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Popular People Live Longer

nytimes.com

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Re: Popular People Live Longer

#71

Post by spyhi »

KGIII wrote: post #68
Moshe_Silnorin wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Back when I was depressed modal realism cured me of any suicidality. How can one possibly think the suffering, loneliness and utter pointlessness of life can be preferable to the sweet oblivion of non-existence? My answer is non-existence may indeed be preferable to life but it’s not at all clear that non-existence exists. What the Everett interpretation, Egan's Dust theory, the mere fact that the mind is finite and…

I am not sure if this helps, but we don't actually know if the universe is infinite or finite. It is an unknown.

Well, now you've gone and killed him.

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#72

Post by [deleted] »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #52
wturner wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm directing my post to someone who is at least forty years old. I think they can make up their own mind.

I guess if they're aware of the risks it might be ok. But it's so seductive to believe that a substance can change all your problems. It's almost never the case, and it can do a lot of harm in the process.

[deleted]

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#73

Post by wturner »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #52
wturner wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm directing my post to someone who is at least forty years old. I think they can make up their own mind.

I guess if they're aware of the risks it might be ok. But it's so seductive to believe that a substance can change all your problems. It's almost never the case, and it can do a lot of harm in the process.

I'm not suggesting a substance will solve all your problems. I'm saying in my case, it gave me contrast.

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#74

Post by ccdev »

mncharity wrote: post #66
pasbesoin wrote: post #29

I've found human lives to consist in significant part of feedback loops. Positive feedback loops, and negative feedback loops. A person receiving positive feedback tends to feel better, be more socially comfortable and engaging, and to receive resources that help them on their journey. This response and that assistance actually helps them become better. Better nutrition, more attentive and patient instruction. Etc. I…

> feedback loops That's the basis of social-belonging and other mindset interventions.[1] For example, when you encounters difficulty as a freshman in college, do you think "I don't belong here", or "everyone has difficulties - I can get help, work hard, and succeed, like I've done in the past". Students who feel like they belong, build stronger support networks, more readily get help, feel better, and so. Both narra…

It's quite interesting to me that you can find homeostasis in physiological systems, but not in social systems, where runaway effects prevail. And seemingly a more robust social system would create a tendency for people to reach a more stable social state rather then continue to descend in a downward spiral.

(BTW the "negative feedback" loop mentioned in this topic is technically still a positive feedback, because the effects of the cause produces more of the cause. True negative feedback creates a counteractive force that promotes equilibrium- it has nothing to do with emotional negativity)

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#75

Post by Moshe_Silnorin »

KGIII wrote: post #68
Moshe_Silnorin wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Back when I was depressed modal realism cured me of any suicidality. How can one possibly think the suffering, loneliness and utter pointlessness of life can be preferable to the sweet oblivion of non-existence? My answer is non-existence may indeed be preferable to life but it’s not at all clear that non-existence exists. What the Everett interpretation, Egan's Dust theory, the mere fact that the mind is finite and…

I am not sure if this helps, but we don't actually know if the universe is infinite or finite. It is an unknown.

Sure. But we have to accord it a pretty high probability, at least 50%. So this uncertainty doesn't really effect much.

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#76

Post by return0 »

pasbesoin wrote: post #29

I've found human lives to consist in significant part of feedback loops. Positive feedback loops, and negative feedback loops. A person receiving positive feedback tends to feel better, be more socially comfortable and engaging, and to receive resources that help them on their journey. This response and that assistance actually helps them become better. Better nutrition, more attentive and patient instruction. Etc. I…

That rings true. Queen bees

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#77

Post by pasbesoin »

ccdev wrote: post #74
mncharity wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> feedback loops That's the basis of social-belonging and other mindset interventions.[1] For example, when you encounters difficulty as a freshman in college, do you think "I don't belong here", or "everyone has difficulties - I can get help, work hard, and succeed, like I've done in the past". Students who feel like they belong, build stronger support networks, more readily get help, feel better, and so. Both narra…

It's quite interesting to me that you can find homeostasis in physiological systems, but not in social systems, where runaway effects prevail. And seemingly a more robust social system would create a tendency for people to reach a more stable social state rather then continue to descend in a downward spiral. (BTW the "negative feedback" loop mentioned in this topic is technically still a positive feedback, because th…

That's a good point. I guess I might have more accurately stated them as "positive psychological/physiological feedback loop" and "negative psychological/physiological feedback loop.

You're right, as I describe them, both are "positive" in terms of reinforcing amplification.

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#78

Post by kuroguro »

RealityNow wrote: post #70
subru wrote: post #33

I have considered suicide for the past 30 years. I tried very hard to build a life in the confines of whatever limitations I've been given and/or created for myself. I determine that the nature of humanity is to seek power. This study reminds me of why this world is total bullshit. I've notified to be part of this world anymore. I'm connected into this universe more than I ever have been. There is a black hole awaiti…

Suicide for any able-bodied person privileged enough to be born under good circumstances in the first world is so incredibly selfish. There are so many causes worth fighting for, like bringing a basic income, fixing our medical system, etc. If you're going to kill yourself, at least do it for a cause so that it can help the world and isn't completely in vain. Maybe go to Washington and do a hunger strike in front of…

This I'll never understand. You're blaming others for being selfish yet ask that they participate furthering causes you believe in. You're asking others to do your work for you!

Nay I say! Free will - or the ability to be as useless as one wants - is one of the very few beautiful things in this world and a basic human right.

I shall not bow to your wicked ways! I shall continue to be completely useless until the last of my breaths! I will self-terminate when and how I please!

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#79

Post by jl6 »

Moshe_Silnorin wrote: post #75
KGIII wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not sure if this helps, but we don't actually know if the universe is infinite or finite. It is an unknown.

Sure. But we have to accord it a pretty high probability, at least 50%. So this uncertainty doesn't really effect much.

I've always assigned it pretty low probability on the basis that we have no examples of infinite objects existing.

Re: Popular People Live Longer

#80

Post by seanp2k2 »

kuroguro wrote: post #78
RealityNow wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Suicide for any able-bodied person privileged enough to be born under good circumstances in the first world is so incredibly selfish. There are so many causes worth fighting for, like bringing a basic income, fixing our medical system, etc. If you're going to kill yourself, at least do it for a cause so that it can help the world and isn't completely in vain. Maybe go to Washington and do a hunger strike in front of…

This I'll never understand. You're blaming others for being selfish yet ask that they participate furthering causes you believe in. You're asking others to do your work for you! Nay I say! Free will - or the ability to be as useless as one wants - is one of the very few beautiful things in this world and a basic human right. I shall not bow to your wicked ways! I shall continue to be completely useless until the last…

And yet ironically suicide is also illegal, and many states don't even have half-way decent right-to-die laws for those with terminal illness.

http://www.everything-game.com personally helped me see more value in life. It actually got me thinking that maybe having children wasn't the worst idea in the world.

Edit: for me personally, I get a lot out of helping people. I try to help people get better jobs and move out to Silicon Valley. I've done this for about half a dozen friends now, and all of them have had a great experience with it. I don't get any financial benefit from it; it's just great to see my friends doing "better" in life and to see them happier / more fulfilled. Same with my exes; I never truly understood why people can be so cruel to people they once loved. I'm happy for any way I've helped people I have loved and I have no desire to try to take anything away from them, even if some of them did shitty things to me. I can only hope that they got something out of it / learned from the bad parts.

So yeah, there's a suggestion for anyone reading this: if you want to try to feel better about being alive, help one of your friends get a better job. Teach them what you know or just help them get their foot in the door if you're in a position to do so.

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