Allow me to end the ego-stroking on a positive note... I saw an orange ball of light hovering around in the sky last night - unlike any aircraft I have heard of or seen. It then disappeared in the blink of an eye. So I took some acid and thought to myself... What the fuck was that....? And, what purpose does it serve....? Then I just said, oh fuck it and turned on some tunes. Isn't it great how everything is interrelated. Let's leave what shouldn't be known, shouldn't be known. Shall we?
were psilocybin a defence mechanism in the mushroom, it would be assumed that the mushroom dosent want to be eaten or picked. looking at the mushroom as it is...the fruitbody of a mycelium network, i have a harder time seeing the need for the mushroom to devise a defence mechanism. to pick at, or disturb, or smash, or run into a mushroom ultimatly serves in the distribution of its spores....procreation; which is what is assumed to be the most basic and hard wired drive in all organisms.
I can't help but wonder - if some mushrooms have tried to defend themselves, why haven't other mushrooms? All mushrooms don't 'think' alike?
To the person who suggested that THC in weed is a bad defence mechanism... Are you crazy! THC has guaranteed the survival of marujuana as a species forever! Oh and I cant believe I actually read all 10+ pages of this inane argument...
You know, it's not so much the 'argument' that I mind. That's just another word for 'discussion' which is what most of us come here for. But I really hate it when certain posters feel it necessary to describe others' statements as stupid. And there are some personalities in these forums that do so consistently. Why they feel the need to be insulting when they dialog is curious and, I think, egocentric.
I'm sticking to my stance because you are defining it as "inadequately informed" yet have still not produced something of substance that could be reasonably suggested as an explanation over a defense mechanism. If my opinion was blatantly wrong or stupid I actually wouldn't mind the somewhat condescending tone you have taken on, but the fact that you continue to assault my perspective without offering up anything substantial is just annoying. At this point I really don't care anymore. Wow, I said most foods don't have much taste, not all. More importantly, this is yet again another drastic change of topic (gee, I wonder why that keeps happening), so I guess there is no point in trying to discuss this any further.
I'll answer you but could you maybe rephrase? I'm not sure I understand exactly what you are trying to ask.
I am truly sorry that you interpret my tone as being condescending. My emotional tone around this issue is actually flat. Is it condescending to have the impulse to take a pair of scissors away from an infant, or condescending to allow innocence by reason of insanity. The evidence of psychedelic popularity is substantial evidence. Flies are annoying too. They are at times an unpleasant reality. The reason the topic seems to change is because the examples you are using to press your case are equally debatable.
a decent amount of psilocybin mushrooms grow on cow shit. LOL that's not the ideal place to pick possible food....just saying
Sure, no problem. I asked a question in reference to one of your posts: Quote: Originally Posted by neodude1212 I've considered it, but can't fathom any use a mushroom might have for psilocybin. Other than to keep things from eating it that is. Just wondering why some vegetables contain vitamin A. Is it a defence mechanism? and you were kind enough to answer: Vitamins are organic compounds made by combining elements on the periodic table. Most necessary vitamins cannot be naturally produced by an organism. Vegetables don't produce vitamins, they absorb them from the ground for their own benefit, so no, vitamin A is obviously not a defensive mechanism. Which brings us to this question of which you're asking for clarification: So, even though some growths 'contain' chemicals, they didn't 'produce' them but other growths contain chemicals because they do produce them?
Well, you were asking if vitamins were a defense mechanism, apparently on the basis that they are found within organisms. The distinction between vitamins and chemical defensive mechanisms is that vitamins are a universal organic compound - a lot of organisms need them to survive, including plants and vegetables, whereas a chemical defense mechanism is just that - a defense. It's like a shield that a human may build, you produce it yourself in order to protect yourself.
Evolution isn't blanket across the board, this is like asking why other primates who have been around longer haven't developed full bi pedal locomotion. You're kidding right? Weed has existed long before humans have been smoking it. Also it's not in the interest of the plant to be chopped down and smoked.
Quote: Well, you were asking if vitamins were a defense mechanism, apparently on the basis that they are found within organisms. The distinction between vitamins and chemical defensive mechanisms is that vitamins are a universal organic compound - a lot of organisms need them to survive, including plants and vegetables, whereas a chemical defense mechanism is just that - a defense. It's like a shield that a human may build, you produce it yourself in order to protect yourself. Okay. Your answer indicates that you continue to believe that some chemicals found in growths are defensive (psilocybin) wheras other chemicals found in growths (vitamin A) simply are there with no defensive purpose. In a post above I wondered why some mushrooms defend themselves while other mushrooms do not - do mushrooms not 'think' alike? What do you think?
we dont like the idea...but we're not the only species that eats them. lots of things eat mushrooms, bugs mostly. but its not going to make a bug trip so thats not a good defence from its number one predator. (though i may be overstepping logic...for all i know psilocybin kills certain kinds of bugs.) the ecosystem is a very complex network with a hell of a lot of factors that determine relationships between species. i have no idea why psilocybin exists in mushrooms, but i think it is useful to human beings, so if it were intended as a defence its not doing a very good job. bugs still eat them, and so do animals, people included
Really this shouldn't even be an argument. Humans are one of the newer creatures on this planet. The only possible way to even argue chemicals that alter perception in plants is not a defense mechanism is if you follow creationism and believe everything has been placed/evolved for the sole benefits of post hunter-gathers humans.
But it does beg the question - if some growths defend themselves, why don't all growths defend themselves?
humans are not the only animals that injest psychedelic plants. one example would be the jaguar who eats caapi (jaguar is a carnivore, it dosent really even fancy plants), not for nutritional value, but for expiriencial value. also rams will seek out a rare psychoactive lichen that has no nutritional value. this list could go on for a while. its a fact that small amounts of psilocybin make ones depth perception more accurate. why wouldnt a carnivore on the hunt want to use somthing like this? caapii could be said to greatly highten awarness as well. these things can be tools
Evolution isn't blanket, why do all plants not have thorns, or poisons on them that cause skin irritations?
No, it really can't, there's very few animals that actually do this. What about the fact your own example of rams doing this in the Canadian wilderness you forgot to mention how they act after ingesting it, both wild and erratic and have been seen grinding their teeth to the gums to get every last bit. You really think this is beneficial to the ram? Animals have been shown to do a lot of drugs when they are given access to them, it doesn't mean this is natural or what was intended. Notice how the ram is the exception to the rule, not the norm. I mean even human drug use, altering how your brain perceives things is not physically healthy. We just had a thinking mind where we can sit and ponder philosophy during a trip.