If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨
Options
Talk to Frank.
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I would be very grateful if you could give me your honest view of the Talk to Frank website.
Thank you.
Thank you.
0
Comments
It seems like more of a Government 'scare tactic' website than an actual factual page where unbiased and true information can be gained on a wide range of drugs.
Some of the comments could even be deemed dangerous, by offering sometimes no mention of doses etc. umongst many other things.
I'll stick to Erowid
:yes:
I have to say I did think the website was a bit of a mess.Haven't looked at it in the last few months, but when I did I was browsing the mushroom section and noticed they had listed psilocybin-bearing mushrooms and fly agarics as the same thing, which is very dangerous and could have potentially cost lives.
What if someone had gone out and eaten a fly agaric raw? Couldn't comment on it recently because Ihaven't been arsed to go back on.
Don't I feel the fool.
No problem in that.
Cooking/drying them only serves to make them more potent. They're not especially dangerous when raw. I've seen my mate eat several before cooking.
I don't think frank is that bad though. Definately a step in the right direction. I'd expect the site to improve with time.
Nothing beats our own very lovely site though - with our own very lovely mods.
Fair enough, never tried them myself so couldn't comment.
From what I've heard/read though you're not meant to eat them raw because drying them converts all the ibotenic acid (some kind of poison?) into muscimol.
Ibotenic acid isn't as active as muscimol. By drying or cooking the cap you help some of the ibotenic acid decarboxylate into muscimol.
It's the muscimol you want.
And you really shouldn't eat mushrooms raw - you never no what sort of parasite is them. :yuck:
Erowid all the way and the gooddrugsguide.com is good too and don't forget these boards.
As a whole, the site isn't bad. It does what it says on the tin. Some of the information isn't totally accurate, though, and it'd be a really wise idea to re-check what they're saying before they submit it on the internet.
The main thing I noticed the site was lacking though, was articles on harm reduction. Alot of the people that visit the site I'm guessing would be first time users. Although the information that's given would be helpful to them, it's inevitable that they'll still try whatever drug, regardless of all the warnings. 'Frank' needs to realise this, and have in depth, easily acessable information on the subject. How to avoid overheating, ODing, what enviroments are best suited for first time users, what to do if anything goes wrong with either you or anyone you're with, lists of places/websites that sell pill testing kits etc.
Sure, there'll be alot of people against this, claiming it's encouraging drug use, but these people need to face reality. Drugs are a part of every day life. They're everywhere, and there's not a damn thing anyone can do to change that.
But, its just that though, its basic information with a lot missing, and some parts just plain wrong.
It has improved greatly since it started, but then that wasnt difficult it was SO poor and full of mistakes.
I just think it is greatly dissapointing, it is a missed opportunity, all that money put in and such a half arsed result.
What you have to remember that this is a government run website so they have to very careful about what they say and cant be seen to glamorise drug use in anyway shape or form.
What is lacking is the personal touch as I feel this site would be more helpful to parents rather than to potential drug users. It needs personal experience from people that have taken drugs and really know what its all about.
All in all good information but could do better.
:crazyeyes
http://vbulletin.thesite.org.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46038
http://vbulletin.thesite.org.uk/showthread.php?threadid=46270&highlight=talk+frank
http://vbulletin.thesite.org.uk/showthread.php?threadid=58363&highlight=talk+frank
http://vbulletin.thesite.org.uk/showthread.php?threadid=57479&highlight=talk+frank
now, I know some of these were a while back, but perhaps they will make interesting reading
best wishes
hobbs
I think the money would be better spent supporting local organisations who would be able to offer a more personal service.
:razz:
Then even if the Government is giving out good advice we'd never read it, which is a shame.
I haven't smoked a fag since last Sunday night btw..
Back to topic... The site is a good idea, has some good info and has a nice way about it..
The fact it's in-accurate and sometimes simply boring makes it rarely used!
I only click on there once every month or two to see what's happening, nothing much ever is..
Needs more entertainment too, as stupid as that sounds...
I think it's down to the fact that government sources such as this haven't exactly been the most reliable up 'til now, and it's only natural people aren't gonna use this site instead of other sites that've served them well in the past.
Because mistakes have been made in the past it is doubly important that EVERY effort has to be made to make absolutely sure they are trustworthy now.
It could be made into so much more, overnight... bit of re-design of the site and a empty a bit of bongbuddas brain onto the pages it would be sorted :thumb:
And ensure the factual content is better.
I don't know about how accurate it is but for some reason I trust thesite users who've said it isn't accurate far more than the people employed by our government to set it up! Now I'm worried.