I think that Becker made an insightful distinction in his article by specifying that his article was discussing smoking pot for pleasure. I think that the addictive discussion isn't to most relevant to the purpose of the article. Marijuana isn't addictive. End of story.
It seems like several members of our blog community have not experienced smoking pot, but I'll go ahead and say, I have! And enjoy partaking on a regular basis. It was especially interesting to me to read Becker's article and remember my very first experience using, biking to a spot behind my old elementary school in the middle of a circle of pine trees. My friends had all smoke before, so of course they brought all the supplies and the guiding advice. Throughout the process, I ended up swallowing a good amount of the smoke, and for hours following I burped up little puffs. I felt like a dragon, and my friends thought it was so funny and still make me feel like a success.
In retrospect, I now know that each of those aspects (my guides, my environment, my faux paus and the encouragement I received) were so crucial in my appreciation of the practice. I was a body, and the factors of my social environment were necessary to shape me. I know that my nature inclined me to try smoking, as I'm generally an adventuresome and risk taking girl. But I don't know that I would have sought out the experience without the encouragement and facilitation of my friends, showing me that nurture certainly played a part.
My roommate doesn't smoke and doesn't allow her boyfriend to smoke. She has tried it before, but has a really adverse attitude about it now. After reading this article, I wonder if one of those crucial pieces of the social construction was missing from her first times. Maybe she feels that it makes her sick or she wasn't shown the proper technique so she didn't feel anything at all! It makes me wonder if she could still be guided into enjoying the act.
Apologies for the honest and upfront nature of this post! I hope this gives a little insight to any of those who haven't smoked! Comrades who have, hope you enjoyed!
I really enjoy your honesty in this blog post. I'm glad I got to see your point of view of "Becoming a Marihuana User" because you have smoked pot before. I wish you would've elaborated and why you continue to use it though. That is something I still don't understand. Is it because you like the way it feels or because of your risk taking behavior? You told us that you partake on a regular basis and I'm not one to judge, but I just don't understand why. I just feel like it is some sort of weird addiction - maybe not to the drug, but something else entirely.
ReplyDeleteWay to be up front an honest! It always adds alot to something you read in class when other peers can back it up with solid examples and experiences. The connections you made between the real life experience and the article are very insightful and im glad to see somwone use real examples in the blog.
ReplyDeleteClaire,
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything in your post. The phrase "pot culture" conjures up a negative image of a lazy boy sitting on his couch wearing tye-dye who works at the Pizza Hut. You're story breaks the stigma many non-smokers have of people who smoke weed. Being a successful, well educated girl who smokes may make people think differently about the pot culture.
I most definitely agree with the others-your honesty is appreciated!! I think it's an an interesting thing to associate your first time smoking with the general scene of it all. If I were to sit here and think about it, I think I would find that any "first" experience you have and the likelihood of repeating it has much to do with the "scene." I don's smoke pot personally-but I hang out with many people who do it quite often. It looks interesting and who knows maybe one day I shall try it but I'm no so sure the guys I hang with would be so encouraging as your friends were to you, and my experience would most likely be a fail. But yeah-thanks for the honesty and the insight!
ReplyDeleteI am probably similar in attitude to your roommate who tried it once and didn't like it so chooses not to partake. I don't have any problems with other people doing it and I have many friends who do, I just never understood the appeal much. After reading the article I, myself, wondered which piece of the social construction I missed out on in order to become a member of that community. I have tried it numerous times with people from within the community and have felt pretty guided but I did not experience the effect of getting high and am now curious to try again.
ReplyDeleteThis is a phenomenal post! It is written in a way that I believe a blog should be written. It is interesting, provoking, has cultural key terms, and is insightful. I agree with you that the social construction of your first time will inevitably affect the way that you view smoking, but I also believe it is heavily influenced by the chemical makeup of the individual. Different individuals are going to have different reactions to high amounts of dopamine and serotonin (ie may be unenjoyable). This leads me to believe that some people will just have a negative perception on smoking due to the reaction that their body has.
ReplyDeleteWow. Brave. And the irony of your name does not escape me, either.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a discussion! Thank you, community.
Thank you for sharing with such honesty.
Now--and this goes for everybody reading--in addition to addressing your 1) unique and rarely voiced subject position with 2) accurate use/understanding of the readings, remember to 3) frame those keywords. That's not to say you, Claire, did not, or that you didn't address "where your opinions come from". Only a little more structure, a little more depth.
". . . and still makes me feel like a success."
Nice.