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[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is there anything wrong with my reasoning? Just wanted to check if I'm still a sane person.\n\nI don't see any reason why my existence should matter to me or why yours should matter to you. If every bit of knowledge you fill yourself up with, every step you take towards making progress in your own life, every enjoyable memory or experience you've ever had is just going straight into the garbage bin when you die... then why should you care about anything that happens in your life? What compelling reasons are there to make progress in a life where nothing can be saved? I don't see the point in struggling to put in the time and energy to cement anything useful within myself when it will all wastefully be torn away from me when my body gives out.\n\nIs there anything wrong with this type of thinking? I am the type of person who puts the least amount of effort to complete a task. Moments that might feel special and important to others feel completely dull and pointless to me. All of this because this is the value I place on existence.\n\nSorry in advance if this thread didn't belong here."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "An interesting thing to ask yourself in checking this kind of thinking: what would it take to make life \"meaningful\"? Is it a measure that is at all useful or valuable to us? If you find that you cannot even vaguely come up with a way that life *could* be meaningful (just in conception, not even a practical way), then you might consider that you have essentially been working from a concept of \"meaningful\" that isn't especially good.\n\nAdditionally, your second paragraph sounds more like the words of someone who suffers from depression or a lack of self-purpose rather than a particular philosophical stance. If you think that might be the case I urge you to seek help from people who can work with you on that, rather than just trying to build philosophical arguments."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is there anything wrong with my reasoning? Just wanted to check if I'm still a sane person.\n\nI don't see any reason why my existence should matter to me or why yours should matter to you. If every bit of knowledge you fill yourself up with, every step you take towards making progress in your own life, every enjoyable memory or experience you've ever had is just going straight into the garbage bin when you die... then why should you care about anything that happens in your life? What compelling reasons are there to make progress in a life where nothing can be saved? I don't see the point in struggling to put in the time and energy to cement anything useful within myself when it will all wastefully be torn away from me when my body gives out.\n\nIs there anything wrong with this type of thinking? I am the type of person who puts the least amount of effort to complete a task. Moments that might feel special and important to others feel completely dull and pointless to me. All of this because this is the value I place on existence.\n\nSorry in advance if this thread didn't belong here."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "An interesting thing to ask yourself in checking this kind of thinking: what would it take to make life \"meaningful\"? Is it a measure that is at all useful or valuable to us? If you find that you cannot even vaguely come up with a way that life *could* be meaningful (just in conception, not even a practical way), then you might consider that you have essentially been working from a concept of \"meaningful\" that isn't especially good.\n\nAdditionally, your second paragraph sounds more like the words of someone who suffers from depression or a lack of self-purpose rather than a particular philosophical stance. If you think that might be the case I urge you to seek help from people who can work with you on that, rather than just trying to build philosophical arguments."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Life would be meaningful if all the progress we made didn't get completely erased when we die.\n\nImagine you constructed a sand castle and when you finished and wanted to add more, I came in and smashed it all up."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Imagining that, I don't see anything that is meaningless except for perhaps your callous destruction of something I made. The castle is meaningful because I gave it meaning (perhaps I imagined it was a real castle, or maybe I was remembering times spent as a child with my family building sand castles), not because it exists or doesn't exist for ever. In fact, making a sand castle that we expect to exist forever is simply foolishness.\n\nRegardless, you answered my question. So you think that the ONLY things that can have meaning are eternal things? What is it about eternal things that are meaningful?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is there anything wrong with my reasoning? Just wanted to check if I'm still a sane person.\n\nI don't see any reason why my existence should matter to me or why yours should matter to you. If every bit of knowledge you fill yourself up with, every step you take towards making progress in your own life, every enjoyable memory or experience you've ever had is just going straight into the garbage bin when you die... then why should you care about anything that happens in your life? What compelling reasons are there to make progress in a life where nothing can be saved? I don't see the point in struggling to put in the time and energy to cement anything useful within myself when it will all wastefully be torn away from me when my body gives out.\n\nIs there anything wrong with this type of thinking? I am the type of person who puts the least amount of effort to complete a task. Moments that might feel special and important to others feel completely dull and pointless to me. All of this because this is the value I place on existence.\n\nSorry in advance if this thread didn't belong here."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "An interesting thing to ask yourself in checking this kind of thinking: what would it take to make life \"meaningful\"? Is it a measure that is at all useful or valuable to us? If you find that you cannot even vaguely come up with a way that life *could* be meaningful (just in conception, not even a practical way), then you might consider that you have essentially been working from a concept of \"meaningful\" that isn't especially good.\n\nAdditionally, your second paragraph sounds more like the words of someone who suffers from depression or a lack of self-purpose rather than a particular philosophical stance. If you think that might be the case I urge you to seek help from people who can work with you on that, rather than just trying to build philosophical arguments."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Life would be meaningful if all the progress we made didn't get completely erased when we die.\n\nImagine you constructed a sand castle and when you finished and wanted to add more, I came in and smashed it all up."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Imagining that, I don't see anything that is meaningless except for perhaps your callous destruction of something I made. The castle is meaningful because I gave it meaning (perhaps I imagined it was a real castle, or maybe I was remembering times spent as a child with my family building sand castles), not because it exists or doesn't exist for ever. In fact, making a sand castle that we expect to exist forever is simply foolishness.\n\nRegardless, you answered my question. So you think that the ONLY things that can have meaning are eternal things? What is it about eternal things that are meaningful?"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "It is just an analogy. Have you ever played a videogame on a Playstation 2 without a memory card? What happens when the console turns off? All your progress, gone.\n\nSimilar is the human life. Humans work hard, putting effort into reaching goals and building knowledge and experience. When they die so too does every piece of progress that individual worked towards.\n\nI don't see how the human life can matter if it all just goes to waste at the end..."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I realize that it is an analogy, but I think that it displays the same weakness as your core point. Namely, that you have not given a good reason to think that how long something lasts is directly related to how valuable it is, or how meaningful it is.\n\nAnd besides that, many things that are accomplished by humans last well beyond that human's lifetime. The Pyramids, every major city in existence, every archaeological site is made up of things that were made by humans, many or most of whom are now dead. What is the status of the meaning of these things in your view?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is there anything wrong with my reasoning? Just wanted to check if I'm still a sane person.\n\nI don't see any reason why my existence should matter to me or why yours should matter to you. If every bit of knowledge you fill yourself up with, every step you take towards making progress in your own life, every enjoyable memory or experience you've ever had is just going straight into the garbage bin when you die... then why should you care about anything that happens in your life? What compelling reasons are there to make progress in a life where nothing can be saved? I don't see the point in struggling to put in the time and energy to cement anything useful within myself when it will all wastefully be torn away from me when my body gives out.\n\nIs there anything wrong with this type of thinking? I am the type of person who puts the least amount of effort to complete a task. Moments that might feel special and important to others feel completely dull and pointless to me. All of this because this is the value I place on existence.\n\nSorry in advance if this thread didn't belong here."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "An interesting thing to ask yourself in checking this kind of thinking: what would it take to make life \"meaningful\"? Is it a measure that is at all useful or valuable to us? If you find that you cannot even vaguely come up with a way that life *could* be meaningful (just in conception, not even a practical way), then you might consider that you have essentially been working from a concept of \"meaningful\" that isn't especially good.\n\nAdditionally, your second paragraph sounds more like the words of someone who suffers from depression or a lack of self-purpose rather than a particular philosophical stance. If you think that might be the case I urge you to seek help from people who can work with you on that, rather than just trying to build philosophical arguments."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Life would be meaningful if all the progress we made didn't get completely erased when we die.\n\nImagine you constructed a sand castle and when you finished and wanted to add more, I came in and smashed it all up."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Imagining that, I don't see anything that is meaningless except for perhaps your callous destruction of something I made. The castle is meaningful because I gave it meaning (perhaps I imagined it was a real castle, or maybe I was remembering times spent as a child with my family building sand castles), not because it exists or doesn't exist for ever. In fact, making a sand castle that we expect to exist forever is simply foolishness.\n\nRegardless, you answered my question. So you think that the ONLY things that can have meaning are eternal things? What is it about eternal things that are meaningful?"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "It is just an analogy. Have you ever played a videogame on a Playstation 2 without a memory card? What happens when the console turns off? All your progress, gone.\n\nSimilar is the human life. Humans work hard, putting effort into reaching goals and building knowledge and experience. When they die so too does every piece of progress that individual worked towards.\n\nI don't see how the human life can matter if it all just goes to waste at the end..."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I realize that it is an analogy, but I think that it displays the same weakness as your core point. Namely, that you have not given a good reason to think that how long something lasts is directly related to how valuable it is, or how meaningful it is.\n\nAnd besides that, many things that are accomplished by humans last well beyond that human's lifetime. The Pyramids, every major city in existence, every archaeological site is made up of things that were made by humans, many or most of whom are now dead. What is the status of the meaning of these things in your view?"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I'm only talking about the existence of living things, not pyramids and other inanimate objects.\n\nIf you were asked to draw a picture and everytime you started to draw an eraser would come and wipe it all away, you too would find any and all endeavors completely pointless."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "So now we are not talking about the creations and accomplishments of people, only the people themselves? I'm afraid that either I am not understanding what you mean or you are not understanding what you mean.\n\nTo your second point, you keep asserting that if a person were to make something and it were destroyed immediately afterward that they would find it pointless, but I think that you are discounting a lot of real people who sincerely and reasonably disagree with you. Board games are a great example, where everything you do is annihilated as soon as you clear the board to put it away, yet I don't think anyone who plays them finds them meaningless in the way that you seem to be talking about."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Tomorrow is the last time I will go to work as a guy.\n\nI'm trans and I have a crazy week coming up.\n\nTomorrow is my last day of work at my old job. \nWednesday I'm going to spend a day at my new job filling out forms and medical insurance information and such. It'll be my first day going to work as a woman.\nThursday is my official first day of work. I'll meet my new co-workers properly, and it'll be my first time socialising as a girl. I'm nervous! \nSunday I'm moving out of my parents' house. \nMonday I'm starting my life as a woman full-time. Never going back to guy mode.\n\nI'm afraid and excited and feeling many things, but I can't talk to my friends about it 'cause they're having trouble adjusting as it is.\n\nasnduhasuidhqwuf;oqfjlkj"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Congratulations on becoming a woman, Is what my mom said when I became one when I got my period.. then she gave me cake as is tradition in my family. So Now I will congratulate you on becoming one and you should go get a piece of your favorite cake to celebrate! You have such an amazing time ahead of you being truly yourself and discovering what type of woman you are :D Nerves are good it just means the whole of you is excited and ready to go. Goodbye to the old you, the guy. I bet he was really nice but could not live up to his potential and let you grow as the person you need to be. Your friends will adjust with time, I don't know how new this is to them but you have probably always known and had time to settle on the idea. They will come around :)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Tomorrow is the last time I will go to work as a guy.\n\nI'm trans and I have a crazy week coming up.\n\nTomorrow is my last day of work at my old job. \nWednesday I'm going to spend a day at my new job filling out forms and medical insurance information and such. It'll be my first day going to work as a woman.\nThursday is my official first day of work. I'll meet my new co-workers properly, and it'll be my first time socialising as a girl. I'm nervous! \nSunday I'm moving out of my parents' house. \nMonday I'm starting my life as a woman full-time. Never going back to guy mode.\n\nI'm afraid and excited and feeling many things, but I can't talk to my friends about it 'cause they're having trouble adjusting as it is.\n\nasnduhasuidhqwuf;oqfjlkj"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Congratulations on becoming a woman, Is what my mom said when I became one when I got my period.. then she gave me cake as is tradition in my family. So Now I will congratulate you on becoming one and you should go get a piece of your favorite cake to celebrate! You have such an amazing time ahead of you being truly yourself and discovering what type of woman you are :D Nerves are good it just means the whole of you is excited and ready to go. Goodbye to the old you, the guy. I bet he was really nice but could not live up to his potential and let you grow as the person you need to be. Your friends will adjust with time, I don't know how new this is to them but you have probably always known and had time to settle on the idea. They will come around :)"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Aw, thanks! I sure hope they'll come around. One of them invited me to come as a girl to her wedding next month, so she seems to be doing well so far. Hopefully the others come around too!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Oh how fun! Now you get to dress up for an occasion as well :) And of course the others will. They are your friends"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Tomorrow is the last time I will go to work as a guy.\n\nI'm trans and I have a crazy week coming up.\n\nTomorrow is my last day of work at my old job. \nWednesday I'm going to spend a day at my new job filling out forms and medical insurance information and such. It'll be my first day going to work as a woman.\nThursday is my official first day of work. I'll meet my new co-workers properly, and it'll be my first time socialising as a girl. I'm nervous! \nSunday I'm moving out of my parents' house. \nMonday I'm starting my life as a woman full-time. Never going back to guy mode.\n\nI'm afraid and excited and feeling many things, but I can't talk to my friends about it 'cause they're having trouble adjusting as it is.\n\nasnduhasuidhqwuf;oqfjlkj"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Congratulations on becoming a woman, Is what my mom said when I became one when I got my period.. then she gave me cake as is tradition in my family. So Now I will congratulate you on becoming one and you should go get a piece of your favorite cake to celebrate! You have such an amazing time ahead of you being truly yourself and discovering what type of woman you are :D Nerves are good it just means the whole of you is excited and ready to go. Goodbye to the old you, the guy. I bet he was really nice but could not live up to his potential and let you grow as the person you need to be. Your friends will adjust with time, I don't know how new this is to them but you have probably always known and had time to settle on the idea. They will come around :)"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Aw, thanks! I sure hope they'll come around. One of them invited me to come as a girl to her wedding next month, so she seems to be doing well so far. Hopefully the others come around too!"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Oh how fun! Now you get to dress up for an occasion as well :) And of course the others will. They are your friends"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I know! :D\n\nIt's also even more source for stress haha. I have no idea what to wear to it!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Something that says BAM this is me now! Look at how gorgeous I am... only one more pretty then me is the bride ;)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Does anyone have friends but still feel lonely?\n\nI would say I have healthy amount of friends. We go out together and do lots of different stuff and they treat me well/ are kind people . But I often still feel lonely when I'm with them. \n\nDoes anyone else feel this way? Why do you think this could be?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "So I've had this problem in the past, where I had good friends that meant well and we did things together all the time, but I still felt as though I was not a part of the group and that I was missing *something*, and I couldn't figure it out for the longest time.\n\nThen one day, looking back, it clicked. Back then, I didn't desire friendships because that need was already met. What I really wanted was a sense of *community*. A place where I could share my personal interests with other strangers who shared them with me. I wanted to be with people I wasn't so close to, if that makes sense. To give myself a name in a community that both myself and others cared about.\n\nMy advice, try putting yourself out there in other social circles. Don't abandon your current friends, but get involved with a hobby or something you really care about, and expose yourself to new people (easier said than done I know). Perhaps that will help with the loneliness and make you feel like you're a part of something."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Does anyone have friends but still feel lonely?\n\nI would say I have healthy amount of friends. We go out together and do lots of different stuff and they treat me well/ are kind people . But I often still feel lonely when I'm with them. \n\nDoes anyone else feel this way? Why do you think this could be?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "So I've had this problem in the past, where I had good friends that meant well and we did things together all the time, but I still felt as though I was not a part of the group and that I was missing *something*, and I couldn't figure it out for the longest time.\n\nThen one day, looking back, it clicked. Back then, I didn't desire friendships because that need was already met. What I really wanted was a sense of *community*. A place where I could share my personal interests with other strangers who shared them with me. I wanted to be with people I wasn't so close to, if that makes sense. To give myself a name in a community that both myself and others cared about.