venomai

I say it often in the soft drug threads: video game addiction is a serious problem. :( http://www.wowdetox.com/

So universal beauty ideals common for every culture is a myth, it's all dependant on what the media tells us? Universal beauty ideals? Care to give examples of a "universal" concept of beauty? :lol: There are always minor details that are shared through multiple cultures/periods, regardless of the media. However, when I refer to the image of "ideal beauty" I am referring to more than just minor details. Hilarious. :roll: Renaissance "beauty" was much different from today. A man would see beauty in a plump woman because her weight suggests that she is well-fed (ie: wealthy). Nowadays, men look at plump women with disgust, simply because the media has changed our views on beauty.

Learn to draw on paper before getting a tablet, though. :)

Try something new. Instead of making the same old grunge/abstract sigs, try your hand at drawing, painting, modeling, etc. :) http://www.conceptart.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39 http://forums.cgsociety.org/forumdisplay.php?f=130

Do you actually think that the West woke up one morning and spontaneously decided that plump is no longer pretty? We accept their view of beauty because we are ignorant about the media's intentions and the detrimental effects of accepting that image. Like you said, it's the media's view of beauty, not ours. The media will adapt the image of the "ideal woman" to the standards of the society, in a way that makes them maximum profit. However, ultimately, it is society that follows the image set by the media, not the other way around. Yes, our own ignorance is also to blame. But the real factor here is the media. As we've said, the media sets the image, and society follows it. The fact that the media deceives us into accepting it is even more infuriating (see the Evolution video). And of course, many of us accept the media -- we have been brought up in a manner that we have no choice but to accept it. Most parents and teachers are just as ignorant about the media as the rest of society. Media class is still a very new concept in schools, and most students don't sign up for it. Just because we accept something doesn't mean it's a good thing. Take a look at binge drinking, which is "accepted" in various cultures (British, Aussie), yet it has shown to be very detrimental and even fatal to many individuals. I suspect they would want to if they were well educated about the media. Nevertheless, since I would be a dictator, I wouldn't give them much choice. ;) Sorry, but you are not aware. Your earlier posts in this thread show your ignorance in the matter. Even if this thread has shed some light on one particular aspect of the media, it doesn't make you "aware". :|

Yes, we're talking about culture. I'm saying there have been apparent cultural changes influenced by the media's images of the "ideal woman". Key word being some. In the West, size 0 (or similar) models are still very common in the media. Essentially, only a small number of "skinny" models have actually been banned. "London Fashion Week refuses to ban 'size 0' models from catwalk" http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_b ... 186514.ece If your education doesn't include media awareness classes then it won't help you make proper judgements regarding the media. Essentially, there is no "weighing" of the arguments as you only have one side -- the side you are familiar with. In my opinion, first year media should be a mandatory class in high school.

Physically, there isn't much. Getting high will increases heart rate. If you have heart problems or you are very old, then there may be a slight increase in heart attack risk. Here is an interesting article about the heart attack studies. http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/188/ Psychologically, use of any mind-altering substance is suspected to trigger psychosis in susceptible individuals. These studies are pretty controversial, and there is a lot of valid evidence that exists on both sides. Most studies would agree that marijuana, as with caffeine and other substances, only trigger mental illnesses in susceptible individuals. [1][2] Here's an interesting article on whether or not this is just hype: http://www.stats.org/stories/2007/do_sk ... r27_07.htm And here is some evidence that suggests cannabis-induced psychosis is not as much of a problem as the media portrays it. "For individuals, the current evidence suggests, at worst, that using cannabis increases lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia by one percent" "increased rates of cannabis use in the last thirty years have not been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the rate of psychosis in the population" [3] Since oral cannabis (like hash brownies) tends to be a much more psychedelic and longer-lasting experience, many users report having a "bad trip" (short term psychosis). I believe that bad trips can be minimized by tripping in a comfortable set and setting. http://www.medpagetoday.com/tbindex.cfm?tbid=810 I would put oral cannabis in a whole different field. If you just want to get a regular high (like you would off smoked marijuana) then the "safe and effective" alternative would be a vaporizer. http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7240

