Who needs drugs when you've got music?


http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/01/17/169551061/who-needs-drugs-when-you-ve-got-musical-ecstasy

Does your stereo do this to you very often?

This is the only test of great stereo!
don_c55
This is so true.Its like you are connected to something on a higher plane than what usually happens in life,a very spiritually gratifying moment.
Stereo?
Consider it as a mild substitute, but would more prefer hearing and seeing it live no matter how great the equipment is.

With presense of packed bowl of good weed indeed the effect is substantially stronger, mixing same with live music is even more stronger and finally adding some glass or two of good beer could make you a happiest individual on the planet.
"I quit doing drugs.
I ran out.
And I'll never do them again.
Until I get some more."

Bill Hicks
The current responder score is 3 to 1 in favor of drugs. I also like to smoke pot and listen to music, but I wind up playing guitar for hours instead...so I can't win.
I agree to the pot thing, in the 60;s i dug pot over booze anytime, smoked for over 40 years, but i quit, my lungs are gone. Now the music gets me ro where i want to go.
I guess most people posting do not have good systems, if they need drugs to get involved with the music.
Honestly, most Systems can be "enjoyed" with drugs only (Professional writers get money instead).

Most descriptions in reviews for example are imo based on that. Deafness is also very common in this business, or the combination from both.

But, fun counts...
"Music will get you through times of no dope better than dope will get you through times of no music. " (apologies to R. Crumb)
The problem with drugs is the addiction part....but like Richard Pryor said "I can quit anytime, I've done it like 20 times!"
Lighten up Don_c55- I've been known to enjoy an occasional puff before a live show, but haven't smoked in my house for 20 years. Just havin' some fun.
And thanks for the R- Crumb reference, Tpreaves. It's amazing how a little maturity will help you see the flip side of things. Or maybe R. Crumb was just puttin' us on back in the 60s???? You know what they say- Nobody who says they remember the 60s was actually there!

Peace, dudes ;-)
Why do you think they call it "dope"? Big waste of time and money. Spoken from experience.
Lighten up Don_c55- I've been known to enjoy an occasional puff before a live show, but otherwise haven't smoked in over 30 years. Just havin' some fun.
And thanks for the R- Crumb reference, Tpreaves. It's amazing how a little maturity will help you see the flip side of things. Or maybe R. Crumb was just puttin' us on back in the 60s???? You know what they say- Nobody who says they remember the 60s was actually there!

Peace, dudes ;-)
Sorry for the double post. Sometimes I get like this after 3 fingers of red-eye and a bowl o road apple red.
I guess most people posting do not have good systems, if they need drugs to get involved with the music.

I can rephrase:
What systems? Drug systems? They're all bad pal.
Pot is just a-bit of an exception. It's HERB by definition.
Music fulfills a need for many. Thats why it is so popular, right? There is an emotional connection enabled by our sense of hearing specifically.
How is pot a bit of an exception when you exploit it for abusive recreational purposes? There are consequences to the abuse and excessive use of herbs as well as pharmaceuticals. If you don't need it, why are you doing it? You know what they say about the doctor who has himself as a patient.
01-20-13: Csontos
If you don't need it, why are you doing it?

One only needs to drink water to survive so why does one drink other beverages? Probably because one wants to.
Yes, and using the ceiling as the floor will likely land you on your head. Besides, does music really need any help? Bottom line is if you need to take something to make you feel better, then something is wrong. It's actually more fun not being intoxicated. If you're ill, take medication. If you're just pretending, you will be.
Hah, I actually need it and rarely us it for recreational. I use it approx 1/8oz monthly when I can't just get myself to sleep. Found it more efficient and less side effects vs. RX. Watching my consumption on the safe levels.
I doubt anybody "needs" to smoke a little non-toxic (by definition) herb for musical listening enhancement, but I am amazed in this day and age that anybody else would care one way or the other. If I get so hammered from single malt I hurl on my DAC, I'm an idiot. A legal and socially acceptable intoxicant idiot, but still...we need to exclude the Church Lady mentality from otherwise harmless discussions or the forum is rendered pointless by uninformed hysterical and anachronistic opinions. Or something.
I have a friend who says, "Deep listening after smoking reefer is such a thrill, it's like a drug to me."
Well we all have our positions and points of view, don't we. How pray tell did you wander on to this thread? Do you remember?
Hey um I was kinda asking who had the drugs earlier, come on guys kick down! Seriously though Csontos, differences of opinion are sort of the backbone of the internet but when your opinion is "what you are doing is wrong" well folks are gonna react as they have reacted. In other words, stop harshing our mellow dude!
@Jond