\n\nMy advice, try putting yourself out there in other social circles. Don't abandon your current friends, but get involved with a hobby or something you really care about, and expose yourself to new people (easier said than done I know). Perhaps that will help with the loneliness and make you feel like you're a part of something."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Hmm I think you might be on to something here, I do kind of feel like I'm not exactly apart of the group. We do have pretty different interests. I guess you could say they are more \"hipster\" with their interests (going \"specialty\" sit down cocktail spots) and I'm more mainstream or \"basic\" with what I like (super into electronic music/edm festivals and stuff like that)\n\nI'd really like to have people to go out with to things I'm more interested in I think. Build a community like you said !"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Yeah concerts/music festivals are great for that sort of thing. Everyone there likes pretty much the same stuff you do, which makes it easier to strike up a conversation (if you wanted to, that is). I've been to several concerts before and all of them were great experiences, would recommend.\n\nAnother thing you could look into is tabletop gaming, if that suits your interest. D&D, trading card games like Magic the Gathering, board games, stuff like that. I know it's not for everyone though, just a thought."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "In a post-structuralist/post-modern framework, why is freedom good and oppression bad?\n\nNotable philosophers like Foucault or de Beauvoir empasize the value of freedom. But I struggle to see the post structuralist argument for freedom without being nihilistic."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Post structuralism emphasizes that individuals are free from absolute categorical determination. Since \"an individual\" is defined in its uniqueness, our attempts to impose rigid social expectations and laws will clash against this freedom from categorical assumptions. \n\nSo freedom is not just something that is politically pursued, but rather inherent to individuals being heterogenous by nature of being \"individual\". It's about the indeterministic nature of specific things having a direct opposition to the firm determinism of categories and we use to capture them. That is why individuals are \"beyond/post/pre structure\". \n\nThis is something Foucault discussed throughout his correspondence with Gilles Deleuze. They both were very heavily focused on questioning the essentialist assumptions used to repress possible new ways of defining ourselves. \n\nSimone de Beauvoir, while explicitly a Marxist, does make a similar argument in a different way. Her critique of existentialism and absurdism (to which's he is unfairly grouped with) was based on reclaiming categorical identity as a tool for resistance. \n\nShe said that people are forced to act according to expectations, and that adequately criticizing them means taking on a new alternative form behavior that disrupts this expectation. A woman in her time could not embrace existential freedom because they would be thrown in jail if they did not conform to patriarchy. Freedom existed, but only between the lines. Categories are real, even if they are \"ambiguous\". \n\nHence Simone De Beauvoir's \"ethics of ambiguity\""
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "In a post-structuralist/post-modern framework, why is freedom good and oppression bad?\n\nNotable philosophers like Foucault or de Beauvoir empasize the value of freedom. But I struggle to see the post structuralist argument for freedom without being nihilistic."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Post structuralism emphasizes that individuals are free from absolute categorical determination. Since \"an individual\" is defined in its uniqueness, our attempts to impose rigid social expectations and laws will clash against this freedom from categorical assumptions. \n\nSo freedom is not just something that is politically pursued, but rather inherent to individuals being heterogenous by nature of being \"individual\". It's about the indeterministic nature of specific things having a direct opposition to the firm determinism of categories and we use to capture them. That is why individuals are \"beyond/post/pre structure\". \n\nThis is something Foucault discussed throughout his correspondence with Gilles Deleuze. They both were very heavily focused on questioning the essentialist assumptions used to repress possible new ways of defining ourselves. \n\nSimone de Beauvoir, while explicitly a Marxist, does make a similar argument in a different way. Her critique of existentialism and absurdism (to which's he is unfairly grouped with) was based on reclaiming categorical identity as a tool for resistance. \n\nShe said that people are forced to act according to expectations, and that adequately criticizing them means taking on a new alternative form behavior that disrupts this expectation. A woman in her time could not embrace existential freedom because they would be thrown in jail if they did not conform to patriarchy. Freedom existed, but only between the lines. Categories are real, even if they are \"ambiguous\". \n\nHence Simone De Beauvoir's \"ethics of ambiguity\""
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "If the case, like you said, at which society impedes us from our uniqueness is true. Why is this bad? I guess this question could be paralleled to the Nietzschean \"will to power.\" Why should we pursue to become the \"overman?\" Why is it good?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "You're presupposing \"good\" is universal, when all these thinkers emphasize that \"good\" is a subjective measure that can be applied in various ways. \n\nSimone De Beauvoir rightly suggests that it isn't universally good to reject categorical identity. These categories have instrumental value that can be used to produce something of value (goodness).\n\nFoucault and Deleuze similarly have works that recasts doubt on the goodness of freedom. Deleuze explains that breaking categorical assumptions easily be fascistic, and there must be some productive takeaway from identities we associate ourselves with. Deleuze and Guattari's \"A Thousand Plateaus\" is about questioning the radical method they had established in \"Anti-Oedipus\" and the danger of purely fluid concepts."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Decided to stay home this weekend, already feeling lonely. How are you?\n\nSo I brought home a six pack and played Dead Space for 3 hours. Don't know what to do know. What are you doing today/tonight?\n\nEdit : Thanks for responding everybody! It was so much fun, I love this subreddit!\n\nIt's almost 6 am and I should gets some sleep. Thanks again, you've all been great!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Eating, sleeping, and marathoning the Batman Arkham games. I'm in the middle of Arkham City right now."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Decided to stay home this weekend, already feeling lonely. How are you?\n\nSo I brought home a six pack and played Dead Space for 3 hours. Don't know what to do know. What are you doing today/tonight?\n\nEdit : Thanks for responding everybody! It was so much fun, I love this subreddit!\n\nIt's almost 6 am and I should gets some sleep. Thanks again, you've all been great!"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Eating, sleeping, and marathoning the Batman Arkham games. I'm in the middle of Arkham City right now."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I'm actually in the middle of AC too, but I kind of got frustrated with some side missions and I quit. I need to get back to it. How are you doing so far?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Pretty well, I know that game more than the other 3 so i've been quickly doing a bunch of side missions before doing the main story. I just got done with the Ra's al Ghul trials."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Decided to stay home this weekend, already feeling lonely. How are you?\n\nSo I brought home a six pack and played Dead Space for 3 hours. Don't know what to do know. What are you doing today/tonight?\n\nEdit : Thanks for responding everybody! It was so much fun, I love this subreddit!\n\nIt's almost 6 am and I should gets some sleep. Thanks again, you've all been great!"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Eating, sleeping, and marathoning the Batman Arkham games. I'm in the middle of Arkham City right now."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I'm actually in the middle of AC too, but I kind of got frustrated with some side missions and I quit. I need to get back to it. How are you doing so far?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Pretty well, I know that game more than the other 3 so i've been quickly doing a bunch of side missions before doing the main story. I just got done with the Ra's al Ghul trials."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I've been out of the game for some time now, are the trials the ones where you have to glide through the loops/tunnels or something like that?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Sort of, it's when you drink the bit of Lazarus that stops Batman from dying and you have to glide through the desert place with Ra's ghost. After that you fight him and get some of his blood for Mr. Freeze."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Decided to stay home this weekend, already feeling lonely. How are you?\n\nSo I brought home a six pack and played Dead Space for 3 hours. Don't know what to do know. What are you doing today/tonight?\n\nEdit : Thanks for responding everybody! It was so much fun, I love this subreddit!\n\nIt's almost 6 am and I should gets some sleep. Thanks again, you've all been great!"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Eating, sleeping, and marathoning the Batman Arkham games. I'm in the middle of Arkham City right now."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I'm actually in the middle of AC too, but I kind of got frustrated with some side missions and I quit. I need to get back to it. How are you doing so far?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Pretty well, I know that game more than the other 3 so i've been quickly doing a bunch of side missions before doing the main story. I just got done with the Ra's al Ghul trials."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I've been out of the game for some time now, are the trials the ones where you have to glide through the loops/tunnels or something like that?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Sort of, it's when you drink the bit of Lazarus that stops Batman from dying and you have to glide through the desert place with Ra's ghost. After that you fight him and get some of his blood for Mr. Freeze."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Goddamn it!\n\nI almost have no idea what you're saying. How were the trials, difficult or a breeze?\n\nWhat comes next?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "The trials are pretty easy if you have hang on how to glide and divebomb to get higher. I remember right before the trials Bruce starts to halucinate his parents because the poison in his blood starts getting to him. Right after the trials Talia takes you to Ra's and he's really old and decrepit, he asks Batman to kill him and take his place as the leader of the League of Assassins. Batman says no and admits to Talia the only reason he took the trials was to get close enough to Ra's to get some blood from him (which is tainted by the Lazarus pit) to give back to Mr. Freeze so he can make the cure for Batman and Joker."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Moving to my own apartment (no roommates, no partner) for the first time ever!\n\nThe bad part is that my rent is going to be more than double what it is right now. The good part is that I'm getting a massive two bedroom apartment with a real dining room and huge living room ALL TO MYSELF! \n\nI have no furniture but I ordered a mattress and am obsessively scouring pinterest to figure out how I want to decorate. I used to be pretty \"goth\" so I had dark red sheets, black blankets... and when I lived with my partner I tried to stay \"cool\" and upgraded to lots of grey, black, and white... but maybe that's not what I want.\n\nI'm going to buy pale pink sheets and a linen duvet cover. I'm going to adopt my first cat(s). I will feel free to meditate in the living room, to cry and not worry about anyone else, to eat whatever food I want.\n\nSunday I'll be moving all my stuff (pretty much exclusively art supplies, mason jars of dry goods, and books) and starting my new life!\n\nAnyone have any advice/suggestions to someone making a fresh start?\n\nedit: Whoa guys, thanks so much for so many amazingly helpful comments. I will keep you all in mind as I move and begin setting up. The common advice I received is to take my time, and I'm going to try! I really appreciate y'all."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "So pleased for you - just make sure you fill it with lots of things that make you happy. My advice, warm tones and scented candles - make it feel \"warm\" so that it feels like a giant hug when you walk in....\nWishing you tonnes of luck and happiness x"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Moving to my own apartment (no roommates, no partner) for the first time ever!\n\nThe bad part is that my rent is going to be more than double what it is right now. The good part is that I'm getting a massive two bedroom apartment with a real dining room and huge living room ALL TO MYSELF! \n\nI have no furniture but I ordered a mattress and am obsessively scouring pinterest to figure out how I want to decorate. I used to be pretty \"goth\" so I had dark red sheets, black blankets... and when I lived with my partner I tried to stay \"cool\" and upgraded to lots of grey, black, and white... but maybe that's not what I want.\n\nI'm going to buy pale pink sheets and a linen duvet cover. I'm going to adopt my first cat(s). I will feel free to meditate in the living room, to cry and not worry about anyone else, to eat whatever food I want.\n\nSunday I'll be moving all my stuff (pretty much exclusively art supplies, mason jars of dry goods, and books) and starting my new life!\n\nAnyone have any advice/suggestions to someone making a fresh start?\n\nedit: Whoa guys, thanks so much for so many amazingly helpful comments. I will keep you all in mind as I move and begin setting up. The common advice I received is to take my time, and I'm going to try! I really appreciate y'all."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "So pleased for you - just make sure you fill it with lots of things that make you happy. My advice, warm tones and scented candles - make it feel \"warm\" so that it feels like a giant hug when you walk in....\nWishing you tonnes of luck and happiness x"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Thank you! That's exactly what I will do - I'm super into fragrances already, and it's so important for feeling cozy."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I love a good yankee candle, it's like a hug in a jar!!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I don't have a eating disorder anymore and I think that's cool of me :)\n\nFor context - I had an eating disorder from 13-16 that was a cycle of restricting and binging, and I started seeking help when I was 14. It sucked!! It sucked a lot!!! \n\nFast forward, I'm 19, have my first job in food service, which super sucks and I hate it, but I'm on my feet all day and therefore making sure I'm eating enough is now important. \n\nTonight I'm cooking a big batch of spicy mapo tofu for my family so that tomorrow, I can have a big protein heavy breakfast before my shift tomorrow. And I'm not distressed by it - I'm excited to get to eat it. I don't care!! about the calories or oil, I don't even know how many calories are in here. \n\nI'm just really happy about it. I'm glad that 14 year old me was tired of hurting my friends around me with my disorder and sought the help that I didn't want. I'm just really happy about it. My quality of life is so much better. Food is delicious. \n\nAlso highly recommend sichuan mapo tofu this shit is GOOD. \n\n(also if anyone has some simple recipes that they recommend for meal prepping…. hand em over. I love trying new recipes.)\n\nTDLR: Food is cool 👍 ,"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I had the same problem for many years in my teens & early 20s .. I now enjoy food so much more jn a healthy way! \n\nIf you like tofu you prob would like homemade spring rolls - with rice paper and veggies 😉 yummy!\n\nAlso can I know your recipe for your tofu thanks (:"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I don't have a eating disorder anymore and I think that's cool of me :)\n\nFor context - I had an eating disorder from 13-16 that was a cycle of restricting and binging, and I started seeking help when I was 14. It sucked!! It sucked a lot!!! \n\nFast forward, I'm 19, have my first job in food service, which super sucks and I hate it, but I'm on my feet all day and therefore making sure I'm eating enough is now important. \n\nTonight I'm cooking a big batch of spicy mapo tofu for my family so that tomorrow, I can have a big protein heavy breakfast before my shift tomorrow. And I'm not distressed by it - I'm excited to get to eat it. I don't care!! about the calories or oil, I don't even know how many calories are in here. \n\nI'm just really happy about it. I'm glad that 14 year old me was tired of hurting my friends around me with my disorder and sought the help that I didn't want. I'm just really happy about it. My quality of life is so much better. Food is delicious. \n\nAlso highly recommend sichuan mapo tofu this shit is GOOD. \n\n(also if anyone has some simple recipes that they recommend for meal prepping…. hand em over. I love trying new recipes.)\n\nTDLR: Food is cool 👍 ,"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I had the same problem for many years in my teens & early 20s .. I now enjoy food so much more jn a healthy way! \n\nIf you like tofu you prob would like homemade spring rolls - with rice paper and veggies 😉 yummy!\n\nAlso can I know your recipe for your tofu thanks (:"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Sure!!!\n\nIngredients:\n\nAbout 950 grams of firm tofu or 2 packs About 300 grams of ground beef 4 stalks of green onion 5 tablespoons of sichuan chili paste/sichuan broad bean sauce 5 tablespoons of minced garlic 3 tablespoons of minced ginger 12 tablespoons of canola oil 2 tablespoons of corn starch mixed with 5 tablespoons of water 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper 1 1/2 chicken stock\n\nFirst chop your tofu into 3/4 inch chunks, put into a bowl of very hot almost boiling water with a little bit of salt. This helps the tofu not fall apart.\n\nBrown the meat on high heat with two tablespoons of oil, then remove it and set it to the side.\n\nThen put in the 10 tablespoons of oil, and add in the sichuan. Let it infuse with the oil, you want it to be a brightish red color. Add in ginger and garlic, let it cook, wait until the spices have settled into the oil.\n\nAdd in tofu (try and remove excess water from it), the meat, and the chicken stock. Add in the corn starch slurry and the black pepper, mix mix mix.\n\nLet it get up to a boil, stirring occasionally, and let it sit there for 5-8 minutes to get the flavors all infused together. There should be a layer of sauce clinging to the tofu\n\nAdd green onions and you're done!!\n\nServe over rice. It seems way way too oily until you add in rice because the rice absorbs it. Almost all the ingredients are adjustable for taste. I add in more garlic and ginger and beef.\n\nIt also reheats really really well."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Thank you sounds awesome :) I'll have to get some Sichuan paste I always like trying new ingredients!! I also find it cool to add ground beef and tofu!! I like tofu but my family is on the fence about it.. this will help!!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is there a connection between cultures descended of Proto Indo-European and affection for dogs as companions?\n\nI remember listening to or reading a lecture about Proto Indo-European culture having a strong affection for their dogs as companions and I was curious if this is a phenomenon that can be traced back to PIE or further. I also understand that in contrast a large portion of the world treats animals like dogs as nothing more than property sometimes and as food in others. Which is seen in \"western\" culture as taboo."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Cynophagy, the eating of dogs, has not always been western taboo. Your question is nestled in this false premise and the false premise that \"a large portion of the world\" lacks affection for dogs. \n\nI'm going to address dogs as a food source here. The 19th century Lewis and Clark expedition found themselves in game sinks (areas without populations they'd typically hunt) repeatedly. During these times the expedition team wasn't able to adapt to local diets because they didn't find foods like dried fish and root vegetables to be palatable. They took to eating dog and horse meat, which we know because of the detailed journals and letters they wrote. They would stop at trading posts and bargain for these animals with the intention of using them as a food source. This was not desperation eating because there were no other options. Fur traders were eating dog and horse regularly and Natives were breeding these animals as meat to trade. There was a distinction between dogs intended as meat and dogs intended as companions. Their pet newfoundland traveled the whole voyage with them as a companion. I really want to emphasize here that on this journey the group *turned down other kinds of foods in favor of eating dog.