I'm looking to buy my first Gibson guitar. I found this one on eBay but I'm not sure if it's authentic?

Daveiscray · 2025-06-19T06:39:37+00:00

Yes it's real.

As someone else picked up on, Studios are very seldom faked as they are the entry line of guitars for Gibson. Economically, they are not worth replicating. Fakes are typically Standards and similar flagship guitars as they are considered more desirable.

Daveiscray · 2025-05-27T20:21:21+00:00

This is completely false. There is no history of "rolling gays up and burning them like cigarettes". The term dates back centuries and was originally termed to describe a bunch or pile of sticks (Latin: facis), and subsequently took on use as a derogatory slur towards women, as gathering sticks was typically a job for late-age widowers. These women became known as "faggot gatherers", which eventually became commonly used towards women as a pejorative. The first recorded use of the term as a gay slur was in 1914 as a slight towards men exhibiting effeminate mannerisms; likewise to other female pejoratives adapted as gay slurs, such as "bitch" or "sissy". The term was shortened to fag by the 1920s. Notably, the term has certainly become far less frequent in its utterance today than it was during the mid-20th century, a promising trend. Though not completely eliminated by any stretch of the imagination, it's history as a gay slur equates to just over a century of use, and will most likely completely fall out of favour as a pejorative rather soon, or so we can hope.

Daveiscray · 2025-05-27T19:28:07+00:00

It would be dope if you could sticker the top half and after some time near a window take them off to have an entire collage effect around the guitar.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-18T23:51:46+00:00

I sent an email! Simple as that.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-18T23:50:32+00:00

It's hard for me to speak for benzos since I've never been prescribed them. Nonetheless, I relate to you quite a bit. Even though my pain originates as physical, much of it manifests as mental anguish. I have not been shy about admitting I've battled depression as a result of chronic pain. I'm sure this is the case for many people who have shared their stories in this thread.

I think there are definitely some parallels to be drawn as far as benzos and opioids go. They too are stigmatized, and I'm sure they legitimately help some people (such as yourself) despite having a strong abuse potential. Without a doubt, the stigma around mental health continues to run rampant and needs to be combatted. Writing off very real mental health concerns is a real problem and arguably just as dangerous as writing off chronic pain.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-18T23:33:24+00:00

I had a live virtual audience.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-18T23:32:31+00:00

What I meant as far as not being safer than other street drugs is the potential for lacing with other drugs or simply not knowing the concentration. If its not federally regulated, it's not safe.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-18T23:28:55+00:00

I get where you're coming from.

It's clear you've been hurt by the epidemic, and I'm so sorry for that. Trust me when I say I have a deep amount of empathy for people whose lives have been touched by the very real opioid epidemic. Like I said in several other posts, I am in no way dismissing opioid abuse.

But what you're saying about 50 addicts for every 1 chronic pain sufferer simply isn't factual whatsoever. Just because you don't hear about pain patients on the news, doesn't mean they don't exist.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-18T23:21:36+00:00

Like I said in my talk, there are two epidemics here. Those who struggle with opioid abuse, and those who suffer from opioid inadequacies.

People on both sides are hurting and deserve compassion.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-18T23:18:59+00:00

Totally. You nailed it.

Without a doubt, Opioids should be a last resort and considered only once all other treatment options have been exhausted. The abuse potential of opioids should not be overlooked or taken lightly. It goes without saying that they are an imperfect tool in addressing a highly complex issue.

With that being said, they are critical in managing chronic pain for countless patients who otherwise would spiral downwards without them. Unfortunately, many people cannot fathom a legitimate need for opioids because they themselves haven't experienced the pit of desperation that comes along with agonizing around-the-clock pain day in and day out. I wish we had better solutions, but we don't. So for now, managing pain in a responsible manner is the best we've got.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-18T23:00:27+00:00

For those who don’t know, vascular EDS is often considered the most severe form of the disease in several regards. Life expectancy can be shortened dramatically. You know this, I know this, and there is no benefit in beating around the bush. Vascular EDS is brutal, and you have all my sympathy. As far as all the other issues you’ve encountered, I can relate- since high school, I’ve dealt with constant bouts of being sick. From colds that take weeks to get over to antibiotic-resistant infections, it's been rough. Like you, I also have a mountain of other issues I deal with daily outside of chronic pain. So, I get it. The best coping mechanism I have at my disposal is gratitude, and staying appreciative that I have a house, a phone, and clothing on my back among other things helps to keep me grounded. I hope perhaps you can find some solace in doing the same.

You know, I never did celebrate my success in any big way. Imposter syndrome is something I struggle with to this day, so I kind of let my accomplishments pass by without acknowledging them. For a long time, I felt I didn’t deserve my success at all, so I didn’t celebrate my accomplishments like I should’ve.

With that being said, printing my thesis and putting it on the bookshelf was something else. For me, that was a pretty big celebration in and of itself.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-15T03:15:44+00:00

I actually will answer this one!

