Did the new Penny Arcade story make anyone else uncomfortable?

[xPixelatedx]

As much as I hate drugs, I can't really villainize pot without feeling like a hypocrite. We're talking about something tame compared to drinking, and you can drink in every state. Alcohol continues to kill people at alarming numbers as well, where pot does not, etc. etc. I am sure we've had this thread before. In any case, it's hard to feel uncomfortable when talking about pot when it's becoming increasingly clear the world has/is progressing passed that. If it still makes you uncomfortable at this point, then the world is quite literally passing you by.

 

[omega 616]

snip

This.

Alcohol is the cause of so much shit, from drunk drivers to alcoholics to making babies to breaking of relationships but it's perfectly legal.

Yet weed is illegal? I Would never smoke weed (I don't smoke normal cigs or drink alcohol) but who the fuck am I to tell people what they shouldn't do to themselves? They know the risks and they made the choice to do it, as long as there choice doesn't effect others negatively I don't care.

You would do well to remember that at one point alcohol WAS illegal in the United States. One of the reasons it is legal now is because of how big the shit fit that everybody threw was.

There is also the little fact that when someone is high or drunk they are likely to do something stupid that a normal, intelligent person wouldn't that very well might negatively effect other people.

You mean prohibition? Yeah, I remember ... All the speak easies and the mafia running it all etc.

Not quite, an intelligent person wouldn't drink alcohol or smoke or take drugs. They wouldn't need to do those things to relax or enjoy life. They would weigh the pros against the cons and realize that most forms of drugs are bad and not do them.

Alas alcohol is fanaticized over, everyday millions of pints are drunk and shots downed. Sure, research says "a glass of wine every so often reduces heart problems" but nobody sticks to that! Instead of 1 glass a week, it's a bottle a night.

After work have 6 cans or go the pub and have half a dozen pints.

No matter how poor people are in the UK, they will always find money for alcohol.

If you want to be super accurate, I am addicted to drugs ... my caffine and sugar intake is quite alarming.

 

[shintakie10]

Its only uncomfortable if you believed all the garbage that people spew about weed. Every doctor that isn't lyin to your face will tell you that marijuana is almost entirely harmless and far less harmful than drinkin for you, both in the long term and the short term. Yet one of those things was made illegal while the other is given the societal stamp of approval.

 

[Neverhoodian]

I'll admit I have a negative outlook on marijuana due to the following reasons:

*One of my uncles smoked pot as a teenager, became addicted and eventually started taking more hardcore drugs. He's been clean for a few decades now, but he'll be the first to tell you that pot can be a "gateway drug."

*My former roommate smoked pot, and he was a grade-A asshole.

*Marijuana smells fucking disgusting to me. Seriously, I don't know how users put up with that sickly sweet stench. I also find tobacco smoke unpleasant, but I'd much rather smell that if given the choice.

Having said that, I'm still mildly supportive of legalizing marijuana, mostly because it would make life more difficult for the dangerous criminals and drug cartels that distribute large amounts of the substance. If people insist on taking the stuff, then fine. Just respect my personal choice not to (and stay downwind of me, the stench tends to linger).

 

[generals3]

They know the risks and they made the choice to do it,

Funny thing is that Weed is probably the most underestimated drug out there. They once carried out a study about the effects of weed on your mental health and the funny thing is that those who were given updates on their test results were much more likely to stop weed than those who weren't told about the impact weed had on their mental health. This definitively proves pot smokers don't know the risks at all. And i have had many conversations with pot smokers which backed that up. I've yet to hear from adults who drink alcohol or smoke tobacco that those substances aren't dangerous. Yet the crap i've heard from pot smoking hippies goes beyond absurdity "dude, according to studies pot is actually good for your health because it has anti-oxidants". Where do they get such absurd misinformation?!

 

[Psykoma]

The real story behind it was that Mike had never used drugs because he felt it was wrong, but was pushed into it by his friends.

I didn't get that at all.
I read that the real story was he didn't want to use drugs because
A. His brother OD'd and died on them.
B. His school's drug education scared him into thinking all illegal drugs are wrong.
I got the impression that his objection to drugs, his thinking that they were wrong, was tied to their illegality, and with that illegality now (mostly) gone, he was questioning whether they were wrong.

I'm not sure why, but it makes me feel rather upset for whatever reason, like they're saying that choosing not to involve yourself with drugs is a stupid choice, or that him compromising his principles due to other people pressuring him was somehow admirable.

Again, from what I had read he was consistently bringing up the subject with Jerry, and questioning his own feelings of whether the drugs are actually wrong now that their illegality is gone. It was brought up enough that Jerry just gave him some weed for Christmas to try if he wanted.
Given how Mike and Jerry both talked in the Drugs episode from PATV season 2 (I think it was that season? Or maybe 1), I can't imagine he would have considered giving Mike any drugs unless Mike's questions and discussions -strongly- reflected a serious desire to try some.

