wandjina

according to the chart I'm on the verge of being overweight, but yeah, muscle mass? I'm pretty fit, could be that, muscle weighs alot more than fat now doesn't it. so subjective, some friends see me as slim, more often i get 'voluptuous'...recently told i was 'rubinesque'- not sure if that's a good thing :confused:

QUOTE: DMT can be scary no matter what administration method is used, so I wouldn't put too much weight on this guy's haunting voice. Of course, this is true, but I suppose what struck me was that these two guys were expecting something like speed or E, and instead got a nasty surprise(not that anyone would know what they were in for the first time).There was no intention or expectation of a psychedelic experience, and from what the guy said, it sounded like they had absolutely enormous doses, the effects of which lasting a considerable time. We've all had our fair share of terror and 'ego-shredding', but when youre really not looking for that kind of experience, I think it can be a little more terrifying. For instance, i remember hearing a story about a rave yonks ago in Byron hinterland where a dmt laced joint was passed to two young feral girls, perhaps 17/18 year olds. They thought they were being offerred herb, and both were very frightened after onset of effects. Indeed, apparently one was in a pretty bad state for quite some time afterwards.Worst of all, nobody explained to them what had happened, or offered any comfort/compassion/care. I was appalled at the time, especially since the individuals who gave it too them knew full well they were naive, that they were gonna 'spin them out'. Dickheads. I've never been unexpectantly high, but I've heard from ppl who experince HPPD (whatever or whether that is) that it's not much fun. Just my 2c

A few years ago I heard a radio show on JJJ, a weekly programme that dealt with a different drug each week, with an 'expert' offering his 'informed' opinion. Listeners were encouraged to phone in with their experiences. The information given on the DMT show was poor... 'expert' my arse. However, a few people called in, lastly a young man with a sad story to tell... Before leaving a rave with his mate in the early morning, they purchased some dmt....not having tried it before. After having ingested numerous party favours during the course of the night, they were already pretty high, and decided to keep going at home by mixing up the novel drug and shooting half each! At this point the guys voice trembled as he recounted his mates 'primal groaning' and his own terrifying dissolution into a most unexpected and unpleasant ego-shattering experience. That voice has haunted me, and I've wondered over the years about his story, and about IV use of psychedelics. I know in clinical trials of , say, DMT, IV or IM (intramuscular)administration is the norm so that dosage is accurate. Of course, the dmt here will be pure...what about illicit dmt? I'm sure the product available on the black market varies in quality, but given an 'average' sample, what are the potential risks of IV administration (relating specifically to purity/contamination with solvents etc of sample)? No, I'm not sitting here with a pack of fits and a spoon doing a risk/benefit analysis...I'm just curious. Are there really people out there wacking up dmt? And, hypothetically, if the sample were pure, wouldn't prudent IV/IM admin of dmt be safer (or at least healthier) than smoking?

I like guys, I like girls, I like sex and I like watching porn. However,in my view, as a woman, the vast majority of hetero-porn is lacking something: the chicks in the movies are obviously not enjoying themselves. Sure, I'll still watch it, and enjoy it on one level, but the fact that the women's eyes look bored, pained or just plain detached makes these films dull. There are exceptions of course, in some Brasilian porn I've seen the women were most definately enjoying themselves...and so did I I've heard there's porn made for women (attractive men, some semblance of plot/substance etc etc), but never seen any. With reference to my circle of female friends I can say the following: We like watching porn...but find alot of it boring/annoying. This doesn't stop us from watching it though :D We don't like seeing women in discomfort whilst some revolting moustachioed slob gets his rocks off. Yuck We do like watching anal sex We're not that interested in watching guys masturbate, but we do like some gay stuff. With regards to the last point, unlike alot of hetero porn where only the guys are really having fun, in the gay stuff everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. For this reason I have enjoyed what gay porn I've seen..I like watching guys have sex (not so much leather boys/bears though), but not really interested in watching a guy wank. (So yeah Torsten, some women do like watching guys together.) I do like watching women masturbate, and lesbian stuff...great. But again, in the vast majority of les stuff i've seen- aimed at men, girls not enjoying it...BORING. Personally, I'd rather watch something like 'In the Realm of the Senses'...mmmmm, very nice. I've also found japanese (manga?) erotica very appealing, including the comic 'Bondage Fairies'...fantastic and bizarre. Erotic art is also something I appreciate, illustrations of the kama sutra, pillow book, and older japanese art. I guess I'm saying i like to look at stuff with some 'art' in it,some substance, or at least mutual gratification. If everyone's enjoying themselves, no matter what exactly it is they're doing, then I'll like it.

