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Fighting the Literary Drug War - (Update w/ response from journalist)
    #10952268 -

[Thanks ahead of time for reading, I know it's a bit long]

Tonight a wrote a brief response to a journalist concerning yet another shitty article that manages to snake its way through our newspaper media. Obviously, rural Southern towns deserve the prized trophy for close-mindedness and poor penmanship.

The last couple of paragraphs in my letter address the writer and the issue more specifically, rather than the errors of the article.

Finally, I called the "Sound Off"/complaint section of the paper and left a message as well; which I pasted at the very end of this email. For the record, truth will always be inconvenient--for the people who deliver it and the strict paradigms it challenges.

Enjoy.

---------------------

Hello,

There was an incorrect claim you wrote in the article titled, "Greenbriar Trail drug raid leads to five arrests" (found here: http://www.statesboroherald.com/news/article/18946/)/. As a graduate student on the research trail of psychoactive chemicals, I thought I would take the opportunity to bring to light what I consider to be a few serious issues.

Although you printed that the bust included "over eight grams (about 100 doses) of chocolate-covered psilocybin mushrooms" (allegedly reported by Stan York), in actuality an average dose of mushrooms is from 10–50 mg of psilocybin. Considering that mushrooms, by weight, only consist of approximately 1% of psilocybin, that leaves us with 80mg of psilocybin and only a handful (1 to 8) of psychedelic experiences. This is far from the '100 doses' that you reported. Furthermore, why was the number not 101 or 99? Because 100 sounds more official, right?

The lethal dose of psilocybin is extremely low, it is 280 mg/kg, which is roughly one and a half times that of caffeine. Without quoting a plethora of available research, caffeine itself it responsible for a wide variety of physiological complications, while mushrooms are relatively safe and have been used spiritually for thousands of years, in addition to a medical history that includes ZERO deaths.

Most of what I have said can be found on Wikipedia, or at the least with a very basic Google search. Did you take the time to do this? No. And not because you are a lazy journalist, but rather because you--along with the rest of so many apathetic Americans--have become inattentive transmitters of propaganda and misinformation. It is easier to merely obey authority and relay the information you have been told instead of actively finding out the information on your own. And sorry to beat a dead horse here, but the subtext header of the internet version of your article says "100 chocolate covered mushrooms found among drugs seized Friday". So, it is 8 grams, 100 mushrooms, or 100 doses? Don't you find it ironic that a) you used the quantity "100" again, and b) that a single mushroom can weigh well over 8 grams alone?

Now, I know simple mistakes are made quite often. Especially as a writer, I am sure you must deal with errors, grammatical mistakes, and typos (if you find one here, please correct me; honesty is healthy). But the sad reality is that your innocent reporting, due to the powerful effect of journalism and media, has a huge effect on the public and their moral opinions. Because half of our prison population is composed of non-violent drug offenders, the last thing we need (aside from a laughable misunderstanding of biology) is any proactive behavior which reinforces beliefs in our citizens that fungi is somehow a dangerous drug that is peddled by irresponsible criminals.

If the police would wield microscopes instead of guns, and compassion instead of intolerance, we might not be in the mess of incarcerating individuals who freely wish to alter their state of consciousness. To prohibit such freedom is a violation of cognitive liberty.

Thanks.

Insert: SHROOMERY MEMBER NAME

------------------------------

To: Sound Off

This is in reponse to the recent drug bust at Greenbriar. Drugs carry unique profiles depending on their course of pharmacologic action, cultural usage, and legality. Unfortuantely, psychedelic drugs are occasionally demonized and frowned upon by those in authority—made possible by misinformation and the small number of individuals who poorly misrepresent their potential. Truth be known, many of these substances are still used as medicine in psychotherapy. Research is still being conducted in countries such as Canada, Mexico, and Israel, where medical professionals can avoid the legal hassles and public scrutiny surrounding these chemicals. Psychedelics are for psychology what the telescope is for astronomy.

Edited by Arden (08/28/09 03:44 PM)

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: Arden]
    #10952331 -

Excellent. Thanks for taking the time to write, and speak out, against disinformation and blatant sensationalist propaganda.

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: DNKYD]
    #10952378 -

Thank you for caring and taking the time to read!

It still falls short of the many organizations and people we have to thank who are on the fair and sensible side of the battle.

In many cases, our efforts can be classified as work, especially in the cases where it involves "surface tactics" like economics, cultural affairs, politics, health systems, etc.

