Um, on the other hand, don't. Bad analogy.

ANYWAY-

Morris, Trout, Chris 88, evryone, just STFU for a minute, please!

@ Morris: Dude- sounds like you've been run through the mill at the hands of assholes (some of whom may have been addicts, also) who harmed you as a child. I'm really sorry about that. I've seen it happen to others, and your trauma and squeamishness about any mind-altering substance is understandable. To you, I suppose, seeing anyone altered in any way, for any length of time, is scary and uncomfortable for you. You have my compassion.

Now that being said, I believe that Trout's original question was simply, "Is it possible to be a recreational pot smoker?" presumably in the same way that one who only drinks when he has a couple of brews at a ball-game is a recreational drinker.

For example, a college student who only fires up the bong on a Saturday night in the privacy of his or her room, and blisses-out to some good music.

Capiche?

That's not a hard question. Both activities involve imbibing limited amounts of alterants for limited amounts of time, perhaps achieving limited amounts of inebriation in a safe setting, and causing neither themselves or others, any injury.

That's it. That was the question.

As for some of the others weighing in, this was never a discussion of illegality, relative harmfulness of substances, or out-of-control consumption patterns, or just being an asshole first, and a substance abuser second.

Those are all different questions.

Get it? Got it?

Good.

Now that being said, let Morris be a near tea-totaller, that is his right. And cut the poor guy some slack, already. He's been through enough, not the least of which was trying to survive as a Liberal in TX!

But dude, given your lack of positive experience with causual and responsible use of mind-alterants, I respectfully suggest that you leave the question to people who were not traumatized as you were, and who know a little more about the topic than you do.

In a few microseconds, there will be the ususual knee-jerk scolds with poor reading comprehension who will jump all over me, screeching,

"But Pot is ILLEGAL!!"

These people are committing CRIMES!

Yes I know. Please sit down and be quiet.

That is a different question, remember?

... in which Gene Hackman, an FBI agent from the deep south tries to illustrate to the true nature of racism to a colleague, who is a northerer, by telling a story from his childhood:

He and his father lived near a black farmer who was becoming increasingly successful. He later came to realize that it was his father who ultimately poisoned the farmers well and killed his mule. While never admitting guilt, during a discussion of the matter his father sheepishly told him "If you can't be better than a nigger, son... who CAN you be better than?"

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

That sure explains a lot.

(h/t to AG, posting on AirAmerica.com)

A: When you act.

Balling them ignorant, sad, paranoid, etc., is bertainly no argument against their desire to free their bhildren from political activism and, of bourse, says something rather sad, abtually, about you.

Blimey!

What a silly bunt!

OK

So, now that you have so smugly educated us on the existence of confounding variables, would you please take (as anyone more intellectually honest than you would have done automatically) a moment to educate us further by demonstrating, with proof, how the stated statistics should be adjusted, and by how much, given the effects of the confounding variables you referenced, or any others you might happen to think up along the way?

Have at it, man. I'm sure I'm not the only trained scientist and engineer posting here. I think we're more than capable of understanding whatever you come up with.

Why do all of the politicians from South Carolina seem to be so weird and weasel-like?

Um, I dunno, but it probably has something to do with them being weird little weasels.

There is a sound-proofed room with a large glass window separating it from the Worship Hall. We call it "The Cry Room," and it's there to be used by the considerate parents of very young children, so that they can enjoy the service with their little ones.

I propose that such a room be built, for use by unruly, ill-tempered [because they haven't had a nap /wet themselves/ are hungry/ suffer from night-terrors/ are unformed little savages with no better nature] congress-critters. Anytime one of these little ankle-biters acts up, the Sergeant-at-arms can grab them by the squeaky-clean scruffs of their red necks, and toss them into the Congressional Cry Room for a lengthy time-out. There will be plenty of toys and puzzles to busy and calm their little minds, and of course, the sound portion of the proceedings will be piped in for the benefit of any little miscreants trying to catch up in between sobs.

A room roughly the size, um, I dunno... the right side of the Senate Chamber ought to do the trick.