Comment Re:Oh great... (Score 1) 955
But seriously, should the Science Olympiads do drug testing?
Most here seems to think that its ok for scientists to take cognitive enhancers because its for advancement of science and the Greater Good of Mankind (tm); but what about students?
Is it fair-game for high-school students competing for awards to take drugs that have adverse health affects (believe there are reports of ritalin teens having heart attacks) in order to beat the other students who were otherwise more committed?
What about in a university class graded on a curve-- should anyone trying be or stay at the top have to take drugs?
And if professors and scientists are doing this are they abetting this sort of behaviour?
I'm in grade 11 and I've thought about this issue before. I've used caffeine for its similar benefits although I'll be the first to admit its not exactly benign; after working for around 34 hours when I finally crashed I woke up halfay through the night with a headache and muscle pains from withdrawal. Worse than any alcohol hangover I've yet had. Not that I've ever had anything to drink of course...
And caffeine is on the nicer end of the stimulant withdrawal scale.
I guess its a question of whether as a society we are ready or ok with normal or above average people modifying their brain chemistry to function even better. Not sure where I stand on the issue but it seems to be an interestingly transhumanist / almost science fiction dilemma as its about the ethics of people changing their abilities with technology.
Most here seems to think that its ok for scientists to take cognitive enhancers because its for advancement of science and the Greater Good of Mankind (tm); but what about students?
Is it fair-game for high-school students competing for awards to take drugs that have adverse health affects (believe there are reports of ritalin teens having heart attacks) in order to beat the other students who were otherwise more committed?
What about in a university class graded on a curve-- should anyone trying be or stay at the top have to take drugs?
And if professors and scientists are doing this are they abetting this sort of behaviour?
I'm in grade 11 and I've thought about this issue before. I've used caffeine for its similar benefits although I'll be the first to admit its not exactly benign; after working for around 34 hours when I finally crashed I woke up halfay through the night with a headache and muscle pains from withdrawal. Worse than any alcohol hangover I've yet had. Not that I've ever had anything to drink of course...
And caffeine is on the nicer end of the stimulant withdrawal scale.
I guess its a question of whether as a society we are ready or ok with normal or above average people modifying their brain chemistry to function even better. Not sure where I stand on the issue but it seems to be an interestingly transhumanist / almost science fiction dilemma as its about the ethics of people changing their abilities with technology.
