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If what we were discussing in the Rethinking addiction thread is right, then most addicts only have a hope of getting better if they have some kind of social interaction. I believe that grouping people together by their addictions (or perceived addictions) is not a way to make to the situation better. I mean, when you form an opinion about someone based on a group that you perceive them to be a part of... that's prejudice, isn't it? If the "group" was "Japanese people", you would be called racist. But everyone loves to hate junkies, so it's okay. And yeah, I'm not totally naive, I understand that some, maybe many heroin addicts are also thieves & liars and horrible people. (But y'know, so are non-junkies). And if you discriminate against them because they are thieves and liars and horrible people, well and good. Not lending money to someone who never pays you back is a perfectly logical stance. But I have known people who took it much further, not only saying that they wouldn't lend money to junkies, but actually refusing to pay money owed (eg. to employees or trade partners) who they perceived as having drug issues "because they'll just spend it on drugs" - this was how they rationalised their own theft in this situation. Was that reasonable? Do you think the victims in that situation, if they did have drug addictions, would be any more likely to clean up their acts after being ripped off by this bigot? Or would they be less likely, because it was yet another step in our society's direction of isolating & dehumanising addicts? You can refuse to actively contribute to someone's addiction, and still interact with them & treat them as a fellow human being. For example, you may not want to give the homeless alcoholic man at the train station any more money for booze, but you can give him a sandwich & say hello. You don't need to lend your meth-addict brother any more money, but you can still answer the phone when he calls. I understand that we don't want our hard-earned money to go to undeserving people - but if you really care about that, then vote left and lobby for real changes to our tax & welfare systems - these are bleeding us of far more money than the most conniving addicts could ever hope to. Don't take it out on the junky who asks you for a dollar. It's just easier to say "no" than "yes".

Nice topic stu. It is complex in that I don't find it a simple yes or no answer. Depends what you mean by 'Junkie'. If it's someone I know, and I know how their addiction exhibits (and what they are addicted to) - I have at least some vague basis for knowing what will happen if I give them money or not, and whether or not it's a good thing. But then again, if it's someone you know very well, it's rarely as simple as just giving the money or not. Say they're a friend or family member, what else is going on? How does the money fit in with what they are doing (or not doing, or doing involuntarily or not) to combat their addiction and deal with whatever else they (inevitably) have going on in their lives. A person that you don't know, out in the street - what then? Depends on how they act and come across. I don't take well to menaces/muggings - if I did hand over money in that circumstance, it would be for pragmatic rather than charitable reasons. But that's not most people asking/begging for money in public. I haven't usually given money to people begging, but a story from a person I know made me think. They had a young man begging in the street ask them for money. My friend went away, broke a note and came back with a Vegemite scroll, a soft-drink and a smaller amount of money, handed them over, then sat and talked with him for a while. The man said that they were the first person that had acknowledged his existence all day - that it was like he was invisible. He clearly appreciated the gesture, as well as the food and money. Was he an addict? My friend certainly could not rule it out, so maybe he did spend the money on drugs. And yet their kindness and effort to make another person feel better - even if just for a little while - I can't help but feel a like I could do better than pretend that those people begging for money (possibly to supply their habit) don't exist.

^^ from what ive seen on the facebook tricho groups, the Olive bashing has not stopped since it first started. no point naming names, but it would be nice if his mates told him to pull his head in line and stop acting like such an ass. it would be lovely if the ethnobotanical community could keep it civil, what ever happened to peace love and understanding.... I think he hit the nail on the head with "the whole Facebook thing as the last vestige for those who have been booted off forums" Its a real shame that certain people feel the need to continue to spread their own personal hatred for another human being they dont even know. Olives Ebay feedback speaks for itself, its quite clear he is a good trader. This has been proven time and time again. What the talkers talk, the provers prove. Haters gonna keep on hating, Sorry you have to keep getting dragged down by others peoples slander Olive, hold your head up high, no need to let them get to ya

Great idea for a thread DiscoStu A few years back i used to work on a council crew Most of the crew passionately hated people who they perceived to be homeless/alcoholic/junkies, that contribute nothing to society They thought i was stupid for chatting to them, and giving them the change in my pocket. Often times saying "you know they will just spend those coins on beer and smokes" I would sit there and think, but you buy 2 packs of smokes per day and drink 6 beers every night at the pub, and if you think your contributing to society then why do you spend all day avoiding as much work as possible? I guess its easier to make a snap judgments on others, then it is to take a hard honest look at yourself and judge your own actions.

It's pretty standard around my way to demanding humiliating sexual favours and/or the ownership the addicts soul before giving away money or drugs. Just yesterday in the pre-punch up sas talk one junkie said I own your soul the other one replied I don't have a soul, I'm the devil. The fight didn't live up to the hype, but the pre fight banter was memorable.

TPN - Trichocereus Peruvianus Nitrose

Glad these seeds are arriving safely! It warms my heart! USA recipients are a certainty, but anytime plants and seeds have to clear international customs issues can arise. That said though, I've not had a single package sent to Australia not get through, in all these years.. Per the mutation rate - all the TPM crosses that I've done since the initial TPM x SS02 cross (2008 I think it was?) have been with the same TPM plant, which I picked up many years ago at a small cactus nursery that has since gone out of business. I suspect there are different strains of TPM - my TPC is clearly different - it grows crested as well as monstrose, and looks different in other ways. I should probably give my TPM motherplant a name to distinguish it from what may be other strains of TPM that have and probably will produce hybrid seed. Let me think a bit regarding what to name the thing - how about either "Phenshine" or "SpheroStrato"? In previous years, the mutation rate seems to be about 50% for this TPM as mother, and 30%+ for this TPM as father.. Hard to say though - sometimes as the seedlings get bigger they develop monstrose pheno that wasn't apparent when younger..

