Social stigma of being a "Stoner"

Being a Marijuana user aka "Stoner" is part of our shame-based cultural belief system labeled apon pot users by non-users. Although being called a Stoner has it's glory with others of the same kind. It's when the outsiders try to label you, "He's just a stupid stoner", "Low life"..."Pothead"...is when you start to feel the flames from the outside world. I kinda look at it from a Black person's point of view. It's okay for someone in the same race to say "What up (N word)". But when It's said in a negative way from the outside. It's a whole new term.

I just want to clear up the bad "stigma" that ALL potheads are stupid, worthless, lazy, have no feelings & careless. I do think alot of this is ignorance and the system brain washing are youth.

Have you ever delt with nagative vibes from the other side?

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Originally Posted by LazySmoking420

Being a Marijuana user aka "Stoner" is part of our shame-based cultural belief system labeled apon pot users by non-users. Although being called a Stoner has it's glory with others of the same kind. It's when the outsiders try to label you, "He's just a stupid stoner", "Low life"..."Pothead"...is when you start to feel the flames from the outside world. I kinda look at it from a Black person's point of view. It's okay for someone in the same race to say "What up (N word)". But when It's said in a negative way from the outside. It's a whole new term.

I just want to clear up the bad "stigma" that ALL potheads are stupid, worthless, lazy, have no feelings & careless. I do think alot of this is ignorance and the system brain washing are youth.

Have you ever delt with nagative vibes from the other side?

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Man, those are some lazy choice of words.

You're right. I see my Brother's eyes opening, when he's a 1984 H.S. graduate who said to me, sometime this century (sorry for the generalization, but you know what I mean), "Chris, Pot makes you stupid."

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Originally Posted by LazySmoking420

Being a Marijuana user aka "Stoner" is part of our shame-based cultural belief system labeled apon pot users by non-users. Although being called a Stoner has it's glory with others of the same kind. It's when the outsiders try to label you, "He's just a stupid stoner", "Low life"..."Pothead"...is when you start to feel the flames from the outside world. I kinda look at it from a Black person's point of view. It's okay for someone in the same race to say "What up (N word)". But when It's said in a negative way from the outside. It's a whole new term.

I just want to clear up the bad "stigma" that ALL potheads are stupid, worthless, lazy, have no feelings & careless. I do think alot of this is ignorance and the system brain washing are youth.

Have you ever delt with nagative vibes from the other side?

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Yes I have in the past (over 4 years ago) and I always answered it with my fists (not the best way) but nowadays its either you accept me for who i am or you can go fu@k yourself. "hahaha you fuckin stoner" yeah a 6'0 230lb 4th dan in aikido stoner :pimp:

lol. So I'm a stoner.

Stone me.

pot probally makes us stupid, but fuck it, who needs intellegence?

all i need to know is 28 grams, how to drive my caddy and how to lay the mack down on the hoes.

i like being viewed as a pot head, id rather be puffin

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Originally Posted by LazySmoking420

Being a Marijuana user aka "Stoner" is part of our shame-based cultural belief system labeled apon pot users by non-users. Although being called a Stoner has it's glory with others of the same kind. It's when the outsiders try to label you, "He's just a stupid stoner", "Low life"..."Pothead"...is when you start to feel the flames from the outside world. I kinda look at it from a Black person's point of view. It's okay for someone in the same race to say "What up (N word)". But when It's said in a negative way from the outside. It's a whole new term.

I just want to clear up the bad "stigma" that ALL potheads are stupid, worthless, lazy, have no feelings & careless. I do think alot of this is ignorance and the system brain washing are youth.

Have you ever delt with nagative vibes from the other side?

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i donno, maybe in some areas, but all the brothas at my college, i say nigga all day long and we still cool. and im white, well tanned but still white! :dance:

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Originally Posted by RobPA

Yes I have in the past (over 4 years ago) and I always answered it with my fists (not the best way) but nowadays its either you accept me for who i am or you can go fu@k yourself. "hahaha you fuckin stoner" yeah a 6'0 230lb 4th dan in aikido stoner :pimp:

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Aikido eh? that's awsome! I did Judo before hurting myself, then a year later tried Aidiko. I really liked it but unfortunately injurred myself again, this time permanently. Hope you enjoy yourself :) .

