This is a classified ad. for a persuasive argument for someone to try psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. This individual refrains from any illegal drug use, but isn't afraid to drink a few beers or take a few shots. They are a friend who I think could benefit enormously from the experience, but they are quite stubborn and set in their ways. I respect their opinion, but I suspect that it has everything to do with their negative perception of "drug" use and their self-image.

I've never liked the idea of convincing someone to do psychedelics. I'd mention it once, tell him to do some research when he has the time or point him towards some decent literature on the matter, but I really wouldn't go out of my way. It's almost like religious people forcing their dogma on someone else.

As said it is maybe not so good to try to convince someone to take mushrooms, or indeed any substance. If someone finds the idea abhorrent leave them to it after the initial mention of the subject.

Psychedelics don’t suit everyone.

Adjusting the way your mind works like this should be understood as a personal choice that one enters of their own volition rather than because of pushing from their friends. If he feels some interest he will no doubt engage at some point because he feels the pull, if not – fair enough.

How would you feel if you did badger him into it and he had the biggest train crash of a journey you’ve ever seen and didn’t even really want to eat mushrooms in the first place?

I can't stand people who have positive experience from a substance and then think everyone should try it or that they will even possibly benefit from it. Possibility of a bad trip is almost equal to possibility of a positive trip and it should be left to the person who might be taking the substance, to evaluate if they should do it. Convincing anyone isn't the way when it comes to mind altering substances.

I'm in agreement with everyone's posts BUT I've never even consumed mushrooms myself. This isn't about forcing my beliefs on someone else for my own personal satisfaction. No not at all. I'm going to be taking mushrooms in the near future, and I simply proposed the idea that they join in on the experience, but I realized I couldn't really prepare a proper argument.

I think I've been misunderstood. I'll rephrase: if you had a good friend who you enjoyed doing things with and you were going to do something that you thought they would want to do but they have misinformation about and do not "want" to do it, what would you do to TRY to convince them otherwise? This person in question doesn't think it's abhorrent, but it's illegal so in their mind it's taboo. I'm OK with that, but I'm curious what someone else would say to this person. That is all. I broached the subject with them, and if I can't think of anything else to say about it, I won't bring it up again.

You're taking the wrong approach. After trying them yourself, tell him/her about your experiences. If they are interested, they might bite, but you really don't have any kind of authority to convince anyone at this point. Don't be a pusher, set an example instead.

It would be smarter to tell him/her to read several trip reports as if you tell them about a possible normal or positive journey, one might easily think there are no bad trips. Bad trips can be so bad people have even damaged themselves physically. It really makes think if they are worth taking, instead of being eager to try them basing on the heard positive experience(s).

I once had the idea to ask my brother to try mushrooms with me. He is younger and has never done anything other than alcohol. His reply was "No, I'll never do drugs"

His answer was kinda hardcore and left me unable to really say anything. I simply told him that his view on drugs was misinformed, I would like him to do some research on psychedelics and think about it as a possible future venture. I know he probably won't and I'm gonna do what i can to try an Re-educate him on the subject over time but truthfully, I have to let him come to the conclusion that it interests him and allow him to make an unbiased decision to try them for his own reasons.

I agree, you shouldn't push this on anyone. Not too hard any way. enough to where they still feel in control over their own decisions. But trying to come up with an intelligent report on why your friend should do mushrooms really shouldnt be the way you go about it. Instead try an educate him/her on the facts about mushrooms, DMT, ect.

Anrchy; Your bro has made a wise choice. Let him read about it if he wants to though, so you might give him links such as erowid.
It's funny how he says he won't do drugs but has taken alcohol which is one of the worst drugs based on it's effects on society.

I know thats what i told him later!

I said "Alcohol is a drug"
He said "well narcotics"
I said "mushrooms are not narcotics and they dont damage your body like alcohol does"

he didnt really have an answer after that but i respected his opinion and i am going to slowly introduce him to the truth. I will let him decide on his own.

I think i am gonna have him sit in on a good trip eventually. So he can see that its more fun than alcohol.

So you think the body doesn't have to work hard to process shrooms? They are relatively safe but to say there's absolutely no harm to the body I think it's not true.

"more fun than alcohol", what if he gets a bad trip? At least with alcohol there's less chance to get problems... If he feels he doesn't want to take the risk of a bad trip I wouldn't blame him.

Don't push him, if he even isn't interested in reading about them, you should respect his POV.

You say "introduce to truth", well I say there's just as much truth in not being interested in drugs!

Psychedelic drugs can be incredibly dangerous for some individuals.
So basically if one isn't interested in experiencing altered states of consciousness, I don't think reading will do much help here.
I think it would be stupid to push your brother further than erowid.org, from there on he can decide for himself. By the sounds of his talk so far I doubt he will take them even after reading.

