plain fun.

I enjoyed LSD the most. Aside from the hallucinations and euphoria (both of which were good enough reasons to use it) the drug causes a lot of introspection. You wander down some corridors of the mind you would normally never visit. I feel like I know myself better because of it. My first trip alone caused me to make some life changes afterward which have greatly improved my life today.

Much has been said about the therapeutic value of mdma, but that as not been my experience. It's a lot of fun, you do feel closer to those around you, but I don't think I took much away from it. I've mainly done this at clubs, so perhaps it would be different in another setting.

For reference: 29 Male, software developer. More or less successful (married with a house and all that)

I'm fairly successful - top 10 school, developer at a Fortune 500 company, involved in a number of very in depth hobbies.

I've used everything on the list except mescaline, meth, opium, and PCP (mostly for lack of access).

Most of these were just a handful of times, but I smoke weed 3-4 times a week. I adore psychedelics but limit that to once every 2-3 months. Coke is fun every now and then, but I keep that very infrequent for obvious reasons.

Started at probably 15, so over a "career" of about 8 years.

Only thing I've ever come close to having a problem with is amphetamine, since the productivity boost is amazing (at first). Which is a problem, because it's easy to fool yourself into thinking it's actually beneficial. At therapeutic doses maybe, but believe me, after day 2 of borderline recreational dosages, it's not. It's the only one I really steer well clear of.

For what that's worth..

I've smoked pot a few times, but it was never that enjoyable. I drink moderately throughout a month (maybe like 4-5 chill at home beers), and generally get drunk like 1-2 times a month on weekends or special occasions. I like the taste of beer and whiskey, though, so it's something I'll always do. Nitrous was just a fun little 30 second laugh fest that has popped up at hippie shows I go to. The only drug I'd ever really advocate and the only one I'll do with any regularity are mushrooms. It's certainly not for everybody, but given the right circumstances, atmosphere, etc, mushrooms have really led to some of the best experiences I've ever had and really opened my mind to a lot of new things. That being said, it's been a few years since I've dabbled, but I plan to do some soon. It's always an eye opener.

I would have been interested in everyone's use of Nootropics[1]. I've taken and had productive, beneficial experiences with Modafinil and some Amphetamines. Though I am reticent to recommend use or talk about it much (likely my own DARE to say no cultural bias).

Something I found interesting in the poll is it seems to exclude a number of prescription drugs that people may be using. Just look at all the results that are falling under "Other". I tend to not discern a difference between the two when discussing drugs with hackers.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic

I used for a time period after college when I worked as a landscaper before I got my act together and dealt with some emotional problems I had been ignoring for way too long. Drugs were a kind of release valve for pressures I had no outlet for. It wasn't about pleasure, it was about feeling something different. A stupider version of myself might have resorted to body harm and gotten the same effect.

I have little interest in using again because I no longer feel those pressures, but I wouldn't tell anyone else to make the same decision I have.

N20? lol :) (pun intended) Anyway, would've been interesting to add nootropics to the list also ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic )

This was all a long time ago, I got bored with them real fast. I am practically tea total these days.

Chocolate however is another issue :)

No caffeine?

True, that has taken me years to shake off. Down to one cup a day now and I am no longer getting the headaches.

I use drugs because, umm, why not? I did worse things under internally produced adrenalin, serotonin or something than I ever did under alcohol or cannabis or something.

Being madly in love beats cocaine by high margin every time, but you can't be madly in love whenever you want. Also, cocaine is probably safer.

What do you mean when you say cocaine is safer?

Marijuana about five times in my life, and moderate alcohol about once a week.

Mostly just to fit in. I've sometimes gotten home and thought "today was a long day; I'll have a beer", but I don't think I've ever finished that beer. I just lose interest in it about a third of the way through it.

I think you should have included a category for opioids or prescription painkillers, given their present popularity.

Drug-free, except caffeine, for 20 years.

Some of these aren't drugs (n2o) but yeah. I just like recreational drugs. They can be taken safely.

Creatine, Ephedera, Caffeine, Morphine, Hydrocodine, Oxycotin...

making this list remind me how much crap i grubbed inside my body... i'm glad i don't tak any of these sh* anymore (except occasional beer)...

Drug - Dose = Medicine

Where's the option for "all at the same time!" ?

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