101–110 of 162 posts
Social media and its consequences (adtech) have been a disaster for the human race. We're still largely oblivious to it though, and mostly see the benefits. Similar to smoking and before that, fossil fuels, we just see it as something that improves our lives at little cost. In 50 years we will wonder how we were so naive.
Not to be pedantic, but smoking is actually the new smoking. Its just now being normalized through weed (which is rationalized as healthy or cool) and vaping (which is seen as less harmful than smoking cigarettes). The sheer number of smoke shops has exploded.
Vaping nicotine has indeed replaced a lot of the consumption of old fashioned cigarettes. But that has nothing to do with weed.
I miss smoking (well, not really; I'm not a smoker). But all the rituals around it were very important for modulating the cadence and even nature of conversation, offering shared rituals, give-and-take, and, by convention, forced but acceptable pauses.
Interesting point, re the pauses to take a drag on a cigarette. The only thing I can think of like that now in a workplace or chance social encounter is taking a drink of water or coffee, but I suppose it hasn't really replaced smoking. Maybe carrying a small water flask to give ourselves moments to pause meaningfully in a conversation!
As a non-smoker I was at a conversational disadvantage. As a nerd, this didn't bother me much.
Tangent, but I never understood the cargo-cult anti-smoking culture in the US; it was a perfect reflection of their media hypnotization. The people that would do a thousand different rebellious, risky, or damaging stuff would recoil in horror if you ask if they ever had a cigarette, as if one puff will char and shrivel your lungs or something.
I’ve been given dramatic lectures in college parties by people who were 6-7 drinks in on how bad that cigarette im smoking right now is.
Media hypnotization is indeed a thing. I grew up in a very very low trust society. I wonder if that’s related.
I miss smoking (well, not really; I'm not a smoker). But all the rituals around it were very important for modulating the cadence and even nature of conversation, offering shared rituals, give-and-take, and, by convention, forced but acceptable pauses.
(Oddly enough this might actually work. My understanding is that nicotine is not actually that unhealthy; it's mostly the other stuff in cigarette's that's bad for you. Additionally, based on an old coworker of mine who quite smoking successfully, a big part of the addiction is just having something to put in your mouth.)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Digital and real world hobbies are not mutually exclusive. If you have an outdoor hobby, you've probably noticed it being busier than ever over the last few years. Hiking trails, beaches, surf breaks, running paths, etc have all been the busier than they ever were before COVID. People may be spending more time than ever online, but people are also spending lots of time in nature.
If anything, tiktok/instagrammers are too prevalent in natural areas these days, harvesting those areas for likes and influence.
I know you'll still need to offer people cell service so they can call 911 in emergencies, but why not block everything else, as an experiment? Put a big sign at all entrances to that park so people know what they're getting into.
And then the big question would be... would taking this step increase park usage, or decrease it? I honestly have no idea, but I'm incredibly curious to find out.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
True, but in a relatively minor or even positive way. I similarly don’t get upset when someone brews coffee or tea next to me, even though I actually can’t be that close due to a medicinal interaction. I sometimes have to leave the room, but that’s not their fault. Weed makes driving more dangerous, lowers motivation and focus, etc. You want to do that to unwind, fine. But do it at home or in a designated smoking are…
To clarify, are you claiming that nicotine's psychoactive effects are minor or even positive?
Marijuana, on the other hand, slows your reaction time and hampers decision making, as well as (in a small percentage of people, but including me) triggers depression, paranoia, and psychosis. Although it is legal to have and to smoke where I live, you still can't do it while driving a car or in public spaces. Doesn't seem to stop people though :\
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not disagreeing with you, but what determines that skiing or hiking is more 'valuable' or more worthy of spending time on than candy crush or tiktok?
It pains me seeing how nature is being treated when large amounts of lowest common denominator visit the woods. Lots of noise, junk food wrappers, bottles, beer cans. In that sense, it's more "valuable" having these types away from nature
It's better that some next generation folks are out enjoying nature and building up some care and appreciation for it than not, right?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wasn’t this debunked? Kids in China, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, overwhelmingly say influencer.
How does that debunk the concept of CCP-curated content?
It's a bit weird to find myself in a position of defending a social media app. There are a lot of people in the US who have a reason to be upset with its existence. I think it played a key role in the last election, because that's where Gen-Z spends their time. Similarly the execs at Google and Facebook have a reason to want it gone, but you don't see them publicly lamenting how they don't make as much ad revenue as they used to. The negative comments here on HN at least are always some version of "national security" and "think of the children".
Not to be pedantic, but smoking is actually the new smoking. Its just now being normalized through weed (which is rationalized as healthy or cool) and vaping (which is seen as less harmful than smoking cigarettes). The sheer number of smoke shops has exploded.
Yeah it really bugs me how inconsiderate weed and vaping smokers can be. I’ve had weed smokers casually walk by my family blowing smoke everywhere without care, like this was the 1950’s. In a sense this is even worse as not only did I not agree to me or my kids breathing in this cancerous cloud of smoke, but it is psychoactive too.
I haven't paid much attention, but there was a pretty big JAMA paper a decade or so ago that didn't demonstrate much risk at something like "a joint per day for 40 years" level consumption.
Vaping may well have its own -- perhaps even greater -- risks, but I hadn't assumed propylene glycol to be particularly carcinogenic. Is it? CDC says doesn't seem to be raising major red flags: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=1...
Certainly not an area of expertise for me, I'd always thought of it as closer to a fog machine at a Halloween party than inhaling burning pieces of ash. Other than the vitamin e (?) associated illnesses a few years ago, is there good reason to think otherwise?