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Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

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Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#141

Post by Jeff_Brown »

is_true wrote: post #52
Jeff_Brown wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In 2002, on my way to work in I think Berkeley (definitely somewhere in the Bay Area), I noticed some beautiful echoes in the subway station, and I stopped walking, stood still, and listened. A staff member walked up and asked if I was okay. I said yes. Maybe I explained what I was doing, I don't remember. A few minutes later three paramedics appeared, forcibly strapped me to a gurney, and took me to a hospital. I pr…

That's exactly what people about to commit suicide do.

That's interesting. In any old place? I wasn't anywhere near the tracks; I was in a big underground space on my way out.

I wasn't suicidal, but I was definitely unhappy that year. I don't know to what extent that showed. It may have been later in life that I developed my habitual friendliness with strangers.

I do remember deciding shortly after that to learn to fear other peoples' potential fears. It's a pain in the ass, but optimal, I think.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#142

Post by Jeff_Brown »

pope_meat wrote: post #105
Jeff_Brown wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In 2002, on my way to work in I think Berkeley (definitely somewhere in the Bay Area), I noticed some beautiful echoes in the subway station, and I stopped walking, stood still, and listened. A staff member walked up and asked if I was okay. I said yes. Maybe I explained what I was doing, I don't remember. A few minutes later three paramedics appeared, forcibly strapped me to a gurney, and took me to a hospital. I pr…

...so, you're telling me that in these united states of america a bunch of goons took you by force and detained you from continuing your day for the crime of ... standing and listening to the sounds around you? I would burn half the city to the ground after getting out for that bullshit, at least they'd have a valid reason to commit me then. The idea that you could be hurting no one and be snatched up and taken somew…

I was quite upset. Looking back I'm surprised I didn't seek damages in court. But that was before cell phones were ubiquitous, and I was in a new town where I didn't know basically anyone but my mom, and I don't have a photographic memory for faces. I felt powerless. Indeed, I believe I was.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#143

Post by Jeff_Brown »

dempseye wrote: post #106
Jeff_Brown wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In 2002, on my way to work in I think Berkeley (definitely somewhere in the Bay Area), I noticed some beautiful echoes in the subway station, and I stopped walking, stood still, and listened. A staff member walked up and asked if I was okay. I said yes. Maybe I explained what I was doing, I don't remember. A few minutes later three paramedics appeared, forcibly strapped me to a gurney, and took me to a hospital. I pr…

Is this a joke or did it happen?

It happened.

(BTW you know you can look through a commenter's history on HN to see if an interpretation of something they wrote is consistent with their character.)

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#144

Post by Jeff_Brown »

im3w1l wrote: post #43
Jeff_Brown wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In 2002, on my way to work in I think Berkeley (definitely somewhere in the Bay Area), I noticed some beautiful echoes in the subway station, and I stopped walking, stood still, and listened. A staff member walked up and asked if I was okay. I said yes. Maybe I explained what I was doing, I don't remember. A few minutes later three paramedics appeared, forcibly strapped me to a gurney, and took me to a hospital. I pr…

How long were you in the subway station listening? What happened at the hospital? And did you get a bill?

Good questions. I imagine listened somewhere between one and ten minutes. At the hospital I remember nothing except that my arm was tied to a bar above my head for long enough that it hurt, and I had to plead to get them to restrain me some other way. I don't know whether I received a bill. Neither does my mom, who probably would have paid for it, as I was making peanuts.

I wish I'd kept a diary. (I actually did a lot of writing that year, but it was of the creative sort. I held onto a box full of it for years. I went through it once and thought it was dumb, but kept it still. The second time I did that, years later, I confirmed my earlier judgment and decided it wasn't worth keeping.)

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#146

Post by mijowi »

r0b05 wrote: post #104
dQw4w9WgXcQ wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>substituting titillations for profound organic satisfactions, cleverness for wisdom, and jagged surprises for beauty... ...And porn for relationships and intimacy. If there's any modern ill that has exacerbated our inability to be comfortable with boredom (which is essentially inner loneliness) it's porn. It's an escape for loneliness and a terrible salve that leaves the intrinsic desires for intimacy and connection…

While many functioning porn users will dismiss your comment as nonsense, I believe it really is a massive problem in society. Porn in its current iteration, is similar to social media in that it literally programs your brain. We program computers but are ignorant to the fact that computers can program our behaviour if we are not careful. Yes, it is a poor substitute for intimacy but it also creates dangerous thought…

What kinks do you think are unhealthy? I’d wager that truly unhealthy kinks are uncommon.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#147

Post by angrais »

Spooky23 wrote: post #120
beebeepka wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Preaching posts like yours are more dangerous than whatever excess porn consumption may do to people's brains.

It’s acceptable to have a position or opinion, civilly stated. Any of the common “vices” like gambling, porn, Skinner box games, some drugs are difficult for people to manage. That dopamine hit burns behavioral pathways into the brain and is tough to undo.

Why are you (and others in this thread) grouping porn with drugs and gambling? To me, this does not make any sense.

Watching porn is not a bad thing. Obviously, if you're talking about addiction then perhaps, but do you think people are addicted to porn (on average) to the extent others are to those other vices?

Likewise, gambling and drugs impact you both physically and mentally, whereas the evidence for porn's impact on either is questionable at best.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#148

Post by syops »

pault wrote: post #103
syops wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's been a bit of research into the destructive aspects of porn watching. Porn has normalized a number of sexual behaviors that were not common in the past. This is especially so for behaviors that are degrading to the woman. What's interesting about your comment though is that you accuse OP of over generalization whilst using your singular anecdotal experience in what I think can best be described as a example o…

To be fair, some people of all genders get their kicks from being sexually dominated. The issue is knowing where the other person’s limits are and having good communication. This becomes a problem when people find discussing their sexual preferences embarrassing, even with their partners. My sex life improved greatly when I started asking my partners if they have any fantasies and exploring them together. Sometimes p…

Of course there are such people. I submit though that the number of women who consent to anal and like it is much less than the number who consent and don't like it. The same for various other sex acts. I believe the research supports my position.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#149

Post by syops »

r0b05 wrote: post #113
beebeepka wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Preaching posts like yours are more dangerous than whatever excess porn consumption may do to people's brains.

I don't expect everyone to get it but if my insight helps a few people then it's worth sharing.

I suspect that many of the people responding haven't read any research into the topic.

Re: Doing something is better than doing nothing for most people: study (2014)

#150

Post by syops »

mijowi wrote: post #146
r0b05 wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While many functioning porn users will dismiss your comment as nonsense, I believe it really is a massive problem in society. Porn in its current iteration, is similar to social media in that it literally programs your brain. We program computers but are ignorant to the fact that computers can program our behaviour if we are not careful. Yes, it is a poor substitute for intimacy but it also creates dangerous thought…

What kinks do you think are unhealthy? I’d wager that truly unhealthy kinks are uncommon.

Virtually all sex acts can be done in a healthy way provided both parties are truly into it. Porn has created expectations in men as to what women normally want and as a result a lot of women do sex acts that they don't truly like. Porn has distorted the view of what is 'normal' and the expectations of what a woman should consent to.
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