* They had choices. \n\nFurther back in time, around the Iron Age, cynophagy seems to have emerged along with agriculture and pastoralism. This is interesting because it wasn't exactly happening simultaneously (during the same years), but it repeatedly coincides with the cultural shifts of the Iron Age in different parts of the world. In the area around Lake Baikal (Russia) there have been dog remains found in association with domestic waste. These remains show cuts and breaks consistent with butchering. This is an area where previously dogs were being domesticated but not eaten (companion or guard use, possibly). Something changed that altered out relationship with dogs, making them part of our foodways. \n\nThe Late Iron Age in western Africa shows a similar shift in the archaeological record where older dog remains are found in companionable or utilitarian domestic contexts but Iron Age dog remains are found in food refuse cut, broken, and cooked bone. **However,** the spread of Islam in Africa brought along the taboo against eating dog. So here you have a culture you might not consider western that is debating the topic of cynophagy. Ethnographic data also says that western African hunting dogs *were not* eaten. A site in Burkina Faso has a variety of dog remains with some showing evidence of butchering and others not. \n\nFor an example of non-PIE cultures with affection towards dogs as companions, we can find many examples in Indigenous North Americans. There are ethnographies and tribal histories as well as archaeological sites that indicate companion relationships. This includes instances where dogs are buried with people as well as the persistence of ideas like dogs having an afterlife. \n\nAs always, there's more to the dog story, but I'd like you to reconsider what you are presuming of other cultures, modern and historic. Dogs have played many roles for humans at different times and in different places. They have been gods and they have been in the position that inspired the phrase \"treated like a dog\". \n\nFor more in-depth discussion of these points and more, check out the following sources I used:\n\nKerber, J. E. (1997). Native American treatment of dogs in Northeastern North America: archaeological and ethnohistorical perspectives, Archaeology of Eastern North America, 25, 81-96.\n\nLinseele, V. (2003). Cultural identity and the consumption of dogs in western Africa. In S. J. O'Day, W. Van Neer, & A. Ervynck, (Eds.), Behaviour Behind Bones: The zooarchaeology of ritual, religion, status and identity (pp. 318-326). Oxbow Books.\n\nLosey, R. J. et al. (2018). Buried, eaten, sacrificed: Archaeological dog remains from Trans- Baikal, Siberia, Archaeological Research in Asia, 16, 58-65.\n\nMartin, P. S., & Szuter, C. R. (1999). War Zones and Game Sinks in Lewis and Clark's West, Conservation Biology, 13(1), 36-45.\n\nTykot, R. H., van der Merwe, N. J., & Hammond, N. (1996). Stable Isotope Analysis of Bone Collagen, Bone Apatite, and Tooth Enamel in the Reconstruction of the Human Diet, Archaeological Chemistry, 625, 355-365."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is there a connection between cultures descended of Proto Indo-European and affection for dogs as companions?\n\nI remember listening to or reading a lecture about Proto Indo-European culture having a strong affection for their dogs as companions and I was curious if this is a phenomenon that can be traced back to PIE or further. I also understand that in contrast a large portion of the world treats animals like dogs as nothing more than property sometimes and as food in others. Which is seen in \"western\" culture as taboo."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Cynophagy, the eating of dogs, has not always been western taboo. Your question is nestled in this false premise and the false premise that \"a large portion of the world\" lacks affection for dogs. \n\nI'm going to address dogs as a food source here. The 19th century Lewis and Clark expedition found themselves in game sinks (areas without populations they'd typically hunt) repeatedly. During these times the expedition team wasn't able to adapt to local diets because they didn't find foods like dried fish and root vegetables to be palatable. They took to eating dog and horse meat, which we know because of the detailed journals and letters they wrote. They would stop at trading posts and bargain for these animals with the intention of using them as a food source. This was not desperation eating because there were no other options. Fur traders were eating dog and horse regularly and Natives were breeding these animals as meat to trade. There was a distinction between dogs intended as meat and dogs intended as companions. Their pet newfoundland traveled the whole voyage with them as a companion. I really want to emphasize here that on this journey the group *turned down other kinds of foods in favor of eating dog.* They had choices. \n\nFurther back in time, around the Iron Age, cynophagy seems to have emerged along with agriculture and pastoralism. This is interesting because it wasn't exactly happening simultaneously (during the same years), but it repeatedly coincides with the cultural shifts of the Iron Age in different parts of the world. In the area around Lake Baikal (Russia) there have been dog remains found in association with domestic waste. These remains show cuts and breaks consistent with butchering. This is an area where previously dogs were being domesticated but not eaten (companion or guard use, possibly). Something changed that altered out relationship with dogs, making them part of our foodways. \n\nThe Late Iron Age in western Africa shows a similar shift in the archaeological record where older dog remains are found in companionable or utilitarian domestic contexts but Iron Age dog remains are found in food refuse cut, broken, and cooked bone. **However,** the spread of Islam in Africa brought along the taboo against eating dog. So here you have a culture you might not consider western that is debating the topic of cynophagy. Ethnographic data also says that western African hunting dogs *were not* eaten. A site in Burkina Faso has a variety of dog remains with some showing evidence of butchering and others not. \n\nFor an example of non-PIE cultures with affection towards dogs as companions, we can find many examples in Indigenous North Americans. There are ethnographies and tribal histories as well as archaeological sites that indicate companion relationships. This includes instances where dogs are buried with people as well as the persistence of ideas like dogs having an afterlife. \n\nAs always, there's more to the dog story, but I'd like you to reconsider what you are presuming of other cultures, modern and historic. Dogs have played many roles for humans at different times and in different places. They have been gods and they have been in the position that inspired the phrase \"treated like a dog\". \n\nFor more in-depth discussion of these points and more, check out the following sources I used:\n\nKerber, J. E. (1997). Native American treatment of dogs in Northeastern North America: archaeological and ethnohistorical perspectives, Archaeology of Eastern North America, 25, 81-96.\n\nLinseele, V. (2003). Cultural identity and the consumption of dogs in western Africa. In S. J. O'Day, W. Van Neer, & A. Ervynck, (Eds.), Behaviour Behind Bones: The zooarchaeology of ritual, religion, status and identity (pp. 318-326). Oxbow Books.\n\nLosey, R. J. et al. (2018). Buried, eaten, sacrificed: Archaeological dog remains from Trans- Baikal, Siberia, Archaeological Research in Asia, 16, 58-65.\n\nMartin, P. S., & Szuter, C. R. (1999). War Zones and Game Sinks in Lewis and Clark's West, Conservation Biology, 13(1), 36-45.\n\nTykot, R. H., van der Merwe, N. J., & Hammond, N. (1996). Stable Isotope Analysis of Bone Collagen, Bone Apatite, and Tooth Enamel in the Reconstruction of the Human Diet, Archaeological Chemistry, 625, 355-365."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Wow, ty for the response I did not expect one!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Sorry it took so long; sometimes the good animal questions slip through my filter. :)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Hume's problem of induction and its modern importance?\n\nAfter reading a bit about Hume;s problem of induction, it seems that he reasons that induction is unjustifiable as a capital T Truth. If I am to understand his conclusion as simply that we can't prove that induction works on every single thing in the universe, of course I would agree with this extreme statement. Is this relevant nowadays or has this reasoning simply slipped into the colloquial understanding of science?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "After reading a bit about Hume's problem of induction, it seems that he reasons that induction is unjustifiable as a capital T Truth. \n\nThat doesn't sound right. First, Hume thinks induction *is* justifiable. Second, it's not clear what difference there is between truth and \"capital T Truth.\"\n\nIs this relevant nowadays or has this reasoning simply slipped into the colloquial understanding of science?\n\nWell, Hume's position is relevant in some ways. For instance, his reorientation of the question of causal powers towards the epistemological question of how we can reason causally, rather than just asking the metaphysical question of what kind of thing a causal power is, seems to have been and remains highly influential. His identification of this issue as a more interesting and challenging problem than it initially appears seems to have been and remains highly influential. His own position on inductive reasoning as the ground for causal reasoning has gone on to have broad influence on how we think of causal reasoning, for instance informing the formulation of Mill's Methods. Similarly, his own position on inductive reasoning has gone on to have broad influence in associationist psychology. And his own position on the epistemological basis for causal reasoning prefigures both transcendental approaches to the topic like Kant's and psychological or evolutionary approaches that became prominent after Kant in the 19th century."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Hume's problem of induction and its modern importance?\n\nAfter reading a bit about Hume;s problem of induction, it seems that he reasons that induction is unjustifiable as a capital T Truth. If I am to understand his conclusion as simply that we can't prove that induction works on every single thing in the universe, of course I would agree with this extreme statement. Is this relevant nowadays or has this reasoning simply slipped into the colloquial understanding of science?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "After reading a bit about Hume's problem of induction, it seems that he reasons that induction is unjustifiable as a capital T Truth. \n\nThat doesn't sound right. First, Hume thinks induction *is* justifiable. Second, it's not clear what difference there is between truth and \"capital T Truth.\"\n\nIs this relevant nowadays or has this reasoning simply slipped into the colloquial understanding of science?\n\nWell, Hume's position is relevant in some ways. For instance, his reorientation of the question of causal powers towards the epistemological question of how we can reason causally, rather than just asking the metaphysical question of what kind of thing a causal power is, seems to have been and remains highly influential. His identification of this issue as a more interesting and challenging problem than it initially appears seems to have been and remains highly influential. His own position on inductive reasoning as the ground for causal reasoning has gone on to have broad influence on how we think of causal reasoning, for instance informing the formulation of Mill's Methods. Similarly, his own position on inductive reasoning has gone on to have broad influence in associationist psychology. And his own position on the epistemological basis for causal reasoning prefigures both transcendental approaches to the topic like Kant's and psychological or evolutionary approaches that became prominent after Kant in the 19th century."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Thanks for the history! I think asking this question to break open the question of how causality actually works in humans makes a lot of sense, as well as its relationship to Associationism. It seems that my reading of this problem induction as being answered by pragmatic probabilities seems to be centered in modern connectionism.\n\nWrt the first set of statements: \nI was trying to say that it seems like Hume ends up concluding truth begotten from induction has no logical basis - bad use of justifiable here. Capital T Truth represents something we **know** rather than **probabilistically believe** (little t truth)."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Capital T Truth represents something we know rather than probabilistically believe (little t truth).\n\nWhat I mean is that this isn't a distinction Hume makes, nor that philosophers in general make, so there's a worry that you're going to misunderstand things philosophers say if you impose this framework on their remarks."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "What punishment would the American founding fathers have received had they been captured by the British?\n\nHello all! \nIn the timeless film National Treasure, Nicolas Cage's character mentions that the founding fathers were committing high treason against the british crown, and had they been caught, they would have been \"hanged, beheaded, drawn and quartered and, my personal favorite, had their entrails cut out and burned!\" is this accurate? Would the founding fathers have received such a brutal execution, or even capital punishment in the first place?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Drawing and quartering would have been on the table, but wouldn't have been too likely. The last British drawing and quartering was famously David Tyrie in 1782. Supposedly something like 100,000 people came to watch his execution. But it had become rare before then.\n\nIt's possible that a handful of the chief insurgents (Washington, Adams, Hancock) might have been transported to England and give a full traitor's treatment. But they would be far more likely to have been given trials and hung in the colonies. Depending on exactly who captured them and when they were captured, they might have been imprisoned, paroled for the duration of the war, or summarily tried. In any case all the leaders were bound for the hangman's noose by the end of hostilities.\n\nWhen Lord Howe arrived in America in 1776, he came with broad authority to negotiate peace. He even had a conference on Staten Island in the fall of 1776 with Adams, Franklin, and Rutledge. But both sides were irreconcilable at that point. One thing that the Congressional delegates didn't know was that although Howe had authority to pardon traitors in order to secure a peace, he also had a list of men to whom he wasn't allowed pardon. Most of Congress was on that list including Adams. Howe's orders for them was to have them executed. So capital punishment was absolutely on the table, with certain men already having the equivalent of a signed death warrant."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "What punishment would the American founding fathers have received had they been captured by the British?\n\nHello all! \nIn the timeless film National Treasure, Nicolas Cage's character mentions that the founding fathers were committing high treason against the british crown, and had they been caught, they would have been \"hanged, beheaded, drawn and quartered and, my personal favorite, had their entrails cut out and burned!\" is this accurate? Would the founding fathers have received such a brutal execution, or even capital punishment in the first place?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Drawing and quartering would have been on the table, but wouldn't have been too likely. The last British drawing and quartering was famously David Tyrie in 1782. Supposedly something like 100,000 people came to watch his execution. But it had become rare before then.\n\nIt's possible that a handful of the chief insurgents (Washington, Adams, Hancock) might have been transported to England and give a full traitor's treatment. But they would be far more likely to have been given trials and hung in the colonies. Depending on exactly who captured them and when they were captured, they might have been imprisoned, paroled for the duration of the war, or summarily tried. In any case all the leaders were bound for the hangman's noose by the end of hostilities.\n\nWhen Lord Howe arrived in America in 1776, he came with broad authority to negotiate peace. He even had a conference on Staten Island in the fall of 1776 with Adams, Franklin, and Rutledge. But both sides were irreconcilable at that point. One thing that the Congressional delegates didn't know was that although Howe had authority to pardon traitors in order to secure a peace, he also had a list of men to whom he wasn't allowed pardon. Most of Congress was on that list including Adams. Howe's orders for them was to have them executed. So capital punishment was absolutely on the table, with certain men already having the equivalent of a signed death warrant."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Fascinating! I didn't know about this peace conference. Why do you say that the heavy hitters were more likely to be tried in the colonies had they been caught? To set an example?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Just convenience sake. The British did catch several men and execute them during the war. Although none of them were really at the level of Adams or Washington. All of the ones I can think of off-hand were given short trials and immediately hung. British trials at the time were given to being overly long, complicated, or having lengthy appeals processes. \n\nSo if the war had gone badly for the Americans, Lord Howe (or whoever) would have likely wrapped it up with local trials. It's possible that a few would have been transported to London for show trials. But mostly it seems likely the focus would have been on getting it over with."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I don't see how free will can exist.\n\nI'm assuming that there is no such thing as a soul.\n\n1) On average everything is ruled by classical physics. Then it follows that if you know the state of the internal system (brain) + state of the external system (everything that is not the brain) the evolution of the internal system is uniquely determined.\n\n2) One can argue that quantum mechanics, which are the true rules of the game are indeterministic and so the above reasoning is only an approximation. However, if every interaction will inherently bear a stochastic result, this still means that there is still no place for free will here. Let's say that an electron resulting in spin up or spin down after an interaction in the brain will cause an avalanche effect that will lead to a different thought. If this result of getting a spin up or spin down after interaction is purely 50-50 random, then the resulting avalanche effect in the brain is merely caused by chance. \n\nEDIT: By free will I mean something along the lines of ''If suddenly the idea pops up to do action A, the choice is fully mine to do it or not.'' If any of my very simplified above views is true, then either the fact you would do A was already decided and it just feels like you are making the choice, either the choice being made or not is the result of a random dice throw. Again, these are simplifications but I just point out what I see by free will."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "However, if every interaction will inherently bear a stochastic result, this still means that there is still no place for free will here.\n\nIt doesn't: it perhaps means there's no place for libertarian free will, but this is an unpopular position on how to construe free will.\n\nIf any of my very simplified above views is true, then either the fact you would do A was already decided and it just feels like you are making the choice...\n\nWhat you've said doesn't entail this: it perhaps entails that a deterministic process is being enacted which will lead inexorably to your making the decision to do A, but that's not the same thing as you not making the decision to do A--indeed, it's incompatible with the thesis that you won't really make the decision.\n\nPresumably your intuition here is that decisions for some reason don't count if they are part of a series of natural events proceeding according to natural laws, but rather only count if they somehow transcend natural laws--or something like this. But most people who hold the opinion that there is free will don't share this intuition, so to make your case you will have to defend it."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I don't see how free will can exist.\n\nI'm assuming that there is no such thing as a soul.\n\n1) On average everything is ruled by classical physics. Then it follows that if you know the state of the internal system (brain) + state of the external system (everything that is not the brain) the evolution of the internal system is uniquely determined.\n\n2) One can argue that quantum mechanics, which are the true rules of the game are indeterministic and so the above reasoning is only an approximation. However, if every interaction will inherently bear a stochastic result, this still means that there is still no place for free will here. Let's say that an electron resulting in spin up or spin down after an interaction in the brain will cause an avalanche effect that will lead to a different thought. If this result of getting a spin up or spin down after interaction is purely 50-50 random, then the resulting avalanche effect in the brain is merely caused by chance. \n\nEDIT: By free will I mean something along the lines of ''If suddenly the idea pops up to do action A, the choice is fully mine to do it or not.'' If any of my very simplified above views is true, then either the fact you would do A was already decided and it just feels like you are making the choice, either the choice being made or not is the result of a random dice throw. Again, these are simplifications but I just point out what I see by free will."