So true, but drugs "in excess" distort perception, if you what that, it is your choice!

I guess you did not get my quote from "in search of the lost chord" by the Moody Blues.

It answers the the drug experience question completely!
Jond, the operative here was the word "if". Looks like you relate. Never the less, I stand by what I said.

Don, that's the whole point though, isn't it?
Herbs in excess can DESTROY an otherwise well made dish. Stop excessive herb abuse before a meal is ruined!
Wolf,
Good point, moderation in all things is good. Usually. But sometimes as they say........go big or go home!
My name is Mark, and I am a vinyl junkie.
One addiction I believe is quite enough.
I will not refuse a joint or a bite of magic mushroom at a party, but nothing can take me as high as listening to “The Wall” on vinyl.
Getting back to the OPs point, yes, music can and does move me without the need of drugs. (Yes, I did smoke back in the day and drank beer to fool my parents. That was in the past and I begrudge no one here what they choose to do.)

I'm just not that high and mighty or condescending enough to pass judgement on anyone here.

Now it's just a half a glass of wine once a week or so. All it takes, for me, is to simply slip into the music when the connection is made and it's off to audio nirvana. By the way, I'd love to experience Joyce DiDonato from what I just read.
I don't smoke but I did for awhile about 30 years ago. I've never seen any harm in it but I'm not a doctor. My take is it has to be better for you than drinking 4 cans of diet Coke every day. Of course if you smoke it like Dean Martin smoked cigarettes that's not good.
I'd like to start off by saying that I'm not purposefully promoting drug usage, because drugs are bad, mmmkay kids. Okay, now I've got to tell you from many times of personal experience, a good pill of e will twist your hearing such that a crap stereo can sound better than a $300,000 mbl system, hands down. If you are alright with holes in your brain for the rest of your life, and possibly becoming a drooling vegatable, it's definately the way to go. If you do in fact like your brain, just aim for a better stereo :-)

P.S. Even though I don't smoke pot anymore and only drink a few beers occasionally, alcohol in large quantities is worse for your physical health than large quantities of pot.
Digital has taken over, even in the way people think. Why is it one or the other? Why not both?
Why deny yourself simply because society has deemed it inappropriate, a strong enough lobby hasn't championed it's cause, or constricted individuals don't share it's pleasures. To each his own, just don't hurt yourself please (moderation works) , or anyone else while under the influence. A little herb can enhance most appetites, like any good spice ;-)...no need to label it a crutch..........now where did I put that remote?
Wow Marakentz Cilantro is a pretty strong flavor, can't imagine an excess of that but to each their own. And that in fact is how things should be in regards to drugs and music and everything. Whatever floats your boat as long as it does not harm anyone else.
Excessive cilantro can harm others...they may never forgive you if you serve that to them. Nobody has ever used excessive parsley, so the jury is out on that one.
The story of misinformation about E (a drug I have not used nor do I intend to) is interesting. Some idiot published a fabricated story about E rotting your brain and was utterly discredited soon after, but the myth remains. Misinformation about otherwise "lower harm" (not harmless of course) drugs does no favors for anybody, and acceptance of whatever Big Pharma's lobby promotes seems unquestioned...and that's the world we live in. I noticed a little advertisement in the corner of the front page (!) of today's NY Times for Johnny Walker Blue, which when used properly will make you slightly buzzed, but otherwise is absolutely toxic, but an accepted toxic nonetheless...E and pot don't stand a chance in a death challenge with that stuff.
If you need them, moving to Washington or Colorado might be a good tweak! :-)