The government would have to price it well, to compete with some of the higher end dealers out there. Weed is extremely cheap to get and manufacture on a large scale. Imagine if the government used even a fraction of their annual $10 billion extra dollars from decriminalizing pot.... While it's true that not every user will buy legally, I can assure you that many smokers and even dealers would rather buy their marijuana legally from a trusted source, especially if the prices are good/better. A friend of mine is a dealer, so I hear about this a lot. Even him, who has many "hookups" for different varieties of weed (all at great prices) would rather buy his weed legally. I'm sure he will still try to sell some of his legally-bought weed, but he will have a harder time. Many regular users (like me) buy their weed from their "pothead friends". Those potheads buy their weed from bigger potheads, who buy their weed from choppers, who buy their weed from growers, etc. Each level in the underground market gets increasingly more "sketchy" -- and the deals become a lot more intense (dealing hundreds of ounces is much different from dealing a couple of grams). I know of many dealers who would be relieved to get out of the black market. The black market will still exist -- but if marijuana is properly decriminalized then the black market will take a huge hit (no pun intended). Over time, as the government refines their growing techniques, the black market will slowly crumble. Here's one quote that sheds some light on Canada's current problem. http://www.ganjabus.com/2006/01/where-d ... -grow.html If marijuana was to be legalized, it would have to be done very carefully and in very small steps. It's something that would take many years and a lot of cooperation to work. If West makes a poor decision, such as legalizing it only in certain areas, or making it lower quality/more expensive than weed on the streets, then things will backfire. For example, take Flin Flon Mine. From the wiki article: This sounds great and all, but a few studies have shown Flin Flon mine to be one of the most contaminated areas in Canada. http://www.medicalmarihuana.ca/toxic.html The result? It backfires and only increases black market use among medi-marijuana users. Users who hear this news end up going back to their old dealers to get "safe" weed.

Nice. I like your digipaints. :) I suggest using a thicker brush for the drawings, it will help make things a bit smoother and "pop out". Use texture brushes if you want to add texture (like on the ground).

Just a word of warning... depriving yourself from sleeping can be very dangerous if you actually manage to do it. In some cases it can result in death from exhaustion. Sleep deprivation can cause a lot of extremely intense hallucinations and visual distortions, sometimes more powerful than LSD-induced trips, so have fun with that. :) Because of the hallucinations and short-term psychosis, sleep deprivation is often used as a method of torture. ;) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3376951.stm

Alcohol has a lot of benefits when used in moderation. See my earlier post. It has shown to boost IQ and reduce risk of cancers and cardiac events. If marijuana is legalized, then it too can be taxed. :)

Sad story.

Not sure who this is referring to. Scientific papers and essays are usually quite neutral and rarely ever exaggerated. However, if you find any of my sources to be exaggerated, please tell me. :) Sources please? I smoke it regularly yet I'm one of the top students in my class, and my marks are increasing steadily. I can say the same for other students. In fact, I have never met anyone who's responsible use of marijuana gets in the way of school. Unless, of course, by "regularly" you mean heavily. If somebody smokes marijuana every day, then it is very likely to get in the way of school. -------- I'm tired of saying this. :? WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE USE AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM IRRESPONSIBLE USE? Alcohol, irresponsible: An irresponsible user will binge drink to the point of them damaging their body, driving under the influence, abusing friends, etc. Heavy and excessive use of any substance/activity can introduce psychological dependence (where the mind begins to crave it). With alcohol, excessive use can often lead to a physical addiction (one with very severe withdrawal symptoms). Alcohol, responsible: A responsible drinker may drink wine or beer with dinner. Light to moderate drinkers show no signs of physical dependence on the substance. This sort of responsible use has actually shown to be benefitial. Light to moderate drinking has shown to increase IQ and reduce risk of cancers and cardiac events.[1][2][3] Marijuana, irresponsible: Many of the self-appointed "potheads" and drop-outs at your school are good examples of irresponsible marijuana smokers. It would be irresponsible to smoke marijuana to the point it begins to get in the way of your social life or work habits. Often, although physical dependence is relatively low, heavy users can build a psychological dependence (ie: "craving") for the substance. Irresponsible use of marijuana also includes such things as driving under the influence or operating dangerous machinery. Although heavy use of marijuana has not shown to cause very many physical health effects, I suspect that so much smoke can damage and weaken the lungs over time. Marijuana, responsible: A responsible user of marijuana will use the drug a couple times per week, if that, and in a very comfortable setting (ie: not in a car!). Responsible users don't tend to show signs of addiction, and do not let the activity interfere with social life, work habits, etc. Video games, irresponsible: An irresponsible user of video games (like Runescape, WoW) will play to the point that the game interferes with social life, work habits, etc. Although video games have no physical addiction potential, they can be extremely psychologically addicting when used excessively (as with any activity). Don't believe me? Think that nobody suffers from video games? http://www.wowdetox.com/ Video games, responsible: A responsible user will play to the point that they enjoy the experience, but will not let the game get in the way of social life, work habits, etc. As with all other responsible users, it's very difficult to become addicted with light to moderate usage.

