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How my genius roommate changed my perspective

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Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#91

Post by zikduruqe »

darkwater wrote: post #73

TIL https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ Does this have any real, proven by data reliability? or is it just self help-like material focused on alpha-males?

Yes, sorta. Just like boxers train themselves not to flinch when punched, you can teach yourself to tolerate cold better. As to boosting your immune system and the other claims, no one can prove that at home and is probably due to other changes in their personal lives. But I will say I did the Wim Hot method for 1000 days straight, and considering the cost of admission (free), my resistance to cold increased. I am that weirdo that walks around barefooted in the winter anyways, and it just allowed me to go a bit longer in colder conditions.

I used to teach people to survive extreme situations, and only used the WHM to teach them how to endure cold a bit better, but some people are just wired to be able to do so or not. It is no magic bullet.

Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#92

Post by AnIdiotOnTheNet »

delif wrote: post #29
pitaa wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Perhaps for people who don't have a "hack the world!" mindset, it does appear as genius I suppose. I think this is it. I've realized that as an engineer, I look at the local environment around me as a construct. If I don't like something or think it can be improved, I can redesign it better. Hell, I once got the traffic markings on an entire street changed by sending a single email to the right person pointing out…

When I've learned some things in my time is that most engineers don't have this mindset because they are not allowed to have it. If you mean software engineer you might be right but not in the general regulated engineering jobs.

The way you get a lot of "this is the right way to do it" talk on Stack Overflow from people who don't actually answer the poster's question and know nothing of their constraints suggests that software engineers aren't inherently more likely to think this way.

Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#93

Post by arbitrabbit »

elcomet wrote: post #55
brobdingnagians wrote: post #41

Reminds me of the story of Zhuangzi, the Chinese philosopher, on how one thing can be used in very different ways: There was once a man from Song who was skilled at making ointment for chapped hands. For generations, his family had made their living by washing raw silk. A traveler happened to hear of it and offered to purchase the formula for a hundred catties of gold. The man called his family into conference and sa…

> The king put him in command of his forces to engage Yue’s navy in a midwinter river battle and the forces of Yue were routed The story is nice but some details ruin it IMO.. How would a salesman know how to command an army ? Also, the success of an army depends on a huge number of factors, not only dryness of hands.. Military strategy seems more important than hands

The traveler’s name was Strider.

Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#94

Post by 2muchcoffeeman »

fragmede wrote: post #30
hirako2000 wrote: post #21

Am I the only one thinking of a hoseless washing machine and a wide open wardrobe that will be rather complicated to sell?

sounds like they were students at the time - put the parts back before you move out and no one that cares will even notice

There are no regular inspections in a place like that?

The pictures clearly show a drill and saw dust. Which is what I would expect from repurposing closet doors. You couldn't put that together without significant damage to the furniture.

In most western countries you just lost your bond. No idea how permissible they are in China.

Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#95

Post by yoz-y »

lbriner wrote: post #75
VoodooJuJu wrote: post #71

Wouldn't call it genius, but certainly resourceful. In many cultures, this resourcefulness is not uncommon. Interesting how it is such a novel concept to the author, but second-nature to others.

I'm ashamed to admit to the number of times I am impressed by someone from a third-world country not only being resourceful but being able to create much more than I could from much less. I think of William Kamkwamba creating windmills from car parts. We need to remember that "education" is not the only way to achieve, some people are just wired up well and education comes from many more places than school! (I also b…

Reminds me of a story when a friend was moving places in China. Now this is a second order account so the details are hazy.

He had arranged for the movers to come in and take his stuff. When the time came the bell rang and the person on the other side said "I'm here". My friend was puzzled as he had quite a bit of stuff, weren't there supposed to be more of them? Turns out it was indeed just one mover on a scooter. But he was still able to move everything in a couple of trips by tricks like carrying the fridge on his back with aid of some straps and bundling and hanging everything.

