Carrie's recent activity
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Comment on How to judge relative dangers of chemicals for someone too busy (or lazy) to keep up with the science? in ~health
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Comment on A ‘yoga pill’ to end anxiety? Scientists find a brain circuit that instantly deflates stress. in ~science
Carrie LinkReading the abstract of the original paper Here, this study was done in mice. I understand the benefits of using mice as a model system, but (without having read the whole journal publication) in...Reading the abstract of the original paper Here, this study was done in mice.
I understand the benefits of using mice as a model system, but (without having read the whole journal publication) in a study about pathways that are involved in conscious breathing to reduce anxiety- I feel the mouse model may be inappropriate.
For starters, mice use their olfactory system in critically different ways than we do - so I wonder how much they can even engage in conscious breathing as a relaxation technique, so why would we assume their breathing pathway purposes are conserved in humans ?
Similarly, how do mice experience anxiety and does conscious breathing work to “calm them down”. Or at least, does this pathway, once activated, cause the same reduction in anxiety as some other activity (such as purposeful breathing) ?
Perhaps this is explained in the methods, but I would still take with a grain of salt that conscious breathing for the sake of reducing anxiety is well studied in mice.
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Comment on "Americans get screwed because they can’t read" in ~society
Carrie (edited )Link ParentFair point regarding jargon and intended audience of academic writing. Though I still feel hyper specificity can be limiting even within a field. edit I also feel the public has a right to...Fair point regarding jargon and intended audience of academic writing. Though I still feel hyper specificity can be limiting even within a field. edit I also feel the public has a right to understand and read the works of the authors they have funded, so while journal articles are mostly for academic peers, they should appeal in some capacity to laypeople. Which some articles do as a summary or big picture overview. Simplification of a concept is a demonstration of mastery.
To point 2, I think physicians have some knowledge of genetics that is applicable to their schooling, but not their practice. For example, a physician struggled to tell me how a SNP (single nucleotide repeat) would affect pharmacology of drugs and drug choice and failed to be able to explain to me how we can use my personal genetic data to make informed drug choices. The best I got was “some people have different genes that make it so that certain drugs won’t work very well on them.”
I concede this may or may not have to do with academic writing.
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Comment on "Americans get screwed because they can’t read" in ~society
Carrie Link ParentIn a gross over-simplification, I was wondering what it would be like if we switched to a “do this” style of rules and regulations instead of a “don’t do this”. Parking regulations is a “simple”...In a gross over-simplification, I was wondering what it would be like if we switched to a “do this” style of rules and regulations instead of a “don’t do this”.
Parking regulations is a “simple” example. Tell me when I can park here instead of when I can’t.
But I agree with you, it’s a grey area for some topics.
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Comment on Book review: Eric Turkheimer's "Understanding the Nature-Nurture Debate" in ~science
Carrie LinkCaveat, haven’t read the article, yet. Epigenetics pretty much added another nail to the coffin for nature vs nurture. It’s both. But I know many geneticists that bury their heads in the sand...Caveat, haven’t read the article, yet.
Epigenetics pretty much added another nail to the coffin for nature vs nurture. It’s both.
But I know many geneticists that bury their heads in the sand regarding epigenetics, as if ignoring it makes it disappear. So it doesn’t surprise me that the white whales of the scientific hierarchy are not ready to let themselves be harpooned.
Nature and nurture are so entwined it seems somewhat moot to try to separate them.
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Comment on "Americans get screwed because they can’t read" in ~society
Carrie LinkA lot of academic and other “intellectual” writing often feels like an arms race where the target is to preempt as many questions and counter arguments as possible. It’s why the pre-amble is so...A lot of academic and other “intellectual” writing often feels like an arms race where the target is to preempt as many questions and counter arguments as possible.
It’s why the pre-amble is so long before they get to the point “let me justify why I’m about to tell you what I’m about to tell you” followed by “this is my point” followed by “I have already thought about your counter argument and here is my counter argument.”
All of which amounts to the massive word counts and lengthy and convoluted sentence structures. Jargon and acronyms, ironically, in their quest to make things less bulky, just add to the mess and further leave the lay person in the dust.
What I’m more afraid of, however, is how far it leaves professionals in the dust. I have met many doctors that have a very limited, if any, understanding of genetics and how it impacts pharmacology, for example. Based on their usage of terminology and other things, I doubt they have understood what they are espousing.
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Two sides of the same coin
I have a quandary. Suppose there is a coin that, when flipped, it lands head’s side up on a table. Without picking the coin up to confirm the side that is down is tails. Could you ever know that...
