this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2024
50 points (98.1% liked)

askchapo

22841 readers
356 users here now

Ask Hexbear is the place to ask and answer ~~thought-provoking~~ questions.

Rules:

  1. Posts must ask a question.

  2. If the question asked is serious, answer seriously.

  3. Questions where you want to learn more about socialism are allowed, but questions in bad faith are not.

  4. Try !feedback@hexbear.net if you're having questions about regarding moderation, site policy, the site itself, development, volunteering or the mod team.

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Capitalism has a deep-seated taboo against taking recreational drugs. So strong is the taboo they will ruin your life and exile you from mainstream society for doing something recreational.

This is changing a bit as the scientists tell them there is basically no reason for this. But the scientists meet with resistance from entrenched cops, judges, lawyers, who are very frothingfash about it.

What's the materialist explanation for this moralistic taboo?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] FunkyStuff@hexbear.net 11 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Some stimulants like caffeine aren't taboo because they're just addictive enough and just effective enough that they affect productivity positively. Alcohol has had a complicated history all over the world, and I think in a world where the capitalists had absolute power it'd be banned too. All the other dependence creating drugs mess up workers too much to allow them to run free.

I guess that begs the question of why non-addictive psychedelics are taboo, and I suspect that one doesn't have a very good materialist explanation.

[–] Vampire@hexbear.net 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I guess that begs the question of why non-addictive psychedelics are taboo, and I suspect that one doesn't have a very good materialist explanation.

Could it be that they lead to non-conformist and anti-authoritarian patterns of thinking?

[–] FunkyStuff@hexbear.net 7 points 3 months ago (2 children)

They seem to just as regularly lead to Joe Rogan types so I don't think it's appropriate to sum their effects up as purely positive for class consciousness or anything like that.

[–] Vampire@hexbear.net 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Note that I said "non-conformist and anti-authoritarian", which is very different from "class conscious". Joe Rogan is a Bernie Sanders supporter. You wouldn't meet many authrights who like psychedelics.

The research says that the change is to do with 'Openness': https://www.livescience.com/16287-mushrooms-alter-personality-long-term.html

[–] FunkyStuff@hexbear.net 8 points 3 months ago

You wouldn't meet many authrights who like psychedelics.

You mean to tell me Julius Evola just... was like that?

[–] UlyssesT@hexbear.net 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Nick Land would like a word. So would Steve Jobs if he wasn't fucking dead.

Also, I don't think mushrooms or other psychedelics are like some Game Genie "be a better person" code for human brains. They can help, yes, but plugging them into billionaires (which they often do on their own) hasn't demonstratably done much to meaningfully change their behavior.

[–] UlyssesT@hexbear.net 4 points 3 months ago

The most enthusiastic public user of ketamine is my-hero too. Lots of substances should be legalized, but calling any of them magic cure-alls is just over-correction.