Everything is drugs

Quoting Yohan

Am I using the word 'chemical', 'consume', or 'alter ones state of consciousness' too loosely?

Yes.

Happy new year!

Quoting Yohan

3. All sensing is consuming
4. All sensations alter our consciousness (to greater or lesser extents)

If you define consume, that's intentional action on our part. Perceiving is sensing with or without our intentionality.

Not all sensations alter our consciousness. Our heartbeat goes on 24/7, we sense it, but our consciousness remains the same.

Quoting Caldwell

If you define consume, that's intentional action on our part. Perceiving is sensing with or without our intentionality.

Fair point, but that would mean if I drink punch, not knowing it is spiked, that I didn't consume alcohol.

Quoting Caldwell

Not all sensations alter our consciousness. Our heartbeat goes on 24/7, we sense it, but our consciousness remains the same.

Or the heart beat is producing a consistent state of consciousness?

If we were all drunk all the time, we wouldn't notice it, because none of us would have a baseline sober state with which to compare it with.

I suspect we are all high on being human, with all the chemicals our bodies produce, such as dopamine, serotonin, testosterone or estrogen, and whatever chemicals make us hungry and so on.

Anyway, mostly I enjoy viewing life from different unexpected angles.

Have a nice year. :smile:

Quoting Yohan

Fair point, but that would mean if I drink punch, not knowing it is spiked, that I didn't consume alcohol.

Correct. You ingested alcohol, but consumed the punch.

Quoting Caldwell

Correct. You ingested alcohol, but consumed the punch.

But I missed the punch line.

Too much or too little alcohol? :chin:

Quoting Yohan

Too much or too little alcohol? :chin:

Whatever is the amount of spike.
Honestly, if we're being cross-examined here, would it be fair if you said outright you consumed alcohol, knowing you were deceived that it was a punch?
I bet you wouldn't say it as plain as that. You have a right to an elaboration and clarification.

Reply to Caldwell
I didn't know there was a difference between these words until now. To bet on the safe side I'd say ingest.

I don't see what is wrong with the picture I was painting though. Is life not somewhat akin to a big drug store in which we all get our fix from something or another?

Quoting Yohan

I don't see what is wrong with the picture I was painting though. Is life not somewhat akin to a big drug store in which we all get our fix from something or another?

False analogy. We don't always get a "fix" from the things we like to do. We do things to satisfy something else -- for duty, for love, to improve our skills, or just to pass time.

Quoting Caldwell

False analogy. We don't always get a "fix" from the things we like to do. We do things to satisfy something else -- for duty, for love, to improve our skills, or just to pass time.

You are right.