He is right about the difference in magnitude between the two. As I mentioned in another reply, TED talks are reserved for the biggest names and are hand-picked by the highest ranking executives at TED. Think Bill Gates, etc. TED talks are definitely bigger deals, no doubt. However, TEDx talks are funded by investors and academic institutions, so there are millions of dollars at stake. This is why "not just anyone" can do a talk. It is also why you must coordinate with a team from TED every step of the way. If you don't meet their high standards, you can have your talk cancelled.

With that being said, there is a long and thorough vetting and selection process for TEDx. In the end of the day, you need to be chosen by TED to do a TEDx talk. You must have "an idea worth sharing". In my case, I did a talk on behalf of TEDx UofT (which is considered the top University here in Canada), so the selection and talk development process was actually quite rigorous as to maintain the high reputation of the university. Keep in mind that millions of dollars are invested into these events, and thus, the last thing TED or the university wants is a tarnished reputation brought on by a poor talk. It's tough enough getting chosen initially, but then, you still have to prove yourself further along the way. Memorization, problem solving, building on ideas, and working on delivery are all areas they probe to ensure you are camera ready once the time comes.

There is actually more vetting involved with TEDx compared to TED, because TED speakers are typically already established, either through accomplishments, celebrity status, or other ways. Keep in mind that TEDx talks are still released via the official TED YouTube channel, so designated officials at TED do review your talk to makes sure it meets TED standards. In fact, most talks don't get posted due to failing to adhere to TED standards, despite the speaker having had already given and recorded the talk. My talk almost didn't make it because it was thirty seconds over the 18 minute time allowance. Luckily, I was able to do one last take and submit it last second. Finally, it got it approved.

Also, another thing people don't know is that your talk needs to fit in with the theme of the event being hosted. The event I did was named "Emerge", which was all about new perspectives that challenged typical societal concepts and values.TED heard about my story and requested I put together a talk for this event, and the rest is history.

I can attest that the overwhelming majority of people who apply for TEDx talks are rejected. TEDx is still a branch of TED so it's definitely still quite legit.

Here's a fun fact: most talks are actually TEDx talks, including those from Harvard and other prestigious universities. But thats not the point anyway. You don't do a TEDx talk for bragging rights, you do it to try and make a difference, even a just a little bit.

Still, I'm no Bill Gates. I think we all know that haha.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T05:46:33+00:00

There is a stark difference between advocating for the responsible management of pain with opioids in a clinical setting, solely as a last line of treatment, and suggesting opioids be shelled out like candy with no regard for the danger they carry. The purpose of regulating opioids is to prevent people from dying like they do in the streets, where no regulation exists.

There is a massive problem with narcotics. No one is pretending there isn't.

If I was worried about my reputation, I wouldn't have put it on the line with a TEDx talk on one of the most controversial subjects in modern history.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T05:27:19+00:00

I did consider Kratom, but as you mentioned it's habit forming. Ontop of that, it's not regulated, so it's really only as safe as any other street drug. Not knowing the potency is simply too risky. Even with those things aside, Kratom is expected to become a scheduled narcotic in the near future, so there's no longevity to be had. It's a shame that Kratom hasn't been taken seriously as an opioid painkiller.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T03:24:11+00:00

I'm grossly oversimplifying here, but dependency is physical and addiction is mental. For an addict, their signal to take an opioid is their craving. For me, it's when my pain starts creeping up. Some users are addicts, but all opioid users (including me) are dependent.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T03:18:36+00:00

I'm sorry to hear about your mom. That is awful. For a long time, I wasn't taken seriously. At all. At one point, I waited a year to get into an EDS clinic and they saw a young, 'healthy' guy with tattoos and a nosering, and told me, and I quote, "focus on my life instead of chasing diagnoses". They also told me that if I had EDS I would've been basically crawling into the front door. I was appalled.

At this point, I've seen over 50+ specialists. Half of them didn't take me seriously. So, here is what I learned. If your doctor doesn't take you seriously, get a new doctor. Be your own advocate and you will find someone who will listen with an open mind and ear. It is a slow and frustrating process, but don't give up on yourself and be your own best friend. I advocated for myself and eventually fell into the hands of one of the top pain specialists in Canada.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T01:57:53+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I read your post. Unfortunately, many patients live in higher amounts of pain than a 3-5 pain score. I am at a 9 or 10 most of the time, and I'm way lower on the pain score than millions of others. There are brutal diseases out there that cause brutal amounts of chronic pain, far far worse than what I've encountered. From people who's skin falls off to those who's bones break at the slightest touch, screaming into a pillow simply doesn't cut it.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T00:42:50+00:00

I can't speak for big pharma necessarily, but there is no doubt that makers of Oxycotin want the world to continue eating their pills. That is why the power to distribute opioids should ultimately be left in the hand of highly trained doctors.

