Originally posted by: Zanix
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
I have no idea, because I have NEVER felt the least bit sorry for a user. If you're that weak and pitiful you deserve EVERYTHING you get.
Have you ever known someone who became a drug user? Did you throw them away? I ask this question to all of you with this opinion, including the OP.
I have known many people who used drugs to some degree. The people who merely tried it (just a few times) I expressed my disagreement, but understanding. I'm still friends with all of them and it creates no particular friction either way.
The people who used heavily I confronted (we also had a couple interventions) to express my feelings on it. I explained my position, asked that they respect my wishes (like not ever bringing it to my home, not suggesting I try it, not offering it to others I knew, not trying to hang out with me if they were using, etc). Some agreed, some got pissed and left. The ones who left I pretty much have never spoken to again. The ones who agreed, well, it depends. One in particular agreed and then broke the rules...came to my house with drugs and I found him on the back porch smoking pot. I grabbed my staff and beat him off my property, then I called the police and gave them his address. I have no idea what happened to him...last I heard he was doing time for something or other and had abandoned his gf and kid. I tried maintaining a friendship with the rest of them, but it was pointless. They became losers and zombies for the most part. People who had always been my intellectual equals became vegetative. People with a lust for life became walking dead. They wasted their money, got kicked out of their homes, severed relationships, hurt everyone around them. Finally I'd had enough and told them one by one to get the hell away from the rest of us unless they controlled their problems. Some actually cleaned up then (at least enough to be functional), some left. A few who left came back after they got their lives under control and we speak again. My rules stand, and any who associate with me respect my wishes. I do not bite my tongue, I call a spade a spade, so people who do drugs tend not to maintain frequent contact with me...which is fine by me.
There are people who used at one point and stopped, and I didn't know...like my brother in college. He's clean now though, and responsible, so we have no particular problems about it. There are people who associate with me who occassionally (like twice a year) might take a drug. They never mention it, never come around me on it, etc, so we get along fairly well. Pretty much what it comes down to is respect for other ideas. I believe drugs should be fully legalized. I believe they should do drugs if they want. I believe they should respect my choices as well. Any who don't can't stand to be around me, those who do would rather die than break my trust. I have one friend, who's a fairly frequent user, who asked me once what I would do if he sold/gave drugs to my daughter when she grew up. I told him it was simple, I'd come see him and let him choose between suicide or me killing him. He knew I was 100% serious. He has since told me that regardless of how he views it, he'll always do his best to keep drugs away from me and mine, rather than face the consequences. That's why he's still my friend.
You are very serious about "drugs". I use that in quotes because it seems like you've lumped all drugs together. There are illegal, legal, prescription, ect.. just all kinds of drugs. I admire your tenacity toward how you feel; it's rare to find something that someone would feel so strongly about.
In my expirence, drug use doesn't really have any corelation between intellectual/vegie, full of life/zombie. Out of the people I know who smoke pot on a regular basis, there's some of each. Of those people, some have never tried anything harder, some have dabbled once or twice, and a couple do harder drugs.. well, every so often. With something so vast as "drugs" and "drug users", I think it's anti-understanding to overgeneralize. (yeah, I just made up a word I think)
Doing something illegal doesn't make a person "bad". Else I hope you've never sped, or jaywalked. Also, I've never known anyone to have been forced to do drugs. In the case of your friend and what would happen if he gave drugs to your daughter, I'd guess that your daughter would have to ask him before he'd provide. At least in my world, people are offered drugs. They aren't "pushed" like those commercials used to portray. I do know a couple drug pushers, my brother in particular always is trying to get me to take shots with him. (when we go out, that is) My ma too, always making me coffee when I go home.
I would just hope you understand that "drug use" is not always an "evil" thing. There's been alot of talk about addicts and self-medicating, etc.. in this thread. I know my ol man uses bud light as a work related anti-depressant. He'd just be doing something else if he didn't have bud. I don't shame him for it. Although, I wish he'd work out or at least go for a walk to counter act the effects (read: gut) of the drug.
I'd probably use alcohol too, except I like caffein better. It may be the same case with your friends and pot. I'm not sure, and I think it isn't really possible to explain their stories on these forums. People have a reason they do things; if you understand that reason, I think you understand how you could make the same choice given the circumstances.
I just kinda got the "those evil drug users" vibe from your post. We're all drug users to some extent.
edit: for spelling