I don't know, did anyone else feel this way, or am I just overreacting?

Personally I think you're probably overreacting, the only time in the descriptions given by Mike where he was 'convinced' by someone else with regards to drugs was to get him to ask his doctor about Lexipro.
I also have the season 3 dvd with commentary by Mike and Jerry on every episode, and I'm positive that they talked about Mike trying weed in one of them, and I really never got the impression that Mike was doing something he really did not want.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

I don't personally see a problem with what they put up on their site, either the strip or the article. I just don't understand how if you love reading their stuff etc, that this could make you lose respect for them, I'd say they get a bit more from me just for talking about it.

*Marijuana smells fucking disgusting to me. Seriously, I don't know how users put up with that sickly sweet stench. I also find tobacco smoke unpleasant, but I'd much rather smell that if given the choice.

Having said that, I'm still mildly supportive of legalizing marijuana, mostly because it would make life more difficult for the dangerous criminals and drug cartels that distribute large amounts of the substance. If people insist on taking the stuff, then fine. Just respect my personal choice not to (and stay downwind of me, the stench tends to linger).

I can definitely agree with the smell part, people in the apartment next to mine would do it almost every day. Go into the hallway and it'd make some people gag. We had the choice of smelling it in our apartment during summer but having our windows open so we wouldn't be living in an oven, or close them and not have to put up with it and be uncomfortable in the heat.

When we asked them if they could please cut down on smoking it on their balcony during the day, because we and the other 2 apartments in the building had to put up with it. One of them immediately gave me a black eye and then one other kicked me while I was down from being blind sided. I was polite, I didn't threaten to call the cops or anything stupid, I figured just telling them the truth and asking nicely might work. Not that case, I did however call the police the moment I got back into my place from that. Now they don't live here. They had only been living here for a couple months, I'd been here with my flat mates for a couple years.

This doesn't color my opinion of people who smoke it, I have friends that do, I have even tried it a couple of times and know it's not for me. But I do (mildly as you say) support it being legalized because it should be a choice, not a crime. Just like drinking, and you hear of way more accidents and bad things happening as a result of drinking. But the choices you make, like smoking weed should not affect other people like they did with us, because that's unfair.

 

[Combustion Kevin]

if you are stressing out over this comic, it is YOU who needs to get high. ;D

I kid, down here weed is the most normal thing in the world, except when you're fourteen of course, but that goes for everything "adult" you think you have a right to.
I do fondly remember the "gangsta" kids going on about it like fifty cent until they quickly realised that there is no buzz about it here like there is in the states, that left them amusingly frustrated keeping up the gangster facade.

I dunno, I think the whole "war on drugs" is a bit overblown, especially around the lighter stuff like weed, criminal organisations and cartels are the scariest part about the whole goddamn thing.
So if you EVER decide to try it, support your domestic supplier, make sure he can track his stuff to reliable sources, that way you prevent a whole lot of headaches, bad trips and police interrogations.

 

[Cliche]

What I find interesting, is that he had no problems taking an anti-depressant, because it was handed to him by a doctor, in the context of healing.
Thus, the most irrational part of this isn't a fear of drugs; it's the idea that things are illegal because they are dangerous.

Prescription pain killers cause more hospitalizations in the US than Marijuana does in the entire world. As do "legal highs".

"Legal" is not a measure of danger or harm. It's a measure of cost vs benefit.

"From whom to what?"
Us. To them.

 

[omega 616]

They know the risks and they made the choice to do it,

Funny thing is that Weed is probably the most underestimated drug out there. They once carried out a study about the effects of weed on your mental health and the funny thing is that those who were given updates on their test results were much more likely to stop weed than those who weren't told about the impact weed had on their mental health. This definitively proves pot smokers don't know the risks at all. And i have had many conversations with pot smokers which backed that up. I've yet to hear from adults who drink alcohol or smoke tobacco that those substances aren't dangerous. Yet the crap i've heard from pot smoking hippies goes beyond absurdity "dude, according to studies pot is actually good for your health because it has anti-oxidants". Where do they get such absurd misinformation?!

I am not sure where you are from but there is a place in the UK called Liverpool, it's not a very nice place but in Liverpool there is a place called Croxteth ... it's like Detroit.

I worked there for 6 months, out of 36 people I was the only one not smoking weed. My "co-workers" literally smoked it morning(as they woke up), morning break, dinner, afternoon break and probably some more in the evening, to call them heavy users would be laughable.

I have heard just about every "good" property of weed known to man, I've heard every single ridiculous name for every variety of weed.

What I was saying is smoking anything is bad, I said weed 'cos that is what this thread is about but I was applying smoking as a general term.

Everybody knows putting smoke into your lungs isn't a healthy choice. Since weed is smoked with tabaco, which is almost always smoked itself.

