Flutterby™! : "Alarming new trend"

Next unread comment / Catchup all unread comments User Account Info | Logout | XML/Pilot/etc versions | Long version (with comments) | Weblog archives | Site Map | | Browse Topics

"Alarming new trend"

2010-07-15 18:25:34.417461+00 by Dan Lyke 9 comments

NewsChannel9 Oklahoma City reports on "Digital Drugs" (YouTube video), audio files which may induce trance states like... gasp... drugs:

Recently Mustang public schools sent out a letter warning parents about the new trend, after several high school students reported having physiological effects after trying one of these digital downloads.

The stupid, it burns. And, remember folks, these are potential voters. As Report: Teens Using Digital Drugs to Get High | Threat Level | Wired.com observes:

Perhaps most importantly, what will happen if the kids move onto harder stuff like Steve Reich, Philip Glass or even Janet Cardiff’s installation, “The Killing Machine“?

Hat tip to Micah Breedlove.

Addendum: The Mustang Public Schools web page is advertising for new hires, and says:

Previously, Mustang Public Schools required a felony check for Oklahoma only.

Unfortunately, the "not a moron" test isn't necessary before sending out alarmist letters about "the music kids these days are listening to" to parents.

[ related topics: Drugs Children and growing up Music Health moron ]

comments in descending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-16 18:23:24.34891+00 by: meuon

Binaural beats are for lightweights whom are easily amused by pitch bent/corrected vocals and guitar amp feedback. Yeah, when I was in high school and was playing with a Moog and Arp (analog) synth, such things were cool.. and could rip a paper speaker cone (did), I played with such things. Fun until the headaches became unbearable (about 5-10 minutes..)

Such sounds are just gateways to harder stuff like: Armin Van Buuren #440 and Paul Oakenfold. next they'll graduate to Happy Happy Hardcore..

Maybe they will discover Psytrance.FM and maintain a light buzz for the rest of their life.

And finally, when they overdose on Pink Floyd/Elton John Trance/Disco Remixes.. you'll find them whimpering in a corner trying to detox by listing to John Denver Christmas Albums and drinking plain tap water.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-16 14:49:18.193403+00 by: m

This is a renaming of last years "binaural beats" hoax. Not quite as odious as the Jenkem (huffing fermented feces and urine) hoax that was pandered to by a number of schools, newspapers, sheriffs and police departments. But still pretty stupid.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-16 10:16:08.465744+00 by: meuon

mvanderwettering: smacking is too pansy.. some things demand a large lead filled cluebat[Wiki], with spikes.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-15 22:14:25.971105+00 by: mvandewettering

I just... want... to... smack people.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-15 20:20:21.67291+00 by: Dan Lyke

Brilliance in a /. comment:

Let's see--I was a freshman at that time. Yeah, things just went downhill from there. I had earrings made with a tuning fork hanging from each one. The left side was A440 and the right side was a custom 444. I could raise my fingers to either lobe and flick it for instant gratification. The other kids called it ear basing. I called it god.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-15 20:07:41.957735+00 by: Dan Lyke

Here's a text version of the story.

Wonder if the reporters were in on the gag, or whether it's some smart students making the school administrators look like morons.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-15 20:05:10.063981+00 by: Dan Lyke

Okay, now I'm *really* intrigued...

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-15 20:04:32.016353+00 by: meuon

You beat me to the story/link..

My personal background music is psytrance and goa. It's playing on the headset as I type this. It keeps my happy and focused. Music, flashing lights.. smells.. food (chocolate, coffee, mushrooms..) are all capable of being psychoactive helpers. I remember in the late 1970's on of my hippie era teachers doing "trancendental meditation" classes after school. The world has changed. Sigh...

Personally: I find standing on my head is a great way to get a buzz.. so is holding my breath.. oh.. and any really good bike ride, long run, rowing, workout, whitewater rafting, skating or other physical activity may give you an endorphine rush and adreneline high that keeps you coming back for more.

And of course.. there's sex. :)

#Comment Re: made: 2010-07-15 19:43:00.529489+00 by: ebradway

Definitely something suspicious there... did you notice the time on the phone at 2:07 into the news report.