I drink, therefore I can

[Michael]

Here's an interesting article...

More than one in ten Caucasians may have a “Churchill gene” which helps them turn booze into great works

Article (http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10751)

This is quite interesting. Does anyone else find that booze helps them be creative?

Personally, I'd say no, but certainly the vast majority of my substantial writing is done while smoking pot. I definitely consider pot to be integral to my writing process.

Perhaps there is a "Kerouac gene" to match the "Churchill gene"... :lol:

[partofme]

Drinking just gives me bigger balls. Smoking pot keeps me from being able to focus. If I was to write down my thoughts while smoking pot it would be one really long piece that randomly jumped from one subject to another. That or I would just distracted while trying to write and forget about doing it completely.

[wphelan]

Here's an interesting article...



Article (http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10751)

This is quite interesting. Does anyone else find that booze helps them be creative?

Personally, I'd say no, but certainly the vast majority of my substantial writing is done while smoking pot. I definitely consider pot to be integral to my writing process.

Perhaps there is a "Kerouac gene" to match the "Churchill gene"... :lol:

It absolutely does with me. Of course, there's a certain level where it's counter-productive, but I'd say a majority of the interesting ideas and things I've written have come with some alcohol. I think anything that alters one's perspective can be a significant factor in aiding the creative process. I took a two week solo trip to Europe a few years ago, and it had a pretty big impact on me. There was a two or three week period after I returned where the new perspective on things really had me in the zone with my writing.

[Donkey]

I don't write much when I'm drinking, but it certainly helps me be expressive in a lot of ways. Maybe I should try that sometime.

[The Drunk Guy]

Ahem. Step aside posers. The expert is here.

:drink:

Creatively, drinking turns me into a genius. Unfortunately, it assaults my typing and handwriting abilities like nothing else. When I hit the proper stage of inebriation, I can wax philosophical on just about any subject, but there is no hope of recording these masterful feats of mental handiwork.

[Greendruid]

I call bullshit on this "science"!

Here is the source (http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_health/report-37815.html) outlining the study. If I were to base my generalisations about intelligence, penis size or criminal tendency in any sub-section of the human population, I'd like to use a number larger than 38 for my sample size. This is absolutely bogus - I don't care what result emerges. There is no statistical test that can be correctly applied to this sample and show a causal link. Given that the criteria were subjective evaluations of how each person felt about their creative ability.

That said, I suspect there is a genetic factor to various reactions to poisons in the body, alcohol being one of myriad types. It is certainly one of the oldest poisons humans have purposely ingested in many of the world's cultures. I find the suggestion that there is a genetic factor that enhances creativity when alcohol is ingested to be a dubious one.

[Evangeline]

I worked with a designer who said drinking (yes he drank at work!) made his designs looser.

Personally I think he was just another aloholic.

I only drink in social circumstances. I never try to do anything important while drinking. I doubt whatever it was I was doing would turn out better. House cleaning after smoking pot though, that's the only way to do it.

[Americano]

Here's an interesting article...



Article (http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10751)

This is quite interesting. Does anyone else find that booze helps them be creative?

Personally, I'd say no, but certainly the vast majority of my substantial writing is done while smoking pot. I definitely consider pot to be integral to my writing process.

Perhaps there is a "Kerouac gene" to match the "Churchill gene"... :lol:

Kerouac's drug of choice was speed, along with goofballs, laudanum, opium and weed.

[Americano]

I've always viewed (and used) alcohol as a reward substance, weed being suitable for most any occasion.

[Michael]

Kerouac's drug of choice was speed, along with goofballs, laudanum, opium and weed.
I was just trying to come up with a famous name person who is commonly associated with smoking pot yet is also known for creativity and intellectualism.

Cheech & Chong don't quite offer the same cultural cachet. ;)

[Americano]

I was just trying to come up with a famous name person who is commonly associated with smoking pot yet is also known for creativity and intellectualism.

Cheech & Chong don't quite offer the same cultural cachet. ;)

It's the 'commonly associated with' that makes it difficult.