The beautiful thing is that simply taking these substances contributes a huge amount of cleansing work--in the form of positive energy and that cosmic giggling vibe that starts in your tummy and works its way into the world. :heart:

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: Arden]
    #10952512 -

"The lethal dose of psilocybin is extremely low"

The sad part is that this mistake is likely the only thing they absorb and use in future bollocks.  As stated above, your efforts are much appreciated but I'm sure you also understand that the walls of the narrow-minded are often very thick, and the majority finds much comfort being couped up within them.


--------------------

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: Arden]
    #10952706 -

Arden said:
Hello,

There was an incorrect claim you wrote in the article titled, "Greenbriar Trail drug raid leads to five arrests" (found here: http://www.statesboroherald.com/news/article/18946/)/. As a graduate student on the research trail of psychoactive chemicals, I thought I would take the opportunity to bring to light what I consider to be a few serious issues.

Although you printed that the bust included "over eight grams (about 100 doses) of chocolate-covered psilocybin mushrooms" (allegedly reported by Stan York), in actuality an average dose of mushrooms is from 10�50 mg of psilocybin. Considering that mushrooms, by weight, only consist of approximately 1% of psilocybin, that leaves us with 80mg of psilocybin and only a handful (1 to 8) of psychedelic experiences. This is far from the '100 doses' that you reported. Furthermore, why was the number not 101 or 99? Because 100 sounds more official, right?



This last sentence sounds belligerent and immature.  If a journalist or reader has tween or teenage children, they will recognize this tone and begin to dismiss your points.

Quote:
The lethal dose of psilocybin is extremely low,



Mistake, the LD50 for psilocybin is high in comparison to many legal and otc drugs.

Quote:
it is 280 mg/kg, which is roughly one and a half times that of caffeine. Without quoting a plethora of available research, caffeine itself it responsible for a wide variety of physiological complications, while mushrooms are relatively safe and have been used spiritually for thousands of years, in addition to a medical history that includes ZERO deaths.


The public at large and journalists are extremely uninterested in shamanic or 'spiritual' uses of any drug.  People used to sacrifice other human beings for 'spiritual' purposes.  Because something is spiritual does not make it right or good.  Your point is likely lost on your intended audience.

Quote:
Most of what I have said can be found on Wikipedia, or at the least with a very basic Google search. Did you take the time to do this? No. And not because you are a lazy journalist, but rather because you--along with the rest of so many apathetic Americans--have become inattentive transmitters of propaganda and misinformation. It is easier to merely obey authority and relay the information you have been told instead of actively finding out the information on your own. And sorry to beat a dead horse here, but the subtext header of the internet version of your article says "100 chocolate covered mushrooms found among drugs seized Friday". So, it is 8 grams, 100 mushrooms, or 100 doses? Don't you find it ironic that a) you used the quantity "100" again, and b) that a single mushroom can weigh well over 8 grams alone?



You've gone off the immature deep end here.  Outright hostility, conversational belligerence, poor grammar, bad diction.
Quote:
Now, I know simple mistakes are made quite often. Especially as a writer, I am sure you must deal with errors, grammatical mistakes, and typos (if you find one here, please correct me; honesty is healthy). But the sad reality is that your innocent reporting, due to the powerful effect of journalism and media, has a huge effect on the public and their moral opinions. Because half of our prison population is composed of non-violent drug offenders, the last thing we need (aside from a laughable misunderstanding of biology) is any proactive behavior which reinforces beliefs in our citizens that fungi is somehow a dangerous drug that is peddled by irresponsible criminals.



Your tone is condescending to a writer, which is ironic because you go on to make numerous grammatical and diction errors, including run-on sentences and more immature conversational belligerence.  You have already totally alienated your audience, now you are just insulting them.
Quote:
If the police would wield microscopes instead of guns, and compassion instead of intolerance, we might not be in the mess of incarcerating individuals who freely wish to alter their state of consciousness. To prohibit such freedom is a violation of cognitive liberty.



You have convinced no one at this point in your article.  It is likely your reader will be sure that incarcerating individuals who use drugs is a good idea.  If they weren't before, they are now, after reading your diatribe.
Quote:
Thanks.



Well, at least you tried to be polite at the end.  This smacks of a lie though, considering the hostile nature of your entire letter.

***********************************

Conversations with the world at large require maturity and restraint, not to mention proper grammar and the absence of colloquial devices more commonly used in text messaging and facebook conversations amongst teenagers and 20-somethings.

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: UpSwell]
    #10952790 -

Awesome. I love that you did that. I appreciate your want to correct the misinformation that is distributed to many people. It really hurts our community when, what I believe to be important information, is misrepresented like that.

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: UpSwell]
    #10952813 -

Quote:
This last sentence sounds belligerent and immature.  If a journalist or reader has tween or teenage children, they will recognize this tone and begin to dismiss your points.


Good thing I'm not a fucking journalist, huh? And to speak so highly of people who write on a 5th grade reading level is also pretty lame.