},
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"role": "assistant",
"content": "However, if every interaction will inherently bear a stochastic result, this still means that there is still no place for free will here.\n\nIt doesn't: it perhaps means there's no place for libertarian free will, but this is an unpopular position on how to construe free will.\n\nIf any of my very simplified above views is true, then either the fact you would do A was already decided and it just feels like you are making the choice...\n\nWhat you've said doesn't entail this: it perhaps entails that a deterministic process is being enacted which will lead inexorably to your making the decision to do A, but that's not the same thing as you not making the decision to do A--indeed, it's incompatible with the thesis that you won't really make the decision.\n\nPresumably your intuition here is that decisions for some reason don't count if they are part of a series of natural events proceeding according to natural laws, but rather only count if they somehow transcend natural laws--or something like this. But most people who hold the opinion that there is free will don't share this intuition, so to make your case you will have to defend it."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "but rather only count if they somehow transcend natural laws--or something like this\n\nThis is certainly not the direction I intented to go. \n\nAnyway, I think I see your point. Even if the motion of every atom in the universe was determined from the big bang, including any thought you'll have, this would still be you having those thoughts and making those decisions? I can get into that but as you point out, intuitively it feels very ''unfree'' to me."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "This is certainly not the direction I intented to go.\n\nBut it doesn't seem you can get to your thesis along any other direction.\n\nI can get into that but as you point out, intuitively it feels very ''unfree'' to me.\n\nBut if you can't defend that intuition--or worse, if any attempt to defend this intuition involves strange requirements about human volition only counting if it's supernatural, requirements which you regard as obviously ill-conceived--what good is it?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "How would John Rawls approach the trolley problem?\n\nFive people are tied to a trolley track and they will be run over if you don't pull a lever switching the tracks to a track where one person is tied to the track. Let's assume they all want to live and are equal in every way. Most people say its best to pull the lever, but this utilitarian approach doesn't consider the importance of equality in moral considerations that John Rawls embraced with his theory of the veil of ignorance.\n\nOne way to account for the importance of equality in this situation would be to flip a coin to make your decision so that everyone has an equal 50% chance of survival.\n\nOr you could roll a die and switch the tracks if the die comes up with 1-5 and do nothing if you roll a 6. Could that be the more ethical choice because your giving everyone equal influence over the probability distribution used to determine whether they will be killed?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "If we were deciding, behind the Veil of Ignorance, what to do about this specific situation, presumably we would decide \"the agent should be to pull the lever; if I turn out to be one of the six people whose lives is at stake, that action will give me a better chance of survival--5/6ths--than any other policy would\".\n\nBut Rawls doesn't really intend us to be evaluating individual *acts* from behind a Veil of Ignorance, just general *principles*. (His view is more reminiscent of Rule Consequentialism than of Act Consequentialism.)\n\nSpecifically, the general principle Rawls supports--the one that works best, in his opinion, across a wide range of possible situations--is \"inequalities are just only if they benefit everyone\". This principle seems to support a coin flip: any move away from the coin flip will improve some individuals' odds above 50% at the expense of lowering one individual's odds below 50%, so will be creating inequality that benefits the privileged at the expense of the disadvantaged."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "How would John Rawls approach the trolley problem?\n\nFive people are tied to a trolley track and they will be run over if you don't pull a lever switching the tracks to a track where one person is tied to the track. Let's assume they all want to live and are equal in every way. Most people say its best to pull the lever, but this utilitarian approach doesn't consider the importance of equality in moral considerations that John Rawls embraced with his theory of the veil of ignorance.\n\nOne way to account for the importance of equality in this situation would be to flip a coin to make your decision so that everyone has an equal 50% chance of survival.\n\nOr you could roll a die and switch the tracks if the die comes up with 1-5 and do nothing if you roll a 6. Could that be the more ethical choice because your giving everyone equal influence over the probability distribution used to determine whether they will be killed?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "If we were deciding, behind the Veil of Ignorance, what to do about this specific situation, presumably we would decide \"the agent should be to pull the lever; if I turn out to be one of the six people whose lives is at stake, that action will give me a better chance of survival--5/6ths--than any other policy would\".\n\nBut Rawls doesn't really intend us to be evaluating individual *acts* from behind a Veil of Ignorance, just general *principles*. (His view is more reminiscent of Rule Consequentialism than of Act Consequentialism.)\n\nSpecifically, the general principle Rawls supports--the one that works best, in his opinion, across a wide range of possible situations--is \"inequalities are just only if they benefit everyone\". This principle seems to support a coin flip: any move away from the coin flip will improve some individuals' odds above 50% at the expense of lowering one individual's odds below 50%, so will be creating inequality that benefits the privileged at the expense of the disadvantaged."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "If we were deciding, behind the Veil of Ignorance, what to do about this specific situation, presumably we would decide \"the agent should be to pull the lever; if I turn out to be one of the six people whose lives is at stake, that action will give me a better chance of survival--5/6ths--than any other policy would\".\n\nI don't think the veil of ignorance concept supports the idea of making rules that benefit the majority in the hopes that you are in majority. It seems you assumed that behind the veil of ignorance there is an equal chance of being any person but I don't think you can make that assumption. I think you are to assume that the probability of being any given person is unknown.\n\nBut Rawls doesn't really intend us to be evaluating individual acts from behind a Veil of Ignorance, just general principles. (His view is more reminiscent of Rule Consequentialism than of Act Consequentialism.)\n\nThat's an interesting point.\n\nSpecifically, the general principle Rawls supports--the one that works best, in his opinion, across a wide range of possible situations--is \"inequalities are just only if they benefit everyone\". This principle seems to support a coin flip: any move away from the coin flip will improve some individuals' odds above 50% at the expense of lowering one individual's odds below 50%, so will be creating inequality that benefits the privileged at the expense of the disadvantaged.\n\nThat's what I thought at first but as I thought about it I wondered whether it's better to give people an equal probability of survival or an equal influence over the probability distribution used to make the decision. I lean towards the latter because it seems absurd to flip a coin if there were a million people on one side and only one person on the other side where giving that one person a one in a million chance of survival seems more fair."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "It seems you assumed that behind the veil of ignorance there is an equal chance of being any person but I don't think you can make that assumption. I think you are to assume that the probability of being any given person is unknown.\n\nYeah, I see where you're coming from there. I think it's debatable.\n\nIt seems to me that the unknowableness of probabilities is at least largely a feature of Rawls's rule consequentialist approach, not of the veil of ignorance itself. He wants us to choose general principles without knowing, for example, how many handicapped people are going to be living in our society, and therefore without knowing what our odds are of being handicapped.\n\nIf you're interested, the relevant section of *Theory of Justice* is Section 26. For example: \"To begin with, the veil of ignorance excludes all ~~but the vaguest~~ knowledge of likelihoods. The parties have no basis for determining the probable nature of their society, or their place in it. Thus they have ~~strong reasons for being wary of~~ *no basis for* probability calculations ~~if any other course is open to them~~.\" If the veil of ignorance worked the way you seem to think it does, even if applied to specific, well-defined situations such as the trolley problem, then it seems to me he wouldn't have needed to mention \"the probable nature of their society\" at all here.\n\nas I thought about it I wondered whether it's better to give people an equal probability of survival or an equal influence over the probability distribution used to make the decision. I lean towards the latter because it seems absurd to flip a coin if there were a million people on one side and only one person on the other side where giving that one person a one in a million chance of survival seems more fair.\n\nThe difference principle (which is what we're supposed to be applying once we get to an individual case, not the veil of ignorance test) doesn't say anything about \"equal influence\"--it's about equal outcomes. (Well, \"outcomes\" in terms of how many primary social goods each person is allocated, not necessarily in terms of what the person does with them.)\n\nI could definitely imagine a Scanlonian arguing as you're describing, on the grounds that it's the only way to ensure that each person's presence is taken into account in the decision. But it doesn't feel Rawlsian to me."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "AskScience AMAs: Ask a planetary scientist/astrobiologist\n\nI'm on the science team for the [ESA/Roscosmos Trace Gas Orbiter](http://exploration.esa.int/mars/46475-trace-gas-orbiter/). The mission used to be a joint ESA/NASA project until... NASA pulled everything. Now we're working with the Russians on a very reduced schedule, with the orbiter due to launch in 2016. \n\nThe TGO aims to characterise the atmosphere of Mars in more detail than ever before, find out what's in it and where and when particular gases exist. It will also act as a communications relay for the associated rover, due to launch in 2018.\n\nI do science support, so my project is concerning with identifying potential sources and sinks of methane, while also investigating the transport of any gases that might be produced in the subsurface. I simulate the subsurface and atmosphere of Mars in computer models and also in environmental chambers.\n\nHowever, I also do instrument development and am helping build and test one of the instruments on the TGO.\n\nIn addition to all this, I also work testing new life detection technologies that might be used on future missions. I've recently returned from Iceland where we tested field equipment on samples from very fresh lava fields, which were acting as Mars analogues.\n\nSo, AMA, about Mars, mission development, astrobiology... anything!\n\nEDIT: I forgot, for my Master's project I worked on building a demonstrator of a Mars VTOL aerobot, based on [this design](http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1999/1/fulltext.pdf).\n\nUPDATE: thanks for all the questions. I'm happy to keep answering if people still have some, but look out for more AskScience AMAs in the future!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "There has been a lot written about methane signatures in the martian atmosphere, and whether that methane is indicative of organic processes or whether it is the result of abiogenic processes such as serpentinisation of olivine. Is there a way to discriminate between biogenic and abiogenic methane from an orbital mission, perhaps some way to pick up on the more or less fractionated carbon isotopes or something like that?\n\nNice of you to do an AMA, BTW - thanks!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "AskScience AMAs: Ask a planetary scientist/astrobiologist\n\nI'm on the science team for the [ESA/Roscosmos Trace Gas Orbiter](http://exploration.esa.int/mars/46475-trace-gas-orbiter/). The mission used to be a joint ESA/NASA project until... NASA pulled everything. Now we're working with the Russians on a very reduced schedule, with the orbiter due to launch in 2016. \n\nThe TGO aims to characterise the atmosphere of Mars in more detail than ever before, find out what's in it and where and when particular gases exist. It will also act as a communications relay for the associated rover, due to launch in 2018.\n\nI do science support, so my project is concerning with identifying potential sources and sinks of methane, while also investigating the transport of any gases that might be produced in the subsurface. I simulate the subsurface and atmosphere of Mars in computer models and also in environmental chambers.\n\nHowever, I also do instrument development and am helping build and test one of the instruments on the TGO.\n\nIn addition to all this, I also work testing new life detection technologies that might be used on future missions. I've recently returned from Iceland where we tested field equipment on samples from very fresh lava fields, which were acting as Mars analogues.\n\nSo, AMA, about Mars, mission development, astrobiology... anything!\n\nEDIT: I forgot, for my Master's project I worked on building a demonstrator of a Mars VTOL aerobot, based on [this design](http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1999/1/fulltext.pdf).\n\nUPDATE: thanks for all the questions. I'm happy to keep answering if people still have some, but look out for more AskScience AMAs in the future!"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "There has been a lot written about methane signatures in the martian atmosphere, and whether that methane is indicative of organic processes or whether it is the result of abiogenic processes such as serpentinisation of olivine. Is there a way to discriminate between biogenic and abiogenic methane from an orbital mission, perhaps some way to pick up on the more or less fractionated carbon isotopes or something like that?\n\nNice of you to do an AMA, BTW - thanks!"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Yes, there are ways to distinguish, and yes, one of those ways is the fractionation of the carbon in the methane itself. In fact, that's one of the major research thrusts of my project, but what I'm finding so far is that it's not just as simple as saying \"biogenic methane has X fractionation, and abiogenic has Y\". There's a lot of processes that could be happening that alter the fractionation, perhaps in a predictable way, which is what I'm looking at. Hopefully, I'll be able to link you to a paper I'll have written on this in about a year or so. :)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Thanks a gazillion!\n\nCan't wait to *finally* have a bit a solid stable isotopic data from Mars \n\nBest wishes and bonne chance!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "How do immunoassay drug tests work?\n\nFrom what I understand, the drug test is actually testing for free floating antibodies. Lets use THC. If you have THC metabolites in your system then the antibodies bind to them, then there is nothing to bind to the test strip and you don't get a reaction. However, if you don't smoke pot the THC metabolite antibodies attach to the test strip and cause a reaction give you the \"negative\" result line.\n\nMy question is, if you've never smoked how would you even have the antibodies in the first place. Aren't the antibodies a reaction to a stimulus? So without ever having THC, you're body would have never needed to create the antibodies that would otherwise bind to the reaction strip.\n\nMaybe i've got the whole thing wrong."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "There are a few different types of immunoassays. Some test for antibodies using a known quantity of antigen, and some test for antigens using a known quanity of antibody. What you described is the first type, but for THC it's the second type, where the antibody comes not from the patient sample, but from the testing reagents. The antigen in this case is THC metabolites in the patient sample."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "How do immunoassay drug tests work?\n\nFrom what I understand, the drug test is actually testing for free floating antibodies. Lets use THC. If you have THC metabolites in your system then the antibodies bind to them, then there is nothing to bind to the test strip and you don't get a reaction. However, if you don't smoke pot the THC metabolite antibodies attach to the test strip and cause a reaction give you the \"negative\" result line.\n\nMy question is, if you've never smoked how would you even have the antibodies in the first place. Aren't the antibodies a reaction to a stimulus? So without ever having THC, you're body would have never needed to create the antibodies that would otherwise bind to the reaction strip.\n\nMaybe i've got the whole thing wrong."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "There are a few different types of immunoassays. Some test for antibodies using a known quantity of antigen, and some test for antigens using a known quanity of antibody. What you described is the first type, but for THC it's the second type, where the antibody comes not from the patient sample, but from the testing reagents. The antigen in this case is THC metabolites in the patient sample."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "So then i'm confused how the \"negative\" test result produces an indicator. What in your urine is telling the negative strip \"there is no THC metabolite in this urine.\" Wouldn't it be easier for a strip to say \"yes there is THC in this urine\""
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Disclaimer: not sure how exactly the THC assay works, just answering for immunoassays in general.\n\nYou can have assays that work by emiting more signal when there's more antigen, or ones that emit less signal for more antigen (sounds like THC is the second kind, with more signal for a negative result). Immunoassays are like sandwiches. You start with the antibody coating the test well. Then you add the patient sample with antigen. Then you have two options. Either add another antibody to sandwich the antigen, and that second antibody will have some kind of marker (usually an enzyme that causes a color change). You wash away all the extra enzyme and are left with only the stuff bound to the antigen. This is a direct immunoassay, where the amount of color change is directly correlated to the amount of antigen (more patient antigen=more color change). The other option is after you've added the patient sample, you add your own antigen that's linked to the color changing enzyme. In this scenario, all of the antibody binding sites taken up by the patient antigen will NOT bind the color changing enzyme. Thus, more antigen in the patient sample=less color change. This is an indirect assay."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I am not loosing my job... And I feel a little empty\n\nWe were told a couple weeks ago that our contract was coming to an end and our company was being bought. I told my gf close friends and family, I didn't have another job lined up but I have been doin some freelance, and I was starting to like the idea Workin for my self while I found another job. I started to accept my date and look to the bright side, although it would be tough I thought this might be needed. \n\nToday we were told that the company we do contract work for are hiring us. So nothing will change, and all the worrying and uncertainty is gone... And I feel empty. Idk I mean this is probably for the best, and every one else is relived and says this buys me more time to look for a job. \n\nI guess I'm just disappointed in my self for needing a big change and possible unemployment to feel motivated to continue my career path. Idk I have mixed feelings."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Depending on who bought out your company, things may get better, or worse. Probably worse, really."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I am not loosing my job... And I feel a little empty\n\nWe were told a couple weeks ago that our contract was coming to an end and our company was being bought. I told my gf close friends and family, I didn't have another job lined up but I have been doin some freelance, and I was starting to like the idea Workin for my self while I found another job. I started to accept my date and look to the bright side, although it would be tough I thought this might be needed. \n\nToday we were told that the company we do contract work for are hiring us. So nothing will change, and all the worrying and uncertainty is gone... And I feel empty. Idk I mean this is probably for the best, and every one else is relived and says this buys me more time to look for a job. \n\nI guess I'm just disappointed in my self for needing a big change and possible unemployment to feel motivated to continue my career path. Idk I have mixed feelings."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Depending on who bought out your company, things may get better, or worse. Probably worse, really."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I mean I still don't plan to stay so it doesn't matter too much. But I guess knowing I still got a job in the new year is helpful"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Job hunting whilst one is still employed is so much easier... there's' much less stress, and you have the luxury of being a little more discerning about new prospects."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "If I win the lottery, what would you like?\n\nThe Powerball has almost reached $500 million again here in the US and I bought a ticket. If I somehow win tonight's drawing (or future drawings) what would some of you want? If I win I'll come through and buy what you want as a gift!\n\nI'll start,\n\nFor me, the first thing I would buy (after helping family, friends, and paying off student loans) would be a Grand Seiko watch and some Nike sweatpants.\n\nEdit1: I'm working through all of the comments and trying to reply to everyone. If I don't reply to your comment don't worry you will still be added to the list!! :)\n\n**Edit 2**\nI'm so blown away by all of the comments everyone has replied with. I'm sorry I haven't been able to reply to all of them, but please know you will still be added to the list! There are lots of unique, passionate, moving, special, and heart warming requests I hope I can help in some way soon. I would love to win the lottery just as much as anyone else and if I don't win tonight or in the near future please know once I do I will come back for you all on this comment thread <3 I also want to say thanks for everyone leaving helpful comments about what to do in the event of winning the lottery along with how impossible it is to win. I only buy a ticket if it gets around $500 million or higher which results in about a handful or so tickets a year. But again thank you for showing concern and leaving helpful advice :)\n\n**Edit 3** \nI didn't win the drawing last night but the good news is no one else did either so the next drawing is Saturday with a new estimated jackpot of $523 million. Hopefully we can get better luck over the weekend!! I just want to shout out to the student loan gang, it's rough out here and it will take awhile to pay these back but don't worry we will make it through whether or not we win the lottery 😤💪 As for everyone leaving a comment I will do my best to help you with a lottery win of this caliber. Whether it's this coming Saturday or years from now I'll come through. Also for the Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox series X gang I'll get you the most up to date console at that time of winning :)\n\n**Edit 4** I didn't win the drawing this past Saturday. However no one won so it's up to $545 million with a drawing today! I'll keep you all updated 😎\n\n**Edit 5** I didn't win last nights drawing but no one else did either so the next drawing is Wednesday 09/29 and the total is up to $570 million USD now! I'll keep editing on this post as long as it lets me :)\n\n**Edit 6** Still haven't won the Powerball and no one else has either so the total is now up to $670 million with the next drawing tonight 10/04 Someone will win eventually hopefully someone here does :D"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Do yourself a favor, pay off any debts you have, and sink as much of that as you can into solid investments that'll earn you a decent yield every year. At least one that's pretty well-known for beating inflation. (You may want to look at a decent set of wheels if you're in the market for a new car, too. I hear they're doing good things with electric vehicles, though of course I'm not gonna tell you which automaker to go with, lol.)