I have a quandary.
Suppose there is a coin that, when flipped, it lands head’s side up on a table.
Without picking the coin up to confirm the side that is down is tails. Could you ever know that it is tails ?
Assume in this world that the coin has a heads side and tails side when held in your hand.
Assume you cannot view the coin’s two sides in any other way than picking it up.
Is this just a variation of Schrödinger’s Cat ? Or is it more “does a tree make a sound if no one is around to hear it” ?
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Comment on James Webb Space Telescope finds stunning evidence for alternate theory of gravity in ~space
Carrie LinkI love this gem:I love this gem:
“The bottom line is, ‘I told you so,’” McGaugh said. “I was raised to think that saying that was rude, but that’s the whole point of the scientific method: Make predictions and then check which come true.”
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Comment on Graduating college, starting work, and being lonely in ~talk
Carrie LinkI have two pieces of advice for you, I’m on mobile so forgive me for poor grammar and such, but I felt moved enough to respond to you with urgency. Open your mind to being friends with people...I have two pieces of advice for you, I’m on mobile so forgive me for poor grammar and such, but I felt moved enough to respond to you with urgency.
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Open your mind to being friends with people outside of your age. Older folks and younger folks than perhaps you’re willing to interact with normally. I am often shocked that I get along with people ten years older or younger than I am. Be willing to look past the surface of things to meet people you’d otherwise miss.
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If your company offers education reimbursement, take advantage of it and take a class in person at a university. School is one of the few places where you can meet diverse ppl, whether it’s from the class itself or all the other resources and opportunities it opens up.
I was in your position almost exactly a couple times in my life. You sound like you know yourself well, so trust your gut. you’re right when you say life is tasteless without the spice of camaraderie or kinship.
More later, if you’re interested. Take care for now.
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Comment on MomBoard: E-ink display for a parent with amnesia in ~tech
Carrie Link ParentI’m not sure if this is related. But I keep wondering if we could go back and “improve” old technology merely by adapting or adopting newer battery technology, but changing nothing else, if that...I’m not sure if this is related. But I keep wondering if we could go back and “improve” old technology merely by adapting or adopting newer battery technology, but changing nothing else, if that makes sense.
I had always heard that battery technology was “five years behind” the rest of technology. Kind of a constant mismatch in advancement. We want more things at once or faster than before, thus the battery demand increases in each iteration, but the battery technology never increases at the same rate and never catches up.
Sorry for that tangent if it’s not related 😅
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Comment on eBooks cost too much in ~books
Carrie LinkAt the bare minimum, when I buy a physical book, I should get the ebook for free(to download, not to access via cloud)…utter nonsense.At the bare minimum, when I buy a physical book, I should get the ebook for free(to download, not to access via cloud)…utter nonsense.
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Comment on Haka interrupts vote on New Zealand Treaty Principles Bill in ~society
Carrie LinkI love this. It’s very much “fuck this. I’m done. Hear me roar.” It is refreshing to see such passion and emotion. I loved that other members started adding on towards the end - somewhat...I love this. It’s very much “fuck this. I’m done. Hear me roar.”
It is refreshing to see such passion and emotion.
I loved that other members started adding on towards the end - somewhat unexpectedly (for me) - what a great show of solidarity.
Thanks for sharing.
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Comment on How do people get over enshittification? in ~life
Carrie Link ParentI'm actually here for this. One of my biggest take aways from this post has been that I had a poor understanding of what canonical "Enshittification" is/was; I need to educate myself further....I'm actually here for this.
One of my biggest take aways from this post has been that I had a poor understanding of what canonical "Enshittification" is/was; I need to educate myself further.
Should what I'm describing be called "Encrapification" ? It certainly hits on "Shrinkflation", but as we have discussed, this is not the entirety of the situation.
I suppose let me define better what I hate:
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Gradual lowering of the level of quality of an item, while not disproportionately lowering the price, while simultaneously no longer providing an option of the same level of (previous)quality and function that has an inflation matched price.
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The above, but pretending that the item is the same item and that you are delusional as if the quality has not changed. (Looking at you Cadbury Eggs. Which in this instance is a version of shrinkflation, but also I assume quality of ingredient degradation, proof needed).
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Other pet peeve - changing versions of something for the sake of changing something. Less genius a la "New Coke vs. Classic Coke" and more annoying like, here is Brook's Ghost 15 Sneaker, now with more Ghost than Brook's Ghost 14. I suppose this is like planned obsolescence, but again, not quite.