I've been in your situation before. My advice just be patient with them. There is no rush and whether or not they try it isn't a big deal. When I first got into drugs i always wanted my best friend to tag along. His response was classic ignorance response. Finally got him to try weed after a girl he like was a stoner.....lol. They will loosen up eventually just dot put to much pressure on them. In the meantime good luck with your first shroom journey!

How is it that the body has to work harder to process shroom than food? Psilocybin is synthesized in your body just as serotonin is. Not difficult at all. And the solids are slightly upsetting sometimes but nothing harcore, there are no poisons in cubensis. And Psilocybin causes no physical damage to your brain, unlike neuro toxins.


He's my brother, I would never push him to do something that he isnt comfortable with. i love him. Thats why I said i would let him come to the conclusion that he wanted to try them on his own. My brother and I have a debate style relationship. We disagree on a lot of things, and he isn't going to do anything he doesn't want to do.



What I meant by that is he thinks everything is a drug and that means its bad for you and shouldnt be done. He classifies DMT and WEED in the same category as heroin and cocaine. i am slowly educating him on this fact, and not in the interest to get him to do drugs.



I doubt he will take them as well. He is extremely open minded, but not stupid. You say Psychedelic drugs are incredibly dangerous for some, I disagree. no one has ever died, and with proper research they can actually be incredibly safe. A bad trip doesnt ruin your life if it happened in small dosages. I would never allow my brother to take more than 2 grams of what i have in the freezer for his first time.

I understand your position though tele. And I respect it, but you have to understand that my brothers relationship is well rounded, healthy, and normal. I don't push anyone around and my original post was telling op that you shouldnt push anyone to do shrooms. That education and personal choice are the only ways. So i agree with you, but I disagree with your view on my relationship with my brother.

Well there have been suicides even on mushrooms.
For example
http://www.telegraph.co....-on-magic-mushrooms.html
http://www.simplyamsterd...sing_magic_mushrooms.htm



I'm sure both of these people were completely normal. I'm just saying the risk is there, even in extreme manners like these. And that is easily a big NO for many people.
It's a horrible thing that there is even a slight possibility to go insane for some time.
It's only for few people but the risk exists.

People think "yay lets go have some fun and eat some shrooms", but only after they know what the worst case scenario can be they can re-evaluate is it really worth the risk, even if it's very small.

But I really just gave my opinions on the topic.

And I agree with you 100% mushrooms are not for everyone, prolly not for most people. But i know my brother, and he would like them. He has a very sound mind, he just needs to see outside the box a little. I really hope he changes his mind some day and will try a small dose with me. I am pretty knowledgeable when it comes to mushrooms (I would like to believe so anyways) I hope im not putting myself out there as being rude.

What is your opinion, tele, on what role the mushrooms played in suicides on mushrooms?

(edit:Sorry if I offended you)

100% mushrooms fault for messing with the judgement of the people,

here's another example:

http://menmedia.co.uk/ma...ate_magic_mushrooms.html



F'n horrible.

The thing is that I'm sure all these people were looking for a nice full blown trip. And even possibly were totally happy and normal before eating them.

If the people who praise the mushrooms would see something like this happen to someone they know I doubt they would ever praise it again.

Of course these are extreme cases, but even a "normal bad trip" can shatter some peoples mentalities. These things are not to be fooled around with as they can mess with your thoughts. The best attitude is "better safe than sorry" if one wants to trip.
Even if one has previous experiences, one should always be careful especially with high doses.

Anrchy: you didn't offend me at all.

I definitely agree that bad things can happen. The first one I personally wouldnt blame mushrooms. The fact that this person did cocaine makes me thing this person was not level headed and should not have been doing mushrooms, let alone while on cocaine.

my thoughts are that there is some kind of predisposition to that type of mind set before the mushrooms were brought into the picture. That those people were not capable of handling what mushrooms can do to you. If you have even a single negative thought haunting you, it can show up in your trip. And if you dont know how to deal with it, it can have negative consequences. I have had an immensely bad trip on an 1/8th of amazonians. It was a nightmare. i learned from it though. I am stronger because of it.

That was only one of the three people.

Google can find more than three, I just gave them as example.

How not to blame the mushrooms if without them there wouldn't even be a possibility for something so bad to happen?

You don't think cocaine will have any effect on you while on mushrooms?

I know that there have been many suicides of people on mushrooms, I blame the person. Simply because they obviously couldnt handle the dose/situation they took and with education and intelligence you can be better equipped.

There has also been many suicides by people who found there sig. other cheating on them. Their inability to handle the situation, in my opinion, is the culprit. Although this is a way different type of situation. You are in control of taking mushrooms, not of your gf doing your buddy.