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "If I win the lottery, what would you like?\n\nThe Powerball has almost reached $500 million again here in the US and I bought a ticket. If I somehow win tonight's drawing (or future drawings) what would some of you want? If I win I'll come through and buy what you want as a gift!\n\nI'll start,\n\nFor me, the first thing I would buy (after helping family, friends, and paying off student loans) would be a Grand Seiko watch and some Nike sweatpants.\n\nEdit1: I'm working through all of the comments and trying to reply to everyone. If I don't reply to your comment don't worry you will still be added to the list!! :)\n\n**Edit 2**\nI'm so blown away by all of the comments everyone has replied with. I'm sorry I haven't been able to reply to all of them, but please know you will still be added to the list! There are lots of unique, passionate, moving, special, and heart warming requests I hope I can help in some way soon. I would love to win the lottery just as much as anyone else and if I don't win tonight or in the near future please know once I do I will come back for you all on this comment thread <3 I also want to say thanks for everyone leaving helpful comments about what to do in the event of winning the lottery along with how impossible it is to win. I only buy a ticket if it gets around $500 million or higher which results in about a handful or so tickets a year. But again thank you for showing concern and leaving helpful advice :)\n\n**Edit 3** \nI didn't win the drawing last night but the good news is no one else did either so the next drawing is Saturday with a new estimated jackpot of $523 million. Hopefully we can get better luck over the weekend!! I just want to shout out to the student loan gang, it's rough out here and it will take awhile to pay these back but don't worry we will make it through whether or not we win the lottery 😤💪 As for everyone leaving a comment I will do my best to help you with a lottery win of this caliber. Whether it's this coming Saturday or years from now I'll come through. Also for the Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox series X gang I'll get you the most up to date console at that time of winning :)\n\n**Edit 4** I didn't win the drawing this past Saturday. However no one won so it's up to $545 million with a drawing today! I'll keep you all updated 😎\n\n**Edit 5** I didn't win last nights drawing but no one else did either so the next drawing is Wednesday 09/29 and the total is up to $570 million USD now! I'll keep editing on this post as long as it lets me :)\n\n**Edit 6** Still haven't won the Powerball and no one else has either so the total is now up to $670 million with the next drawing tonight 10/04 Someone will win eventually hopefully someone here does :D"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Do yourself a favor, pay off any debts you have, and sink as much of that as you can into solid investments that'll earn you a decent yield every year. At least one that's pretty well-known for beating inflation. (You may want to look at a decent set of wheels if you're in the market for a new car, too. I hear they're doing good things with electric vehicles, though of course I'm not gonna tell you which automaker to go with, lol.)"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Definitely want to invest a lot of it for that reason!! I'm all for electric cars but I want to wait and see the technology boom in the next 5-10 years for electric car batteries first. Exciting things to come for sure! :)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Cool. I also feel like we're still sort of in the early stages for EVs, but it's worth watching them to see who's doing what while we wait."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Do actions with harmful but unintended and unanticipated consequences deserve punishment?\n\nFor the sake of argument let us consider the following hypothetical scenario - during a large party in the moments of celebration I fire a round of my rifle at the sky. In many cultures this is an acceptable practice during large celebrations such as a marriage. The bullet I shot ultimately fell down and hit a man who consequently suffered grave injuries. Thus I establish that the consequences of my action were harmful. However, at the time when I fired the round I did not know that such an event is even possible (you may term this illiteracy) thus to me the consequence was unanticipated. Obviously the consequence was unintended as well. I have 2 main questions here - was my action immoral? If so is such an action immoral of its own accord or is it only immoral when followed by a harmful consequence? Second, should I punished for my action given that it is proven that I had neither anticipated nor intended the said consequence.\n\nNow, to take it a step further suppose that I knew that it is possible for a bullet to fall down and hit a man. Nevertheless I still fire the rifle at the sky -- and it again hits a man on its way down. This time the consequences of my action were anticipated (to some extend) but still unintended. Do the answers to the questions posed previously change any how?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "If the action was unintended nor could be reasonably anticipated then what you did was morally neutral and you should not feel moral guilt (which relates to your moral culpability for doing this act) but you may well feel regret that your agency was connected to an act that brought about harm. Bernard Williams takes this line in his Moral Luck paper (however this is an advanced paper and you should not try to read it unless you already know the fundamentals about deontology, Aristotle and virtue ethics).\n\nThen there are many interesting questions regarding the agent's culpability for not foreseeing expected consequences. Some of these questions relate to the agent's role, e.g. we expect a doctor to foresee more effects of medications than a lay person, we expect a parent to educate themselves about some aspects of looking after a newborn before looking after one, etc. Some of these questions relate to social conceptions of situations, e.g. we all know that even if everyone follows the Highway Code some people will still die in traffic accidents but we accept this as the price we pay for the convenience of using cars. Some questions relate to how we should think about risk. Making decisions about risk by necessity involve uncertainty - some aspect of the choices will be unknown but the decision has to be made. Are you familiar with normative theories? Different normative theories will give different answers to how we should approach risk. Consequentialist account will, predictably, be focused on the consequences that actuate. Character based theories will focus on the traits displayed by the choices to risk regardless of whether the consequences actuate or not. So, for example, the drunk driver who makes it home safely against all odds has done nothing wrong as far as consequentialists are concerned, whereas the virtue ethicist would say the the choice to drink when you know you will drive displays the vice of recklessness regardless of whether you happen to hit anyone or not. Decisions about risk are affected by who makes the decision, who bears the benefit/harm, whether other people are complicit in the decision, any special obligations that are role specific, etc."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Do actions with harmful but unintended and unanticipated consequences deserve punishment?\n\nFor the sake of argument let us consider the following hypothetical scenario - during a large party in the moments of celebration I fire a round of my rifle at the sky. In many cultures this is an acceptable practice during large celebrations such as a marriage. The bullet I shot ultimately fell down and hit a man who consequently suffered grave injuries. Thus I establish that the consequences of my action were harmful. However, at the time when I fired the round I did not know that such an event is even possible (you may term this illiteracy) thus to me the consequence was unanticipated. Obviously the consequence was unintended as well. I have 2 main questions here - was my action immoral? If so is such an action immoral of its own accord or is it only immoral when followed by a harmful consequence? Second, should I punished for my action given that it is proven that I had neither anticipated nor intended the said consequence.\n\nNow, to take it a step further suppose that I knew that it is possible for a bullet to fall down and hit a man. Nevertheless I still fire the rifle at the sky -- and it again hits a man on its way down. This time the consequences of my action were anticipated (to some extend) but still unintended. Do the answers to the questions posed previously change any how?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "If the action was unintended nor could be reasonably anticipated then what you did was morally neutral and you should not feel moral guilt (which relates to your moral culpability for doing this act) but you may well feel regret that your agency was connected to an act that brought about harm. Bernard Williams takes this line in his Moral Luck paper (however this is an advanced paper and you should not try to read it unless you already know the fundamentals about deontology, Aristotle and virtue ethics).\n\nThen there are many interesting questions regarding the agent's culpability for not foreseeing expected consequences. Some of these questions relate to the agent's role, e.g. we expect a doctor to foresee more effects of medications than a lay person, we expect a parent to educate themselves about some aspects of looking after a newborn before looking after one, etc. Some of these questions relate to social conceptions of situations, e.g. we all know that even if everyone follows the Highway Code some people will still die in traffic accidents but we accept this as the price we pay for the convenience of using cars. Some questions relate to how we should think about risk. Making decisions about risk by necessity involve uncertainty - some aspect of the choices will be unknown but the decision has to be made. Are you familiar with normative theories? Different normative theories will give different answers to how we should approach risk. Consequentialist account will, predictably, be focused on the consequences that actuate. Character based theories will focus on the traits displayed by the choices to risk regardless of whether the consequences actuate or not. So, for example, the drunk driver who makes it home safely against all odds has done nothing wrong as far as consequentialists are concerned, whereas the virtue ethicist would say the the choice to drink when you know you will drive displays the vice of recklessness regardless of whether you happen to hit anyone or not. Decisions about risk are affected by who makes the decision, who bears the benefit/harm, whether other people are complicit in the decision, any special obligations that are role specific, etc."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "If the action was unintended nor could be reasonably anticipated then what you did was morally neutral and you should not feel moral guilt (which relates to your moral culpability for doing this act) but you may well feel regret that your agency was connected to an act that brought about harm.\n\nThank you for the response. I feel very enlightened. Just one question for this excerpt, by 'nor could be reasonable anticipated' you mean anticipated *by the agent* or *by others?* For an agent can really be innocent or just dumb enough to not figure out the consequences or risks in advance but to someone else, say a judge or bearer or other people the consequence or risk is easily anticipated for the said action.\n\nAre you familiar with normative theories?\n\nNo but you have explained it to me reasonably well so I get the gist of your argument. I think I align more with character based theories and I will try to explore this further."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "The Williams paper from where this notion of agent regret for something that one is not morally culpable for, is complex. Essentially I think he means that the action's consequences cannot be rationally anticipated by anyone. It is an attack on the idea that reason is all powerful.\n\nConsequentialists have a lot to say on expected consequences. Some argue for rule-consequentialism, that is, adopting the rules that are most likely, overall to bring about good consequences. Some argue for developing dispositions that lead you to act in a way that overall brings about good consequences. So it can all become quite complex.\n\nIn general most people do find themselves attracted to either the idea that morality is about who you are (character, intentions, motives) or to the idea that morality is about changing the world out there (consequences). It's a good starting point but it is worth looking at alternative normative theories in more detail because then the ideas become more refined, the options more distinct and the strengths and weaknesses of each position more apparent. The kinds of ideas you are interested in are wonderfully inspiring, but they will make more sense with a deeper background in normative theories."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Some people are just amazing\n\nSo I'm a dirt-poor university student. I earn just enough to pay my bills and eat two meals a day. I couldn't afford to buy my sister a birthday present last week, and I know she understands but I feel crappy about it. \n\nMy birthday comes a few days after hers, and I told my family that I don't want anything. I usually hate my birthdays anyway. But my sister and her partner brought around a package for me today, full of new computer parts for my raggedy old PC so that I can game with them. There's easily a few hundred bucks worth of equipment there. \n\nI don't deserve these people. Anyways, it's got me feeling a bit emotional, and I just had to let that out."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Yes, you do deserve it.\n\nYour present economic position is not your entire life.\n\nBudget smartly, live within your budget.\n\nWhen you are able to, you will show your appreciation for all the nice things your sister has done. And you will not do that in crass displays of 'paying back', but in tokens of genuine appreciation through shared experiences AND, if need be, to help them should they be in need of some help themselves.\n\nBut first you have to ditch the 'I don't deserve it'. You're not that kind of person. Everybody deserves love and affection and the help of their loved ones.\n\nWe're a social species. I have seen many graveyards and in all the thousands of dead people I have seen there, I have never, not once, seen anyone print their final bank balance on their tombstone. Because that is not what life is about and if you're smart, you're not going to make life about making money."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Some people are just amazing\n\nSo I'm a dirt-poor university student. I earn just enough to pay my bills and eat two meals a day. I couldn't afford to buy my sister a birthday present last week, and I know she understands but I feel crappy about it. \n\nMy birthday comes a few days after hers, and I told my family that I don't want anything. I usually hate my birthdays anyway. But my sister and her partner brought around a package for me today, full of new computer parts for my raggedy old PC so that I can game with them. There's easily a few hundred bucks worth of equipment there. \n\nI don't deserve these people. Anyways, it's got me feeling a bit emotional, and I just had to let that out."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Yes, you do deserve it.\n\nYour present economic position is not your entire life.\n\nBudget smartly, live within your budget.\n\nWhen you are able to, you will show your appreciation for all the nice things your sister has done. And you will not do that in crass displays of 'paying back', but in tokens of genuine appreciation through shared experiences AND, if need be, to help them should they be in need of some help themselves.\n\nBut first you have to ditch the 'I don't deserve it'. You're not that kind of person. Everybody deserves love and affection and the help of their loved ones.\n\nWe're a social species. I have seen many graveyards and in all the thousands of dead people I have seen there, I have never, not once, seen anyone print their final bank balance on their tombstone. Because that is not what life is about and if you're smart, you're not going to make life about making money."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Oh absolutely. I'm much less concerned about paying back a debt than I am about showing how much their kindness means to me. Doesn't necessarily have to involve money, but when I have some to share I'll share it with them."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Go for it!\n\nBe well."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "My three year old just turned vegetarian\n\nI just wanted to share. It seems kind of momentous moment in her short life. It's the first real injustice she's recognised in the world and chosen to act on, even if her reasoning is pretty simple at this point. \n\nAnyone else have a passionate preschooler?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I don't have kids yet but I love watching my little cousins grow up from babies and start developing their own personality and become their own people. It's interesting to see what influence they get from their parents/school/friends/community and what's just their own."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "My three year old just turned vegetarian\n\nI just wanted to share. It seems kind of momentous moment in her short life. It's the first real injustice she's recognised in the world and chosen to act on, even if her reasoning is pretty simple at this point. \n\nAnyone else have a passionate preschooler?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I don't have kids yet but I love watching my little cousins grow up from babies and start developing their own personality and become their own people. It's interesting to see what influence they get from their parents/school/friends/community and what's just their own."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "If/ when you have children, you can bet that they'll be influenced by your little cousins. It's lovely to see them engaging with each other.\n\nThe unique stuff is the coolest though. You just can never predictor how they'll turn out. Like how did I, who was the least girly child ever, produce a daughter *obsessed* with baby dolls and glittery nail varnish?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Yeah it occurred to me once how cool it must be to have a kid and then have them make artwork. Like yeah it may just be macaroni glued haphazardly to a piece of paper, but you *made* that person and that person *made* a thing. They have their own thoughts inside their head and their own creativity. It's wild!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Am I the only one who wants to cuddle when I'm sick?\n\nI usually don't care too much about cuddling or snuggling or really touching people in general. It's not really an important thing for me since nobody really wants to hold me or touch me anyway. Never has been important to me. \n\nExcept when I'm sick. \n\nWhen I'm sick, be it a cold or flu or whatever, I just want to be held by someone. \n\nI don't want a boyfriend out of it. I don't want someone to think I want to sleep with them. I just want to be the little spoon for a bit and get some rest to feel better. \n\nBut I don't know anyone who would ever cuddle with me at any time, much less when I'm a germ-infested mess of a person. So here I lay, in my bed, with pillows behind me to try to simulate any kind of comfort. \n\nAm I the only one who wants to be held only when they're not feeling well?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I think, I'd love to be held, but I wouldn't want anyone else to get sick because of me."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Am I the only one who wants to cuddle when I'm sick?\n\nI usually don't care too much about cuddling or snuggling or really touching people in general. It's not really an important thing for me since nobody really wants to hold me or touch me anyway. Never has been important to me. \n\nExcept when I'm sick. \n\nWhen I'm sick, be it a cold or flu or whatever, I just want to be held by someone. \n\nI don't want a boyfriend out of it. I don't want someone to think I want to sleep with them. I just want to be the little spoon for a bit and get some rest to feel better. \n\nBut I don't know anyone who would ever cuddle with me at any time, much less when I'm a germ-infested mess of a person. So here I lay, in my bed, with pillows behind me to try to simulate any kind of comfort. \n\nAm I the only one who wants to be held only when they're not feeling well?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I think, I'd love to be held, but I wouldn't want anyone else to get sick because of me."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "That's exactly why I don't ever vocalize it. I would never wish someone else get sick, especially because of me, but it really is the only time I ever want to be held. I'm so weird."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "No, you're not."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Am I the only one who wants to cuddle when I'm sick?\n\nI usually don't care too much about cuddling or snuggling or really touching people in general. It's not really an important thing for me since nobody really wants to hold me or touch me anyway. Never has been important to me. \n\nExcept when I'm sick. \n\nWhen I'm sick, be it a cold or flu or whatever, I just want to be held by someone. \n\nI don't want a boyfriend out of it. I don't want someone to think I want to sleep with them. I just want to be the little spoon for a bit and get some rest to feel better. \n\nBut I don't know anyone who would ever cuddle with me at any time, much less when I'm a germ-infested mess of a person. So here I lay, in my bed, with pillows behind me to try to simulate any kind of comfort. \n\nAm I the only one who wants to be held only when they're not feeling well?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I think, I'd love to be held, but I wouldn't want anyone else to get sick because of me."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "That's exactly why I don't ever vocalize it. I would never wish someone else get sick, especially because of me, but it really is the only time I ever want to be held. I'm so weird."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "No, you're not."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Thank you. ❤️ It's just an unusual longing for me. I'm not usually a touchy person."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "If it makes you feel better right now, here's a hug\n\n*Virtual hug*"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Biggest moment of my life, celebrating all alone\n\nPosting here because I just want to tell someone.