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Comment on AirPods or not? in ~music
Carrie LinkIt sounds like comfort is your most important factor. Focus on that, and only that, because an uncomfortable head or ear phone is an unworn and unused head/earphone. Have there been any headphones...It sounds like comfort is your most important factor.
Focus on that, and only that, because an uncomfortable head or ear phone is an unworn and unused head/earphone.
Have there been any headphones that you like comfort-wise?
I tried my darndest to like Apple headphones, but could not get over them, comfort-wise. I love most things Apple and live in the ecosystem, but with the headphones I just found them to be really uncomfortable for me. I say this to remind you to trust your gut, don't be like me, and think "well everyone is saying these are the most comfortable and best headphones ever--that should apply to me too".
If you can try headphones on (I don't know how this goes for in-ear style), do that, and go with your gut and experience/feelings. If you can't, find people that have a similar opinion to you regarding headphone feel (like other users who find your current set bulky), and see if they have recommendations.
Good luck!
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Comment on Is ADHD really that debilitating? in ~health.mental
Carrie Link ParentI lived with a partner that, could not for the life of her, ever put socks in a hamper. It did not matter where we moved the hamper or the shoe-taking off area or adding a bench to sit when...I lived with a partner that, could not for the life of her, ever put socks in a hamper. It did not matter where we moved the hamper or the shoe-taking off area or adding a bench to sit when de-socking, it just never happened.
The socks would often be right next to the hamper, too!
She was not formally diagnosed with ADHD...but I know it when I see it! lol.
Apparently I have obsessions about socks, since this example is, somehow also about socks. It reminds me of this Family Feud Episode.
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How do people get over enshittification?
Enshittificiation, or in my own words, "how everything starts to suck on purpose", has somewhat come to rule my life, and thus, ruin my life. An example I'm thinking about right now is socks. I...
Enshittificiation, or in my own words, "how everything starts to suck on purpose", has somewhat come to rule my life, and thus, ruin my life.
An example I'm thinking about right now is socks. I bought a certain pair of socks probably ten years ago now. I liked them and took for granted that I would be able to purchase this sock or type of sock at any given time. Fast-forward ten years, and the sock is gone. And it feels like no other sock compares.
What's really going on in my mind is, "I know there is better out there, and this is just a choice of the manufacturer to be greedy". Except in this circumstance, the "there" is my fantasy land of the past.
So I ask you all, how do you move on from this? Because what happens for me is I just don't buy new socks, and instead hold on to my tatters (most of them still work decently, but nowhere near as well as they used to). I have tried randomly buying socks to get over my fear of failure (choosing the wrong socks and wasting money and contributing to global waste and contributing to materialism and general clutter in my house, etc.); But this just furthers the issue because I confirm that the other socks are shit and this seems like a fruitless endeavor, as such, in addition to going against my morals and values I listed above.
Thank you for any advice or help!
*EDIT
Thank you all for a rousing discussion, as usual.Here are some of my Major Takeaways:
- Mend and Repair
- Buy local/artisinal
- Research new brands and check my assumptions since the last time I checked on something.
- Fight it - buy vintage, see also: repair and mend.
- Custom/Bespoke
- Be thankful for the things that I do find that fit my criteria, and buy multiples of those.
- Carpe diem - when I find something good really seize the moment and indulge. (This is to combat over analysis paralysis that others shared).
- Accept that some of this is the "New Normal" (This is to reduce my distress over the situation).
Lastly, one clarification, I'd like to add that on the subject of clothing or other comforts in particular, it is extra painful to lose something you love, like a clothing item, when you are not an "average" person. Sensory issues, body shapes, and fashion tastes can be so limiting when you are not within the bell curve, and so it is not a trivial subject to mourn the loss of something you once had, and fear that you will never find something like it again.
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Comment on Is ADHD really that debilitating? in ~health.mental
Carrie Link ParentI personally think forgetting things easily is legit because I just don’t care about the thing*. It goes back to motivation/reward, for me. Brain goes “remember this log in ID for this website you...I personally think forgetting things easily is legit because I just don’t care about the thing*. It goes back to motivation/reward, for me.
Brain goes “remember this log in ID for this website you just signed up for” literally right after “what ID I don’t care about that anymore”**.
It feels so frustratingly annoying ! Brain, do the things I am asking you to do god damn it.
And so god help me if someone says “if it’s important, you’ll remember it later”.
*and distractibility because I cannot ignore things(sights, thoughts, sounds).
