Naughty Nerdfighters

[Brian Calderon]

Since most stereotypes about nerds/ geeks/ smart people include "nerdy" hobbies, such as video games, reading, card games (like Magic the Gathering), ect, I am proposing a thread about "naughty" hobbies that you (nerdfighters) partake in to show that nerdfighters do have "cool" hobbies (which mostly are just bad vices). Examples include partying, drugs, alcohol, mischief, ect. I am assuming that people reading this are mature enough to keep from lighting argument fires.

Please share your past or current experiences and why you do or do not do them. 

For any moderators, if you feel this thread to be inappropriate, feel free to delete it, I will not feel offended. 

[Brian Calderon]

To start, I am a huge nerd. I go to college, watch really nerdy stuff (like video games and vlogbrothers) and play video games. 

Although I have do not anymore, I used to smoke cigarillos (little cigars) a couple times a week for about a year. I do still smoke marijuana on occasion (no I don't think it's a drug). I also drink about three-five times a month. I would probably do it more if I actually enjoyed, however since common socializing seems to center around alcohol, I feel it is unavoidable. I also go out frequently, often being the designated driver for my friends who insist on drinking. 

I do not condone partying, nor drinking, nor smoking anything. However, they are personal choices that adults make in their life. However, my advice is to be responsible, no matter what. 

Can't wait to hear your stories!

[Maxwell Waters]

As someone who rather likes cannabis (WHERE IT IS LEGAL), I have to inform you that it's a drug.

What I need to inform you, apparently, and everyone else, is that DRUG ISN'T A BAD WORD! Ibuprofen is a drug, acetaminophen is a drug, aspirin is a drug. (That's Tylenol and Advil, though I'm not sure in which order because I never buy brand drugs.) If you have ever taken a pill in your entire life, congratulations, you do drugs.

And cannabis is not that bad for you. Now, you could argue, with some plausability, that it's not great for you either, but if we divide them into good drugs (medicine etc.) and bad drugs (coke and meth for instance), cannabis should *at least* be somewhere near the middle, and it seems like cannabis might be almost completely health neutral (except obviously for the damage to your lungs if you smoke it, but the effect is WAY worse if you smoke cigarettes and doesn't seem to cause much long term degradation), and might (but probably doesn't) help prevent lung cancer. (It probably doesn't but science says it might be so.)

But yes, cannabis is a drug, LSD is a drug, your depression meds are a drug, cocaine is a drug, pepto bismol is a drug.

The decision as to what drugs you consume should, in an ideal world, be entirely up to you. (Of course we should totally follow the laws in place about drug consumption even though I personally feel they should be greatly relaxed.) But that decision should, in my opinion at least, be less about what they *are* (because very few things are inherently good or bad) and more about what they do and how you use them.

[Tom Steinbrecher]

Legal medications aside. 

Keep in mind that even things such as caffeine are drugs. (Actually caffeine is a highly addictive drug and can cause withdrawal symptoms)

So if you've ever drank tea, coffee, soda or eaten chocolate. You've gone done drugs. 

[Maxwell Waters]

Hank tells me (and SciShow fans) that the withdrawal symptoms of caffeine notwithstanding, it doesn't really count as addictive -- he didn't specify why, but I think it was matter both of degree *and* kind.

That said, it is a pyschoactive drug.

[Ode [Forums Ningmaster]]

I will keep the discussion but it's your responsibility to make sure the stories don't go above PG-13 here.

[Ace T. Snyder]

Warms my heart to know someone else thinks alcohol falls under the category of "hobby." I hope someday to go pro.

I'm a big fan of rock concerts, particularly ska and punk, and not this mainstream seated arena silliness that kids are doing these days. The best concerts I've ever been to are standing room only and play in storage yards and warehouse complexes that reek of stale beer and something that has since become legal in Colorado. Music plays for eight seconds before the spontaneous organization of a circle pit, a massive mosh of violence and strangely polite people. You WILL get punched in the face, but you will also immediately get a "sorry, bro" and a hug.

I don't know that "naughty" quite befits these shows. Sure, moms would shudder at the guys in eyeliner and elitists gnash their teeth at the power chords. But there's something refreshing about all the well-intentioned violence.

Oh, hookah's pretty good, too. That one's demonstrably unhealthy.

[Maxwell Waters]

Stereotypically* "jokes" hobbies.

I'm gonna be very careful how I say this:
IF I AM IN A STATE OR COUNTRY WHERE IT WERE LEGAL, I partake in *psychedelia* drugs. None of that other stuff -- it's seriously super-duper dangerous to your health (as are some psychedelics, but not most of the big ones). Clearly I don't partake in illegal activities, nor would I want to talk about it if I did.

I am also not a virgin (not that that matters, it's just a stereotype about Nerds I wish would go away), and enjoy doing SAFE, RESPONSIBLE, THOUGHTFUL non-virgin-specific activities. (With members of both sexes.)

I smoked cigarettes for awhile -- I never considered them jokes, but some people do. I quit a little over a year ago, and man do I not regret it.

I also go to metal concerts. Those're totally jokes.

Yeah I'm sure there's other stuff I'm not thinking about, but, y'know, yeah, I don't just sit up and read Spock fanfiction all day (or ever, not to diss fanfiction readers).

Also if you're confused: jokes = cool.

[Brian Calderon]

Very well written responses from all of you! I do not consider cannabis as a (medical) drug any more than any other bud from a plant. The Mint plant has chemicals that cure stomach aches. I also like rock concerts (not necessarily sober). I also enjoy smoking hookah, but more for the socializing. I don't really smoke much when I go, I just talk to others.