200 Celebrities/Famous People Who Smoke Pot

1. Barack Obama. El Presidente de Los Estados Unidos!
2. Bill Clinton “…but I didn’t inhale.” Fomer U.S. President!
3. Bill Murray. Yep, everyone’s favorite actor was arrested for possession.
4. Paris Hilton. Socialite. Night Vision Porn-Star.
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Basketball star
6. George W Bush Politician and professional hypocrite.
7. John F Kennedy. Politician.
8. Steve Jobs, co-creator of the Apple computer.
9. Queen Victoria.
10. Bruce Lee.
11. Aaron Sorkin, creator of ”The West Wing”.
12. Art Garfunkel , singer, Simon and Garfunkel.
13. Abbie Hoffman, Activist.
14. Al and Tipper Gore Politicians
15. Aleister Crowley, Author and Famous Satanist.
16. Alexander Dumas, Author - “The Three Musketeers”
17. Ali Campbell, Singer with UB40
18. Alice B. Toklas. Famous Cook - Wrote recipe for Hash Fudge Filmed as. ‘I Love You Alice B. Toklas’
19. Allen Ginsberg, Poet. Andrea Corr, musician, “The Corrs”. Anjelica Huston, Actress. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Actor. “I did smoke a joint and I did inhale.”
20. Art Garfunkel. Singer of, “Simon and Garfunkel” fame.
21. Arthur Rimbaud.
22. Balzac.
23. Beatles.
24. Bill Gates. Not confirmed, just very strongly hinted at in his Playboy interview.
25. Bing Crosby. Famous crooner of “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”. Now the Film “High Society” makes sense!
26. Bix Beiderbecke Jazz musician.
27. Black Crowes, musicians
28. Bob Denver, Star of “Gilligan’s Island”.
29. Bob Dylan, musician.
30. Bob Marley, musician
31. Burt Reynolds, actor. He left his first wife because of her drug use. But he has been seen in Cannabis Cafes.
32. Cab Calloway, Jazz musician. Claimed he only used it once.
33. Carl Sagan, Scientist - SiFi writer - film “Contact” More info here.
34. Carlos Santana musician.
35. Carrie Fischer, Actress
36. Charlie Sheen, actor.
37. Charlize Theron, Actress.
38. Charles Beaudelaire, Author.
39. Cheech Marin, Actor
40. Chris Conrad, Author and expert on Cannabis Hemp
41. Chris Farley. Comedian.
42. Chrissie Hynde, musician.
43. Chris Rock, Actor, Comedian, Producer, Screenwriter.
44. Chubby Checker, Musician. Sang; “Lets Twist Again”.
45. Cilla Black, Musician and presenter.
46. Claire Rayner, Agony Aunt.
47. Cody Kasch Actor. TV series Desperate Housewives
48. Conan O’Brian TV Host
49. Count Basie, Jazz Ban Leader
50. Dame Margot Fonteyn, Prima ballerina.
51. David Bailey, Photographer .
52. Dan Quayle . Politician.
53. David Hockney, Artist.
54. Diego Rivera Mexican Artist
55. Dion Fortune Welsh occultist.
56. Dionne Warwick, Famous singer of “Walk on by”.
57. Dioscorides Pedanius, 1 st cent. AD. Greek physician. Wrote ‘De Materia Medica’, used for 1,500 years.
58. Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz musician
59. Dr Francis Crick. Nobel Prize winner.
60. Dr Lester Grinspoon.
61. Dr R.D.Laing
62. Dr W.B. O’Shaugnessy Re-introduced cannabis to European medicine.
63. Drew Barrymore, actress.
64. Duke Ellington, Jazz Band Leader.
65. Elliott Gould. Actor.
66. Eminem, musician.
67. Emperor Liu Chi-nu, made medical recomendation for its use.
68. Emperor Shen-Nung, made first known medical recommendation for its use.
69. Errol Flynn, Actor
70. Evelyn Waugh. Author.
71. Francis Ford Coppella, Film Director.
72. Frances McDormand , Actress
73. Fats Waller, musician.
74. Fitz Hugh Ludlow - wrote ‘The Hasheesh Eater’.
75. Francois Rabelais. 16 th French author
76. Friedrich Nietzsche, Used it as a medicine.
77. Gary Johnson. Governor of New Mexico - Reformer.
78. Gene Krupa, Jazz musician.
79. George Gurdjieff , Russian Mystic.
80. George Melly, Jazz musician.
81. George Soros, Financier and reformer.
82. George Washington , grew it and there is evidence that he prepared it for smoking.
83. Gerard de Nerval French writer
84. Graham Greene, Author.
85. Grateful Dead musicians.
86. Harrison Ford, Actor.
87. Howard Marks. Ex-smuggler and Raconteur.
88. H R H Prince Harry, Third in line to the British throne.
89. H R H Princess Margaret, sister to Her Majesty the Queen.
90. Howard Stern
91. Hua T’o Medical use as anaesthetic .