It has never really bothered me. But when people that you dont even know want give you the time of day because they learned that you smoke it's kinda frustrating. How many people hide there ways to avoid ridicule?

i really hope, no one on this entire sites tries and hide the fact your a pot head.

be proud of it, i will go into any store or any social event ripped as possible, chink eyed like a mother fucker, i really could care less what someones gonna say...

"wow your stoned, your such a stoner"

ya i am, what you tryin to say? im prob gonna puff after this convo too!!

ive puffed many many blunts and j';s outside of stores, outside the mall, puffin while going threw the drive thru, its all good when you a stoner

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Originally Posted by smokin dope

pot probally makes us stupid, but fuck it, who needs intellegence?

all i need to know is 28 grams, how to drive my caddy and how to lay the mack down on the hoes.

i like being viewed as a pot head, id rather be puffin

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You apparantly haven't done any research on the subject.

Your definition of "stupid" is probably quite different from mine though.

haha maybe huh?

and no i havent done the research, proablly for the reasdon that it does not bother me. if it makes me not as smart, big deal.

but hey if ya wanna show me, some research that it does not affect anything brain and intellect wise, show me, id be happy to read it.

all i know is ive been smokin since, well fuck, junior high and im 20 now. but all i know is that my memory is fuckn horse shit, i can hardly remember shit that went on the day before....last few years has been a blur...could be from the weed? if not, i got no idea what it is from.

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Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

You apparantly haven't done any research on the subject.

Your definition of "stupid" is probably quite different from mine though.

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Probably is.

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Originally Posted by smokin dope

i really hope, no one on this entire sites tries and hide the fact your a pot head.

be proud of it, i will go into any store or any social event ripped as possible, chink eyed like a mother fucker, i really could care less what someones gonna say...

"wow your stoned, your such a stoner"

ya i am, what you tryin to say? im prob gonna puff after this convo too!!

ive puffed many many blunts and j';s outside of stores, outside the mall, puffin while going threw the drive thru, its all good when you a stoner

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LOL. Well said.

I'm just trying to shad some light because it is there...in America.

This makes me wanna go roll a Jay, :rasta:

I'm not really social,so I wouldn't know...

Unfortunately there's allways some truth to stereotypes. The most common is that in a majority of cases, potheads don't graduate school, they live in parents/grandparents rooms/basements. They go for less than the bare minimum and end up getting jobs flipping burgers and spend half of the minimum wage paychecks on weed they really dont need but they have to "roll fat blunts". Not to mention it seems that hardly any potheads seem to vote.

That being said, don't go flaming me because you're 35 and own your own business or something. I'm not saying EVERYONE who smokes weed does these things, but ususally you can think of at least 3 people you know who meet 2 of my requirements. I don't agree my no means that this is the way people should think of us. Sometimes you have to hear the harsh truth in order to change. All I can say is that I want to prove myself wrong :D

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Originally Posted by benagain

Unfortunately there's allways some truth to stereotypes. The most common is that in a majority of cases, potheads don't graduate school, they live in parents/grandparents rooms/basements. They go for less than the bare minimum and end up getting jobs flipping burgers and spend half of the minimum wage paychecks on weed they really dont need but they have to "roll fat blunts". Not to mention it seems that hardly any potheads seem to vote.

That being said, don't go flaming me because you're 35 and own your own business or something. I'm not saying EVERYONE who smokes weed does these things, but ususally you can think of at least 3 people you know who meet 2 of my requirements. I don't agree my no means that this is the way people should think of us. Sometimes you have to hear the harsh truth in order to change. All I can say is that I want to prove myself wrong :D

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Is that from smoking pot or them being un-motivated?

It's when you put pot as your main focus and put it ahead of everything in life that things fall apart and I've felt this first hand.

It happens to people who use alochol, people who have sex, people who use anti depressants, people who run, people who work, and people who smoke.

There are so many more key points not brought up..

-How much that person is smoking
-How often that person is smoking
-How high that person's tolerance is
-WHAT you decide to do while you're high, ect.

What's that? Pot makes you feel tired and unmotivated so all you do is watch TV while you smoke? You smoke all the time without restricting yourself? 2+2. Where's the big fucking suprise?

Tell me drinking alcohol all day won't make you unmotivated eventually.

Stereotypes are fucking rediculous and to me, they can't even be used in a serious context whatsoever.

It's a stereotype for a reason.
"An mistaken idea that many people have about a culture different from their own."
"Biased generalizations about a group based on hearsay, opinions, and distorted, preconceived ideas."

