A new Word of Wisdom

[PaloAltoCougar]

LOL! This is not my POV.

Then you'll have to excuse my confusion. I simply wrote "That said, I still shake my head at Robin's expectation of Little Robin using all kinds of mind altering drugs, and his hope that that he can shepherd his son through such usage. 'Today my son, crack cocaine with a black tar heroin chaser!'"

We expect Little Robin to experiment with all kinds of mind altering drugs. I've even told him that I hope he will trust me to shepherd him through some of the early stages of experimentation. [emphasis added]

My faux quote was, obviously, made up, mainly for comedic purposes, although crack and black tar would certainly fall within the definition of "all kinds" of mind-altering drugs. I apologize for misrepresenting your views. I'm absolutely certain you love your son and want the best for him. I think nearly all parents feel the same about about their own.

I'm not referring to you when I write this, but I think one of the toughest challenges for loving parents is having the will to be more of a parent than a friend.

[I.J. Reilly]

I am on the fence regarding coke, mostly because I have known many occasional coke users for whom it just wasn't a problem. Talking to all of the coke heads who used it as their party drug of choice during the 70's and 80's makes me wonder if it is really as dangerous as the hype.

If you would like some strong anecdotal stories about the bad effects of using cocaine, send me a pm and we can chat.

[TripletDaddy]

By shepherd, I mean that I would prefer to be present for his first time using than not present. If the Puffy Check were to go out to the desert to drop some LSD, would you prefer to be there, in case they started to have a bad trip, or would you prefer that they trip balls and fall face first into cactus without you to prevent that from happening? I think you are misinterpreting 'shepherd' to mean 'encourage the use of.' I will grant you that knowledge of my willingness to 'shepherd' may be interpreted as 'encourage the use of,' but they really aren't the same thing. 'Shepherding' is about making sure the little one is safe.

I see where you are trying to go with this, but I still think I am going to have to opt out.

If the Dudes were to experiment with drugs, I don't want to be there watching them. If I am there, I will be doing whatever I can do prevent them from taking the drugs. Yes, they could do it behind my back when I ama way, but I am not going to stand around and watch them take drugs.

My wife and I are taking a different approach. We are not expecting our kids to experiment with drugs, although we both realize that it is definitely a possibility. We will do everything we can to instill in them that drugs are verboten and unwise. If they choose to experiment, we will have done our part. But I don't ever anticipate getting to the point where I will supervise my children while they do drugs.

I had a few friends with the "cool" parents that bought beer for the kids, etc. The logic was that the kids were going to go out and drink anyway, so might as well do it at home, supervised. Sure enough, those kids were always partying on the weekends. In my experience, it isn't a given that all kids will drink or do drugs, so rather than capitulate now, I am going to Fight On during their childhood to strongly discourage them from the behavior.

[Viking]

If you would like some strong anecdotal stories about the bad effects of using cocaine, send me a pm and we can chat.

Cocaine is heinous. The hedge fund/prop trading community continues to struggle with it. Larry Kudlow's story is both terrifying and awe-inspiring of his fall and return.

[jxncoog]

About 30 years ago, a Stake my folks were living had a number of bishops asking members if they drank coke (it's all coke in Texas, even DP) during recommend interviews. At some point a GA came to a Stake Conference. During a meeting with the bishops & stake presidencies, the GA pulled out a coke, opened it up, and chugged away.
They all got the point, but he still told them to quit asking the questions at TR interviews.

[LA Ute]

It would do anyone, regardless of how he/she feels about the matter, a lot of good to spend a little time listening to a qualified and experienced addictionologist tell you what he/she thinks about drug abuse. Worth knowing, IMO. I can be pretty sure any such expert will be opposed to recreational use of marijuana and anything stronger.

[RobinFinderson]

Here is a list of a few activities that are MORE likely than marijuana to get your teenage child killed:

• Driving a car
• Riding an ATV
• Skiing
• Sledding
• Riding a motorcycle
• Surfing
• Rock Climbing
• Wilderness hiking alone

Here is a list of a few lifestyles that are MORE damaging to your child's health than the lifestyle of a daily toker:

• Drinking more than one can of sugar soda per day
• Drinking more than one can of beer a day
• Eating fast food more than three times per week
• Not exercising (a sedative lifestyle)
• Eating meat every day
• Eating a diet with too much cholesterol (eggs, cheese, meat, milk)

You will find MANY LDS living lives far more dangerous than those of many lifestyle tokers.

