Hacker News Reader

I was really surprised how the article danced around the use of cannabis. The article framed it as possibly related to ritualistic and or funerary purposes. I see no reason that it wasn’t simply a lifestyle choice. Although even modern use may seem ritualistic. I just think it would be more honest to just say it was used.

View on HN

I actually think the bias might run in the other direction - modern western life is historically anomalous in its lack of explicitly acknowledged rituals. We’re really one of the only intellectual traditions that abjures regular recognition of the meaning and significance of our actions and intents - for most other cultures at most other times, the notion of regularly setting aside time to acknowledge the broader context in which one is operating and consider how one intended to proceed would’ve been considered the wise way to live.

Yeah, I think it’s just an anachronism to even try to impose those categories. There is often a religious or spiritual element to getting high.

I think if historians in the far future looked at the rave scene in the mid to late 90s they would call it a religious movement. There are ritualistic elements, religious hymns, ceremony, etc. People often described it in religious terms. There was even a moral/ethical element (PLUR) And I think it wouldn’t be entirely wrong. But it also obviously doesn’t mean that getting fucked up and having fun wasn’t the primary motivation for most people.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com