92. Hunter S. Thompson, Author
93. Isabel Allende, Chilean author. Mentioned in her book “Paula”.
94. Jack Kerouac, Author
95. Jack Nicholson, actor.
96. Jackie Gleason, actor. Another whom the DEA kept on their pot files.
97. James Brown, musician
98. Janis Joplin, musician.
99. Jane Fonda, Actress.
100. Jennifer Aniston, actress.
101. Jennifer Capriati, Tennis champ.
102. Jesse Ventura, Governor of Minnesota.
103. Jim Morrison, musician.
104. Jimmy Dorsey, Jazz musician,
105. Jimmy Hendrix, musician
106. Joan of Arc, was accused of using witch herbs (another name cannabis).
107. John Belushi, actor.
108. John Denver, musician. He recorded a song about it.
109. John Kerry . Politician. US Senator
110. John Lennon. musician.
111. John Le Mesurier. Actor.
112. John Wayne, Actor, “I tried it once but it didn’t do anything to me.”
113. Jonathan Miller, Theatre Director.
114. Johnny Cash, musician.
115. Jon Snow, Channel 4 News presenter. (UK)
116. Julia Roberts, Actress,
117. Kary Mullis, Nobel Laurate, Biology.
118. Ken Kesey, Author
119. Kenneth Tynan, Playwright.
120. Kurt Cobain, musician.
121. Larry Hagman, actor, of “JR” fame.
122. Led Zeppelin, musicians.
123. Lenny Bruce, Comedian.
124. Lewis Carroll, Author
125. Lewis Wolpert, biologist.
126. Little Richard, musician.
127. Louis Armstrong, Jazz musician.
128. Luke Perry, actor.
129. Louis Hebert, French Botanist
130. Macaulay Culkin. Actor, Home Alone.
131. Mark Stepnoski. two-time Super Bowl champ, Dallas Cowboy.
132. Mick Jagger, musician
133. Mike Bloomberg. New York City Mayor.
134. Mike Tyson, Boxer.
135. Miles Davis, Jazz musician.
136. Milton Berle, Actor
137. Mo Mowlam, Minister
138. Modigliani. Sculptor.
139. Montel Williams Chat show host.
140. Montgomery Clift, actor
141. Neil Diamond, musician.
142. Neil Young, Musician.
143. Newt Gingrich Speaker of the US Senate.
144. Norman Mailer, Author.
145. Oasis, Noel Gallagher
146. Oliver Stone, Film Director.
147. Oscar Wilde, Author.
148. Pablo Picasso, Artist.
149. Pancho Villa, Revolutionary Leader.
150. Peregrine Worthstone, former editor of the Sunday Telegraph.
151. Peter Fonda, actor.
152. Peter Sellers, actor.
153. Peter Tosh, Poet.
154. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Former Prime Minister of Canada.
155. Pink. Musician. Mentioned in Playboy interview (11/02).
156. Pink Floyd, Musicians.
157. P. J. O’Rouke. Author.
158. Ram Dass, Philosopher.
159. Ray Charles, musician.
160. Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize Laureate physicist.
161. Richard Pryor, actor.
162. Robert Anton Wilson. Philosopher .
163. Robert Mitchum, Actor, was jailed in the 40s for possession of marijuana.
164. Rolling Stones, musicians.
165. Ross Rebagliati, first ever snowboarding Gold Medallist, 1998 Winter Olympics.
166. Rudolf Nureyev, Ballet dancer. Also see entry for Margot Fonteyn.
167. Rudyard Kipling . Author.
168. Ryan Farrell, Australian Sprint Car champion.
169. Salvador Dali, Artist.
170. Samuel Beckett, Author.
171. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Author.
172. Sinead O’Connor, musician.
173. Sir Paul McCartney, Musician.
174. Sir Mick Jagger, Musician.
175. Snoop Dogg, musician.
176. Steve Martin , Actor.
177. Stephen King. Author.
178. Steven Soderbergh, Film director.
179. Stephen Sondheim. Broadway composer and lyricist.
180. Sting / Gordon Sumners, musician.
181. Ted Turner, of CNN fame.
182. Terence McKenna.
183. Terry Pratchett. Author of the “Diskworld” books.
184. The Who, musicians.
185. Thelonious Monk, Jazz musician.
186. Timothy Leary
187. Tomas Enge, Formula 3000 World Champion.
188. Tommy Chong. Actor
189. Tommy Lee, Musician.
190. Tony Booth, the father-in-law of Britain’s Prime Minister.
191. UB40, Band.
192. Victor Hugo. Author ‘Les Misérables’
193. Walter ‘Stumpy’ Brennan actor.
194. Walter Benjamin, Philosopher.
195. Wesley Snipes, actor. Has been seen in Cannabis Cafes.
196. Whitney Houston, musician. William Butler Yeats. Famous Irish Poet and Occultist.
197. William S. Burroughs, Author.
198. William Shakespeare. Dramatist. More here.
199. Willie Nelson, musician.
200. Woody Harrelson, Actor and reformer.

