Rant: Who cares if Michael Phelps had some pot?

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by thatmariolover

I completely agree that there's no harm in a little weed now and again. But he's a role-model, and you can hardly be surprised by the media snapping this up and sensationalizing it. And of course mom and pop are going to react with shock and outrage. The bottom line is, he was naive to think he could do it with other people around and not have it get out. Everybody is watching him, waiting for him to do something wrong. They'd love to believe he's only human, no better or even worse than themselves in some regards.

Bingo.

In the end, Phelps is a high profile personality and perhaps the biggest sports star in the world. If he smokes pot, expect to get busted. While I personally don't care that he smokes, it is against the law and not only should he be embarrassed by all of this but he should also be prosecuted and given community service. I'm a little tired of celebrities never having to answer for what normal people are arrested for everyday.

[KillerGremlin]

Perhaps I am dead wrong, but the fact that people are using the excuse "Phelps is a role model" as a reason for people to be upset is just...well plain silly.

I mean, fuck yeah, famous people smoke pot! Because pot is harmless in moderation.

What I am trying to say is Phelps should rise to the occasion and be the role model that says the honest truth which is that a little pot never stopped him from reaching his Olympic dreams, winning 14 gold medals, uniting America during the lame ass Olympics, sparking patriotism, and yada yada.

Carl Sagan and Barack Obama have smoked pot. One has his legacy forever etched in stone and the other is the current US President.

Seriously. Pot. In. Moderation. Is. Harmless.

Get that D.A.R.E. all-drugs-are-100%-bad shit out of our public schools. Stop LYING to the kids.

We are a nation that does not put down heavy drinking (there is a sociology OF drinking for effing sake), we don't condone smoking, and EVERYTHING has caffeine in it.

If someone wants to toke up every once in a while, even if they are a famous athlete-role-model: let them.


Also, this was done at a party on his free time. I don't think it is anyone's business.

The saddest thing is that Phelps bent over and apologized. For all we know he was smoking tobacco out of that bong. I'd like to see that picture stand in a court of law.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

Perhaps I am dead wrong, but the fact that people are using the excuse "Phelps is a role model" as a reason for people to be upset is just...well plain silly.

I mean, fuck yeah, famous people smoke pot! Because pot is harmless in moderation.

What I am trying to say is Phelps should rise to the occasion and be the role model that says the honest truth which is that a little pot never stopped him from reaching his Olympic dreams, winning 14 gold medals, uniting America during the lame ass Olympics, sparking patriotism, and yada yada.

Carl Sagan and Barack Obama have smoked pot. One has his legacy forever etched in stone and the other is the current US President.

Seriously. Pot. In. Moderation. Is. Harmless.

Get that D.A.R.E. all-drugs-are-100%-bad shit out of our public schools. Stop LYING to the kids.

We are a nation that does not put down heavy drinking (there is a sociology OF drinking for effing sake), we don't condone smoking, and EVERYTHING has caffeine in it.

If someone wants to toke up every once in a while, even if they are a famous athlete-role-model: let them.


Also, this was done at a party on his free time. I don't think it is anyone's business.

The saddest thing is that Phelps bent over and apologized. For all we know he was smoking tobacco out of that bong. I'd like to see that picture stand in a court of law.

To me the argument isn't about pot's effects or dangers, its about what is or is not acceptable by law. He basically admitted to pot smoking in the statement, and he should be reprimanded for it LEGALLY. Its the LAW and we cannot pick and choose which laws we want to enforce.

If you have a problem with the law, work to change it, but there is no excuse for breaking the law regardless of personal opinion. The law doesn't care what you think as an individual or even group, it just cares about you behavior and whether or not it is in accordance with it. If you don;t like it, CHANGE IT, or else it simply is what it is. He broke the law, he got caught, and now he needs to face the consequences like a normal human being. Amd by the way, his apology was weak at best, and I would never describe it as "bending over".

The fact is my next door neighbor would likely get arrested and be fined and/or be put on probation for what Phelps did, and Phelps should not be given any kind of special treatment or even some silly rehab nonsense that only celebrities get from the courts. There is too much of that and it sends the wrong message.

