Hello:

I am an architect. My doctor tells me that there's a drug that will make me a better architect. If I take it, will that be cheating?

excon

Hi,
I had high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The doctor has had me on medications for years now, with all those under control and normal. Does that make me a "cheating" person? no.
Some medications, as well as some herbs (or so they say), increase the brain's capacity to think. I think that's great!
No, I don't see you cheating at all, using your brain to even more of it's potential.
If it means using muscle to more advantage, making you a super-human, running over others at Baseball, Football, etc, that is different.
But I've never heard of anyone complain about having the brain think more.
PS; I would get a second opinion about this drug, see what another doctor thinks.

Are you joshin' us excon? ;)

... wait a minute, I do think I recall now. It's not a drug, but I've heard that smoking banana peels helps draftsmen. Is that close enough? :p

What drug did the dr. refer to?

Hello rick:

Yeah, I’m joshin. But the question I asked is real.

No, there isn’t yet a drug that will make me a better architect, but there will be. And, if it’s not a drug, maybe it will be chip that’s implanted or new genes injected. I don’t know how people will be enhanced in the future, but there’s no question that they will be.

So, the question I have remains, is any enhancement cheating? How should the law deal with this issue, now and in the future?

Certainly, an athlete cannot legally take steroids, but a carpenter can (assuming he has a prescription). Is the carpenter cheating? He can hammer twice what those who aren’t hammered can. (I couldn’t help the pun)

excon

PS> And no, neither me nor Art Vandelay are architects.

I don't see it as cheating. If you pay a professional to do something for you, you are paying for what he will turn out for you. You only care about the end product.

With sports, isn't the prohibition against steroids that are illegal to begin with?

Hello again, rick:

Well, he's not cheating his boss, of course. But is he cheating the carpenter working right next to him who doesn't want to take steroids (or get implants) in order to compete, or keep his job?

I think it will come to that.

excon

I disagree. Lots of things in this world change. The college student now must have a computer to be able to do all the work given, and have an internet connection to get help.

Gutter hangers now need a brake (specialized equipment) to be competitive.

Etc, etc...

Yes, I realize that equipment or tools is not the same thing as a drug or implant, but as for that, the best athletes need to "enhance" their bodies in other un-natural ways (heavy weight lifting to tear and rebuild muscle, nutritional suppliments, etc.), so I don't see a difference if a drug or implant that was proven safe became 1. legal, and 2. common.

Hello again, rick:

I didn't say it WAS cheating. I was just asking. In fact, I agree wholeheartedly with you, except maybe when you say "safe". While I may or may not agree with the WAY people enhance themselves, I don't think the enhancement, in an of itself, is cheating. Improvement, as you say, is inevitable, as will be the accusation of cheating.

I'm just trying to come up with an answer, maybe even before there's a question.

Oh yeah, about "safe". NONE of the enhancements we spoke of, and of course ALL the medical enhancements to come, are NOT without risks and side effects. The question is, how much risk and side effects are you willing to endure for the purported benefits, and WHO is going to make that decision.

If given accurate information, the public along with the medical community, is much better qualified to make those decisions. The people NOT qualified are the DEA and the FTC

excon

You're right; I shouldn't have said "disagree", as you were just asking...

If the drug were "approved" for use (and not illegal), I don't think it can be called "cheating". Other architect's would have the choice to use the drug as you do.

Yes this question is for open forum but mainly directed to excon. I have three felony drug charges on my record in two different states. I am still on parole for one. I am now working on an Electrical Engineering degree in which I am at the head of my class with a 3.85 GPA. What is my chances of obtaining employment if I graduate in 2007? I am off parole in 7 months.

Hello tex:

Chances?? A little worse than if you didn't have felony's.

If you don't succeed with expungment (more about that in a minute), you'll just need to narrow your search. I doubt very seroiusly that you'll get hired by a large company. You'll have a much better chance with a mom and pop operation or a start up. But in your biz, there ought to be plenty of them. You won't be able to cover up your past and get away with it.

Electrical engineers, in my view, will be very much in demand, so that's going to help.

With two different states involved and a very recent conviction, I suggest that expungment in either state is a long way off. However, if expungment is available, you can find out exactly what the criteria is. Most statutes require some length of time (5 -10 years) with no criminal conduct.

excon

Thank you for your answer. I posted a more detailed version of this story on the open forum in the criminal law section. I didn't realize that you got this message but the other one is definitely a better and more accurate message.