Yes, I have been spending time on weed forums.

[drgoodtrips]

I used to get drunk a lot and post on USPO. That was the motivation for a lot of satirical or "let's play a game" threads that I started. I've found that alcohol consumption, even in larger quantities, has little detrimental effect on my diction, grammar, or typing (though things take a bit longer).

That being the case, I think the alcohol doesn't contribute much, if at all, to my creativity. What it does do is lower my inhibitions and silence the voice in my head asking "do you really want to post/write this?" Alcohol tends to make people feel self important, suffer from delusions of grandeur, and have a flair for the dramatic, and all of these things, I believe, can contribute to good writing or point construction.

I hardly drink at all these days, due to lack of time, more than anything else. I don't feel that my creativity has suffered, so much as my tendency/willingness to sit around constructing and posting weird diatribes and mini-manifestos on public forums :lol:

[partofme]

I used to get drunk a lot and post on USPO. That was the motivation for a lot of satirical or "let's play a game" threads that I started. I've found that alcohol consumption, even in larger quantities, has little detrimental effect on my diction, grammar, or typing (though things take a bit longer).

That being the case, I think the alcohol doesn't contribute much, if at all, to my creativity. What it does do is lower my inhibitions and silence the voice in my head asking "do you really want to post/write this?" Alcohol tends to make people feel self important, suffer from delusions of grandeur, and have a flair for the dramatic, and all of these things, I believe, can contribute to good writing or point construction.

I hardly drink at all these days, due to lack of time, more than anything else. I don't feel that my creativity has suffered, so much as my tendency/willingness to sit around constructing and posting weird diatribes and mini-manifestos on public forums :lol:

It definitely leads me to post things I normally wouldn't. A old girlfriend of mine from high school is a partisan right winger that constantly posts viral e-mails about Obama to her Facebook page. Normally I just ignore them but last night I looked up about a half dozen fact checking sites that commented on one she posted and put up the links and said "shouldn't you do a little research before posting this partisan nonsense". She was not pleased especially since many people on her own friends list responded thanking me for speaking up. :lol:

Then to be fair I posted some factual critiques I have of Obama to show I wasn't a blind partisan for the dems and Obama.

[Michael]

Booze tends to screw up my typing, spelling and grammar. I just can't write stuff even if I wanted to.

Normally, I can type faster and easier than writing longhand (I don't have to look at the keyboard at all) - add a couple of drinks and I loose this ability very quickly.

I find smoking pot to be far more condusive of creativity than alcohol. :smoke:

[Michael]

It's the 'commonly associated with' that makes it difficult.