\nI struggled to get through my bachelors degree because of depression and anxiety caused by trauma and abuse. Barely made it out alive (literally), but the accomplishment was tainted by all that was happening in my life at the time. Graduated during covid so no celebrations or seeing anyone, no graduation ceremony either. \n\nAlways wanted to do my masters degree, but no one thought I could because I struggled through university. I was always a smart kid, I was just going through a rough time. \n\nDecided to do my masters, knocked the 3 year program out in 16 months taking on a double course load, and finishing with distinctions. Typed and submitted my last words last night at 10:18 pm, I did it. Always pictured that moment a little differently, but I was all alone, texted my important people but no one really responded or called. Hadn't eaten all day as I was trying to finish, so just went to bed. Wokeup proud of myself, just feeling a little sad. Still proud of myself, just wish someone else was too. \n\nThanks for reading and letting me share\n\nEdit: Thank you so much everyone for the overwhelming support and congratulations. I cried all day reading through your messages and comments. I know I should be proud, and I am-i just wanted to share my excitement with someone so thank you all from the bottom of my heart for letting me share with you. You helped make this moment so special, and I will continue to pay that forward.\n\nTo those of you in a similar situation, keep going. Even if you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, know that its there, and keep going until you find it. Im proud of you, and I cant wait to hear about all of your accomplishments. \n\nTo everyone who's shared their stories and those who have crossed the finish line too, well done - you inspire me to keep going, and im so proud of all of you also.\n\nTheres a lot of comments, and ive tried to respond to nearly all but I dont think ill be able to. Rest assured I AM absolutely sitting here haven't moved in hours and am reading every single one and continuously refreshing my notifications. \n\nThank you for giving this sad kid something to smile about today, and forever. \n\nLove,\n\nA\n\nSecond Edit: and all these awards!?!? Oh my little reddit heart is so full. Thank you so much you guys, youre seriously all amazing."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Hey! Do you have a graduation ceremony and, if so, is it going to be streamed?\n\nI'd love to attend and support you even if I don't know which person going up is you."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Biggest moment of my life, celebrating all alone\n\nPosting here because I just want to tell someone.\nI struggled to get through my bachelors degree because of depression and anxiety caused by trauma and abuse. Barely made it out alive (literally), but the accomplishment was tainted by all that was happening in my life at the time. Graduated during covid so no celebrations or seeing anyone, no graduation ceremony either. \n\nAlways wanted to do my masters degree, but no one thought I could because I struggled through university. I was always a smart kid, I was just going through a rough time. \n\nDecided to do my masters, knocked the 3 year program out in 16 months taking on a double course load, and finishing with distinctions. Typed and submitted my last words last night at 10:18 pm, I did it. Always pictured that moment a little differently, but I was all alone, texted my important people but no one really responded or called. Hadn't eaten all day as I was trying to finish, so just went to bed. Wokeup proud of myself, just feeling a little sad. Still proud of myself, just wish someone else was too. \n\nThanks for reading and letting me share\n\nEdit: Thank you so much everyone for the overwhelming support and congratulations. I cried all day reading through your messages and comments. I know I should be proud, and I am-i just wanted to share my excitement with someone so thank you all from the bottom of my heart for letting me share with you. You helped make this moment so special, and I will continue to pay that forward.\n\nTo those of you in a similar situation, keep going. Even if you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, know that its there, and keep going until you find it. Im proud of you, and I cant wait to hear about all of your accomplishments. \n\nTo everyone who's shared their stories and those who have crossed the finish line too, well done - you inspire me to keep going, and im so proud of all of you also.\n\nTheres a lot of comments, and ive tried to respond to nearly all but I dont think ill be able to. Rest assured I AM absolutely sitting here haven't moved in hours and am reading every single one and continuously refreshing my notifications. \n\nThank you for giving this sad kid something to smile about today, and forever. \n\nLove,\n\nA\n\nSecond Edit: and all these awards!?!? Oh my little reddit heart is so full. Thank you so much you guys, youre seriously all amazing."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Hey! Do you have a graduation ceremony and, if so, is it going to be streamed?\n\nI'd love to attend and support you even if I don't know which person going up is you."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Wow, that's incredibly thoughtful, thank you so much. Its such a nice feeling to know people care. You are such a kind soul. Unfortunately, my school is overseas and it'll be really expensive to travel for the ceremony - so right now I don't think ill be able to attend. It sucks because I didnt have a graduation for my bachelors either because of covid, but on the day of ill be sure to celebrate with a drink, ill update on here (it'll be in april) and maybe you can all join me for a celebratory drink via reddit :)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I absolutely will! Congratulations on such a difficult journey, I am so so proud of you ❤️"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Lend me your car knowledge? My brakes are grinding!\n\nSo, my $1500 van needs a $1000 fix for power steering (NOPE), and $500 fix for new brakes, pads, that sort of thing.\n\nI took it into the shop because the brakes were grinding super bad and felt like they were catching a tiny bit when I pushed them hard. \n\nHe told me he wouldn't drive it anymore till it got fixed but.\n\nI have work tomorrow. Yeah, I'm that kind of person. I expected it to be maybe $300 max to get the brakes and power steering fixed, but I got a little unlucky. So I mean, I don't really know how credit cards work but I guess this is the time to get one?\n\nIs it even worth fixing my car, or should I get a new one? I don't really make much money at all, so, I'd have to get another job to afford it, but I kinda can't because I need to move to get into a college thing. I think I'll buy a big slingshot and a glider at this point.\n\nWhat kind of experiences have you had with brakes going bad, or breaking on you and causing some kind of scary road stuff?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "If it's going to cost more than the worth of the vehicle to just keep it moving, and that's providing nothing else is found wrong with it in the process, then it's scrap metal. If you could do it yourself, you could probably get away with all of it for maybe $600-700 including having to buy any tools since I figure you have none. But this death trap sounds like a money pit, dump it in a field and light it up, hope for insurance money from it.\n\nAnd from experience, brake failures are bad, in that \"holy crap we are gonna die!\" sense. Lost a master cylinder on the highway once and found out as I was coming towards a traffic stoppage for roadwork, and I'd rather not be responsible for plowing the vehicle ahead of me and killing some random kid."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Lend me your car knowledge? My brakes are grinding!\n\nSo, my $1500 van needs a $1000 fix for power steering (NOPE), and $500 fix for new brakes, pads, that sort of thing.\n\nI took it into the shop because the brakes were grinding super bad and felt like they were catching a tiny bit when I pushed them hard. \n\nHe told me he wouldn't drive it anymore till it got fixed but.\n\nI have work tomorrow. Yeah, I'm that kind of person. I expected it to be maybe $300 max to get the brakes and power steering fixed, but I got a little unlucky. So I mean, I don't really know how credit cards work but I guess this is the time to get one?\n\nIs it even worth fixing my car, or should I get a new one? I don't really make much money at all, so, I'd have to get another job to afford it, but I kinda can't because I need to move to get into a college thing. I think I'll buy a big slingshot and a glider at this point.\n\nWhat kind of experiences have you had with brakes going bad, or breaking on you and causing some kind of scary road stuff?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "If it's going to cost more than the worth of the vehicle to just keep it moving, and that's providing nothing else is found wrong with it in the process, then it's scrap metal. If you could do it yourself, you could probably get away with all of it for maybe $600-700 including having to buy any tools since I figure you have none. But this death trap sounds like a money pit, dump it in a field and light it up, hope for insurance money from it.\n\nAnd from experience, brake failures are bad, in that \"holy crap we are gonna die!\" sense. Lost a master cylinder on the highway once and found out as I was coming towards a traffic stoppage for roadwork, and I'd rather not be responsible for plowing the vehicle ahead of me and killing some random kid."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Thanks for the insight. Seeing that it's a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country, I don't think insurance would give me much for it :/\n\nTo clarify though, I plan on testing my emergency brakes in the morning, do emergency brakes work like regular brakes? Is that a thing I can substitute till the end of the week?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Simply, no. If you pull your e-brakes, and your brakes have already been grabbing/locking, you could have issues getting them to let go when you release the e-brakes."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Lend me your car knowledge? My brakes are grinding!\n\nSo, my $1500 van needs a $1000 fix for power steering (NOPE), and $500 fix for new brakes, pads, that sort of thing.\n\nI took it into the shop because the brakes were grinding super bad and felt like they were catching a tiny bit when I pushed them hard. \n\nHe told me he wouldn't drive it anymore till it got fixed but.\n\nI have work tomorrow. Yeah, I'm that kind of person. I expected it to be maybe $300 max to get the brakes and power steering fixed, but I got a little unlucky. So I mean, I don't really know how credit cards work but I guess this is the time to get one?\n\nIs it even worth fixing my car, or should I get a new one? I don't really make much money at all, so, I'd have to get another job to afford it, but I kinda can't because I need to move to get into a college thing. I think I'll buy a big slingshot and a glider at this point.\n\nWhat kind of experiences have you had with brakes going bad, or breaking on you and causing some kind of scary road stuff?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "If it's going to cost more than the worth of the vehicle to just keep it moving, and that's providing nothing else is found wrong with it in the process, then it's scrap metal. If you could do it yourself, you could probably get away with all of it for maybe $600-700 including having to buy any tools since I figure you have none. But this death trap sounds like a money pit, dump it in a field and light it up, hope for insurance money from it.\n\nAnd from experience, brake failures are bad, in that \"holy crap we are gonna die!\" sense. Lost a master cylinder on the highway once and found out as I was coming towards a traffic stoppage for roadwork, and I'd rather not be responsible for plowing the vehicle ahead of me and killing some random kid."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Thanks for the insight. Seeing that it's a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country, I don't think insurance would give me much for it :/\n\nTo clarify though, I plan on testing my emergency brakes in the morning, do emergency brakes work like regular brakes? Is that a thing I can substitute till the end of the week?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Simply, no. If you pull your e-brakes, and your brakes have already been grabbing/locking, you could have issues getting them to let go when you release the e-brakes."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "The bus it is then. Thanks for the advice."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I know it sucks, but better safe than dead, bud."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Why am i jealous of my friends newfound relationship?\n\nI (17M) have a Friend of 2 years that recently just got into a new relationship after a recent breakup. And for some reason i feel jealous, but i dont have a crush on my friend so please dont interpret it that way. It just feels weird and it's new to me so i have to grt used to it, i already told them how i felt and they said they had a feeling something was strange and i told them that I'll force myself to get over it. Because obviously this is a good thing, as long as my friend is happy im happy but i cant shake the feeling off.\n\nAlso they're one of my only friends that i hang out with IN school, everyone else ive met through them and are acquaintances to me"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Jealousy comes from the fear of being replaced and left behind, so it's not weird that if a friend starts spending more time and being close with someone else you feel jealous.\n\nI have a close friend who's dating someone and I've never felt jealous of their partner, but I've felt jealousy when they spend time with a friend they met through me."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Why am i jealous of my friends newfound relationship?\n\nI (17M) have a Friend of 2 years that recently just got into a new relationship after a recent breakup. And for some reason i feel jealous, but i dont have a crush on my friend so please dont interpret it that way. It just feels weird and it's new to me so i have to grt used to it, i already told them how i felt and they said they had a feeling something was strange and i told them that I'll force myself to get over it. Because obviously this is a good thing, as long as my friend is happy im happy but i cant shake the feeling off.\n\nAlso they're one of my only friends that i hang out with IN school, everyone else ive met through them and are acquaintances to me"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Jealousy comes from the fear of being replaced and left behind, so it's not weird that if a friend starts spending more time and being close with someone else you feel jealous.\n\nI have a close friend who's dating someone and I've never felt jealous of their partner, but I've felt jealousy when they spend time with a friend they met through me."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "How did you get over it"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "It's not something that I got over, but when I feel like this I focus on hanging out with other people. This way I make sure not to be overbearing and I'm reminded that whatever happens I'm valued and have friends that care about me. That makes me feel better.\n\nI don't shut them off, though, I keep myself available but I give them space to come to me instead."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I got an unsolicited compliment at the gym!\n\nLet me preface this with I am 30. A failed relationship was the catalyst for turning my life around. New job, new home, getting fit etc.\nIve been lifting for just shy of a year and a half. I have a routine where I do my sets with weights and do body weight exercises between sets.\n\nI would do a squats, walk it forward, push ups, planks, mountain climbers, walk it back and do front raises with a 35lb kettle bell.\n\nI'm doing my normal routine and this older lady, god bless her, stops and says, \"oh my god you are amazing.\" \n\nMy default is to assume any compliment anyone gives me is actually a jab in one way or another. So I stopped and said excuse me, and she just said that I looked really good doing my exercises. We got to talking about exercises, dieting, life etc. She was genuinely cool. \n\nI'm generally cripplingly introverted, so I almost never garner attention, let alone compliments. Ive been on cloud 9 for two days now.\n\nIts honestly amazing the power words can have.\nI just wanted to share my experience and I hope someone compliments you on your efforts today.\n\nTl;dr Introverted loner gets props in the gym after a year of routine, feels good man."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "This lady is doing god's work, it's our job when we are confident in a domain to give newer/less confident people a little boost to keep them going"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I got an unsolicited compliment at the gym!\n\nLet me preface this with I am 30. A failed relationship was the catalyst for turning my life around. New job, new home, getting fit etc.\nIve been lifting for just shy of a year and a half. I have a routine where I do my sets with weights and do body weight exercises between sets.\n\nI would do a squats, walk it forward, push ups, planks, mountain climbers, walk it back and do front raises with a 35lb kettle bell.\n\nI'm doing my normal routine and this older lady, god bless her, stops and says, \"oh my god you are amazing.\" \n\nMy default is to assume any compliment anyone gives me is actually a jab in one way or another. So I stopped and said excuse me, and she just said that I looked really good doing my exercises. We got to talking about exercises, dieting, life etc. She was genuinely cool. \n\nI'm generally cripplingly introverted, so I almost never garner attention, let alone compliments. Ive been on cloud 9 for two days now.\n\nIts honestly amazing the power words can have.\nI just wanted to share my experience and I hope someone compliments you on your efforts today.\n\nTl;dr Introverted loner gets props in the gym after a year of routine, feels good man."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "This lady is doing god's work, it's our job when we are confident in a domain to give newer/less confident people a little boost to keep them going"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I really do appreciate this mentality. It's definitely a huge motivation/confidence booster and I would love to share that feeling with others."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "When you'll be a buff dude, do me a favor and give a little compliment here and there :)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "It bothers me that people body shame me for being \"too small\"\n\nAnybody else?\n\nI have Hyperthyroidism, and I am having a hard time getting it under control. \n\nHyperthyroidism is when your thyroid is working in overtime- constantly pumping out hormones and keeping your metabolism running, even when you aren't. So basically I'm constantly burning calories, even when I'm sleeping. \n\nAs if the side effects of the condition itself aren't terrible enough, I'm getting really tired of people (friends, family, STRANGERS!!!) telling me to \"go eat a hamburger\" or that I \"look sick and emaciated\" (I don't at all. I'm still 5' and 95 pounds.) \n\nI'm on a high calorie, high protein diet, and a workout regimen per instructions from my doctor and a specialist. Though I haven't put on much weight yet, I also haven't lost any! But it's really hard to be proud of myself when everybody is still telling me it's not enough. \n\nThat felt good to vent about."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "It's a shame that people feel empowered to speak on your health circumstances with neither relevant information nor medical training. \n\nI wish you well in your journey. Follow your plan and learn to filter out the ignorance, no matter where it comes from."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "It bothers me that people body shame me for being \"too small\"\n\nAnybody else?\n\nI have Hyperthyroidism, and I am having a hard time getting it under control. \n\nHyperthyroidism is when your thyroid is working in overtime- constantly pumping out hormones and keeping your metabolism running, even when you aren't. So basically I'm constantly burning calories, even when I'm sleeping. \n\nAs if the side effects of the condition itself aren't terrible enough, I'm getting really tired of people (friends, family, STRANGERS!!!) telling me to \"go eat a hamburger\" or that I \"look sick and emaciated\" (I don't at all. I'm still 5' and 95 pounds.) \n\nI'm on a high calorie, high protein diet, and a workout regimen per instructions from my doctor and a specialist. Though I haven't put on much weight yet, I also haven't lost any! But it's really hard to be proud of myself when everybody is still telling me it's not enough. \n\nThat felt good to vent about."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "It's a shame that people feel empowered to speak on your health circumstances with neither relevant information nor medical training. \n\nI wish you well in your journey. Follow your plan and learn to filter out the ignorance, no matter where it comes from."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Thank you much. Just sucks that there is such a \"standard\" on what's attractive and healthy. \n\nI'm getting there- hell I might just start carrying snacks with me and start stashing them in weird spots so I can whip them out like a nutcase when people say something 😂"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Keep up the good work"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "At the age of 21, I finally got my driver's license and was hired for my first job!\n\nWhich is quite the accomplishment for me, considering terrible anxiety held me back from doing both of those things for so long. \n\nI went from breaking down and crying while practicing driving when I was 17, to nailing my driver's test on the first try 4 years later.\n\nAnd I knew that if I could do that, nothing could stop me from getting a job, especially now that I'll be able to transport myself. In a small town like where I live, there aren't too many options, but I ended up getting one that pays really well and on the plus side, I have family who works there. One of my biggest fears with my anxiety is being alone, and now I won't be.\n\nThat's not to say that I've done nothing since graduating high school. I've still done non-traditional work for people and kept myself busy most days. But now after so long of hiding from the world, I'm finally showing my mental illness who's boss and stepping out into the sun. I couldn't be happier. And I done both things within a month!\n\nI know it won't seem like much to some people, but my accomplishments mean a lot to me. If you're battling mental illness, especially anxiety, don't give up! Your time to shine is on the way!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Congratulations! 2 big steps in life! It took me 3 times to pass my test...its damn stressful! As for the job, good luck!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "At the age of 21, I finally got my driver's license and was hired for my first job!\n\nWhich is quite the accomplishment for me, considering terrible anxiety held me back from doing both of those things for so long. \n\nI went from breaking down and crying while practicing driving when I was 17, to nailing my driver's test on the first try 4 years later.\n\nAnd I knew that if I could do that, nothing could stop me from getting a job, especially now that I'll be able to transport myself. In a small town like where I live, there aren't too many options, but I ended up getting one that pays really well and on the plus side, I have family who works there. One of my biggest fears with my anxiety is being alone, and now I won't be.\n\nThat's not to say that I've done nothing since graduating high school. I've still done non-traditional work for people and kept myself busy most days. But now after so long of hiding from the world, I'm finally showing my mental illness who's boss and stepping out into the sun. I couldn't be happier. And I done both things within a month!\n\nI know it won't seem like much to some people, but my accomplishments mean a lot to me. If you're battling mental illness, especially anxiety, don't give up! Your time to shine is on the way!"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Congratulations! 