the way it sounds he took one of everything, ate some battery acid, and washed it down with bleach....(and that's a good thing)

the way it sounds he took one of everything, ate some battery acid, and washed it down with bleach....(and that's a good thing)

no its not

i thought devin stopped doing weed to record synchestra....

He did.

that's my way of saying "uhhhh, no man, you're the pothead, so you're just projecting"

Never imagined my question would attract so much discussion about drugs and alcohol. Mmmm.

I'm also pleased that people here on the Devy boards have a reasonable level of maturity to discuss shit like this. Different to other boards I visit...

For the record I don't believe in God, nor does AA insist that you believe in a higher power. They merely suggest it. I believe in neither.

AA saved my life though...

I'm also pleased that people here on the Devy boards have a reasonable level of maturity to discuss shit like this. Different to other boards I visit...

And that, imo, is what makes this board the best one on the entire interweb. It's really very rare indeed.

I'm also pleased that people here on the Devy boards have a reasonable level of maturity to discuss shit like this. Different to other boards I visit...

And that, imo, is what makes this board the best one on the entire interweb. It's really very rare indeed.

its so true, im a catholic and have mentioned it before (on other forums people constantly attacked me) but this one definately is the most friendly ive been to

I'm also pleased that people here on the Devy boards have a reasonable level of maturity to discuss shit like this. Different to other boards I visit...

And that, imo, is what makes this board the best one on the entire interweb. It's really very rare indeed.

its so true, im a catholic and have mentioned it before (on other forums people constantly attacked me) but this one definately is the most friendly ive been to

Agreed. All hail HEVYDEVY FORUMS

I'm also pleased that people here on the Devy boards have a reasonable level of maturity to discuss shit like this. Different to other boards I visit...

And that, imo, is what makes this board the best one on the entire interweb. It's really very rare indeed.

its so true, im a catholic and have mentioned it before (on other forums people constantly attacked me) but this one definately is the most friendly ive been to

Agreed. All hail HEVYDEVY FORUMS

and the new flesh

Never imagined my question would attract so much discussion about drugs and alcohol. Mmmm.

I'm also pleased that people here on the Devy boards have a reasonable level of maturity to discuss shit like this. Different to other boards I visit...

For the record I don't believe in God, nor does AA insist that you believe in a higher power. They merely suggest it. I believe in neither.

AA saved my life though...

With all due respect... Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Granted, it's your understanding of a higher power that counts. But, I find it hard to believe you can say that even though the 12 Steps mention God no less than 5 times that it's only a suggestion. That's an interesting point of view. I'm not trying to be rude or anything. It's just not true to say it's only a suggestion. The A.A. program *is* the 12 Steps.

With all due respect... Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Granted, it's your understanding of a higher power that counts. But, I find it hard to believe you can say that even though the 12 Steps mention God no less than 5 times that it's only a suggestion. That's an interesting point of view. I'm not trying to be rude or anything. It's just not true to say it's only a suggestion. The A.A. program *is* the 12 Steps.

Fair comment. I get this a lot from people I know and again, it's a fair thing to say. Truth be known, I struggle with the God stuff as well as a 'Higher Power'. Sometimes I believe but most of the time I don't.

Unfortunately - and here's the point - I have little other choice other than to attend meetings and listen to the God stuff IF I WISH TO STAY SOBER WITHOUT GOING NUTS. I stick around because deep down I know it's where I 'belong'. Do I do the 12 steps? The bits that I choose to do. Do I hand my life and will over to the care of God? Not really. I just know what I must do. I've tried the 'no meetings, do it on my own' option and it doesn't work for me. I go nuts; begin to get the "I can drink again" thoughts, etc. That's madness.

I agree with you regarding the 'AA is the 12 steps' statement. Without those 12 steps, it'd be a shadow of it's real success. I suppose, however, if you're on your knees you'll agree to do just about bloody anything!!