What has that got to do with weed? Being high is nothing like being drunk, and the after-effects (like a "hangover") are nearly non-existent.

Like I said -- the media defines our current view of beauty, thus it is only logical for them to portray images based on their own definition. See my earlier post for an example of how the media has changed the public's definition of physical beauty. If I was a politician I would have to follow the general public's beliefs (more or less) or else I would lose votes. If I was a dictator and I had no fear of losing votes, then I would probably change the face of the media completely. I wouldn't allow them to advertise so freely and abusively, and I would encourage citizens to advertise their own beliefs and create their own media. Ever heard of culture jamming? Something like that. Of course, society wouldn't be prepared for such a radical change, so it's likely that any changes I make would be baby steps, simply to avoid having the entire world hate me. Awareness is an extremely powerful tool. The more people that are aware of how damaging the mass media is, the more the media will make itself look like it cares, and even the smallest bit of pretending on their part can go a long way. Even if they start showing more "natural" and less airbrushed models, it will help. I've said it before, they are very interested in profits. And if millions of concerned parents begin to protest against the media's current advertising techniques, they will see that attitude reflected in their profits, and they will likely change. Culture jamming is a fun and creative way to vandalise advertisements, express personal opinions and to raise awareness. :) Although it would probably be more appropriate (and legal) to join/create media awareness groups, protests, etc. Look into Noam Chomsky's speeches for lots of great information. Taking/teaching classes on the media can help raise awareness for yourself and others. It won't solve the problem, but it's a start. Changing the public's opinion isn't something that can be done overnight. Ever seen Dove's Evolution advertisement? It's aimed at the "media aware" people and it basically says "We care about you, we are not like the average media corporations!" Whether or not they actually do care, advertisements like these can actually help the current problems many teens face with self-esteem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knEIM16NuPg Imagine if every advertisement you saw showed you the "before" and "after" images. :)

Of course you can. See above. Sex has always sold well, but it's the way in which it's being sold that is the problem. How can it be sold "better"? What's your solution? "Better" in the sense that the images they portray are not so detrimental to male/female self-esteem. Like I said before, the main reasons for anorexia and other eating disorders is often due to the media's images of "how a girl should look". A solution to reforming the media's image on male/female ideals would require a lot of work, more than one humble teenager could plot on his own. I would say start small, though. Raise awareness about the detrimental effects of the media. If the parents were half as worried about the media as they are about soft drugs, things would be very different. :) One issue is that it's the media that chooses what we like. The reason people think skinny, busty, tanned, young, etc. is sexy is only because the media has pushed it to that point. See my earlier post for details and examples. They do not have an evil plan, they simply have a plan to gain more money for themselves. If that involves more youth suicides, eating disorders, etc. -- they don't really care! (unless it begins affecting their profits) Also, I personally don't mind the male representations that much. Currently, the female image is much more detrimental and requires a lot more attention. In certain cases, the male image is actually benefitial. Building muscles and losing the beer gut can be pretty healthy. Much healthier than being underweight, at least. ;)

If only the rest of the world followed suit... :x

Ah, so many misconceptions here. I'll try to clear this up with as many sources as possible. Caffeine: "Caffeine is the world's most widely used mind-altering drug." -- Dr. Roland Griffiths In many Western societies, caffeine is thought of as a harmless drug -- this is sadly untrue. There are around 170 million caffeine addicts in the US alone.[1] And yes, like any addiction, a caffeine addiction can be detrimental to school, work and social life -- as well as the user's wallet! Coffee is not exactly a cheap "fix". In the U.S., more people are addicted to caffeine than any other drug![2] If you don't consider that "enough cases for addiction" then I'm not sure what is. There are more than 6 times as many caffeine addicts as there are marijuana users! Caffeine has shown to leave many nasty withdrawal symptoms, showing it to be both physically and mentally addicting.[3] Caffeine is also known to cause various psychological issues, including substance-induced psychosis.[4] Marijuana: While nobody would say marijuana is not addicting, many studies have shown it to be far less addicting than current legal commodities, such as alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.[5][6] Although there are exceptions, the majority of the population has no trouble quitting. A study in Amsterdam showed that 90% of cannabis users were able to quit.[6] Although heavy use of marijuana can induce withdrawal symptoms, they are generally relatively minor and most users are able to overcome them. Much of marijuana's addictive potential is in psychological addiction. There are some users, notably those self-proclaimed potheads at your school, who smoke to the extent that their hobby gets in the way of school, work, money, etc. Alcohol: "WHO estimates that nearly 140 million people worldwide suffer from alcohol dependence and 78% are not treated."[7] Alcohol has proven time and time again to be extremely addictive, and an alcohol addiction can be extremely detrimental to one's social, work or health aspects. Alcoholics Anonymous exists for a reason. Many lives have been destroyed due to alcohol addiction. Alcohol is an extremely dangerous drug -- if you wish I can turn the topic over to alcohol and we can discuss it's death toll, domestic violence, wreckless driving, overdoses, etc. Alcohol has more severe withdrawal symptoms than heroin, cocaine and nicotine.[8] Some studies have even ranked it more lethal and addicting than cocaine (nasal).[9] LSD: "LSD has zero physical addiction potential. It is not physically addictive and it is not a drug that you will want to immediately do again."[10] LSD-25 is often ranked extremely low in terms of both physical and psychological addiction. Most studies place it far lower than caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and even marijuana.[11][12] Others: I'm sure we can both agree that nicotine, heroin and cocaine are all quite addicting substances. I'm a little too tired to find any more sources, so I hope this will suffice.

