Hi Alison and listees
Actually, the claim that heroin changes perceptions forever is something that
stuck in my memory from working in the illicit drug field. It was anti-drug
propaganda. As for pain changing perceptions that would have to be
considered in relation to pain relief drugs, if I can be excused for
referring to Foucault and the various discourses surrounding illicit drugs.
The repressive hypothesis in _History of Sexuality, Vol One_ and the
incitement to always talk about illicit drugs could well be applied. So yes,
I can understand and even agree with your suspicion. This constant incitement
to take an aspirin for a small headache, for example. But then when faced
with severe and chronic physical pain, things flip again and the denial of
pain relief becomes more the norm. With this sort of pain aspirin would be
useless.
Anyway, just an extra comment. Illicit drugs, I must admit, I find
fascinating in the Foucaultian sense. The various discourses and effects of
power, for example.
best
Chris Jones.
On Thursday 27 December 2001 19:57, you wrote:
> At 7:22 PM +1100 27/12/2001, Chris Jones wrote:
> >I trust you know heroin was invented at the same time as aspirin by Bayer.
> >Pain be damned. Let us change perceptions forever!
>
> You know, one of the great changer of perceptions is pain, which is
> why I'm so suspicious of desires for painlessness. Maybe human
> beings are just so intrinsically lazy that they won't move without
> cattle prods.
>
> Best
>
> Alison
> --
>
>
> Alison Croggon
>
> Home page
> http://www.users.bigpond.com/acroggon/
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> http://au.geocities.com/masthead_2/
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