200 Celebrities/Famous People Who Smoke Pot

154. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Former Prime Minister of Canada.

I have 1st hand confirmation of this from a good friend who used to live in Ottawa back then.

He worked in a rather disreputatble employment at that time - he has lots of stories of the Deputy Prime Minister Allan MacEachen's famous drag parties with lots of pot smoking and the occasional appearance of the one and only PET.

MacEachen was a long serving senior politician long known as the "Queen of Cape Breton". (I just shared this for Greendruid's amusement).

Btw, Pierre Trudeau's wife has been photographed smoking pot in the company of Mick Jagger. ;)

They don't make politicians like Trudeau anymore. Pity that.

[The Drunk Girl]

Drinking just gives me bigger balls. Smoking pot keeps me from being able to focus. If I was to write down my thoughts while smoking pot it would be one really long piece that randomly jumped from one subject to another. That or I would just distracted while trying to write and forget about doing it completely.


I totally agree...When I smoked weed a few years back, it made me creative but also made me think too much (if that makes sense). It put me in this mindset of questioning so much at one time that my brain went into a thought overload. I never really got the chance to enjoy my high so I quit and picked up drinking even more!

[partofme]

I totally agree...When I smoked weed a few years back, it made me creative but also made me think too much (if that makes sense). It put me in this mindset of questioning so much at one time that my brain went into a thought overload. I never really got the chance to enjoy my high so I quit and picked up drinking even more!

What I could remember of the seemly deep thoughts while I was baked seemed like crazy rubbish once I sobered up. I think it gives the feeling of understanding complicated things rather than actual understanding.

[The Drunk Girl]

What I could remember of the seemly deep thoughts while I was baked seemed like crazy rubbish once I sobered up. I think it gives the feeling of understanding complicated things rather than actual understanding.

EXACTLY! I guess we weren't good highs.

One of my low points was looking at a 2 liter of Pepsi for three hours straight and breaking down every detail on the label. Good times, huh?

Weed was more of a coping mechanism for me in that point of my life. After some time, I realized I couldn't handle smoking weed and just stuck to the booze.

[partofme]

EXACTLY! I guess we weren't good highs.

One of my low points was looking at a 2 liter of Pepsi for three hours straight and breaking down every detail on the label. Good times, huh?

Weed was more of a coping mechanism for me in that point of my life. After some time, I realized I couldn't handle smoking weed and just stuck to the booze.

I'm the opposite. If I knew I would never be tested for work I would just do that and never drink really. It's has fewer negative side effects and I enjoy it much more.

[Americano]

EXACTLY! I guess we weren't good highs.

One of my low points was looking at a 2 liter of Pepsi for three hours straight and breaking down every detail on the label. Good times, huh?

Weed was more of a coping mechanism for me in that point of my life. After some time, I realized I couldn't handle smoking weed and just stuck to the booze.

I like beer and weed for the balance.

[partofme]

I like beer and weed for the balance.

I can drink after getting high but I can't smoke after I'm already drunk or I get unbearably weak and sick.

[Michael]

I like beer and weed for the balance.
Methinks you and me would get along well. :D

I like red wine too, but that stuff mumbles my tongue something bad after the first bottle. Great fun but it makes philosophical discussions much more difficult! :lol:

[Americano]

Methinks you and me would get along well. :D

I like red wine too, but that stuff mumbles my tongue something bad after the first bottle. Great fun but it makes philosophical discussions much more difficult! :lol:

I haven't used hard liquor in many years and mostly avoid wine for the very same reason - I drank them in the same quantity I drink beer. A six pack of 12-ounce martinis can make everything difficult.

[partofme]

I haven't used hard liquor in many years and mostly avoid wine for the very same reason - I drank them in the same quantity I drink beer. A six pack of 12-ounce martinis can make everything difficult.

I like how liquor hits you all at once though. Beer is good if you want to control your drunk and know exactly how drunk you are getting but you could be drinking liquor and not think anything of it then at once you realize: holy shit your fucked up.

[The Drunk Guy]

I like how liquor hits you all at once though. Beer is good if you want to control your drunk and know exactly how drunk you are getting but you could be drinking liquor and not think anything of it then at once you realize: holy shit your fucked up.
I like beer. I can drink a six pack and feel good or I can drink nine and get drunk, depending on the pace. The fun nights are when I drink nine beers and 6 to 8 shots of some liquor.

