Alice sent me a link to this story -- Teens Using Digital Drugs to Get High -- a couple of days ago and at first it didn't connect to my memory banks. Then, it started to sound familiar. I-Doser? Wait a minute . . . .

Well, yeah, I remember I-Doser from years ago when it was a sloppy webpage and a free download that looked like an outdated zip file. I-Doser gave you two or three free downloads of binaural beat sound files called "Alcohol" or "Relaxation" and then if you wanted more, I think it was six bucks a pop back then. I tried them out, wasn't impressed, and erased the program.

Yesterday I went back and checked out the new I-Doser and Wow! Things have changed in the I-Doser building. It's like they're making money or something, and they have all these new files called Orgasm, Hand of God, and Gateway to Hell. That's a huge improvement over Alcohol and Headache Remedy -- obviously somebody signed up who knows something about marketing.

Currently you'll find all sorts of youtube videos displaying the reactions of teenagers to these sound files. If you don't understand what's happening it probably is disturbing -- especially if you're a parent. After all, Oklahoma's Bureau of Narcotics warns us that I-Doser downloads could be the new gateway drug.

Oops, sorry guys, but this stuff has been around awhile already and it hasn't ruined the young minds of America as yet. Robert Monroe, founder of the Monroe Institute, first developed the technological concept of binaural brainwave stimulation but many others have observed it. In fact, it may be one of the reasons we enjoy music -- any music; even classical music. We get in tune with the beat. Music makes us happy; music makes us sad. The world hasn't collapsed because of music.

Binaural beats just take the art out of the music and get down to the nitty gritty functional data. If you listen to Gateway to Hell, you'll get the idea quickly. Some of it's startling and the sudden contrasts are intended to jolt you out of a calm reverie, that's part of the bit. Much is unpleasant and even painful, especially to a person of my age. After all, it's Gateway to Hell. If you're the type who enjoys being scared, you will be. Lots of nearly subliminal voices towards the end so if you want to fear subconscious demonic conditioning you have that option, too. I personally think it's about as dangerous as watching Damien, which was longer and much creepier.

This might be best described as music boiled down. All that's left is the primal stuff that makes people react in emotional and instinctive terms, either towards the positive or the negative. Sometimes the new I-Doser series works pretty well, but I would expect the effects of any single "dose" to fade rather quickly as the audio becomes familiar. Then you'll want to try a new "dose." No problem. I-Doser makes plenty, and they'll probably all be lots of fun until you get tired of it.

Some people do react very strongly to auditory prompts like drumming, chanting and binaural beats. I don't. Sometimes I feel bad about that, because it seems like a convenient way to reach the higher mental states, when it does work. I have no criticism of anything that actually helps people do that, and individuals must find their own route if that's what they seek. Some people might find these audio files helpful. Others will simply find them to be entertaining for a little while. It's still pretty cheap entertainment.

I'd not be concerned that experimenting with I-Doser might lead anyone to try hard drugs or even soft drugs, unless that person was headed for drug addiction anyway. If life doesn't provide the emotional high you seek, you'll find it somehow. What returning to I-Doser has taught me is that a long time ago I was a teenager looking for new experiences and grand adventures. Much of what I did to find that emotional high was a lot more dangerous than lying down on the couch and listening to Gateway to Hell.

Adults be warned: this isn't music and you won't want to hear it on the commute to work. You probably won't care for it and you'll probably be puzzled by it, which may be why teenagers love it right now. Eh, if you're over forty you've been through hell already, you don't need MP3's for that.

Tips for enhancing the experience:

Lie down or recline in a quiet place. Turn lights out or blindfold your eyes. Do a relaxation procedure first, focusing on the different parts of your body from feet up to the head and intentionally relaxing each. Then just take the ride without preconceptions. Forcing things won't make things happen and having clear ideas of what you want from the experience just gets in the way.

Links:
Check out our Mind Machines articles for more info on binaural meditation tools.
I-Doser Free Download and Samples
Gateway to Hell on Youtube
Hand of God on DIY Dharma