Sarcasm is acceptable to me, especially when I am making no attempt to stoop to the same level of "professionalism" in the article.

If any point (I prefer "fact") is dismissed because of tone and not its merit of truth, then such an individual is also a twat. I'm not bitter, I was shaping the article so it involved her emotions a bit. People who cannot perform basic math only pay attention to things when it has personal content. This is Psyc and Journalism 101.

Quote:
Mistake, the LD50 for psilocybin is high in comparison to many legal and otc drugs.


You're right here. A high LD50 implies a low toxicity.

Quote:
The public at large and journalists are extremely uninterested in shamanic or 'spiritual' uses of any drug.  People used to sacrifice other human beings for 'spiritual' purposes.  Because something is spiritual does not make it right or good.  Your point is likely lost on your intended audience.


My original intended audience was 1 journalist, not 1 individual who took it upon himself to curiously dissect an email I wrote for no clear intention whatsoever.

Most importantly, it is a mistake to equate "spiritual" behavior such as shamanism with ritualistic rites like human sacrifice. It's like apples and oranges. 

My point is likely lost? Since you clearly know more than me and understand the ins and outs and every flaw of this poorly written response I've conjured, then what was my point?

Every entheogen was initially used spiritually. Sorry to bring that point up. More so, the tryptamine and phenethylamine indoles were the starting bases for many synthetics as well.

Is this really such a mystery to you?

Quote:
You have convinced no one at this point in your article.  It is likely your reader will be sure that incarcerating individuals who use drugs is a good idea.  If they weren't before, they are now, after reading your diatribe.


Opinions are like assholes, everyone has them.

You are welcome to interpret what I've written as you would like.

Quote:
Well, at least you tried to be polite at the end.  This smacks of a lie though, considering the hostile nature of your entire letter.


And your entire post smacks of a really egotistical and quick attempt to one-up someone who should supposedly be ON YOUR SIDE. Constructive criticism would've been a little more appreciated, but assholery can manifest itself in every community.

Thanks.

Edited by Arden (08/28/09 01:40 AM)

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: Arden]
    #10952897 -

One more important thing, since this seems to be your thesis:

Quote:
Conversations with the world at large require maturity and restraint, not to mention proper grammar and the absence of colloquial devices more commonly used in text messaging and facebook conversations amongst teenagers and 20-somethings.


Maturity and restraint? If this is what you're after, then go suck a politically correct dick on Wall Street. Historically the only change in the world has been accomplished and made possible by people, organizations, demonstrations, rallys, and protests made by people who go down kicking (God knows my article was soooo crazy). At least I made an attempt. Instead of taking the time to try something constructively similar, you instead sit around and quote my email line by line trying to find what you believe to be minimal flaws. And to what benefit?

And as to your reference to the world at large: are you schizophrenic? Who do you think the world is? It's not some nameless, faceless, emotionless, picture-perfect, grammatically correct, dictionary-approved article. Not to mention, as punishable users of psychedelics, the people who these dumb shit laws effects are, GASP!, "20-somethings".

Facebook conversations?

Because I made a minor mistake here or there, you reduce the time I took to a 5-minute drunk wall posting? That's just unwarranted man, honestly. The only fucking way our community is going to get over the tyranny from organized government is by getting together and manning up. I don't want a pat on the back from anyone

Quote:
Conversations with the world at large require maturity and restraint,


Saying "the world at large" makes one sound quite sophisticated. But although technology is shoving us towards the concept of a flat earth society, the "world at large" is mostly composed of poor, uneducated individuals who haven't been brain-washed into believing that the "world at large" is somehow accessed by playing by the rules which were established by the very people who made the rules you wish to change.

Edited by Arden (08/28/09 01:33 AM)

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: Arden]
    #10955982 -

First Response:
Email # 1


While the information you gave may be correct, we quoted police directly. If you have an issue with what was reported, call Chief York. 764-9911.

Lazy reporter? When I have three stories and police blotter to do daily, sometimes more, I hardly call that lazy. If this were a huge, involved story, more time would have been taken to " dig." However, since the news here is that five people were arrested, and there were unusual drugs in large quantity, your nitpicking about dosage is really asinine.

Oh, and if you had any knowledge of journalism, you'd know I dn't write the headlines. A copy editor does that.

I got a kick out of your e-mail!  Are you serious??

-------------------------


Second Response
Email # 2

After reading your e-mail again, I felt I must tell you that I do indeed agree with your overall message. Entirely too much focus is given to marijuana and other lesser drug " offenses." However, I don't make the rules about what is news, and again - we quote what police tell us. If there were a major controversial story, we would question police more intensely; however, with a simple drug bust, we just report what happened and what police said.

