Songs to listen to in ''Altered States''

I understand your concerns James, as an alcoholic that has been sober for 18 years the one thing I do know is that education is the only way to stop any excesses. If people cannot express themselves and teach the younger generation from our own mistakes, they are sure to make them themselves. Drug use is not a healthy choice. Yet the only way people can make choices is through knowledge. As a parent with three kids ( two teenagers ) I have found that my kids made very wise choices because we have been honest with our kids. We also made sure that they are educated about drug use. When my oldest daughter mentioned that she wanted to try we had a good discussion about all the issues. Many of her friends are users and any responsable adult will know that you cannot shelter your kids from all dangers. We can speak from experience and explain that as teens we did not have the knowledge that is avalible to us at the present. Had we known more about the dangers we were facing .... and now the dangers are far greater then in the past... perhaps we would have made different choices. I'm very proud as a parent that my daughter has chosen not to use and that she made the choice on her own. We all know that kids that make up their own minds tend to stick to their decisions. Had I approched the subject with the same discourse that you used I know that I would have sent my daughter straight over to try.

The purpose of the posting was not to lure anyone into drug use, nor was it to glorify the subject. I just wanted to share a kind of sense-recall that I'm sure many of us have experienced.  For many of us it was a whole part of the music scene at the time. Also it was part and parcel with a whole generation , a little before my time, which brought about great social changes. Many of those changes brought down repressive laws that hindered free speech and the right to express ourselves.  Music was banned, books were burned, people were jailed because of their beliefs. All theses changes were brought about because people spoke out and educated others.

As you are a moderator here and have the last word, I leave it in your hands, I have said my part and do hope that others will share their feelings about the subject. I respect all opinions, as those opinions are truely what make us unique.

Michel Hebert

James, I agree with you. Too many people have been lost because of all types of excess. Some were in my very close circle of friends and family. It will be interesting to hear from others.
As for the underaged musicians on this site I do truely hope that their parents check where they go on the internet. They have access to much worse then this disscussion. Thankfully there are people like you giving their time moderating such top rate websites such as this one.
"It takes a whole village to raise a child" Theses days the village is much larger then anyone could have imagined in the past.
Keep up the good work!
Michel

James,
I'm glad that you let this thread continue.  Personally, I feel that the "hey I'm a teenager are there any other teenager's on this site, if so instant message or email me" posts are probably more dangerous than this one.  Watch one of those to catch an online predator news shows if you don't know what I mean.  For good or bad those of us who are a little bit older (I'm 40) have lived our lives and had experiences that have made us who we are today.  I did not for one second think that mhebert or chordie was condoning the use of drugs.  I'll even spare you my views on lives and health ruined from legal alcohol and tobacco compared to the "Devil's Weed"and simply answer the question:
almost anything by the Doors.

EF

Badeye, I agree that alcohol can also be harmful.  As an educatory at major university, I see the same pageant played out every semester - too much partying (be it drugs or alcohol or both) that lead to academic and personal problems.

In these parts, most of the students come from small communities deep in the 'Bible Belt' and the only experience they have with alcohol is 'getting drunk'.  They are unfamiliar with the idea that one can enjoy 'a' beer or 'a' glass of wine with a meal.  For them, having a drink only means binge drinking followed by massive hangovers.

Everybody has alot to learn in life.  Some learn by observing.  Some only learn by doing.  Some seem to never learn at all.  Michel's point that each person needs to make informed judgements is very true.

Personally, I realize now that I could have benefitted far more from my college experience had I not been so determined to be a party animal.  I eventually took a realistic perspective and decided that I would spend my time and energy being a productive human being rather than a self-deluded stoner.  James

James
I so agree with a lot of what you said but? Have our Children no Methodology to life? No  Compas Focus?  Their attitude seems to be " if i dont have everything now, i dont want to live?
We had 3 young Men last week, in a small town of maybe one thousand! who died together it seems Planned? well reported in the Media here!  In So called "Celtic Tiger Ireland" Where my Son has just spent half a million Euro on a house? not because  he wanted too, because He had too?
Our New Goverment have abolished Stamp Duty? for first time buyers?  "20,000 Euro in My sons case?  And we are supposed to be Dancing on the streets with joy?
Their Celtic Tiger has our Kids around the throat and is slowly but surly squeesing the living life out of them !  In this Land of so called Plenty? We have lost so much in the simple values of life and how precious life is! with or without money? This Generation dont go out to have a drink and socialise? They go out to get wasted?  Why? Are they feelling Stresed, Unloved, or just lost?  Any addiction is a replacement nourishment for a need that is not being met within us?   Our Time with our Kids  should Really  be spent  listening to them ,  Sharing our Time with them.  For Gods sake Talk to our Children, They need to know They are important enough to us  to listen too!  So many Questions?  " Is it  To much disposable income? or not enough Parental Guidence?
  I hate this throw away society that we live in as it now includes our Young People! How awfully Sad That is? I dont know the answers! I Wish i did?. But aleast discussions like this bring it to the fore, So Thank You for This  MHebert and
Admin!

Goodnight all.
Old Doll.

"Not to touch the earth" by the doors is a very trippy song with or without outside help. My old band had a song I'd written called "Paradise". I think I may have posted it in the songwriting. Anyway, Sometimes, (again with or without) when we would perform it on stage, I would get completely lost in the song. Sometimes, The song would go over 9 minutes because I would forget I was on stage and the music would go on until I came back and sang the last verse.
As far as drugs go... If you did them and quit, you are smart. If you never did them you are brilliant. If you are still doing them, I hope you wise up before you end up like me realizing you are not on stage, you're in biology class or driving down the highway. Once you do them (at least the ones I did) you never think the same again and thats not always a groovy tuned in thing.
Thanx to James for allowing the thread to continue and thanx to everyone for your mature approach to a risky subject.

"Nobody paints by ear so why would I play guitar by sight?"

Yep, have to agree with most of what has been posted. I've seen good friends fall by the wayside from drug addiction.
Being from (what was known as ) The Chemical Generation, the Rave scene, myself and my friends were all into pills, dope, powder and potions of one type or the other. Sadly two lost the battle for good and are no longer here, a couple have gave up on the battle and are hoplesley addicted, one went through rehab and is now doing so well for himself it would make you weep too think about where he once was. Thankfully the majority of us treated it as a stage in life we were passing through and came through relatively unscathed. Although one or two still have what I would term a 'social addiction' too drugs, i.e they could easily go without but choose not to.

Good idea to let the thread run though, if one person reading through the posts takes on board that the HIGH is not worth all the LOWS then it will have served a purpose.
In saying that, I'm a great believer in 'it's my body, I'll do what I want with it'. But, speaking from the experience of years of drug and alcohol missuse, I can say with great conviction, you can do so much more with your body and mind when you're straight.

Craig.