I now know what it feels like to be 'young'

[faulty_damper]

Since I criticized young people and their lack of proper writing in the, "Have you noticed younger members can't write?" thread: https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=53953, I've just recently felt the sting on another forum by 'older' and more conservative members when I asked why a certain kind of freshwater algae smelled like marijuana.  Apparently, the word "marijuana" was met with disagreement.  Now, some people might not have any kind of problem with discussing marijuana and wouldn't even be offended by it.

Here's what I wrote. Do you think it was inappropriate?

"Why does fuzz algae smell like marijuana?

"I don't know why but it's a very faint marijuana smell, definitely not enough for human psychedelic effects. But every time during water changes, and exposing the fuzz to air, I can smell it. I always get fuzz with every new tank setup and it stays for several weeks before going away on its own. I have crazy amounts of fuzz and don't know why. Maybe I should scrape it off, dry it, and sell it as an alternative to medicinal marijuana.  "

The title of the thread was subsequently changed to "Why does fuzz algae smell *funny* (edited by moderator)" and the thread was locked.  As well, a separate thread was started by an OG member about "A friendly reminder" that all threads must be acceptable to people of all sensitivities. I thought it could have turned into a really good discussion about identifying algae on smell alone.

[ted]

Surely the problem lies, not with age difference, but with an unusually sensitive and peculiar internet community ? I am sixty-six, and find the reactions you describe extraordinary, as most older people I know would.

[faulty_damper]

The forum is a local club about freshwater aquatic plants and how to grow them in an aquarium.  Members are from all walks of life, ages, and backgrounds.  However, the founding members are oldish.  Not everyone found it offensive - one moderator asked what marijuana smelled like because he didn't know.  I didn't even know how to explain that smell.  It's very distinctive.  Maybe it smells like burnt rubber.

[senanserat]

No wonder faulty is always so...happy.

[faulty_damper]

I've never in my life been under the direct influence of marijuana.  I don't need it to feel "happy".  Though there was a time when my former piano teacher went on tour and had some of his other students house-sit.  While they were there, they got high on marijuana.   

[ranniks]

How old are you?

If you are between 40 en 50; you're not old, get over yourself.

Above 50, yeah, you're an old buck. Nothing wrong with that.

[faulty_damper]

Early 30s.  If this were 1750, I'd have 3-10 children right now, though I expect half of them to have died, some during birth, other from disease like scarlet.

[senanserat]

How old are you?

If you are between 40 en 50; you're not old, get over yourself.

Above 50, yeah, you're an old buck. Nothing wrong with that.

I'm almost 101 this next month

[chopin2015]

something smells *funny*

hahahaha
 

I believe there was once a topic regarding pianists of this forum and drugs, where we all spilled the truth about what we think about drugs and what kinds of drugs we used to do, and which drugs we do now...(the prescription kind, obviously)...

[visitor]

something smells *funny*

I smell it too

[faulty_damper]

I smell it too

Well, Senanserat hasn't taken a bath in about 90 years so he's bound to have a bit of a musty odor.

[senanserat]

Well, Senanserat hasn't taken a bath in about 90 years so he's bound to have a bit of a musty odor.

Its a mating ritual, lets see if you laugh when I become a bi centenarian Lust GOD.

[chopin2015]

Its a mating ritual, lets see if you laugh when I become a bi centenarian Lust GOD.

Everything I do seems like a mating ritual, but it's just me-oozing sexuality.

but marijuana does smell dog-gone good.

[j_menz]

Its a mating ritual, lets see if you laugh when I become a bi centenarian Lust GOD.

I suspect we'll be laughing long before then, difficult though it is to do so whilst holding one's nose.

[outin]

Surely the problem lies, not with age difference, but with an unusually sensitive and peculiar internet community ? I am sixty-six, and find the reactions you describe extraordinary, as most older people I know would.

If you're 66 you should be quite ok with a little marihuana talk 

I always find it amazing how so many people think not talking about drugs will somehow make them go away...

[faulty_damper]

Anyway, I found out that what causes marijuana to smell like itself isn't the cannabinoids, but the terpenoids; cannabinoids don't have any smell at all.  Some types of algae produce terpenoids, though I don't know if the algae I have actually does produce it.  It smells like it does.

[outin]

Anyway, I found out that what causes marijuana to smell like itself isn't the cannabinoids, but the terpenoids; cannabinoids don't have any smell at all.  Some types of algae produce terpenoids, though I don't know if the algae I have actually does produce it.  It smells like it does.

Better be careful then, one day the police might appear to your door 

[indianajo]

I prefer the smell of catnip and parsley, actually.  
Burning the stuff reminds me of burning tires, I can smell it from the street from the inside of houses when I walk around at night.  It is fun what you can find put out for the garbage pickup on the night before.  Heat sinks for electronics projects,  containers for books (milk crates), electronic organs.
I find it odd the young adults of my generation found it necessary to do their exploring in the chemical realm. Different geography, different languages, different music, that was exploration enough for me.  Flying and boating held a great intellectual attraction, but my propensity to motion sickness ended the flying hobby at my first ride. It   took hours to clean the plane out, there were no windows to open.  
After retirement I could have sailed around the Carribean or something, but instead I ride around Indiana on a bicycle. Maybe I'll ride the Katy trail in Missouri sometime, but my brother thinks that is an idea not worth responding to.   Riding around Bavaria and the Palatinate in the roofless cab of a 5 ton Army truck was a rip, I found.  There are trains in Central America where you can ride on the roof; maybe I'll go there in my further adventures.  I've ridden the subways and busses around London and Paris, another expensive hobby but one I'd like to try again sometime.

[outin]

I find it odd the young adults of my generation found it necessary to do their exploring in the chemical realm.

People have always had the need to mess up their mind in one way or another, the modern world simply offers a wider variety of substances to do that and more time and money for young people to do that.

Depending on one's (genetic) brain chemistry one may or may not develope an addiction easily. Some people even develope an addiction to tapping black and white blocks of wood

I think catnip smells quite bad...

[j_menz]

Some people even develope an addiction to tapping black and white blocks of wood

Which is why Arnie developed a twelve tone step program.

[outin]

Which is why Arnie developed a twelve tone step program.

And I'm going to try that one of these days...