2953: Be Aggressive w/ Andrea Allan

[Beth Yaz-Pistachio]

"Aggressive" is one of those words that can be really loaded, and argh. This was a hard one to listen to in spots (in a trainwrecky ILoveYouAllSoMuch kind of way, I hasten to add), but also really interesting.

And now, because I'm mildly uncomfy in a "the parents are arguing!" kind of way, I'm going to go for my own stupid amusement. I put googly eyes on several of my tattoos, and the KATG one was pretty funny. I'm gonna go laugh at that picture again now. I might post it here.

A {hug} to any of you that want one.

P.S. Of course I have lots of helpful tattoo advice if you want it, Chemda. And yes, it's normal for it to be tender for a coupla days after. And, I know I said it in a couple of other places, but yay, tattoo!!

[Beth Yaz-Pistachio]

Originally Posted by Keith

LEAVE CHEMDA ALONE!!!

Heeeeeeey. Is this passive aggressive??

{runs away veryfast}

[Lanfear]

Yes I would say Chemda is aggressive and I'm with Andrea in thinking that's a good positive thing.

But clearly Chemda doesn't want to be called that word because as many others here pointed out it can be a loaded term. If I would have to take a wild guess here I think a combination of her parents telling her girls shouldn't act up and the new found Buddhism focus on staying calm make Chemda not want to be labeled that.

What does annoy me though is that Chemda was so very adamant about not even accepting another word for it because clearly she is more *insert synonym here* than average - the way she keeps denying that makes it sound like being direct/feisty/dominant is a bad thing which I don't think it is.

[crazy4having3]

There is a difference between being aggressive and being assertive. Aggressive has a negative connotation to it. I’d say Chemda is assertive. She’s confident and not going to back down when she truly believes in something.

[Rufio]

It's a shame that the people that choose to be spokespeople for legitimizing psychedelics are so loud about how little they actually know on the subject.

disclosure: I'm pro psychedelic research

[punk'n]

Originally Posted by Rufio

It's a shame that the people that choose to be spokespeople for legitimizing psychedelics are so loud about how little they actually know on the subject.

disclosure: I'm pro psychedelic research

I do think Shane was pretty incoherent.
I'd take Myq Kaplan as my psychedelic spokesperson .

On a personal note, I've had some pretty bad times on psychedelics and some pretty fun times on coke. I think the whole, "You're a druggie cos you did more drugs in the past " vs the "You're a druggie cos you smoke weed often now" is a silly goose argument. It sounds like we're all a bunch of druggies!

[Kultcher]

I'm surprised the word "intense" hasn't come up in this thread as a way to describe Chemda. I think it has a bit less of a negative connotation. Passionate works too.

On the drug issue, it really feels like Keith and Andrea were being a little unfair to Chemda and Shane.

It's like, I take adderall for ADHD and it generally helps me function better. If I took too much adderall, then I would probably end up like being awake for 3 days straight and having heart palpitations and shit. That doesn't mean that adderall is inherently bad or bad for me.

Similarly, the first (and I guess only) time I properly tried weed, I had what I can only describe as an intense panic attack, easily one of the most harrowing experiences I've had in years. But although I had a horrible experience I don't doubt that weed has helped Chemda or countless other people. It's just maybe not for me.

Anecdotally it seems like people more often get something positive -- even if it's just a "fun time" -- from psychedelics than break their brain.

I don't have a strong conclusion, so I'll just say: Chemda is right.

[canibalstalker]

Chemda is abrasive, not aggressive. She feisty and firey, but she doesn't offend.

But on Shane, I gotta ask: If he was an alcoholic, had a mental breakdown, went to AA, and came out better than ever, would Chemda still be curious for "academic purposes?" If it was beer instead of dmt that broke his brain, would Chemda just say "That sounds like a normal drunken rave?"
It wasn't the drug that made him better, it was his own personality and mindset that pushed him back up when he hit bottom.

[Thanvaky]

Aggressive is not a word I would use to describe Chemda. While she doesn't shy away from confrontation she also doesn't seek it out. She is opinionated. She is energetic. But she isn't hostile at all. In fact when she 'argues' it seems to me she is very open to the opposite opinion truly trying to understand where they are coming from.

[Keith]

Welcome, and give us the word then. Help me help her help me.