Sylvus and Xatrei did a pretty good job with the gun analogy.
I've never heard anyone make the assumption that hallucinogens are good for you.. would love to see a study backing that one up.
There's a whole wealth of literature out there. You can try "Acid Dreams," by Martin Lee and Bruce Shlain, which is a pretty good book detailing the history of LSD. "The Doors of Perception," by Aldous Huxley, is probably the best book I've read in terms of accurately describing the hallucinogenic experience to someone who hasn't used the drugs. There's really an incredibly extensive literature if you care to do some research.
Incidentally, you particularly might be interested in the research comparing spiritual experiences undergone while under the influence of hallucinogens to religious experiences that people experience while sober.
To clarify, I don't claim that hallucinogens have directly positive physical qualities (like, they won't cure cancer). They do have staggering effects on emotional and mental states, effects which can be either negative or positive.
Easily - self destruction. In the process of getting hammered, he is working towards an adiction to alchohol, increasing his risk of liver failure, and a few other unpleasant things, the least of which is the hangover he'll get from it.
This still doesn't make sense to me. First, addiction is not a necessary result of alcohol use. I've been drinking alcohol for five years and have never had any issues with dependency. I have developed dependencies on other substances and am thus relatively well equipped to recognize addiction. While drinking does negatively affect the health of your liver, it can also positively impact the health of your cardiovascular system. A hangover is a relatively mild reaction which lasts for a few hours, can be easily avoided, and has absolutely no long term implications.
If you're trying to prove to me that there is a downside to drinking alcohol (liver damage and potential addiction, mostly) you are right.
My response to this consists of two points.
First, I argue that this downside is relatively mild and can be easily dealt with by taking basic precautions. To avoid addiction, drink in moderation. If you start displaying symptoms of addiction, stop drinking or cut back on consumption. To combat liver damage, drink in moderation. To combat hangovers, drink some water before bed and make sure that you respect your limits. Furthermore, there are potential positive effects to drinking alcohol. Increased cardiovascular health has been routinely cited as one of these benefits and is widely accepted. Another is increased overall happiness, as Voronwe described.
My second point holds that the results of this activity are not fundamentally different than any other activity in which one chooses to partake. Let's take, for instance, computer game playing. Playing computer game carries a number of negative consequences and inherent risks. First, playing computer games can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, eye difficulties, and back problems. It can also promote a sedentary lifestyle in which exercise is not a priority. Video games, either collectively or individually, can be addictive, or they can help someone fuel a more generalized internet addiction. They provide excuses for antisocial people to avoid social contact, and can lead to the deterioration of personal relationships. On the other hand, they're entertaining, they can (sometimes) teach thinking or typing skills, they can benefit hand-eye coordination, and they can cause happiness.
Can you explain to me why I should receive moral blame for purchasing a six-pack of beer but you shouldn't receive moral blame for walking out of best buy with a copy of Worlds of Warcraft?
In my personal observations of the addictions of both myself and my friends, it has become my opinion that video game addiction can be every bit as severe as an addiction to cocaine or alcohol or cigarettes. I have, however, only rarely seen a video game addict hit the depths that a heroin or speed addict can sink to. This is, of course, anecdotal.
Suv, how can consuming a beverage KNOWN to have serious, even life threatening results be a 'morally neutral' decision? When I load a gun to go kill someone with it - is that 'morally neutral'? No, it's called preperation. I'm not saying that by taking a drink you are going out to kill someone, but you're putting yourself and others at risk when you go out and get yourself blasted out of your skull.
First of all, provided I take appropriate precautions, I am not putting anyone else at risk, only myself. Similarly, if you take appropriate precautions, your video game habit will not put others at risk, only yourself.
Almost anything you do-- playing a video game, watching sportscenter, eating a bar of chocolate, going for a jog-- has serious, even life threatening results. The actions are 'morally neutral,' in my eyes, because life is a risky thing with actions that have consequences. If you still choose to view them as 'morally wrong,' i can deal with that, but I would also expect you to carry your argument to its logical conclusion and decry almost anything that anyone partakes in as being 'morally wrong.'
) to illustrate a point.