When I was in China I saw people transporting all kinds of stuff on scooters and some were really impressive. One time I thought a lorry was coming and it was just somebody carrying really _a lot_ of empty plastic bottles strapped onto them.

Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#97

Post by penjelly »

unkulunkulu wrote: post #78
darkwater wrote: post #73

TIL https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ Does this have any real, proven by data reliability? or is it just self help-like material focused on alpha-males?

Did you actually hear him talk? There is no need to be insecure about your body’s abilities. Not only “alfa” males can do things. “He can do it you can (potentially) do it” sounds quite proven to me, do you disagree? So the only question (for me) is “can he do what he says he can”.

wim had world records in ice diving and has worked with researchers on studying his breathing technique. that said, HE IS AN ANOMALY. Hes been shown to have higher brown fat percentage then the average male (including his own twin).

so no, just because he can do crazy things like dive into a frozen lake for X minutes doesnt mean the average person can.

That said. the breathing exercises and cold showers DO have a positive physiological effect and they are worth doing, even if you dont become superhuman overnight.

do his breathing technique every morning when you wake up, its like a very potent meditation that makes you feel good. im about to do mine now.

Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#98

Post by ppseafield »

elcomet wrote: post #55
brobdingnagians wrote: post #41

Reminds me of the story of Zhuangzi, the Chinese philosopher, on how one thing can be used in very different ways: There was once a man from Song who was skilled at making ointment for chapped hands. For generations, his family had made their living by washing raw silk. A traveler happened to hear of it and offered to purchase the formula for a hundred catties of gold. The man called his family into conference and sa…

> The king put him in command of his forces to engage Yue’s navy in a midwinter river battle and the forces of Yue were routed The story is nice but some details ruin it IMO.. How would a salesman know how to command an army ? Also, the success of an army depends on a huge number of factors, not only dryness of hands.. Military strategy seems more important than hands

This is essentially a parable nested in another story to make a very specific point. The story this appears in shows Huizi complaining to Zhuangzi about some extremely massive gourds that he couldn't use as one might use as e.g. a ladle, so he get frustrated and smashes them. Zhuangzi comments that obviously they would be better as floating vessels, and Huizi could have floated down the river in them.

All that to make a more general point: if you have the wrong expectations for the way something is, you're going to suffer because of those expectations. The silk-washing family was frustrated because they believed the balm could only be used in one way which kept them very poor and worn out. Huizi suffered because he was gifted seeds for some very large gourds, but expected to use them like normal-sized gourds, and eventually destroyed the gift after expending much time and effort on them.

Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#99

Post by penjelly »

darkwater wrote: post #73

TIL https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ Does this have any real, proven by data reliability? or is it just self help-like material focused on alpha-males?

doctors opinion: https://youtu.be/D6EPuUdIC1E

personal anecdote: just do the breathing once or twice and youll feel it doing something. i find the effect very useful for eliminating brain fog and impulse control, also relieves my tired eyes, and makes me want to crack my knuckles. to me its like a rapid meditation but more potent.

its def not self help focused on alpha males. the breathing imo is the most effective single thing you can do from his 3 things (meditation, breathing exercises, cold exposure). This isnt new btw. the breathing is based on pranayama and people have experimented with blood oxygen/CO2 levels for performance forever. see: apnea training & freedivers.

Re: How my genius roommate changed my perspective

#100

Post by penjelly »

zikduruqe wrote: post #91
darkwater wrote: post #73

TIL https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ Does this have any real, proven by data reliability? or is it just self help-like material focused on alpha-males?

Yes, sorta. Just like boxers train themselves not to flinch when punched, you can teach yourself to tolerate cold better. As to boosting your immune system and the other claims, no one can prove that at home and is probably due to other changes in their personal lives. But I will say I did the Wim Hot method for 1000 days straight, and considering the cost of admission (free), my resistance to cold increased. I am th…

can confirm the breathing can help you when in cold OR hot scenarios i used to do in in the sauna to bear the heat and its an interesting experience. (not recommending huffing on hot air though)
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