Rhetorical questions although rhetorical can be fun to posit…but they can only be instructive and enlightening if, while we ponder them, we promise ourselves to answer them with all honesty and candor.
So…Let’s suppose you have a pretty good job and you are very talented at it when along comes a drug that when taken will enhance your abilities…so much so that you and your new talents will be in great demand within your industry…so much so that you will be in line for a big raise. And this will not be like your usual raise where you will go from earning $50,000 per year to $51,000.
This raise will be to 5 million dollars per year. And even though you think this drug might be illegal and give you what some might say is an unfair advantage over your colleagues it isn’t very hard to come by… and even if you get caught using this drug, which will mean that you most probably will lose your job…you won’t ever be asked to give the money back.
Would you take this drug?
Do you think anyone else would?
And in either case… and even if we tried… would that drug ever get put back in that bottle?
ipledgeafallegiance 
No, I wouldn’t. There’s a difference between illegal and immoral.
That’s all I will say about that, too.
I agree with A Voice – I’d never do this. These sorts will fool mankind but can’t sleeze by God. Indeed, a big difference between illegal and immoral.
Well put. You left out the part though about how the drug could possible destroy your health, or even kill you.
I suppose this post is about the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports. (or I’m really dense and you can tell me so) The public is very quick to judge when a sports icon falls of the pedestal he or she has been placed upon – but maybe we need to ask ourselves who made a ton of money of this person, who placed all the pressure on this person to perform at a certain level – often from a very early age. I think it often turns out that athletes give 100% only to discover they are trying to survive in a world that demands much, much more. The person that fell off the pedestal is only a sign of a whole system that has gone wrong. Thanks for making me really think about your rhetorical question.
What if you are a male prostitute and well…where am I going with this? hahaha
Lance–don’t get me started with him….He probably got testicular cancer from using. There is a correlation….
Drugs always have side-effects, usually harmful, if not lethal. I believe a great many would take the drug. This world is driven by greed. And yes, you are right, the genie can’t be put back into the bottle. Great prompt!
I think that there are plenty of people out there who would. In my current life situation, no, I wouldn’t take a chance at something illegal, because I have higher priorities out there right now than money and career. When I was younger and had fewer priorities…if the only negative was that it was illegal, and there weren’t accompanying health risks…I’m still not sure that I would, but there was a chance that I might at least try it.
And as M.G. Piety mentioned, there would be other factors that some (such as I) would take into consideration beyond the legal/illegal aspect: the impacts on health for short and long term use and side affects (besides enhancing performance) of use, for starters.
I do think that the current dynamics in sports can make it very tempting for athletes to succumb to performance enhancers. In order to be the best of the best these days, you have to push your body to such limits and have long endurance. Pitchers have to pitch 90-100 mph balls to be an “impressive” pitcher, injured players are expected to get off the disabled lists ASAP, and the competition is taking the performance enhancers to get ahead, leaving those who would be more scrupulous behind if they don’t. Add to that the general “look the other way” attitude people have towards performance enhancers in sports, and the slap on the wrist they usually get IF they’re caught, and it just contributes to the problem. In a line of work where you’re already beating up your body to stay on top, I can see the appeal of something that makes it easier to do so.
And maybe next on the pondering trail – how to refashion our culture to where “Our Natural Best” is good enough – at least enough to earn your keep and have a few adventures…..
Reblogged this on Below Zero | Above Infinity and commented:
I wonder oh what he could be alluding to here… .
It is the person’s choice to take any drug nobody makes anybody do anything. I personally would not do it. I have never been a follower in life. I try to set an example that I am happy with and that might be an inspiration to others.