RhondaLea

You're right. I read it...um...backwards and sort of inverted. Because I don't get it. The theory seems a little off-kilter on its face. If risk takers have lower levels of MAO at the outset, then why would they need to engage in risky behavior to increase the amount of neurotransmitters already present in greater than normal quantities? This is the first time I've ever heard of MAO deficiency, but for now, at least, I'm not buying it. The whole idea fails to comport the harsh reality that there is a high incidence of severe clinical depression in parachute jumpers--particularly BASE jumpers--when they are not actively jumping. Either that, or I'm just very depressing to everyone I know. rl Edited to add: http://www.futuredynamicadvantage.com/research/maobrain.html http://www.ithyroid.com/mao_and_maoi.htm [#789abc] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Not at all: "Once the brain's three neurotransmitters, known as monoamines (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine), have played their part in sending messages in the brain, they get burned up by a protein in the brain called monoamine oxidase, a liver and brain enzyme." "Antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors work by blocking this cleanup activity. When the excess neurotransmitters don't get destroyed, they start piling up in the brain. And since depression is associated with low levels of these monoamines, it's not surprising that increasing the monoamines ease depressive symptoms." Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors And Parkinson's Disease results from the deficiency of dopamine: Monoamine Oxidase Type B Inhibitors May Help in Early Parkinson's Disease rl [#789abc] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

The explanation for why your "cure" works is both as simple and as complicated as the explanation for the drugs I named. A drug is a drug is a drug. (Go for it, Wickedness. I'm ready for ya. ) It doesn't matter if your drug of choice comes from your food, your pub, your mushroom gathering foray into the forest or your pharmacist. Me, I use a lot of herbs in lieu of Western pharmaceuticals, but I don't believe they're particularly better, just different. We each have our own way of overcoming our congenital anomalies. Whatever works. And if what works is tower climbing in subzero weather, may the universe smile upon your fortitude. rl [#789abc] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I've had mild symptoms of ADHD for years. Why mild? Because I'm also hypothyroid, and it's a condition that tends to slow one down quite a bit. (i.e., I'm not a whirlwind, but if I settle down for the night to read a book, I'm up and down every five minutes doing some other little task.) I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1972, but my short attention span interfered with meds-compliance, and after several moves and a comparable number of doctors, the diagnosis got lost in the cracks. I muddled along until 1994-5, when I was misdiagnosed with MS. Three things happened then. I demanded a thyroid panel, I quit smoking cigarettes, and I started skydiving. For the first couple of years after that, even though I was taking about half the amount of replacement hormone I needed (overcautious general practitioners) and even though I was so weak, I could barely lift my head off the ground when lying supine, I felt terrific, especially after a jump. In 1998-99, the too-low dose of medication took it's toll. I felt horrible, and I started smoking again. I saw an endo for the first time. She nearly doubled the thyroid meds, and she prescribed Zoloft for hypothyroid-induced depression until the increased thyroid meds started working. Zoloft didn't do much for me--it's an SSRI and too-little serotonin is not my problem. So when I mentioned a desire to quit smoking, she switched me to bupropion, aka Wellbutrin or Zyban. Bupropion is a dopamine-serotonin-norepinepherine reuptake inhibitor, but its primary effect is on dopamine. Oddly enough, not long after I started taking Wellbutrin, I lost interest in jumping. I no longer take Wellbutrin, and as long as my thyroid meds are adequate, I don't need it (well, maybe I do, because I'm still smoking). But when I need to increase the dosage of thyroid meds, three things happen: I experience a wide range of physical symptoms--including a complete loss of the ability to pay attenton--I smoke more, and I really, really want to jump. I know one old-time BASE jumper who began taking Effexor (a serotonin-norepinepherine reuptake inhibitor), and although I'm not sure he noticed the connection, it was clear that as the meds started to work, he jumped less and less. He was a smoker, also, but I don't remember if his nicotine consumption decreased. There's a clear connection between nicotine and norepinepherine, as well as between norepinepherine and blood sugar levels. The effect of caffeine is similar to nicotine, though not as pronounced. There is also a connection between severe emotional trauma and a chronic deficit of all the neurotransmitters. Here's a link to some interesting links about dopamine (included because this post has gotten way too long): Dopamine During the times I've taken certain supplemental amino acids (see the link), most of the lingering symptoms disappear. I still take tyrosine, but choline and phenylalanine enhance the effect, and NADH is pure gold. rl [#006699] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

We've derailed this thread. Our work here is done. rl

Last guy who said that ended up under a rock. Very truly yours, Nimue [#006699] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Famous, infamous, notorious, what's the difference, eh? rl [#0099CC] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Perhaps. Why don't you research it and get back to me: Willard Van Orman Quine Critical Thinking on the Web Attacking Faulty Reasoning: A Practical Guide to Fallacy-Free Arguments with particular attention to: Conversational Terrorism I also highly recommend you read Robert A. Heinlein's discussion of the illogic of language in his novella "Gulf." On the other hand, you don't have to do any of that, really, because we all know you're just being a smart ass. rl [#669999] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