If you ask me, this kind of attitude fuels the fires of sexism and "women in the media" issues. Firstly, I would stay away from the term "creature" if I were you. That's no way to describe any human being. :) Secondly, women are not "innocent" and "pure" -- or at least no more innocent/pure than a man. Thirdly, the choice of diction a woman uses should in no way affect their "purity" or standards. Women should get the same treatment a man would with use of swear words. The idea that women must always be polite and must never swear is part of the "women in the media" problems. No person should be expeceted to speak or act a certain way simply because of society's expectations of their race or gender. Personally, I have no quarrels with a women who swears.

Aside from the fact that a drug overdose is next to impossible with weed, there will always be irresponsible people who abuse every activity in this world. Take video games, for example. If certain irresponsible teens waste their lives away to video games, should we ban video games? What about coffee? Many teens and adults enjoy coffee responsibly, yet there are always those who abuse the substance and regret it later. Should coffee also be banned? This can apply to anything: sports, sex, television, etc. The responsible users of an activity should not be punished simply because of the actions of a select few irresponsible users. Again, I'll use the comparison of video games. If Runescape effects you or your family negatively (eg. a video game addiction) then you would regret it. Therefore, according to your logic, you should never play Runescape, or any other video game for that matter. :?: Perhaps you could elaborate on your arguments. Right now they are sounding slightly hypocritical.

The porn industry isn't to blame for anything except following the detrimental standards that are set by the media. Nowadays, the media dictates what kind of girls are considered attractive. "Pretty" and "attractive" are relative terms. In current Western culture young, busty, skinny and tanned girls are "pretty" whereas pale, plump and mature women are "ugly". A few hundred years ago, it was exactly the opposite. To prove my point, take a look at female nudes in art. (I suppose this is acceptable as it is not pornography) [hide=NSFW] Cranach, Nymph at the Fountain, 1518 Rubens, Venus at the Mirror, c. 1615 [/hide] Compare those to a more modern piece of art, in which the girl is often very young, busty, tanned and very skinny! [hide=NSFW] Modigliani, Reclining Nude, 1919. [/hide] Of course you can. See above. Sex has always sold well, but it's the way in which it's being sold that is the problem.

I agree with the OP. :) It's sad that the mass media has no respect for our health and well-being (unless, of course, it affects their profits). So much of the general public is blind to the media's negative effects on the world. It's interesting to note that the main cause for anorexia and other eating disorders is due to the mass media's "skinny" image of sexy women.

There is a whole slew of suggestions, but the most probable reasons are ignorance in the government and religious intolerance. Wikipedia says: Now that the government has done so much to hype the horrors of various drugs, it would be embarrasing to admit that they were wrong. Here is a more recent example. Salvia d. was made illegal in Madison, WI over a week ago. Source: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1461/a07.html?345 Salvia d. (which is still legal in many places) is a smoked plant that gives you intense hallucinations for around 10 minutes. The high kicks in almost immediately and the effects diminish extremely quickly after the trip. Almost all salvia trips are done sitting or lying down until the effects are gone -- it's extremely difficult to stand (let alone make judgements) while tripping on salvia. To say that salvia impairs judgement is comparable to saying that sleeping impairs judgement. :| Any person who plans to do anything important while on salvia is a complete moron, IMO. EDIT: LOL! The full name, salvia + divinorum is censored as [harmful plant]! That's hilarious... :lol:

The common street name is ecstasy, which usually refers to MDMA. http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/ecstasy/index.htm

the only gain from any point of view of having them illegal is that the fines from being caught in possession of them is a tiny source of income for the government. Although even that comes at a price. It's likely that the amount spent on prosecution and arrest far outweighs the small income gained from fines. Source: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7380