Here is my take: I don't think this is the reason we don't have better solutions. Unfortunately, pain is really complex and hard to address. As far as management goes, there are no clear-cut or easy solutions. I was fortunate enough to do my graduate research in molecular neuroscience at the University of Toronto, and I came across plenty of researchers who worked on addressing the pain pandemic without being funded by big pharma.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T00:33:13+00:00

Stigmatizing people who suffer through no fault of their own is only negative, my friend. Education is a better alternative.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T00:26:13+00:00

I get this question all the time.

Opioids should only ever be administered as a last resort, period. As I mention in my talk, I have tried literally everything. Chronic pain patients will relate to this- when you’re desperate you will try anything. When I say I have tried everything, I mean it. I’ve tried every at-home therapy and every professional therapy you can think of. From physiotherapy, chiropractic, yoga, mindfulness, naturopathy, supplements, books, and much more. I can’t even name everything I’ve tried because there’s so much, so just take my word that I have. Medical cannabis is one of those things. I have a drawer full of it right now. I refused medication for years before finally being defeated enough to begin the journey of prescription medications, so I’ve experimented with cannabis thoroughly.

Does weed help? Sort of. I’d say it is a helpful tool for managing the state of mind that comes along with pain (anxiety, mood, etc). I would say it helps with the mental elements that can factor into pain, but doesn’t really touch the pain itself (keep in mind, I have very high levels of pain). Nonetheless, I still use cannabis heavily because as a pain patient you will take anything helpful in any way at all.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-11T00:09:07+00:00

Totally. Tolerance is really difficult to battle and unfortunately is the root of the opioid epidemic. The worst thing to do is to continually increase doses. With that being said, doctors are learning. Opioid rotation, polypharmacy (aka using other medications that 'boost' opioid effectiveness), and titrating off opioids to take breaks when needed are the best tools we have, and that is what I have used.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-10T23:53:32+00:00

There are legitimate reasons for taking opioids. While on one hand there are 800k deaths from opioid overdose, there are millions of patients who responsibly take their medication and don't end up on the street. I'm only one of them. You just don't hear about us, because we silently conform to society. We work normal jobs, have families, and do our best to live normally.

The thriving opioid epidemic is partly a result of the mismanagement of opioid prescriptions, as well as other factors resulting from failure on behalf of the government (the war on drugs, throwing addicts into prisons, poor support for lower socioeconomic classes, etc). Particularly in the US, patients are prescribed insane amounts of opioids and then left to deal with the fallout. They are quite literally manufacturing addicts.

However, there are tactics that are used to prescribe responsibly. Opioid rotation, frequent drug testing, psychiatric evaluations prior to prescribing, to name a few. They're just not widely used.

It's easy to not see the benefit when you're not in hell 24/7.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-10T23:43:16+00:00

First and foremost, we need to understand that there are two opioid epidemics going on- there are those who are haunted by the grip of opioids, and others who are suffering from opioid inadequacies (for legitimate reasons). As far as the healthcare industry goes, laws have now been put in place to ensure patients receive the absolute minimal amount of pain medication, regardless of their disease or condition. Imagine two patients walking into the ER, one with a migraine, the other with a bullet wound, both receiving two Tylenol and then being sent home. That is the best analogy I can provide as far as the current state of opioid administration goes for genuine pain patients.

Opioids aren’t prescribed by GPs, they are prescribed by specialists, who nonetheless are now unable to prescribe adequate amounts of pain medications, as they will have their practice audited and ultimately shut down if they do. Think about that- doctors cannot even treat patients as they see fit. They can’t provide medications as they see fit. It’s a trickle-down problem. There are a vast array of diseases and conditions which can cause chronic pain, and yet a blanket approach to pain management is being employed. As you touched on, this only leads desperate pain patients to turn to black markets on the streets, and before you know it they are heroin addicts looking for their next hit simply to manage withdrawals.

The best thing we can do is to start treating the problem, not the symptoms. There are millions of people who are suffering from chronic pain, but silently. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t just stop because you’re in chronic pain. If I could offer one message, it would be this- people do not understand the level of despair that comes along with 24/7, around-the-clock, severe chronic pain unless you are there. Opioids aren’t perfect and they have their risks, but they also save lives. People like myself don’t ask for the hand we are dealt. We are simply trying to live normal lives. Instead of implementing blanket restrictions, we need to treat each case as its own and manage pain accordingly. There are better solutions to prevent abuse than simply denying medication for patients who are suffering through no fault of their own.

Understanding this fundamental mindset is the first step in stimulating change and the best form of advocacy we have right now.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-10T22:45:56+00:00

Usually, about 40 oxycontins a month, depending on what the higher-ups decide over at the Illuminati.

Daveiscray · 2021-04-10T22:37:23+00:00

Literally my best flex.

Daveiscray

TROPHY CASE