 

[Orange12345]

to be honest here in Canada (at least where I live) nobody gives a fuck about weed, I have never met someone who had a problem with people smoking it (responsibly of course)

 

[loc978]

I remember being slightly afraid of "drugs", then I looked up what they are and what each one does to a person. I'm not one to smoke anything regularly outside of field exercises as a soldier, but weed isn't a big deal. Ingested rather than smoked, it's far less harmful than alcohol... smoking it just brings all the health risks of smoking anything. Silly way to take a drug.

As for the rest of 'em, drugs are bad, mmkay applies a bit, though to different degrees. I've met people who take cocaine in moderation and are no worse off than someone who occasionally binges on coffee... but as far as I've seen there's no such thing as taking an opiate in moderation. I know someone who was proscribed various opioid pain relievers in large amounts for over 20 years. He was addicted to them on the level of a heroin junkie (and yes, I've met a few of those), and quitting them nearly killed him. He never took more than was proscribed by his doctors. Funnily enough, he now uses ingested cannibinoid pain relievers. Pot brownies are apparently much safer than vicodin.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that the Partnership for a Drug-Free America has been feeding us all a line of bullshit since 1985. Be nearly as wary of what your doctor proscribes as you are of street drugs. What's common today may be illegal tomorrow, and vice-versa.

Spoiler: never forget

 

[mattaui]

I think it's largely due to the taboo nature of marijuana and how we're so desensitized to jokes about booze and people getting drunk, which is far more debilitating and dangerous to others, but when someone brings up pot we take special notice.

My only real concern is any undue attention they might draw to themselves as being seen to promote marijuana use, which is still a controlled substance across most of the US.

I don't use it, I have no desire to use it, but I'm tired of spending law enforcement resources on it to accomplish only ruining people's lives and enriching drug lords. We're already allowed to get completely blitzed on booze and smoke all the tobacco we want, so I seriously don't see how weed would even register as a problem.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Did the new Penny Arcade story make anyone else uncomfortable?

Nope. I thought it was very interesting.

Then again, being from the UK we never really had the War on Drugs, so I don't really give two figs about the whole legality of it one way or another.

 

[Loop Stricken]

... but this time it's seemed like less of just a throwaway thing they put in for the sake of a joke and more of a story of how awesome drugs are.

Sure, apart from where it's explicitly stated that he didn't see what the big deal about it was.

So in the end I feel sort of silly for being so scared of it for so long. In practice it?s actually sort of boring. You do it and then you lay on the couch and watch TV. Having tried it now I can confirm that I have no desire to move to meth or try some crack.

So all's well that ends well.

 

[Psykoma]

to be honest here in Canada (at least where I live) nobody gives a fuck about weed, I have never met someone who had a problem with people smoking it (responsibly of course)

I had a problem with my roommate smoking it every single day in the apartment, especially when it got around to exam time. he wouldn't use a vaporizer either which I gather is supposed to filter the smell.

but other than that, no problems

Though I'd have the same problem with regular smoking.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

It seems a bit random for a gaming comic...but no it doesn't make me uncomfotable. Perhaps it's like someone else suggested and it's just that you have been told it's dangerous and stuff.

I wish it was legal in the UK, I need an operation atm and the painkillers they have given me in the mean time do absolutely nothing even though they are pretty strong Maybe some weed would help.

 

[Bestival]

Well I'm dutch, so it didn't bother me at all. Pretty much all my friends smoke weed, and the only reason I usually don't is because it makes me throw up like nobody's business. But really as a substance it's fine, I would actually rate it "better than alcohol". Because it just doesn't have as much negative effects, from my experience. Like I've never seen anyone get all fighty from weed. And people don't tend to get sick from it either, unless they're total pussies like myself.

Still, there's better stuff out there, harhar.

 

[generals3]

I am not sure where you are from but there is a place in the UK called Liverpool, it's not a very nice place but in Liverpool there is a place called Croxteth ... it's like Detroit.

I worked there for 6 months, out of 36 people I was the only one not smoking weed. My "co-workers" literally smoked it morning(as they woke up), morning break, dinner, afternoon break and probably some more in the evening, to call them heavy users would be laughable.

I have heard just about every "good" property of weed known to man, I've heard every single ridiculous name for every variety of weed.

What I was saying is smoking anything is bad, I said weed 'cos that is what this thread is about but I was applying smoking as a general term.

Everybody knows putting smoke into your lungs isn't a healthy choice. Since weed is smoked with tabaco, which is almost always smoked itself.

Actually if you smoke multiple joints every day you are already a heavy user. On top of that since it is consistent use odds are they are addicted. I mean if i were to drink 5 beers every day i'd probably come to the conclusion i have a problem.

And the smoke itself isn't the only problem of pot. It also has nasty effects on your brain. The two most significant effects are higher levels of anxiety and severely increased chances to suffer from a psychosis.

But my point was simply that the effects of weed are usually severely underestimated by users and as such they don't really know what they're getting into.