Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Chavo Classic
Since we're bringing the matter of behaviourism into this argument, the Gatewat theory makes perfect sense. Positive reinforcement from pleasant sensations brought about by trying lighter drugs will increase perceptions that drugs are good. Therefore, the individual is more inclined to try other, hardre drugs as their belief and attitude is that drugs produce positive sensations as indicated by their previous experiences. They will try to recreate the positive response experience earlier by imitating silimar actions. This is what Pavlov called operant conditioning.
You might be entitled to your beliefs, and that is what most unempirical science is all about anyway - contrasting perspectives and approaches. But do not call me ignorant as I have read, and at one point recreated, a number of well grounded psychological studies into this topic and found evidence, as well as my own collaborating results, to support the gateway theory.
|
Which brings me to today's word:
ignorance
You are ignorant. You are reading studies which blatantly ignore the context and try and treat the "gateway drug" argument as a viable, independent, phenomenon. You can read all the studies you want, but it's bullshit. Like the notion that a number of "studies" somehow legitimises Intelligent design, or "studies" proved you could not break the four minute mile, or "studies" showed negroes were inferior and incapable of complex duties.
Hell, you just justified it with an argument so generic as to make it a pointless statement in the first place. By your logic, ZOMFG! Caffeine and sex and jogging are gateway drugs! You can find evidence to corroborate any theory, like the flat earth, the notion that pot actually kills people, the deadly effects of saccarine, etc. You can find a LOT of them.
on www.tinfoilhat.com
In fact, kids will try whatever drugs they can get first
(Like tobacco) and marijuana is an excessively prevalent drug, establishing a social context
like "hey, she was asking for it."
Problem is, they often times have flawed methodology. The predisposition is already there, and that is ignored, and that is called ignorance. Don't complain about being called ignorant, when you ignore
crucial factors.
And that's the word.