**impatience is the Bain of my existence. “Waiting” would certainly be the deepest circle of hell in my Dante’s inferno.
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Comment on Is ADHD really that debilitating? in ~health.mental
Carrie Link ParentHonestly, this is it right here. Our reward systems are different. If the reward does not hit for me right then and there I am NOT going to do the thing. Even shit like resetting a password, I can...Honestly, this is it right here.
Our reward systems are different. If the reward does not hit for me right then and there I am NOT going to do the thing.
Even shit like resetting a password, I can get distracted very quickly and easily, or as I describe it, the barrier to complete it is just too high. Like I am already irritated or over whatever I was trying to do by resetting the password. Poof, gone.
I struggle to even reward myself for doing things in attempts to reinforce normal habits.
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Comment on Is ADHD really that debilitating? in ~health.mental
Carrie LinkTo answer your question: Yes. Within the comments here, I think one of the most salient points is the cycle of shame included with the ineffectiveness of help suggestions. There is a lot of...To answer your question:
Since I don't have ADHD my question is if people who do have ADHD really do find it to be that incapacitating?
Yes.
Within the comments here, I think one of the most salient points is the cycle of shame included with the ineffectiveness of help suggestions. There is a lot of distress from being constantly invalidated as a neurodivergent person living in a neurotypical world.
Let me explain. People, out of the goodness of their hearts, will suggest umpteen suggestions(which they think are solutions) of how to "fix your life" or if you "just did this" (which is usually some form of setting alarms, reminders, emails, calendars, etc.). They will say this works for them or it works for someone else in their life and act like this simple act will solve all your problems, meanwhile ignoring that these things "just don't work" for you. It makes you question your own sanity and ask yourself "why isn't this working for me?" When it inevitably doesn't work. It puts a lot of blame on the person for it not working since it "works for everyone else".
This leads to masking for several reasons: don't want to be suggested to again, don't want to let the other person down and make them feel bad that their solution didn't work(rejection sensitivity and people pleasing is a big part of ADHD for some people, as well), stupidly believing that "maybe this time it will work". So on top of you trying to figure out what system you're going to use to fix whatever original problem you had (let's say in this scenario, you hate filling out lab reports), you are also pretending to use their stupid system to make you/them feel better(set up notifications and reminder alarms and to do lists, sign up for an app, whatever). The lab reports pile up, you don't have a good system, but you are completing them to not look like a failure/it's your job, AND you are performing a show by using their suggested system.
tl;dr - ADHD is exhausting because of the constant masking, and being not understood, coupled with constant self blame and shame. You try to fit in and often miss the mark and thus you end up not wanting to engage at all with those activities and avoid them. Lastly,you don't even get to have the things you want/the help you want on top of all of that (it's still excruciating to you to fill out the lab reports and nothing is coming to relieve that).
PS. I applaud you for going out of your way to try to understand a struggle for a cause that does not really "directly" affect you! Thank you for your efforts and caring!
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Comment on Work life balance in a startup in ~life
Carrie Link ParentAgree with valuing people over corporate!!! Very good point. Your direct manager influences your willingness to stay at a company more than anyone else. See if your manager seems like a pushover...Agree with valuing people over corporate!!! Very good point.
Your direct manager influences your willingness to stay at a company more than anyone else. See if your manager seems like a pushover (they do not stand up for their own team). You can do this by asking, “when your team has met failure, how have you responded ?” Or “when a decision is made that is outside of your control, that you don’t agree with, how do you respond ?” An example of this can be certain “go-no-go” decisions. Or ask them if they have ever had an unpopular opinion and how did that go lol.
Ask their direct reports “what style manager is so and so ? What are your 1:1 meetings like ? Walk me through an example of one”.
Check how long your manager has been at the company, do they have managerial experience ? If so, how much and in what contexts (other start ups? How large of a team? Etc.)
Try to get as much info from the direct reports as possible, since they will know your manager the most. Pay attention to their attitude and what they do or don’t say and how they say it.
I want to reiterate the above poster though with their great point regarding people vs purpose. You can love a company’s mission, but if the day to day and operations is miserable, it’s not worth it and it will feel like a drag.
This won’t answer all your questions, but a good place to start is “who or what does this apply to?” And “how close am I to that population ?” (If your concern is assessing the threat level to yourself).
Example, if a study shows that X drug reduces hemorrhoids in mice by 50%, you need to ask yourself, how close am I to mice ?
A more nuanced scenario is something like, a study shows that using gaiters to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is ineffective by 90%. You look in the study and find out that this conclusion was based on experiments using simulated models of transmission. A conclusion based on a simulation is only as good as the simulation itself, so as a lay person you should rank this as “lower” veracity than a claim made that studied actual transmission values when people wore gaiters.