Beers- Pabst Blue Ribbon, Killian's, Coor's Light, Natural Light (bottles only), Sam Adams (when I have money burning a hole in my pocket), and Southpaw. I can drink High Life and Miller Light, but they give me heartburn pretty bad.

Shooting Liquor- Jager, Jim Beam (Black Label is amazing), Sailor Jerry's Navy Rum, and Stolichnaya.

Drinking Liquor- Seagrams and Tonic, Bacardi 151 and Diet Pepsi (I have stomach problems), Beam and Ale 8-1 (Kentucky High Ball). I can drink a 50/50 mix of Bacardi Peach with Sprite, but I get fucked up too fast.

[Lily]

Here's an interesting article...



Article (http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10751)

This is quite interesting. Does anyone else find that booze helps them be creative?

Personally, I'd say no, but certainly the vast majority of my substantial writing is done while smoking pot. I definitely consider pot to be integral to my writing process.

Perhaps there is a "Kerouac gene" to match the "Churchill gene"... :lol:


Alcohol gives me migraines. I can't smoke pot anymore because of drug testing at work. Someone pops me in the ER, I get tested.

I found pot useful for the editing process for some reason. When I was doing a lot of journalistic writing, taking a couple of hits before editing seemed to help me eliminate extraneous words, rework unlcear sentences, find syntax errors, etc.

[Americano]

Alcohol gives me migraines. I can't smoke pot anymore because of drug testing at work. Someone pops me in the ER, I get tested.

Does your employer test for alcohol?

I found pot useful for the editing process for some reason. When I was doing a lot of journalistic writing, taking a couple of hits before editing seemed to help me eliminate extraneous words, rework unlcear sentences, find syntax errors, etc.

[Lily]

Does your employer test for alcohol?

In a case where one is injured on the job, not generally. But, there have been cases when people were suspected of drinking on the job that their ETOH levels were tested.

[Michael]

Does your employer test for alcohol?

My employer is far more likely to serve alcohol at work than test for it! :lol:

Our big "L" shape reception desk makes for a great bar for gathering around. :)

[Lily]

My employer is far more likely to serve alcohol at work than test for it! :lol:

Our big "L" shape reception desk makes for a great bar for gathering around. :)

Do you work in government service? ;)

Our large desk usually sees an assortment of sugary items, pizza and caffeine drinks. You can't run an ER without those essentials.

[Michael]

Do you work in government service? ;)
No, it is a smallish-medium sized printing/graphic arts company with about 30 employees and a well-stocked beer-fridge! I'm the GM. :)

Our large desk usually sees an assortment of sugary items, pizza and caffeine drinks. You can't run an ER without those essentials.

And we have a Mr.Christie cookie/cracker factory ACROSS THE STREET. They of course have a small factory outlet on site where they sell the same product-line in clear plastic bags in bulk (dirt cheap). I'm addicted to Dad's Original Oatmeal cookies (I pay about $1 per pound in bulk).

[Americano]

My employer is far more likely to serve alcohol at work than test for it! :lol:

Our big "L" shape reception desk makes for a great bar for gathering around. :)

Sounds like my type of employer. The US business community used to be that way, until MADD decided it was immoral and politicians jumped on a new muni revenue generator.

[KSigMason]

During my freshman year I pulled a 3.56 GPA and I drank a lot. I don't remember doing some of my homework, but my philosophy professors loved it.

[andrewl]

Here's an interesting article...



Article (http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10751)

This is quite interesting. Does anyone else find that booze helps them be creative?

Personally, I'd say no, but certainly the vast majority of my substantial writing is done while smoking pot. I definitely consider pot to be integral to my writing process.

Perhaps there is a "Kerouac gene" to match the "Churchill gene"... :lol:

To a point yes. I love to play the piano and a certain amount of booze and grass really does loosen me up and lets my fingers really glide across the keys. (or at least in my inebriated state it certainly sounds great) :rofl:

I can't say i have been able to create any 'great works" though.

Andrew