So do I, but the statement makes no logical sense as it is inherently self-contradictory ;-) Actually, it does make logical sense, and I can set up a simple syllogism to prove it. "Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them." Most fail to learn the lessons of history. Ergo, most make the same mistakes again and again and again. It is okay (and even expected) to assume the missing words. That being said, the fallacy you have indulged in has a name that eludes me at the moment. In layman's terms, however, if you know what someone means, it is considered not nice (not to mention self-indulgently fallacious) to pretend you don't. Point to Dexter, no point to you. [#789abc] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Truffer is not the sort of guy to be blown around willy-nilly by the winds of public opinion. On the other hand, my personal experience is that he *is* willing to listen to a reasonable argument. And he's not some johnny-come-lately to the sport of parachuting, so none of this is new to him. ("This" being the controversy over a lone individual striking out on his own without the approval of the group he will ultimately affect, for better or for worse.) What Miles is doing is not new, even if the bright idea behind it is. But news travels farther faster these days, so there are more opportunities to heat up the old tar pot, figurative or otherwise. (N.B. to Miles: You ignore this and other internet discussions at your peril. If you think that what is written here can't impact you, think again.) But the rest of you can plan on a choice of forks somewhere down the road. Either you adhere--without exception--to that somewhat fluid and elusive BASE "Code" we hear about every now and again or you'll find you have no choice but to reinvent yourselves as the BASE equivalent of USPA. rl P.S. to Jason: All is well. Thanks for askin'. :) [#789abc] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I sent Mike Truffer an e-mail and asked him to review both threads. rl[#789abc] If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Wow, RL? Is that you? ...s'me. Where have you been all this time? Hiding out in DeLand, biting my tongue bloody. ;)

http://www.despair.com/insanity.html

Early summer 1997. My living room. BASE video in the background. BASE 193, 416 and me. Topic of discussion: Bridge Day. Me: Maybe I'll jump this year. 416: Me: Kidding. Just kidding. 193: You could do that. Me: Really. I was kidding. 416: 193: No, really, you could do it. You just have to promise me you'll stay out of the landing area and land in the water. Me: So how 'bout those Mets. (No, I didn't really say that, but I did redirect the conversation. It was a joke. Just a joke.) 4 months later in Fayetteville, West Virginia, I became BASE 283's first student ever to be injured--taking a nanosecond delay from the curb of the Holiday Inn. Ruined my best pair of jeans and took a big chunk of meat out of my knee. Meanwhile, 416 was having none of it. He said, "You know more than I did when I started," and left me to the tender mercies of the first jump course. At least in theory. The whole thing was making him a nervous wreck. I'm pretty sure he figured that if I killed myself, everyone would blame it on him even though he had nothing to do with it. But in spite of his dubious attitude, he packed for me (you need to learn to pack for yourself, Jake) and did not leave my side until I left his at the exit point. But in the end, without 193 and 283, it never would have happened. I started skydiving in 1995 and then I took 1.5 years off to tag along as driver and gofer--you know, ground crew. By the time I got to Bridge Day 1997, I had all of 36 parachute jumps. (All but two or three on 7-cell canopies, which helped some). I made two jumps that year. The first was me alone, and it was pronounced perfect. Thereafter 416 made a jump with me. (At least he didn't go through my canopy. ) In 1998, I had more skydives, but still fewer than you do now. I made three jumps that year. A little head down on the first one, which generated some comment up top. ("Just like a woman.") But I got praise from Adam Filipino for the recovery, so I wasn't too fearful of making another jump. Reference has been made to deaths at NRGB. It's true, people have died there, but somewhere there is a list of who they were and how they did it--probably on rec.skydiving, back before dz.com existed. You can google for it, and you'll see that the circumstances just don't apply to you. Of course, you could still die if you're incredibly stupid or incredibly unlucky. On the other hand, if you have a little something over your head and you avoid the rocks, your chances are still pretty good. I was there the year BG took a field packed rig off the bridge in a bandit jump on Friday night. Everyone came back to the motel wondering what they were going to do with his baby daughter. He turned up later--wet indeed, and feeling pretty stupid--but otherwise none the worse for wear. So go, pay attention, have fun. And don't forget to look down before you look out. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I have an EOS manual. If you'd like a copy, let me know where to send it. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Try this link: www.issd.org While it is true that there are mental health professionals who reject what is now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder as a legitimate diagnosis, their credentials are more than matched by those who study and treat it. That being said, many cases are bogus. Sybil is a case in point. She was not a multiple personality and much of her case file was fiction. DID is an explantion, not an excuse. A lot of people forget things they have done, but we are all still accountable for the actions committed by our bodies. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Go to www.groups.google.com and perform an advanced search within news.admin.net-abuse.* using "SA" and "Something Awful" as the search terms. SA doesn't play nice but they are not stupid and they can be subtle. Then again, it might be legitimate. Anything's possible. rl

You're probably being set up for a Denial of Service attack or something similar. Something Awful has a bad reputation for such things I don't know what you can do about it, though. rl