It kinda lets you know your place in the universe, but not in a debasing sort of way, it also helps you appreciate that place, as it is your place and belongs to you.
Psychedelics are fun, and introspective… if the person is.
I think that if you get a position in Congress / the White House / the Supreme Court you should be required to pick from a menu of ego-shattering experiences before you take office. Psychedelics are on the list, but there can be other options in case drugs are no good for you. Things like extended fasting, a round in a sensory deprivation tank, a trip to orbit, being present for an organ donor having their organs removed… I’m sure we could come up with a list of drug-free experiences that would be transformative and drive home that you aren’t the center of the universe.
I think people might overstate how much the Overview Effect would help.
John Glenn’s time in congress had him oppose nuclear proliferation, fix safety and environmental problems at nuclear weapon storage facilities, and to clean up nuclear waste. He also supported the B-1 bomber program, was wrapped up in the Keating Five corruption scandal, voted against gun locks for transferring pistols, and voted against a underage tobacco usage amendment. He generally supported every defense department budget bill.
Bill Nelson voted for the Patriot Act–just like everyone else in the Senate except Feingold–and also voted against a mandate for a 2007 complete withdrawal from Iraq.
It’s all a mixed bag, at best. It’s not going to magically transform our political system.
I know one guy who went through this. He was one of the most insufferable, alpha-male, Tate/Rogan macho men, he-man woman hater… I knew of not one person that liked him, only a few could even tolerate him.
He suffered… suffered might be the wrong word, experienced an ego death on shrooms. I won’t say I liked him but he became calmer, he became someone you could talk to. He became someone others CHOSE to socialize with, they invited him out.
The transformation in this guy’s personality was amazing. I don’t know that his social or political views changed, but he absolutely did.
Ego death might benefit a few of these people
It kinda lets you know your place in the universe, but not in a debasing sort of way, it also helps you appreciate that place, as it is your place and belongs to you.
Psychedelics are fun, and introspective… if the person is.
I think that if you get a position in Congress / the White House / the Supreme Court you should be required to pick from a menu of ego-shattering experiences before you take office. Psychedelics are on the list, but there can be other options in case drugs are no good for you. Things like extended fasting, a round in a sensory deprivation tank, a trip to orbit, being present for an organ donor having their organs removed… I’m sure we could come up with a list of drug-free experiences that would be transformative and drive home that you aren’t the center of the universe.
“You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, ‘Look at that, you son of a bitch.'”
I think people might overstate how much the Overview Effect would help.
John Glenn’s time in congress had him oppose nuclear proliferation, fix safety and environmental problems at nuclear weapon storage facilities, and to clean up nuclear waste. He also supported the B-1 bomber program, was wrapped up in the Keating Five corruption scandal, voted against gun locks for transferring pistols, and voted against a underage tobacco usage amendment. He generally supported every defense department budget bill.
Bill Nelson voted for the Patriot Act–just like everyone else in the Senate except Feingold–and also voted against a mandate for a 2007 complete withdrawal from Iraq.
It’s all a mixed bag, at best. It’s not going to magically transform our political system.
I just like the idea of dragging politicians a quarter million miles into the vacuum of space
I know one guy who went through this. He was one of the most insufferable, alpha-male, Tate/Rogan macho men, he-man woman hater… I knew of not one person that liked him, only a few could even tolerate him.
He suffered… suffered might be the wrong word, experienced an ego death on shrooms. I won’t say I liked him but he became calmer, he became someone you could talk to. He became someone others CHOSE to socialize with, they invited him out.
The transformation in this guy’s personality was amazing. I don’t know that his social or political views changed, but he absolutely did.