Taking the not-so-high road

Posted: April 20th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Hey, it’s April 20th, and you know what that means — it’s time to crack open a window, grab some of our favorite recreational herb and get waaaaa … aaaaait a minute. I’m sorry, I can’t …. I can’t do this.

Look, I’ll be honest with you. It’s been pretty well-established that I’m a nerd. After all, I read comics, like, a lot. I watch sci-fi unironically. I like board games and science and will gladly talk to you about fonts and the relative qualities of paper grades for hours if you let me. For God’s sake, I write a blog.

But even among fellow geeks I tend to be seen as a little uncool because of what I don’t do — drink or smoke.

OK, before the mental machinery gets going, let me explain that I’m not a prude. Seriously. I don’t care if you drink or smoke, as long as I don’t end up having to take care of your sloppy ass, because really, lame. I don’t think there is anything morally wrong with it as long as it’s not done to excess, but that’s how I feel about everything. (We won’t get into the problem of the drug trade and how the huge U.S. market is at the root of it … ahem.) And strangely enough, or maybe not considering I live in Austin, I have a disproportionate number of friends who smoke. Hell, I used to play in a gaming group where I was one of the few not smoking, but I’d still come home reeking. In fairness, it was always a good game, though.

Side note: Hey, when I say “smoke,” you know I’m talking about weed, right? Just checking.

Anyway, I’m only bringing this up to make a point: While I myself don’t get high, I really enjoy the art and artifacts that come up around the culture of getting high.

Side note 2: I should make it clear that my tolerance ends at marijuana; use anything harder and you’re a moron. Back to this week’s Very Special Episode.

Maybe it’s from growing up on Cheech & Chong, but I find drug humor hilarious. Even the more serious-minded anti-drug PSAs, movies and that sort of thing are fascinating, both for their earnestness and the sheer craziness some of them dive into in an effort to scare people straight. And they’re a snapshot of America at a particular time and place, both socially and artistically. Of course, a lot of these efforts are aimed at kids and young adults, including this comic published in 1970, Users Are Losers!

The kid in the second-to-last panel kills me. And all in all, it’s a surprisingly informative collection of facts and consequences without a lot of the hyperbole that might be expected. Plus, the art is pretty great, in that loosey-goosey, 70s sorta way. You can read the whole thing over at Comics with Problems (a site well worth looking through), and then treat yourself to a big bag of Fritos and a nap. Whatever, man, s’cool.


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3 Comments on “Taking the not-so-high road”

  1. 1 Brandon Z said at 7:48 pm on April 20th, 2011:

    I dig it, man. I love stoner movies, without touching the stuff. SuperTroopers is thousands of laughs.

  2. 2 Maxo Romero said at 8:29 am on April 21st, 2011:

    Super Troopers is one of our favorites! It’s embarrassing how often Sandy and I will quote that movie. We’re big Broken Lizard fans in general – except for Club Dread, what was that about?

  3. 3 Lisa said at 11:54 am on August 1st, 2011:

    Hey – you like how I’m over 3 months late reading this? I know you do.

    We’re on the same page there, man. I never drink or smoke but I sure do love stoner movies. Pineapple Express, Grandma’s House, Half Baked – love ’em!

    Also, what’s with the kid in the box?


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