To say the stoner stereotype is true, is to say we all smoke, kill our friends, and then attempt to commit suicide after going on a crime spree breaking 30+ laws. All of this followed by uncontrollable laughter.

I know the people you speak of, my dealer is one of them. He hasn't had a steady job in 4 years, lives in his mom's garage, is starting to get into coke and doesn't think there's a single thing wrong with what he's doing or how he's living his life.
Obviously he has problems and needs to sort his way of thinking out and lay off of the marijuana for a few months.

Once again, it's a DRUG. It alters your perception of thinking (unless you have a high tolerance) and if it's all you look forward to everyday, you need to re-evaulate your life and lay off of the cheeba for a week or two.

Judge me by my actions, not what I put into my body.

yea I should have mentioned that the same behavior I mentioned is made by people who don't smoke up as well. I'm sure there's a connection (a dumbass is a dumbass high or not). Like I said, I'm not saying all people who smoke act like this (I don't), but when an outsider thinks of a lazy stoner, this is what they think of. I allways like it when people say "Oh you smoke? I never would have guessed"

I knew when I posted it that I would get a long post about how I'm wrong, but that's fine. I'm not here to argue, just stating the truth. Stereotypes are bad, but the only way to beat them is prove 'em wrong :thumbsup:

my gf threatened to break up with me the other night because she doesn't want people to think she is dating a "pothead". it sucked pretty bad.

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Originally Posted by benagain

I knew when I posted it that I would get a long post about how I'm wrong, but that's fine. I'm not here to argue, just stating the truth. Stereotypes are bad, but the only way to beat them is prove 'em wrong :thumbsup:

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I know I quoted you benagain, but that wasn't entirely directed to you. A lot of that was just me going off on a tangent because I'm sick of hearing how pot is so "addicting" when I watch my mom rot in front of the TV every night smoking cigarettes.

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Originally Posted by PushaSimp

my gf threatened to break up with me the other night because she doesn't want people to think she is dating a "pothead". it sucked pretty bad.

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Same happened to me. Now I stopped telling her and I make sure to brush my lips as well so she's not to taste anything. :thumbsup:

Hell, I fit the stereotype before I started smoking.
I do live in my parent's basement, but I'm only 16, so it's okay :)
Grades aren't doing too well, but I am starting to get my act together, hoping to go into programming as a career.
Honestly though, my life has become better since starting to smoke weed, I've become a lot happier. But I only smoke on the weekends... knowing when it's alright to smoke is the key ;)
Maybe I've drifted away from the topic too much... I'm not going to deny that I smoke weed, but I'm not shouting it in the streets... I know that there are people that will have nothing to do with me if I admit to using marijuana... but it's a risk that I take :)

I don't really hide it too much. I am just not the stereotypical stoner so most people who dont know me have absolutely no idea that i smoke. And when they find out they are like no way he smokes wee?!?!

One little problem for you kids. When you're in the business world on really any level, what do you think would happen if they knew you smoked weed? If you don't get fired, (and thats a big if), you are instantly looked down upon. Not too many workplaces take kindly to those who partake.

So what do you do? You stay quiet about it. Bite your tongue when it comes up in conversation. Sure, you may find a few people here and there who smoke or used to so they are cool to you, but the majority don't see it that way. They just see "Pothead", "Loser", etc.

I hate to say it, but its not even so much the pot itself they dislike. You see, most out there in the real world (especially older folk) don't expect every employee they hire to the perfect hire. They assume most people do have a past of some sort. The problem is, they mostly assume stuff like staying out partying all night or smoking weed is something you should have gotten it out of your system when you're young and in college. After that you are supposed to have grown past all that they see as "immature" and be "responsible".

I know most of the younger crowd on here will disagree with this and think you should always speak your mind and not care what others think. But others do think. And therein lies the problem.....

I think the negative attitude towards stoners is more prevalent in America than over here. Sure some people (like my mom, and my best friend in uni) dislike the fact that I smoke, but they preach the health issue to me. I know my uncle used to smoke pot and I know he dropped out of uni, and when my mom found out I smoke she said I'd mess up like he did, but she's kinda given up on that line of argument now cause I'm in uni and still doing well. I know a few stereotypical stoners, but they're not my friends. I wouldn't enjoy being friends with someone who's devoted their life to weed, it'd be boring!

I talked to a neighbor of mine, about late 40's. He said that he used to date a woman and told me about how used a lot of other drugs, at the time, also.

"Pot made her stupid. She needed it."