QUOTE: As Francois Poullain de la Barre asserted in 1673 "the mind has no sex" True, but does this negate the influence of socio-political forces?

torsten, with regards to your observation that some women don't want to be known...I think this is true,but why? More, this still doesn't account for the high ratio of men to women (8:2).Im not on any femi-nazi mission to expose hidden sexism/injustice etc etc (borrrring), in fact I feel this is one of the last places that this kind of bs would go down ...but I'm curious. Why do so many less women find ethnobotany fascinating? For the same reasons that, on average, in most cultures, the majority of shamans are male? I do not think it is because women are excluded per se, although i'm sure cultural norms definately play a part in this way in most societies, but perhaps (and I don't wanna come across some kind of biological determinist here), there are 'physiological programmes' that predispose women to nest, gestate, nurture...blah blah blah. Or is it just the overarching influence of the 'dominator culture'? I know one member that deliberately conceals her gender, or at least makes efforts to not divulge it. I'm curious as to why some women in the community feel this way? some kind of 'george elliot' syndrome? Is it because we fear that other (male) respondents attitudes towards us will change...it's happened to me, good and bad. For instance, when i have revealed myself as a woman a number of respondants appear to have interpreted my friendliness as being seductive, or something along these lines...then being very careful to inform me that they are in relationships, have partners. i have to admit I felt a little offended by this. Then there have been those who are surprised, pleasantly or otherwise, that I am female. Almost everyone has assumed I'm a guy. Then again, I find myself assuming the same thing...because the fact of the matter is, most respondants are. Look, I don't wanna come across a 'nagging woman' etc etc, and in all honesty this isn't keeping me up at night, but I'm by nature a curious person, and think about/analyse pretty much everything. I also have to say though, there is a dynamic in the community, in society in general, that I think scares many women away from: 1. participating in what they may perceive as a latently sexist or competitive forum (in the broader sense of the word) 2.being open about the fact they are women. Firstly i say, get over it girls. When it comes down to it, if anyone's gonna treat you differently because you're female, it's no biggy. It's their limitations, not yours. We're all sexist in our own ways...we all generalise, assume. Perhaps if the female presense is more visible, less timid, more women will be attracted to the community (and from other threads there seems to be some demand for this )...ultimatley, the more ethnobots the better I say! To the guys, well some of you at least, (don't wanna offend anyone here, and I'm not accusing anyone of anything), but perhaps this is something you should at least think about eh? Because from where i stand there is a bit of a 'boys club' vibe at times...which is fine, in fact I find it appealing and am not saying that anyone shouldn't do or say what ever they want to, it's not about being offended, or censorship which i am dead against....but maybe just to be aware that not every respondant is male, and that some that you have long thought are men, are apprehensive to reveal their true identity.

I think i may have stumbled upon an interesting phenomenon...every ethnobot i know (around my age at least- 30), had a real fascination for the TV program 'Great Mysteries of the World' growing up. Is this a widespread phenomena worthy of further research? [ 12. May 2005, 07:17: Message edited by: wandjina ]

boys, boys, boys. tut tut

go to uni? I've been at it 6 years...havn't worked a day

Is it just me, or is the ratio of males to females slightly skewed in the ethnobot community? Why is this do you think?

tried witjuti grub once...blecck. And have inadvertantly eaten weevils, moths and an ant or too. Love crustaceans though, but prawns reallyt are the 'cockroaches of the sea'...detritus eating filter feeders...insects and crustacean share common ancestry, arthopoda. apparetnyl tarantula muscle tastes like prawn. So why do 'sea-bugs' appeal, terrestrial bugs revolt? What is it about them that we find so disgusting?

QUOTE: But I can assure you scientific thought is in no way incompatible with other belief filters, and as previously mentioned, many many successful hypotheses have been formed through dreams and visions. Just as many physicists come to believe in religion as a result of their increased understanding of the universe. hear hear! I find the last point of interest. Indeed, this appears to be an interesting phenomena worthy of research.

aye curamba!

QUOTE- science is game of insecure boys trying to convince themselves of their own existence *L* You would love HPS (History and Philosophy of Science)... I agree with alot of what you have said. Although I love science, and have a science degree, it is almost always the case that 'scientists' abhor 'outside' criticism of their scientific endevours. Questioning of sciences' a priori metaphysical assumptions about the way the universe works are often met with vicious opposition. We are to accept that science is the sole arbiter and purveyor of truth, and in our socitey its authority is monumental. That said, science does appear to get better and better at predicting future states, at closer approximations of the truth, for whatever reason, science seems to 'work'. It's a slippery slope though, the more you think about it... Is science merely socially constructed via the negotiated demarcation of epistemic boundaries between the knowledge of rival groups? (perhaps could have worded that better, sorry) Or are there universal truths that science has accessed way of its potent methodologies that ostensibly render it insulated from bias and human subjectivity? Perhaps the truth is somewhere is between, if it is anywhere at all. At heart, I'm more a relativist/constructivist than a postivist, however, the 'scientist' in me still felt the to lambast your theory re. the solar system...but i won't. Many a wonderful idea was born of conjecture or dream...the structure of the benzene ring for instance...

I am very attracted to Buddhism, especially the Bon Po flavoured Tibetan variety, but can someboby please explain to me the Dalai Lamas' stance of homosexuality? He appears to be as homophobic as the Pope. Also, the status of women...there does not seem any female monks/nuns I know of in positions of high authority or prestige. Guess these are just the trappings of organised religion, no matter how worthy the underlying philosophies. Have to say I agree with Gomaos' apparently Marxist interpretation of organised religion.

whoops...wrong topic

"Now my own suspicion is that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose." J.B.S Haldane "If one could conclude as to the nature of the Creator from a study of his creation it would appear that God has an inordinate fondness for stars and beetles." J.B.S. Haldane