Glueman wrote:
I just sat on a porch with some kids (who were also on X) talking until the sun came up after our show and it was great. I seriously thought they were the coolest people I had ever met in my life and I was having the best conversation ever!!! Sure, I know it wasn't real, but it felt good at the time...it is surreal, I just couldn't believe how happy and excited I was....
Sounds like some of my MDMA experiences. Your characterization of it as not being real, however, bothers me. What wasn't real about it? It wasn't your normal sense of reality certainly, but an experience is, in my mind, real as long as you experience it. I've made some incredible connections with people, connections that continue to this day, while on E and other mind-altering drugs, as well as experienced some amazing artistic highs the results of which I am still the beneficiary of to this day. What is "not real" about this?
As for the post-E crash, I've certainly experienced it, but by no means has it occurred every time either, which makes me think that there are other factors involved than just the MDMA. That it's often cut with speed to varying degree is, I think, a better explanation than blaming it, as much as the serotonin receptor burn-out explanation seemingly makes sense.
Also, to blame the drug for the worst excesses of the culture it supposedly spawned is ridiculous. What are its primary effects? Making one feel connected to other people, lowering one's inhibitions against expressing oneself and increasing one's sensory capacity - all wonderful things in my opinion. If taken too much it can certainly have negative effects, which is why it should only be used on occassion and not as a common form of escape from one's problems. But then that's a truism I think we could all agree on pertaining to ALL drugs - alcohol most definitely included.
I agree with Hogrot that it's a great alternative to LSD and mushrooms as in my experience it's basically impossible to have a "bad trip" - something that has too often affected my psychedelic adventures. It is also much more of a communal drug than either LSD or mushrooms; both of which, as most experienced users would I think agree, can often leave one feeling incredibly isolated. Definitely my favorite drug if it's the real thing done on occassion with people I know. Though doing it and just sitting at home playing guitar along to my favorite music by myself is pretty damn good too...