2 big steps in life! It took me 3 times to pass my test...its damn stressful! As for the job, good luck!"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Thank you! I drove around the exact route numerous times before my test, so that helped. And I've always sucked at parallel parking, but somehow I got it perfect during the test! Lol"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "They made me parallel park on all 3...which sucked! I was one of the first to do the satnav assisted tests (I think they let me pass to make it seem like the new test was a success). Kudos to you though! What car have you get or plan to get for your first car? I had a little Peugeot 206 which I miss!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Why is it so common for people to believe that specific social structures are necessary or inevitable?\n\nI have observed in ordinary conversation a widespread folk belief in *necessitarianism* when it comes to cultural practices and political institutions.\n\nThe status quo is assumed to be necessary and inevitable until proven otherwise, with a large degree of skepticism towards the feasibility and viability of any proposed alternatives.\n\nBut what's the ultimate root cause or reason for the belief that history and society had to develop the way it did in the first place?\n\nI've never gotten a real satisfying answer, because it's an informal folk belief rather than a rigorous philosophical position.\n\nThe claim needs to first be formalised into a syllogistic logical argument before it can even be argued philosophically."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Why is it so common for people to believe ... \nI have observed in ordinary conversation a widespread folk belief... \n...a large degree of skepticism towards the feasibility and viability of any proposed alternatives\n\nIs this a philosophical question or one closer to social psychology, possibly a sociology of knowledge as well?\n\nI'm thinking of attribution research and the conversation about \"individualistic\" and \"collectivistic\" cultures and how they understand themselves in the context of their systems. I was amused when a study demonstrated that people in \"individualistic\" cultures were more likely to attribute their success in school to their own hard work and those in \"collectivistic\" cultures highlighted the role of the teacher, the school, and family. The point here is that it is also a well known fact that there is a high correlation between SAT scores and ZIP codes. \n\nThe point I'm making is that your question has to do with people's attributions, not the truth or falsity of the necessity for any given form of social organization. So you might want to post in some social science subreddits as well.\n\nBONUS ROUND\n\nThe question:\n\n*\"But what's the ultimate root cause or reason for the belief that history and society had to develop the way it did in the first place?\"*\n\n might be ***attributing*** this pattern to an ultimate root cause which would also make it difficult to see how these patterns, if they exist at all, are likely overdetermined and mutually reinforcing, not dependent on a single cause."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Why is it so common for people to believe that specific social structures are necessary or inevitable?\n\nI have observed in ordinary conversation a widespread folk belief in *necessitarianism* when it comes to cultural practices and political institutions.\n\nThe status quo is assumed to be necessary and inevitable until proven otherwise, with a large degree of skepticism towards the feasibility and viability of any proposed alternatives.\n\nBut what's the ultimate root cause or reason for the belief that history and society had to develop the way it did in the first place?\n\nI've never gotten a real satisfying answer, because it's an informal folk belief rather than a rigorous philosophical position.\n\nThe claim needs to first be formalised into a syllogistic logical argument before it can even be argued philosophically."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Why is it so common for people to believe ... \nI have observed in ordinary conversation a widespread folk belief... \n...a large degree of skepticism towards the feasibility and viability of any proposed alternatives\n\nIs this a philosophical question or one closer to social psychology, possibly a sociology of knowledge as well?\n\nI'm thinking of attribution research and the conversation about \"individualistic\" and \"collectivistic\" cultures and how they understand themselves in the context of their systems. I was amused when a study demonstrated that people in \"individualistic\" cultures were more likely to attribute their success in school to their own hard work and those in \"collectivistic\" cultures highlighted the role of the teacher, the school, and family. The point here is that it is also a well known fact that there is a high correlation between SAT scores and ZIP codes. \n\nThe point I'm making is that your question has to do with people's attributions, not the truth or falsity of the necessity for any given form of social organization. So you might want to post in some social science subreddits as well.\n\nBONUS ROUND\n\nThe question:\n\n*\"But what's the ultimate root cause or reason for the belief that history and society had to develop the way it did in the first place?\"*\n\n might be ***attributing*** this pattern to an ultimate root cause which would also make it difficult to see how these patterns, if they exist at all, are likely overdetermined and mutually reinforcing, not dependent on a single cause."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Can you give an example of how attribution plays into social necessitarianism?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "You are saying that people are implicitly attributing their particular corner of the status quo to necessity. I don't know that I agree with that observation, but that seems to be the topic of your post - people's beliefs about why this (\\*waves hand\\*) is here and the degree to which things could've been otherwise, or could be otherwise still. \n\nAll of this is making an attribution to explain the current lived experience.\n\nI could say it was a matter of chance or a clockwork plan of a divine creator or simply what happens when apes gain language - all of these are attributions, and as such, they all have something to do with my underlying assumptions and expectations about the world."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I gave my nephew (who is staying with me for two weeks) $100 for spending cash and my mom told him \"Don't spend it all in one place.\"\n\nI really hate that idiom though. \n\nSo my Nephew is visiting for two weeks from out of state, and last night he was talking to my mom (His grandmother) about how his trip out here was and he said \"And Uncle Mick gave me $100, which with what mom gave me means I have $140! I've never had this much money in my life!\"\n\nShe used that old idiom we've all heard, but I sort of hate it.\n\nI know what the moral is, but I think telling someone that is useless, some of the things we really want are more expensive. I mean I didn't give him that money to go buy something expensive for himself, but so he could get a candybar or soda when he wants, or so he can get some souvenirs or whatever. \n\nStill lets say he saw something he really wanted that was $100 why not spend it all in one place? It's his money now, I'm not going to tell him what to do with it.\n\nWhat other idioms or common sayings to you disagree with?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Normally I agree and think it's a dumb saying but ironically, I think this is one of the few cases where it makes sense. Your nephew shouldn't be buying big-money items now! He should be going out every night and having fun. He can save for the big thing when he gets home. And don't give me that, \"Maybe he can't get it where he lives.\" Because internet.\n\nUnless he's saving up for a high-class hooker. In that case, spend it all in one place. I'm no expert but I would imagine the cost and cleanliness values being parallel on that graph. This comment kind of took a turn, sorry.\n\nAnyway, excluding high-class hookers, I think this is one of the few cases in which that (somewhat stupid) saying makes sense."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I gave my nephew (who is staying with me for two weeks) $100 for spending cash and my mom told him \"Don't spend it all in one place.\"\n\nI really hate that idiom though. \n\nSo my Nephew is visiting for two weeks from out of state, and last night he was talking to my mom (His grandmother) about how his trip out here was and he said \"And Uncle Mick gave me $100, which with what mom gave me means I have $140! I've never had this much money in my life!\"\n\nShe used that old idiom we've all heard, but I sort of hate it.\n\nI know what the moral is, but I think telling someone that is useless, some of the things we really want are more expensive. I mean I didn't give him that money to go buy something expensive for himself, but so he could get a candybar or soda when he wants, or so he can get some souvenirs or whatever. \n\nStill lets say he saw something he really wanted that was $100 why not spend it all in one place? It's his money now, I'm not going to tell him what to do with it.\n\nWhat other idioms or common sayings to you disagree with?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Normally I agree and think it's a dumb saying but ironically, I think this is one of the few cases where it makes sense. Your nephew shouldn't be buying big-money items now! He should be going out every night and having fun. He can save for the big thing when he gets home. And don't give me that, \"Maybe he can't get it where he lives.\" Because internet.\n\nUnless he's saving up for a high-class hooker. In that case, spend it all in one place. I'm no expert but I would imagine the cost and cleanliness values being parallel on that graph. This comment kind of took a turn, sorry.\n\nAnyway, excluding high-class hookers, I think this is one of the few cases in which that (somewhat stupid) saying makes sense."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I mean maybe he goes and buys a 3DS or something, who am I to judge. Once that money left my hand it was his. I don't judge other people on how they spend their money. It's theirs not mine."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Yeah, I totally agree. But if he asked for my advice, or I was inclined to give it to him anyway, wait till you get home to buy the 3DS! Go out and have fun with this money. Blow it on stupid stuff. That's what vacations are for.\n\nHonestly, I think every time I've ever heard this idiom, it's been sarcastic. Like you only have a dollar on you or something and your friend says, \"Wow, don't spend it all in one place.\" I'm sure it started as a non-sarcastic thing to say but I think your mom might be the only person still using it in it's original form, though."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "You ever try to have a discussion with someone and all they do is try to disprove everything you say for the sake of being a contrarian?\n\nYeah I kind of do that way too much. It got the point where my girlfriend had to tell me I do it all the time. Simce then I've been trying to be less of a dick and I have no idea whether I'm managing to do it or not.\n\nThis being reddit, I now know what exactly what she means. I seen some stuff maaaan. \n\nAnyone else ever encountered someone like that? Anyone have any tips for someone that is trying to change from being that?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I've begun to realize recently that I myself do this, so it's something I'm trying to get better at. At first, I didn't really think of it as a problem because I thought I was just being constantly skeptical in order to be more truthful, but then I noticed I would disagree with people just to disagree, and that I would do it on things where accuracy didn't really matter.\n\nOne thing that can help is to acknowledge other points of view. This is pretty easy when you agree with someone (and don't underestimate how much verbalizing the agreement can make others more comfortable), but you can still do this when you disagree with someone (stuff like I hear what you're saying / that's an interesting point of view, I hadn't really thought about that). I also think that there is a time and place to even verbalize disagreement; when I sense myself about to go off in contrarian mode, I ask myself \"is it that important for me to say what I'm thinking?\"\n\nI think my contrarian tendencies often come from a desire to stand out and also to not be intellectually weak. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, but that mindset often makes every conversation feel like a competition, and when only one person is playing, it's no fun for the other, so I'm trying to reframe that mindset."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "You ever try to have a discussion with someone and all they do is try to disprove everything you say for the sake of being a contrarian?\n\nYeah I kind of do that way too much. It got the point where my girlfriend had to tell me I do it all the time. Simce then I've been trying to be less of a dick and I have no idea whether I'm managing to do it or not.\n\nThis being reddit, I now know what exactly what she means. I seen some stuff maaaan. \n\nAnyone else ever encountered someone like that? Anyone have any tips for someone that is trying to change from being that?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I've begun to realize recently that I myself do this, so it's something I'm trying to get better at. At first, I didn't really think of it as a problem because I thought I was just being constantly skeptical in order to be more truthful, but then I noticed I would disagree with people just to disagree, and that I would do it on things where accuracy didn't really matter.\n\nOne thing that can help is to acknowledge other points of view. This is pretty easy when you agree with someone (and don't underestimate how much verbalizing the agreement can make others more comfortable), but you can still do this when you disagree with someone (stuff like I hear what you're saying / that's an interesting point of view, I hadn't really thought about that). I also think that there is a time and place to even verbalize disagreement; when I sense myself about to go off in contrarian mode, I ask myself \"is it that important for me to say what I'm thinking?\"\n\nI think my contrarian tendencies often come from a desire to stand out and also to not be intellectually weak. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, but that mindset often makes every conversation feel like a competition, and when only one person is playing, it's no fun for the other, so I'm trying to reframe that mindset."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Yeah I'd basically do it for the same reasons. I thought the being skeptical was the same as being intelligent so I'd just disagree with a lot of people because obviously I'm way too smart.\n\nI am trying really hard to not question people all the time. I feel weird now when I do it even when I actually do disagree with something someone says. Like I don't want to disagree so I don't come off as a dick even if it's what I actually think."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Right, I get what you're saying. I do think there are ways to disagree without coming off like a jerk; one thing I try to do is focus on their viewpoint. For example, if someone says \"La La Land is an awful movie\", I would say \"yeah? what don't you like about it?\" and basically map out the reasoning behind the thought first. Then, I can lightly disagree with specific points (\"you didn't like the music right? I don't think it's that bad\"), or I can de-personalize the disagreement (\"it won a lot of Oscars\"). This is a really trivial example but you get what I mean."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "It's interesting how the body we hate is someone else's dream body.\n\nI'm a F, 5'6, ~125ish pounds, very long legs. Just very long and slim-ish; I hate absolutely hate my body. \n\nGirls walk up to me all the time and tell me that I have their dream body. The one they're working towards or saving for. \n\nWhich is so crazy to me because I look at them and I would kill to have their thick thighs, that little tummy, those hips. Those stretch marks on those slightly sagging C/D boobs that they want a lift on... give them to me! Their bodies are so beautiful. These girls are all so gorgeous, they leave me in awe. \n\nThey're wishing they had my body and I'm dreaming that I have their's. \n\nAs they say, comparison is the thief of joy."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I've actually never heard the \"comparison is a thief of joy\" saying, but that makes a lot of sense. I think it's really difficult for most people to even feel comfortable with their own bodies, and most will always envy someone for something, however unfortunate that may be"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "It's interesting how the body we hate is someone else's dream body.\n\nI'm a F, 5'6, ~125ish pounds, very long legs. Just very long and slim-ish; I hate absolutely hate my body. \n\nGirls walk up to me all the time and tell me that I have their dream body. The one they're working towards or saving for. \n\nWhich is so crazy to me because I look at them and I would kill to have their thick thighs, that little tummy, those hips. Those stretch marks on those slightly sagging C/D boobs that they want a lift on... give them to me! Their bodies are so beautiful. These girls are all so gorgeous, they leave me in awe. \n\nThey're wishing they had my body and I'm dreaming that I have their's. \n\nAs they say, comparison is the thief of joy."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I've actually never heard the \"comparison is a thief of joy\" saying, but that makes a lot of sense. I think it's really difficult for most people to even feel comfortable with their own bodies, and most will always envy someone for something, however unfortunate that may be"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "What you say is true for me. Learning to feel comfortable in my body has been a journey, it's a lot harder than I thought it would be though."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Well keep on keepin on! And then one day you'll be like \"yanno what, I'm a bad bitch\" or however you view yourself personally"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Many years ago, I gave birth to a son and he was adopted. Today is his birthday.\n\nNot many people know this about me, but, a long time ago, when I was a lot younger, I gave birth to a son. He was big, and healthy, and gorgeous. Unfortunately, at that time in my life, I was in a very bad place, and I was unable to keep him, so I made one of the most heartbreaking decisions I have ever made. I placed him for adoption. The family that I chose for him were simply amazing, and I don't feel that I could have made a better choice. I knew that they would be better for him than I ever could be. That was proven when Sherri, the woman who would be a mother to my son, held him for the first time in the operating room.\n\nThe love in her eyes was indescribable, but I recognized it because I felt the same love for the same baby. It's strange though. What was to be the happiest day in her life, was going to be one of the most heart breaking in mine. And even though I feel sad every year on his birthday, I wouldn't change a thing. \n\nI remember how alone, and how empty I felt when I held him for the last time. With tears pouring out of my eyes, telling him how much I loved him, how sorry I was that I couldn't be there for him like I should. I could literally feel my heart ripping in two. And when his parents came in to take him with them, to the home he would grow up in, I literally watched a piece of myself get carried away from me. I will never forget that day. I will never forget how I felt. And no matter where he is, I will always love him. When it comes down to it, he will always be my son. Happy Birthday wherever you are sweetheart. I love you.\n\nEdit: I would like to thank the person who gave me gold. It's much appreciated."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I am curious, do you plan on meeting him one day?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Many years ago, I gave birth to a son and he was adopted. Today is his birthday.\n\nNot many people know this about me, but, a long time ago, when I was a lot younger, I gave birth to a son. He was big, and healthy, and gorgeous. Unfortunately, at that time in my life, I was in a very bad place, and I was unable to keep him, so I made one of the most heartbreaking decisions I have ever made. I placed him for adoption. The family that I chose for him were simply amazing, and I don't feel that I could have made a better choice. I knew that they would be better for him than I ever could be. That was proven when Sherri, the woman who would be a mother to my son, held him for the first time in the operating room.\n\nThe love in her eyes was indescribable, but I recognized it because I felt the same love for the same baby. It's strange though. What was to be the happiest day in her life, was going to be one of the most heart breaking in mine. And even though I feel sad every year on his birthday, I wouldn't change a thing. \n\nI remember how alone, and how empty I felt when I held him for the last time. With tears pouring out of my eyes, telling him how much I loved him, how sorry I was that I couldn't be there for him like I should. I could literally feel my heart ripping in two. And when his parents came in to take him with them, to the home he would grow up in, I literally watched a piece of myself get carried away from me. I will never forget that day. I will never forget how I felt. And no matter where he is, I will always love him. When it comes down to it, he will always be my son. Happy Birthday wherever you are sweetheart. I love you.\n\nEdit: I would like to thank the person who gave me gold. It's much appreciated."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I am curious, do you plan on meeting him one day?"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Absolutely! He will be 18 in a couple of years, and then I will be able to get in contact with him. :)"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "That is so cool, best wishes to you"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is the debate between natural law and legal positivism just terminological?\n\nI know the answer is probably no, what I'm lacking is the \"why\". \n\nIf legal positivism says law is just a bundle of social conventions, and natural law theorists say no, there are laws preexisting any social convention, and our goal should be to have written law correspond to those natural laws...how is that different from a legal positivist who is also a moral realist? I don't understand why you can't just say morality:law according to positivists::natural law:written law according to natural law theorists. \n\nI know I'm simplifying things a bit eg not all of common law is written but I take it that's harmless for this debate. \n\nEveryone I've ever talked to who is an expert has told me that this is wrong, there's more than a shallow terminological distinction. So that's what I'd like to know. What substantive differences are there? What differences are there between the two theories that render them non-isomorphic?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Have you read the opinions in Riggs v. Palmer? That's the standard example of the difference. Earl is a naturalist and Gray is a positivist. Hence Earl argues the law *already* prohibits the grandson from inheriting, while Gray argues that while it would be *good* for the law to prohibit the grandson from inheriting, there is no existing law that does that."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is the debate between natural law and legal positivism just terminological?\n\nI know the answer is probably no, what I'm lacking is the \"why\". \n\nIf legal positivism says law is just a bundle of social conventions, and natural law theorists say no, there are laws preexisting any social convention, and our goal should be to have written law correspond to those natural laws...how is that different from a legal positivist who is also a moral realist? I don't understand why you can't just say morality:law according to positivists::natural law:written law according to natural law theorists. \n\nI know I'm simplifying things a bit eg not all of common law is written but I take it that's harmless for this debate. \n\nEveryone I've ever talked to who is an expert has told me that this is wrong, there's more than a shallow terminological distinction. So that's what I'd like to know. What substantive differences are there? What differences are there between the two theories that render them non-isomorphic?