All ill say is, in my eyes drink is alot worse then smoke.. and if a piss head sits in a pub all day drinking beer or vodka or what ever they are just having a good time.. being socialable.
Why do people see "stoners" as outcasts and dropouts? cause we cant sit in a nice pub with a big telly watching football whilst puffin.

Alot of stoners I know, are smart as fuck.. and I dont consider myself stupid.
I didnt do well in school.. but always had a hunger to learn (just what I choose to learn)

I am lazy, but i was long before I smoke weed.

Maybe one day.. being a stoner will just be the norm.. maybe not.

But for now, fuck them.

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Originally Posted by sks1

All ill say is, in my eyes drink is alot worse then smoke.. and if a piss head sits in a pub all day drinking beer or vodka or what ever they are just having a good time.. being socialable.

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I nominate "piss head" as the official "label" to stigmatize those who drink alcohol and say that Pot makes you stupid.

There will always be something about yourself that someone might consider bad or negative. Smoking pot is just another thing someone can use to label you. Whenever someone does this to me I chalk it up to ignorance and move on with my life. Spending time analyzing the close-minded words of others is a complete waste of time.

<3

I never really concerned myself with the social stigma of being a 'stoner'. Quite frankly, I don't feel I've ever fit into the strerotype of a stoner.

In highschool, people liked to put me in that category b/c I was one of a few that smoked. Alot of it was jeaolusy and hatred because half the people that gave me a hardtime, their parents bought dope from me. So I was like the kid that knew everyones dirty little family secrets. No wonder I wasn't well liked.

As I grew up, it just became about doing my own thing. I go to work, I make excellent money, I'm active in my community, I mentor kids, I volunteer. Certainley not what many people would think as 'stoner' activities. Then again, I'm not a 'stoner'.

I was once sitting in my car smoking a blunt parked up at the river. This old lady who was walking came over and said that stuff smells in a posh stupid acent, so i just said, what, you got a problem, and she said its disgusting so i moved the blunt over to her and said, here, have some.

I hate being called a stoner or a druggy or an adict. When someone in here calls me a stoner, its a complement, but when someone who doesnt smoke does it it become an insult.

im only 18 now but have been on my own for two years and smoking for 5. the only thing that ever brought me and my pops together was smoking, but i eventually just got sick of him because if he wasnt high he would have bad anger problems.

i think the "typical" stoner doesnt exsist. for me i smoke for my own reasons, but when people do put "getting high" as there main priority and thats it, then you have a problem.

throughout highschool i have seen every type of "stoner" possible. from nerds to jocks and i see it bring everyone together, but the ones who don't partake are the ones who look down upon us. just because i smoke people think im the biggest drug dealer and doing everything else out there. but its cool though, because i already know what i am going to do with my life and have planned.

i feel as long as "chiefen" isnt your main priority, then you have already beat the typical stoner stereotype.

sorry for the rambling guys and gals, i just feel very strongly on this issue myself.

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Originally Posted by SamsonSimpson

i feel as long as "chiefen" isnt your main priority, then you have already beat the typical stoner stereotype.

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I don't think I could agree more.

bill hicks put it something like this, dont no the exact quote: pot doesnt make you lazy, unmotivated, or incapeable of doing things, its just when your high you realise it isnt worth the effort". what a legend

when you see a stereotypical stoner just remember stupid people smoke weed too, i am not embarrassed in the least that i smoke weed and from looking at me you can tell, some people who smoke weed acheive and some dont, the same can be said about almost every thing people do.

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Originally Posted by LazySmoking420

Being a Marijuana user aka "Stoner" is part of our shame-based cultural belief system labeled apon pot users by non-users. Although being called a Stoner has it's glory with others of the same kind. It's when the outsiders try to label you, "He's just a stupid stoner", "Low life"..."Pothead"...is when you start to feel the flames from the outside world. I kinda look at it from a Black person's point of view. It's okay for someone in the same race to say "What up (N word)". But when It's said in a negative way from the outside. It's a whole new term.

I just want to clear up the bad "stigma" that ALL potheads are stupid, worthless, lazy, have no feelings & careless. I do think alot of this is ignorance and the system brain washing are youth.

Have you ever delt with nagative vibes from the other side?

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I hate that when they talk to you like that. its BS, they think everything illegal is bad and legal stuff like beer does not hurt you, Like last time me and my friends where planning on smoking after school and some other people I know heard it and some days after they say that we talk about weed so we can look "cool".
bunch of bs