There is considerable agreement that doping in sports is unethical, though as you know I take a more permissive view on this than most people. Is doping in science class the same way? What about in professional academia? What about in an artistic competition?
I've decided I'd like enhanced and natural categories in sports, so that those who choose to use performance enhancing drugs are separated from those who don't.
When it comes to science and academia, and mental drugs, I don't think that there is as clear a relationship that "X drug always causes an improvement". For example, one drink of alcohol gets me in the same mood as if I had been hanging out with good friends for a few hours previously. Two drinks is (from my perspective) no different. Three has me on the edge of puking. I don't see how any of this would affect my ability to do science or other things in academia. I am adverse to using medically unnecessary drugs on myself, so the anxiety involved in anything else would more than counter balance any benefit.
IMO many of these drugs damage your body/mind if used inappropriately, so I feel that using them for an advantage you are also facing drawbacks which to some extent counterbalance the advantages. When it comes to professional sports, these athletes are already damaging their bodies from the excessive exercise and their minds from the social constructs around professional athletes, so adding drugs does not as significantly adversely affect them as it does people in other categories. Perhaps this is why I personally disapprove of steroids more than say Adderal. I still believe it's their choice however and that there's no way to prevent it, hence my wanting separate categories.
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Date: 2012-04-29 02:34 pm (UTC)I've decided I'd like enhanced and natural categories in sports, so that those who choose to use performance enhancing drugs are separated from those who don't.
When it comes to science and academia, and mental drugs, I don't think that there is as clear a relationship that "X drug always causes an improvement". For example, one drink of alcohol gets me in the same mood as if I had been hanging out with good friends for a few hours previously. Two drinks is (from my perspective) no different. Three has me on the edge of puking. I don't see how any of this would affect my ability to do science or other things in academia. I am adverse to using medically unnecessary drugs on myself, so the anxiety involved in anything else would more than counter balance any benefit.
IMO many of these drugs damage your body/mind if used inappropriately, so I feel that using them for an advantage you are also facing drawbacks which to some extent counterbalance the advantages. When it comes to professional sports, these athletes are already damaging their bodies from the excessive exercise and their minds from the social constructs around professional athletes, so adding drugs does not as significantly adversely affect them as it does people in other categories. Perhaps this is why I personally disapprove of steroids more than say Adderal. I still believe it's their choice however and that there's no way to prevent it, hence my wanting separate categories.