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Have you read the opinions in Riggs v. Palmer? That's the standard example of the difference. Earl is a naturalist and Gray is a positivist. Hence Earl argues the law *already* prohibits the grandson from inheriting, while Gray argues that while it would be *good* for the law to prohibit the grandson from inheriting, there is no existing law that does that."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Funnily enough reading some of the opinion of that case prompted this! I will have to look in more detail!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Perhaps this will help. Earl and Gray are disagreeing about what the law *is*, and therefore what the court *should do*. The 'should' here is not moral, though, but legal: what should the court order on the basis of what the law *is*, rather than what the law morally should be. Earl is arguing that the law prohibits the grandson from inheriting *even though there is no statue explicitly saying so*, and therefore the court should order that he cannot inherit. Gray is arguing that the law *does* allow the grandson to inherit, and so the court should order that he receive the estate. He agrees it would be *morally good* if the law didn't allow the grandson to inherit, but that isn't the case, so the court should allow him to."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "My friends make jokes about the fact that I prefer/collect a lot of DVDs/Blu-ray, but I don't care.\n\nI know, I know. I'm one of those people who would rather own the hard copies of moves and shows I like/love than stream them. But while I too will stream things sometimes, nothing beats owning the hard copy, IMO.\n\nNot only is the picture quality better (since you're stuck relying on your wifi connection on streaming) but you never have to worry about it going away after a time. It's always there to watch! Besides that, some things I love have never, and probably will never, be available to stream. \n\nI've managed to get my friends a few times because they've complained about a certain show/movie not being available anywhere and they want to watch it. Then here I come, waving my hard copy around like \"Haha!\" I've also saved movie night a few times when the connection went tits up and I just happened to have the disc. 😁 Everyone should make friends with a movie/show collector. We might just save your watch party. ❤️"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "My bf's family has a HUGE dvd/blueray colection. While it's a pain for looking for a movie due to not much organization I love that I can suggest almost any movie and his family hast it on disk. \nAlso, considering my family is not big on streaming services. Instead buying dvds of movies we like, I find it werid for people to not at least have a small collection of some favorite movies. Streaming services can also suck when you are traving and have no internet, or really bad internet. As long as you have a dvd player you can always bring any movie you want."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "My friends make jokes about the fact that I prefer/collect a lot of DVDs/Blu-ray, but I don't care.\n\nI know, I know. I'm one of those people who would rather own the hard copies of moves and shows I like/love than stream them. But while I too will stream things sometimes, nothing beats owning the hard copy, IMO.\n\nNot only is the picture quality better (since you're stuck relying on your wifi connection on streaming) but you never have to worry about it going away after a time. It's always there to watch! Besides that, some things I love have never, and probably will never, be available to stream. \n\nI've managed to get my friends a few times because they've complained about a certain show/movie not being available anywhere and they want to watch it. Then here I come, waving my hard copy around like \"Haha!\" I've also saved movie night a few times when the connection went tits up and I just happened to have the disc. 😁 Everyone should make friends with a movie/show collector. We might just save your watch party. ❤️"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "My bf's family has a HUGE dvd/blueray colection. While it's a pain for looking for a movie due to not much organization I love that I can suggest almost any movie and his family hast it on disk. \nAlso, considering my family is not big on streaming services. Instead buying dvds of movies we like, I find it werid for people to not at least have a small collection of some favorite movies. Streaming services can also suck when you are traving and have no internet, or really bad internet. As long as you have a dvd player you can always bring any movie you want."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Yes! Agreed! I have a little portable DVD player that can run on batteries or a charge. It's like… ten years old but it keeps on trucking! When I travel, I usually bring that, a few movie faves and a book with me to while away the hours. Hard to stream things while you're constantly on the move as the signal sucks. \n\nI also find most streaming services irrelevant because most of the content are not really movies/shows that catch my interest, and every time I see something that makes me go \"Oooh I love that one!\" I realize I already own it on disc. Very rarely does something stream that I love and don't already own, and if it does… I find the hard copy and buy it. 🤣 It's kind of nice watching something on disc than streaming. I can't exactly explain it, but it's… comforting, in a way?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "That is awsome! I know my dad has had times where just travling to a hotel on the coast there was no wifi or the signal sucked. So him and his firends defaulted to the brought dvds and a dvd player. If he struggled with just going to the coast and watching shows/movies I can imagine travelingbwhile trying to use data or wifi. A portable player sounds like a better idea in the long run. Espeically on a plane. It's a pain most of the movies are either pay only or nothing you are intrested in. Plus not every plane has monitors in the seats. On train, I don't know if they offer wifi, but they often have outlets you can plug devices in to, so then you wouldn't have to worry about your dvd player chanrging. \n\nI struggle with the fact streaming service's not having license for certain movies or other platforms pulling their license so they can put there shows on there new platform very annoying. Having a hard copy is just great because you can just go \"I want to watch this. Let me grab the dvd\". Instead of googling what streaming platform it's on. Hoping you have that subscription or decining to get a new subscription or rent the movie. It's just a hassle sometimes. Not inculding how a hard copy is a one time payment vers a monthly playment."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Give me a topic and I'll write you a poem\n\nSo my fiancée is feeling a bit ill and has gone for a lie down, so I need something to do. Give me a topic and I'll try and write a poem for you (no promising you'll love it, I'm no sprog!) \n \nEdit: Right, thank you for entertaining me, however it's getting late here so will have to stop there. I will do my best to respond to other posters when I am able, feel free to keep suggesting things. Thank you for all the suggestions and feedback."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "A war between bird species has broken out (they use modern weapons and tactics) and we are caught in the middle.\n\nIf you can't do that one then can you do one about a sunset on an alien planet?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Give me a topic and I'll write you a poem\n\nSo my fiancée is feeling a bit ill and has gone for a lie down, so I need something to do. Give me a topic and I'll try and write a poem for you (no promising you'll love it, I'm no sprog!) \n \nEdit: Right, thank you for entertaining me, however it's getting late here so will have to stop there. I will do my best to respond to other posters when I am able, feel free to keep suggesting things. Thank you for all the suggestions and feedback."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "A war between bird species has broken out (they use modern weapons and tactics) and we are caught in the middle.\n\nIf you can't do that one then can you do one about a sunset on an alien planet?"
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I went for both!! \n \n \n \nA century since we said goodbye \nFarewell to planet Earth \nDecision made, it's time to fly \nFor those we think the fuel is worth \n \nWe landed here, planet new \nAnd once again we live \nThe plants and animals, ate and grew \nOxygen and food to give \n \nI sit here as the sky turns red \nA sunset beyond my words \nBut tinged with blood that has been shed \nOf humans taken by the birds \n \nIt happened fast, we don't know how \nBut the magpies led the charge \nA bird sits at my window now \nIt scares me so, an eagle large \n \nWe thought we had them beat you see \n*A human never runs!* \nBut we lost the fight, began to flee \nAs pigeons chased us down with guns \n \nI sit here now, the last alive \nAs a robin drills the door \nA bluetit torched my crops last week \nI can't take this anymore \n \nThey've broken through, I'll soon be dead \nReached humanity's final member \nThe Finch's shotgun barrel to my head \nDon't forget us...please remember"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Holy cow that was brilliant! My hat is off to you!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I'm crying over a craving. Is this normal?\n\nI (19F) have been craving a very specific Dominos pizza since 2pm. The craving hasn't gone away, and have been actively getting worse. Everything else (food wise) sounds nasty to me. \n\nI don't even like pizza. Yeah, I'll eat it when it's put in front of me, but I'll cringe through the situation and choke it down. In this moment, I *need* it. \n\nBeing female, the first question is probably \"When's your cycle start?\" Next week, but I've never gotten food cravings or aversions from it. However, my partner and I are trying for a kid, so I may be pregnant (Unsure, as my last cycle was a little 'off', but not too much). \n\nI just... Is it normal to cry over a craving to a food that you typically hate because you just need it That bad?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I'm just waiting for you to come back here in a week or two and let us know you're pregnant."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I'm crying over a craving. Is this normal?\n\nI (19F) have been craving a very specific Dominos pizza since 2pm. The craving hasn't gone away, and have been actively getting worse. Everything else (food wise) sounds nasty to me. \n\nI don't even like pizza. Yeah, I'll eat it when it's put in front of me, but I'll cringe through the situation and choke it down. In this moment, I *need* it. \n\nBeing female, the first question is probably \"When's your cycle start?\" Next week, but I've never gotten food cravings or aversions from it. However, my partner and I are trying for a kid, so I may be pregnant (Unsure, as my last cycle was a little 'off', but not too much). \n\nI just... Is it normal to cry over a craving to a food that you typically hate because you just need it That bad?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I'm just waiting for you to come back here in a week or two and let us know you're pregnant."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I swear to God, I better be for the bullshit that's happened after I posted this. \nMy partner walked up to the gas station to grab him some ice cream (I denied every snack he offered to get me) and called to let me know he could see a lightning storm. I went outside to watch and began crying all over again because I deemed it as 'too lonely', since I was watching the lightning alone. \n\nTbh tonight has been a disaster and I just can't. I still want that damn pizza."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Yeah...your man needs to get you some pizza. Hope you're feeling better soon!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Not all tow truck drivers are evil you know.\n\nWas on my way out to a pickup out of the state when I ran across a broke down car about 45 miles from the closest repair shop. The driver was pretty distressed because it was her first time driving to her destination and its a good 3 hour drive one way.\n\n Its chilly in the desert this time of year and where she broke down is really dangerous at night since people blaze through at close to 90mph in pitch black 2 lane road. Luckily i decided to drive my stinger truck today which is a modified tow truck that looks like a regular pickup truck when its not towing.\n\nI offered her a tow and told her id do it for free since i have mechanic friends in the next town over that could probably get her car running the same day if it wasnt serious. She took me up on the offer after i let her take pictures of myself and my truck plates and she texted them to her parents. \n\nWe reached the next town where my friend was waiting with a open bay ready to fix her car. We got working on her car right away since my pick up wasnt time sensitive and we had a few hours before it got dark, unfortunately the car wasnt in great shape and was basically on its last leg that day and basically ate a few piston rings. We had a conference call with her parents alerting them that the car needed a 2900$ engine and it wasnt worth it since the car is 27 years old weathered and way worth less than the replacement engine.\n\nWe all know that feeling she started bawling her eyes out and her parents tried to console her and offered to drive out to pick her up. I told her parents my friend has cars available for sale and my friend offered them a deal, her broken 1994 Camry and 300$ for a 99 Buick in mechanically restored condition. They were skeptical of the deal but he offered them a deal where if the car broke before the year end that he would eat the loss up to 2k. They Zelled the money and we gave her the keys to a new car with actual seats and working everything. \n\nShe was so happy and relieved that she hugged everybody in the shop at least twice, she followed me to a gas station where i fueled her car up and followed her till she reached the highway and she went one way and i went another. As for her old car my friend plans on finding a rebuildable engine and ripping it to pieces and mechanically restoring it since its his favorite hobby."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I totally agree. I have yet to have a bad experience with a tow truck driver. I am sure some people associate the service with repos or forced tows. All of mine have all been initiated by me or by a police officer if an accident occurred for myself or someone else I know. All drivers I have worked with gave me quotes up front over the phone, were professional, prompt, and curtious. One gentleman even recommended the name of another tow service when he couldn't serve me at the time I called for a tow."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Not all tow truck drivers are evil you know.\n\nWas on my way out to a pickup out of the state when I ran across a broke down car about 45 miles from the closest repair shop. The driver was pretty distressed because it was her first time driving to her destination and its a good 3 hour drive one way.\n\n Its chilly in the desert this time of year and where she broke down is really dangerous at night since people blaze through at close to 90mph in pitch black 2 lane road. Luckily i decided to drive my stinger truck today which is a modified tow truck that looks like a regular pickup truck when its not towing.\n\nI offered her a tow and told her id do it for free since i have mechanic friends in the next town over that could probably get her car running the same day if it wasnt serious. She took me up on the offer after i let her take pictures of myself and my truck plates and she texted them to her parents. \n\nWe reached the next town where my friend was waiting with a open bay ready to fix her car. We got working on her car right away since my pick up wasnt time sensitive and we had a few hours before it got dark, unfortunately the car wasnt in great shape and was basically on its last leg that day and basically ate a few piston rings. We had a conference call with her parents alerting them that the car needed a 2900$ engine and it wasnt worth it since the car is 27 years old weathered and way worth less than the replacement engine.\n\nWe all know that feeling she started bawling her eyes out and her parents tried to console her and offered to drive out to pick her up. I told her parents my friend has cars available for sale and my friend offered them a deal, her broken 1994 Camry and 300$ for a 99 Buick in mechanically restored condition. They were skeptical of the deal but he offered them a deal where if the car broke before the year end that he would eat the loss up to 2k. They Zelled the money and we gave her the keys to a new car with actual seats and working everything. \n\nShe was so happy and relieved that she hugged everybody in the shop at least twice, she followed me to a gas station where i fueled her car up and followed her till she reached the highway and she went one way and i went another. As for her old car my friend plans on finding a rebuildable engine and ripping it to pieces and mechanically restoring it since its his favorite hobby."
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I totally agree. I have yet to have a bad experience with a tow truck driver. I am sure some people associate the service with repos or forced tows. All of mine have all been initiated by me or by a police officer if an accident occurred for myself or someone else I know. All drivers I have worked with gave me quotes up front over the phone, were professional, prompt, and curtious. One gentleman even recommended the name of another tow service when he couldn't serve me at the time I called for a tow."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "I usually am \"that guy\" my job consists of removing illegally parked vehicles from private lots and generally tend to be a dick about it because if you can afford a 250$ football game ticket then you can afford the 50$ people charge for remote parking. I rarely do rescue tows because of the long drive or occasional ass hats. I never drive past a stranded car without checking it and making sure no one is stuck in the middle of somewhere."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "I am sure you get your share of heat then. This is exactly very I never park anywhere where parking is marked private or there is a warning up regarding vehicles being towed. I make sure I pay for pay parking if required. As far as I am concerned if you know the rules and get burned because you didn't follow them then you can't get upset with the tow truck driver. It's no different then if you exceed the posted speed limit (with the exception of some rural speed traps maybe) or run red lights and you get ticketed. You are not evil. I couldn't do your job though. I would get tired of the fits thrown by some people when it occurs. I get tired of people easily anyhow."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is there empirical evidence that this \"Alienation\" exists according to Marx\n\nis there real tangible evidence that its real\n\nor is it simply metaphysical pseudo-Hegelian horsesh*t?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "The idea of holding philosophy to the standards of science is something that largely post-dates Marx's writing, so I think you're question is anachronistic."
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Is there empirical evidence that this \"Alienation\" exists according to Marx\n\nis there real tangible evidence that its real\n\nor is it simply metaphysical pseudo-Hegelian horsesh*t?"
},
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "The idea of holding philosophy to the standards of science is something that largely post-dates Marx's writing, so I think you're question is anachronistic."
},
{
"role": "user",
"content": "true....but then how do we know this \"alienation\" exists?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Well it's a concept, not an object. Asking if alienation exists is like asking if sovereignty, justice, love, value etc. exists. It's odd to hold up abstract categories to the criterion of existence the same way that you might ask whether or not red swans exist. I'm not sure what it would mean to answer \"yes\" or \"no\" to questions about the existence of abstractions.\n\nMaybe another way to think of it is not by existence, but by whether or not the concept can be applied. For instance, it is common for people do jobs that earn them money, but still have the sense that their labor somehow lacks purpose or significance. Is that not alienation?"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "user",
"content": "What basis do we have to use human wellbeing as the underpinning of a secular morality?\n\nI am an atheist and as such don't believe that there exists a morality enshrined into the universe by a higher power. Therefore any morality would have to be thought out and constructed by humans. \n\nWe seem to have based our laws and morality on the idea that human wellbeing is good and human suffering bad. E.g. rape is bad because it causes intense suffering to the recipient. \n\nWhat actual basis do we have to base morality on human wellbeing? Do we have good reasons to say that rape is wrong? \n\nIs it possible that the only reason we think something like rape is wrong is because of us having gained empathy for others over time, for evolutionary reasons? Therefore we just don't like the idea of it and so have said that it is bad and should be made unlawful. \n\nAny responses are much appreciated!"
}
] |
[
{
"role": "assistant",
"content": "Therefore any morality would have to be thought out and constructed by humans.\n\nWell, any *theory of* morality has to be constructed by humans. That doesn't mean that any *morality* has to be. I.e., likewise, you presumably don't believe that that there exists physical laws enshrined into the universe by a higher power, but this doesn't mean that any physical laws have to be constructed by humans.\n\nWe seem to have based our laws and morality on the idea that human wellbeing is good and human suffering bad. \n\nYeah, I don't think this is correct, simply as an empirical issue. It seems to me recent legal principles at least, in the west, have tended to have a basis in rights rather than a merely consequentialist basis.\n\nWhat actual basis do we have to base morality on human wellbeing?\n\nPerhaps none--consequentialism could well be wrong. But the consequentialist could argue that it is evident to rational beings familiar with pleasure that it is an intrinsic good (that suffering is an intrinsic evil), or that moral intuitions favor this conclusion, or some other argument like these.\n\nDo we have good reasons to say that rape is wrong?\n\nProbably; at least, this seems to be the majority view among ethicists.\n\nIs it possible that the only reason we think something like rape is wrong is because of us having gained empathy for others over time, for evolutionary reasons? \n\nSure. But it's also possible that we think this because there are lizardpeople who run a sophisticated culture on Mars, and they have carefully genetically engineered us to believe this. It's probably not *possibility* that we're interested in here, but rather *plausibility*.\n\nSecond, you propose here a causal explanation for our having a belief that rape is wrong. But that's not, at least ultimately, the question we're asking in ethics. We're asking the question: is rape wrong?\n\nPerhaps you mean--is it *plausible* that evolution explains why we believe that rape is wrong, *for which reason that belief is false*? This doesn't seem to be plausible, in the sense that this is, I take it, a minority opinion among people who study this issue. But there are some people who defend a view like this, so that it is at least a live option in the debate."
}
] |
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