Its is what it is, and I have no sympathy, even as a former pot smoker. There are consequences for actions, and he every well should have known what they were.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Professor S

To me the argument isn't about pot's effects or dangers, its about what is or is not acceptable by law. He basically admitted to pot smoking in the statement, and he should be reprimanded for it LEGALLY. Its the LAW and we cannot pick and choose which laws we want to enforce.

If you have a problem with the law, work to change it, but there is no excuse for breaking the law regardless of personal opinion. The law doesn't care what you think as an individual or even group, it just cares about you behavior and whether or not it is in accordance with it. If you don;t like it, CHANGE IT, or else it simply is what it is. He broke the law, he got caught, and now he needs to face the consequences like a normal human being. Amd by the way, his apology was weak at best, and I would never describe it as "bending over".

The fact is my next door neighbor would likely get arrested and be fined and/or be put on probation for what Phelps did, and Phelps should not be given any kind of special treatment or even some silly rehab nonsense that only celebrities get from the courts. There is too much of that and it sends the wrong message.

Its is what it is, and I have no sympathy, even as a former pot smoker. There are consequences for actions, and he every well should have known what they were.

Smoking pot is against the law but it is such a non-issue the cops have better things to do than to fine Phelps or try to get him in trouble .

I agree that the "special treatment" celebrities get is BS. Phelps is a fratboy douche bag he should get in as much trouble as anyone else.

In regard to changing the law, the first step towards change is fighting ignorance. If more people were aware that pot is fairly harmless (AKA you can smoke it and win 14 gold metals) perhaps people might make logical assumptions about it.

My sister in 5th grade had to draw a picture of what people who use drugs look like. It was for an anti-drug thing like DARE at her school. She drew a homeless guy. Not everyone that uses drugs ends up homeless. That is crazy imo.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

My sister in 5th grade had to draw a picture of what people who use drugs look like. It was for an anti-drug thing like DARE at her school. She drew a homeless guy. Not everyone that uses drugs ends up homeless. That is crazy imo.

I wouldn't call it crazy at all. Most homeless people have severe drug dependencies or severe mental problems. There are very few homeless people who are simply normal people who had a run of bad luck. This is one of the reasons I am a big supporter of bringing back the federally assisted sanitariums that were eliminated by Reagan in the 80's. At the very best they get cleaned up, trained or cured, and the very worst many of the homeless are off the streets and have 3 hots and a cot.

Does everyone who does drugs end up on the street? No. But a large percentage of the homeless do have drug and alcohol dependencies.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Professor S

I wouldn't call it crazy at all. Most homeless people have severe drug dependencies or severe mental problems. There are very few homeless people who are simply normal people who had a run of bad luck. This is one of the reasons I am a big supporter of bringing back the federally assisted sanitariums that were eliminated by Reagan in the 80's. At the very best they get cleaned up, trained or cured, and the very worst many of the homeless are off the streets and have 3 hots and a cot.

Does everyone who does drugs end up on the street? No. But a large percentage of the homeless do have drug and alcohol dependencies.

We are talking severe mental disorders like post-traumatic stress (veterans) or schizophrenia, and severe drug addiction to things like heroine or alcohol (which isn't a drug according to 99% of the people in the United States).

Probability of pot putting you on the streets = slim. Pot is not even a gateway drug (dont know how you would prove it anyway).

I'm not advocating the legalization of drugs (or even pot). But that puts me in a sticky situation...I don't want to jump on the "legalize it!" bandwagon, but I support truthing people on the reality that pot isn't that harmful. Like most things in life, this topic is in shades of gray not black and white.

[Professor S]

Once again, none of the (or my) argument is about the harmful nature of pot. No one is saying that pot makes you homeless, even the kid you mentioned said "drugs" do, and there are a lot of drugs that WILL make you homeless or DEAD, like cocaine, heroine, various narcotics, crystal meth, etc.

My point is that its against the law, and to me you cannot differentiate which drug law you want to enforce and which one you don't. The perceived dangers of pot smoking have nothing to do with it. There is no black and white when it comes to illegal drugs. They are all illegal and should be enforced as long as its law, and Phelps should feel humiliated for breaking the law in such a high profile position.