I appreciate the debate and your comments, no probs

With all due respect... Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Granted, it's your understanding of a higher power that counts. But, I find it hard to believe you can say that even though the 12 Steps mention God no less than 5 times that it's only a suggestion. That's an interesting point of view. I'm not trying to be rude or anything. It's just not true to say it's only a suggestion. The A.A. program *is* the 12 Steps.

Fair comment. I get this a lot from people I know and again, it's a fair thing to say. Truth be known, I struggle with the God stuff as well as a 'Higher Power'. Sometimes I believe but most of the time I don't.

Unfortunately - and here's the point - I have little other choice other than to attend meetings and listen to the God stuff IF I WISH TO STAY SOBER WITHOUT GOING NUTS. I stick around because deep down I know it's where I 'belong'. Do I do the 12 steps? The bits that I choose to do. Do I hand my life and will over to the care of God? Not really. I just know what I must do. I've tried the 'no meetings, do it on my own' option and it doesn't work for me. I go nuts; begin to get the "I can drink again" thoughts, etc. That's madness.

I agree with you regarding the 'AA is the 12 steps' statement. Without those 12 steps, it'd be a shadow of it's real success. I suppose, however, if you're on your knees you'll agree to do just about bloody anything!!

I appreciate the debate and your comments, no probs

In that case, we're not debating, we're agreeinig! And, I guess the only reason I said anything was because I think it's only fair to represent AA for what it is. I get irritated when people attribute things to AA that aren't really true. But, you're a great example of how there aren't any real requirements to being a member and maybe even getting something out of it. Nobody makes you believe in God. But, on the other hand, the steps very much deal with God, or at least a Higher Power. I don't know about you, but I imagine much in life is a Higher Power than me. The trick, I guess is to imagine that there may actually be a God of some sort.

My trick to get myself to believe was to believe that my sponsor believed. I believed that he believed in God. He told me God was an infinite source of love, power and direction. So, when I "prayed," I prayed to "Jimmy's God." And, I asked for the power to stay away from a drink or a drug that day. That was basically it.

I think it's cool that you manage to continue to go to meetings. A lot of people are so threatened by the beliefs of others that they can't stay. But, it probably helps to have a meeting or group where people don't actively judge you, too. It sounds like you might have that. Anyway, keep doing what works for you. Staying sober and being useful is the point. What gets you there doesn't really matter as long as you get there.

Wait... Dev said that he feels like City, Ocean Machine, Alien and Synchestra are from the same 'family' (and I can really dig what he's saying there). So I take it it's no coincidence that he did most of those albums wihle being sober and that, while he did awesome things in between, he didn't quite nail that vibe when smoking pot?

Well if Dev wrote Ocean Machine and City when not under the influence, then it's cool that he isn't smoking anymore.

Just found this thread. I used to smoke pot when I was younger. I stopped when I came to university because none of the people I was hanging out with smoked. I've smoked about 10 times in the last 8 years, and only really enjoyed it on about three occasions. Every other time has made me paranoid and I become a bit of a dick when I'm paranoid. Or maybe I'm not, but I just think I am because I'm paranoid. Anyway...

I used to drink quite a lot of alcohol when I was a student, but I'm older now and I can't handle the hangovers.

WRT whether cannabis is safe or not, I'd fall on the not safe side of the argement. Of course all things are relative and alcohol is responsible for more problems than pot, but I think its wrong to suggest that pot is harmless. Probably most people who have smoked pot have experienced some form of psychosis (paranoia being a common example). It has been shown to be associated with an increased incidence of mental health problems and can cause long-term problems such as bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia. There is probably also increased usage among people with pre-existing illnesses. Smoking pot can cause long-lasting psychosis from a single episode as well. It is as bad if not worse than smoking tobacco, as a result of how it is smoked. It can also cause laryngospasm and has been associated with acute airway obstruction.

One other thing to bear in mind is that the big studies looking at pot-smokers were done in the 1970s, and today's pot has more active THC present than then so there is probably a stronger association now than then.

Ian.