Philosophy Now Forum

I thought this a recent fad? You mean freebasing?

Nothing new about it.

But "CRACK" is pretty new. It was not in use in the 1960 and not common until the mid 1980s, being a cheap derivative of cocaine. But I don't expect a person that blames hippies for societies ills to know much about what happened in the 1960s.

Don't we all hit the breaks when it comes to the likes of us? Indeed, LSD was the product of the day.

Oh, the continent version of them, then. That is, lacking some of the driving stimuli of various socio-political unrests in the Anglophone world, any voids were replaced by emphasis on "homegrown" philosophy. Hipster evolution came around full circle, I suppose. From the Wandervogel movement migrating across the pond, mingling with Lost Generation after-effects and Kerouac beatitude, to Haight-Ashbury, to London influences to across the channel and making its de-evolved highlight in Europe by Ray Manzarek taking over singing duties in Amsterdam after Jim Morrison topples on stage from one of his dope/alcohol binges. Paraphrasing Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) from an interview: "No performer ever used EVERY pill and substance handed to them by crowding fans prior to a concert. Except Jim."

No, "de-evolved" was an unjust choice above, suggesting an undeserved fallout upon the rest of the Doors. Manzarek did a great, unexpected, on-the-spot imitation of Morrison while still doing double-duty with the keyboards; professional, minus a sign of desperation.

Manzarek is one Hippie I like. Coming to think of it, when they maintained their faculties, I always like them. When they risky-shifted, I don't. It is okay to experiment, but not beyond the point of no return on the road to despair.