I realize you do take your research seriously. But until marijuana and natural substances such as psilocybin mushrooms are legalized, police will continue to handle the possession of such as they do now.


:cool:

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: Arden]
    #10956425 -

It's not suprising that he was so defensive at first. Your email was pretty condescending.

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: snave]
    #10956526 -

It was a good letter, but in future, before members write these kinds of articles, they should consult with the pub first. There would be a plethora of constructive criticism that would make a :grin: letter :awesome:

We should make it a point to comment on every mistake we find in the news though. :thumbup: for being proactive!


--------------------

"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson

Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: Arden]
    #10956554 -

''
Arden said:
First Response:
Email # 1

I realize you do take your research seriously. But until marijuana and natural substances such as psilocybin mushrooms are legalized, police will continue to handle the possession of such as they do now.


:cool:


:vaped:        :potleaf:

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: Green_T]
    #10956557 -

After that second response, he sounds like a fairly reasonable guy.


--------------------

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - One Fucktard at a Time [Re: snave]
    #10956574 -

I like his second response:mushroom2:

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - (Update w/ response from journalist) [Re: Arden]
    #10956696 -

Hello there Arden.I just went through something similar. My beef was with the school I am attending. Did you see my thread? If not here it is if you want to read it. It is long, but I feel it is a good read. Enjoy!

http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/10907313


--------------------

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - (Update w/ response from journalist) [Re: Arden]
    #10956708 -

I've written several reporters calling them out on bullshit that they've written about drugs. I've dabbled in journalism for the past 2 years with my university's newspaper. One of my articles ended up in media outlets in the tristate area.

Unfortunately, I can't find any of the good emails I wrote to editors who didn't check their facts. One thing that we ALWAYS do before publishing an article is make sure the facts are correct. If you publish bullshit people think your news is written by a bunch of clowns. And you can get sued.

And that reporter is full of shit. I was a copy editor for a year and a half and it was never our job to write headlines. The journalism students I worked with knew their shit like the back of their hand. Headlines are proposed by the author then modified by copy editors, executive editor, and editor in chief.

The only email I found that I wrote to an author of a craptastic news story was written when I was pretty drunk. I made some decent points but it was definitely a condescending email. The subject of the email was "Try checking your facts before you publish an article." :foreheadslap:

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - (Update w/ response from journalist) [Re: Gumby]
    #10956781 -

Drunken rants fun :tongue:


--------------------
Live for the moment you are in now
Don't be bogged down by your past
Don't be afraid of what lies in your future

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - (Update w/ response from journalist) [Re: niteowl]
    #10956813 -

BTW, I just asked my buddy who is a journalist for the largest newspaper in SC and he said authors propose a title, then copy editors modify it or come up with something new, but editor in chief has final say.

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - (Update w/ response from journalist) [Re: Gumby]
    #10957103 -

Found the letter I got in my paper a couple years ago. This got 3 reply letters 2 in favour and one idiot who decided to talk about how violent downtown is because of alcohol and bars.

If drugs are legalized related violence will end

In my english class, our teacher gives us time to read the newspaper during. A couple days ago I read an article that really struck a nerve with me. The article was about Stephen Harper's new police about cracking down on drugs. There was a quote from Tory Cannovino which read: "That is a corner stone, because alot of violence is related to drugs."

The stupidity of that statement made me want to scream! The reason there is violence related to drugs is because drugs are illegal. When you make something illegal you create a black market. The only way to solve disputes in a black market is with violence. It is exactly the same as alcohol prohibition and that didn't work. When alcohol was illegal there was plenty of violence and when alcohol prohibition was repealed all the violence stopped.

The only way to get rid of a black market is to regulate the product legally. You cannot keep throwing drug offenders in jail thinking there are no more drugs being sold. Somebody will fill the void overnight, because there is so much money to be made.

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Re: Fighting the Literary Drug War - (Update w/ response from journalist) [Re: Glenners]
    #10957211 -

Quote:
The stupidity of that statement made me want to scream! The reason there is violence related to drugs is because drugs are illegal. When you make something illegal you create a black market. The only way to solve disputes in a black market is with violence. It is exactly the same as alcohol prohibition and that didn't work. When alcohol was illegal there was plenty of violence and when alcohol prohibition was repealed all the violence stopped.


I would qualify this statement to say that the bootlegging of liquor begot violence, and when
prohibition ended the violence related to its bootlegging ended.

there is still a lot of violence associated w/ its consumption.


--------------------
If it weren't for the bloody corpses, I wouldn't have any corpses at all.

There are two ways to get to the top of an oak tree: start climbing or sit on an acorn.

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

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