[TripletDaddy]

Here is a list of a few activities that are MORE likely than marijuana to get your teenage child killed:

• Driving a car
• Riding an ATV
• Skiing
• Sledding
• Riding a motorcycle
• Surfing
• Rock Climbing
• Wilderness hiking alone

Here is a list of a few lifestyles that are MORE damaging to your child's health than the lifestyle of a daily toker:

• Drinking more than one can of sugar soda per day
• Drinking more than one can of beer a day
• Eating fast food more than three times per week
• Not exercising (a sedative lifestyle)
• Eating meat every day
• Eating a diet with too much cholesterol (eggs, cheese, meat, milk)

You will find MANY LDS living lives far more dangerous than those of many lifestyle tokers.

Why not address all of these issues with your child? These bullets are all great points of discussion, and really at any age, not just as children.

btw, I am referring to the second set of bullets. The first set appears to be a strawman. You forgot to list serving your country in the military, being a fireman or policeman, etc.

[LA Ute]

Here is a list of a few activities that are MORE likely than marijuana to get your teenage child killed:

• Driving a car
• Riding an ATV
• Skiing
• Sledding
• Riding a motorcycle
• Surfing
• Rock Climbing
• Wilderness hiking alone

Here is a list of a few lifestyles that are MORE damaging to your child's health than the lifestyle of a daily toker:

• Drinking more than one can of sugar soda per day
• Drinking more than one can of beer a day
• Eating fast food more than three times per week
• Not exercising (a sedative lifestyle)
• Eating meat every day
• Eating a diet with too much cholesterol (eggs, cheese, meat, milk)

You will find MANY LDS living lives far more dangerous than those of many lifestyle tokers.

Good points, Robin, you commie. I am looking at this independently of the WOW, and just suggesting that if you ask a (non-LDS) addiction professional about this, you're very unlikely to get an endorsement of recreational MJ use.

[Viking]

Add energy drinks to the list

[RobinFinderson]

Why not address all of these issues with your child? These bullets are all great points of discussion, and really at any age, not just as children.

btw, I am referring to the second set of bullets. The first set appears to be a strawman. You forgot to list serving your country in the military, being a fireman or policeman, etc.

They aren't straw men. All of those choices are options. None are inherently noble (like serving in the military). I took Little Robin sledding last Monday and we watched four kids slam into a tree at different times during the day. One was injured bad enough that she couldn't walk off the field. On the way down the mountain we had to pull over to let the ambulances go by for a more serious sledding accident.

The sober child who drives to work every day is much more likely to end up in a body bag than the toker child who takes public transportation.

[woot]

Good points, Robin, you commie. I am looking at this independently of the WOWa, am just suggesting that if you ask a (non-LDS) addiction professional about this, you're very unlikely to get an endorsement of recreational MJ use.

So "addictionologists" think that MJ is addictive? Is that because they're trying to open new markets? WTF is an addictionologist anyway?

[John McClain]

Yes, life is fraught with risks, some of which we embrace, some of which are inherent. The consequences of smoking dope are risks I choose not to adopt. And I believe that is a word of wisdom I can live with.

[Donuthole]

I miss ER. Everytime I see this thread it fools me, if only for a split second, into thinking ER is posting again. Then my heart fills with sadness when I realize it's not so.

Same thing happens when I see Sizzle's Jazz thread.

[wuapinmon]

I would prefer a much simpler approach. Simply return to the spirit in which the commandment was given: a friendly suggestion. Encourage people to live healthy lives and stop making it a litmus test for temple recommends or baptism.

Is there any truth to something I heard/read once that the alcohol/temple recommend question came about because the then prophet's best friend was killed by a drunk driver?

My family always emphasized that the word of wisdom was as important for its list of "do"s than its "don't"s. I remember telling the bishop, when I was being interviewed for baptism and he asked me if I kept the word of wisdom, "I try." He was a little concerned at first.

I did this last time. My bishop did a double take as I explained that I don't eat meat sparingly.

How would we then measure the comparative unworthiness of others?

How they dress, style, price, hemlines.