After clicking log on and catching up on some stuff on here today on le choofe de corroboree le mwa personally i feel the attacks on Pat uri and his many schizoid split personalities lately have been pretty damn cruel. It's not like Pat just appeared yesterday - as some seem to think. The knowledge this cattle farmer has provided is darn good reading and if he offends your sensibilities , well then, just block him as some might say. yes yes, get your knickers in a knot won't you. Please do because the world might fall over if you don't. oh and btw some might say that post counts like mine mean shit because anyone can rant and rave on any topic they feel like doing so on any particular day but when the day of reckoning comes you better not try to hide in my bunker or my cat (and fleas) will eat YOU ALIVE. Sab aint just about cactus p.s many here from the inception of this forum have offered up awesome trades and seeds - so don't think because you sent out heaps of seeds and shit - that renders you immutable from any of his previous commentary. Get on trolley or fuck the right off. The dudes i'm thinking off i would normally think extremely highly of but i just don't get it when out of left field comes a distasteful comment in a thread - just like i have done right here. Oh and please don't get to hot and bothered because you are only one of many that will eat my truncheon today tada - get out of bed on the wrong side much? Well do ya punk! good onya and have a nice day

Wow think I awoke the whole neighbourhood this morning when I opened my postal box.. Nitrogen i can not thank you enough for all your hard work and generosity..

lophocereus schottii monstrosus??

Put a bunch of the cacti in pots between my in ground ones to save space and get ready for the cold. I forgot to take a picture after I put the plastic down on the hoop. Had to get the 3 other greenhouses at work ready as well. Pulled a back muscle lifting cinder blocks :/ Tried to get some other things together in this corner.

Cheers Conv3rgence. Spawn of Satan - nice, I'm proud of such a title...... :) Gotta love how such perfect people are quick to condem others. Personally I see the whole Facebook thing as the last vestige for those who have been booted off forums such as this and others or have been banned from eBay. That's just my opinion and if they can have there's I can have mine. Especially interesting how the stories I hear of these people on Facebook are filled with thievery and selling garbage at top prices to unsuspecting collectors. Having traded with some of them before they got the boot from here or eBay I can attest to this fact. Here's another Spawn of Satan mistake for the rabble to further persecute over - In today's Trichocereus listings that will go off this arvo I have listed a J3. In the title is states the plant is a J3, which it is - and I might add that this plant originates from a supurb grower and has awesome lineage. However in the description of this most sought after clone it says it is a lutherburbank X. Due to the fact that this plant has already been bid on (4 bids thus far) I am unable to edit the listing. I don't like to take listings down once they have been bid on as this is unfair to the bidders (wonderful people that you are) and to the eBay process. So I rung eBay this morning after I received a message from another wonderful person on here and eBay walked me through the process of adding a note to a listing, this I have done, the note states that the plant is a J3 and not a lutherburbank X. It is very important to me that the listings are correct on eBay and as you have stated Conv3rgence when I made the mistake a few weeks ago when listing a cereus as a Trichocereus I was still very much addled and a bit loopy. However I still managed to ensure everyone received their plants in good time and allways the postage method in which they have paid for. I wonder if the perfect and godlike loopers on Facebook (Zed and Conv3rgence excluded) have noticed that this week I have listed a cereus hidermanius (the same type of plant mistakenly listed a few weeks ago) correctly, and I wonder if they have posted anything about that, I expect not........ Happy bidding everyone on Cheezelburgers listing, some great bargains to be had. Rest assured knowing that you will receive exactly the plants you have bid on exactly posted with the postage method prescribed. 325 perfect seller ratings..........match that Facebook bitches.

I'll give it a go - can't promise I'll win, but can't let the title go uncontested.

Good on ya Pimento This is the first trich that I ever bought, and it's the longest in my collection.... Guess that makes me a size queen.

Myeloblast are there two strains of myrtillocactus crest/monstrosa going on there at that bed?? this pic seems that might have some answers or facts on mysteriies around some US Myrti (?) monster clone I got

my fave trich

very nice entries wonderful people 7ish days to go............. Theres no way i can pick just one here are some of my favourites - Validus Chilliensis Pachanoi monstrose TPM x N1

Every man is mortal: But I know one thing that never dies, The glory of the great deed.

Spray the leaves not the soil. Only lethal for weeds without an established root from which to reshoot.

thanks Olive.

Righto, I don't know if any of youse was watching the Interstate Camping thread, but that plan is in limbo, those usual suspects from Sydney who are still keen for a meet up, are defaulting to a gathering at my lower hunter valley property the first weekend in Dec. So come one and all, for a meeting on sat, or stay and camp for the weekend. Just putting it out there. We can sort out details and arrangements as we go.

i can give you a Shamans dick, but not a chemical shamans dick.. if you want?

Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, thats how the light gets in.

This is no doubt too nosey but would you care to elaborate on 'a lot of drugs '? Not all drugs being equal and all. The only time I've ever felt mentally unwell was after a 5 day amphetamine binge when I started seeing things and panicking. Didn't feel quite right for months after that. Good luck with getting better.

Hang in there Olive and good on you for striving to deal with this stuff. I hope the future is up and up.