whenever media covers market shenanigans i get a glimpse of how others really view users: junkies, low-life criminals, really stupid, deserving of any negative consequences (including but not limited to losing thousands of dollars or life in prison), generally awful people, etc.
a lot of this is due to stigma surrounding drugs in general. and i know it shouldn't even matter because the people who say those things don't give any of this a second thought. it's just another interesting article to read to them.
i think a lot of the authors behind those pieces really try to portray markets accurately, down to using the posts in this sub for info, but they're never going to be able to portray all the different kinds of people that use the markets. the vast majority of users are just normal people, not criminals. ok yes technically criminals but not the shitty kind and only because of stupid drug laws.
anyway just something i've been thinking about with all the articles on the evo shitstorm. i wish something could be done to change people's perceptions but i'm afraid the only way that will happen is by decriminalizing drugs, and even then it's a long road ahead.
edited to add it doesn't help that drug buyers get lumped into those buying weapons, committing fraud, or other illicit shit you can find on the dnm's. i don't agree with any of that and wish those were on a separate market entirely but at the same time i feel like a hypocrite saying buying illegal drugs online is fine but making other illegal purchases online is not.
The only way to change perceptions is to talk to them and explain to them why keeping drugs illegal is a stupid idea. I've already flipped family members and friends that had the idea that all drugs are bad. You'll come across some people that wont agree or completely refuse to talk to you after, but that's just a fact of life.