Nyxie's recent activity

  1. Comment on So what's up with the Toto - Africa craze? Are we in another 80's music revival? in ~music

    Nyxie
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    Is it because of Weezer's release of their cover of Africa recently?

    Is it because of Weezer's release of their cover of Africa recently?

    3 votes
  2. Comment on Banned user's content is not removed and their name has a red "(Banned)" appended to it. in ~tildes

    Nyxie
    Link Parent
    If you really wanted something to change within them then you'd need to have a process where the problem is discussed and worked through or else they lose privileges that mean something to them....

    If you really wanted something to change within them then you'd need to have a process where the problem is discussed and worked through or else they lose privileges that mean something to them. As far as I'm concerned, shame is over-rated as a way to induce change in people. If they don't at least feel guilt over their actions, shaming them isn't going to matter.

    2 votes
  3. Comment on Banned user's content is not removed and their name has a red "(Banned)" appended to it. in ~tildes

    Nyxie
    Link Parent
    Shame isn't always a good motivator and I think when we employ shame it's more about feeling superior than trying to see a good outcome.

    Shame isn't always a good motivator and I think when we employ shame it's more about feeling superior than trying to see a good outcome.

  4. Comment on What are you passionate about? in ~talk

    Nyxie
    Link Parent
    Absolutely, sorry I that it took a little while for the answer! The first big problem with people's understanding of chronic pain is that they have no real way to imagine what it's like, there...

    Absolutely, sorry I that it took a little while for the answer!

    The first big problem with people's understanding of chronic pain is that they have no real way to imagine what it's like, there isn't a real analog for people to use as a framework. Because of how people are built, it seems like the brain doesn't have a particularly good way of "recalling" pain sensations, it's often easy to recall what you thought or the actions that were taken during a painful event but not the pain itself. This leads us to minimize the effect often in our memories. I believe that in some part this leads to the cultural idea that seeking to minimize or avoid pain is weak. There are many that believe that enduring pain strengthens us, that there's a honorable or heroic quality to enduring pain and that those who seek relief are weak and craven. While people are in pain, people rightfully look for relief and to fix the problem as pain is generally a signal that your body sets off to notify you that something isn't right but in the aftermath, after time has passed our ability to understand seems to diminish.

    This effect is only amplified with chronic pain because, as I said, we don't have a very good framework to empathize and the effects of chronic pain are often dismissed or looked down upon. People often believe that the pain is psychosomatic, which may be a significant part of some people's pain, but regardless of the degree of this effect the sensation is very real. The pain and the signals being sent by feel pain just like you feel pain if you cut yourself or have a headache. The cause of the pain should inform decisions about treatment but not the validity of the experience.

    Of importance due to the ongoing problem of opioid addiction that has been significant in the media and of government concern is how doctors are able to treat their pain patients. The limits being set by governments are affecting chronic pain users. Doctors are concerned or afraid to prescribe pain medication because of the strict oversight and possible effects on their careers. To reach the goals set by the government actions, chronic pain users are afraid of, or are being taken off meds/having their doses cut significantly. The effects of this are numerous, not the least of which is the very real concern about suicide among sufferers. To be very clear, addiction is a big health problem and absolutely needs to be dealt with. Unfortunately fear and the uncertainty because of all the changes also gives rise to pseudo-addiction. In either case, patients are very often treated poorly by people in the medical field when they're looking for answers. The stigma of possible addiction colors the way that healthcare workers and the everyday public deals with chronic pain patients. This leads to situations for the pain sufferers where they are faced with hard decisions and can often lead to mistrust of others especially healthcare professionals. For the most part, sufferers are looking for help and it's becoming increasingly difficult to get. We may end up seeing overuse of over the counter pain relief which leaves the concern for long term possible side effects like kidney or liver damage but it isn't something we talk about because we often don't connect these pain relievers as having significant side effects.

    Chronic pain can strike anyone but because of it not being visible many people with chronic pain end up mistreated. I've heard countless stories of younger sufferers who have been harassed in public for parking in disabled parking spots (with their permits) because it was believed that it couldn't be them with the disability. Similarly I've heard of people being harassed for using motorized scooters in large stores because they don't look like they need it or the harasser assumes they're simply lazy/overweight. I know personally that I've had people question repeatedly why I don't work outside the home because I look fine to them. Friendships can be lost, relationships ended while sufferers aren't able to do anything to change their pain. I have every sympathy for the people close to those suffering chronic pain, it's an exceptionally hard road to walk at the best of times. The extra dimension of challenge that chronic pain adds to the normal stresses on a relationship makes for trying situations, for the pain sufferer this is something that can end up repeated over and over. Trying to get through days when people can't understand what you're going through but still feel they have a right to judgement (and to voice that judgement) can make it all the harder to deal with.

    The best example that I can give, and it's not even very good is to ask people to think of a buzzing alarm clock (eg.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM-KxbANpK8) and imagine that when you heard this you understood that something was wrong with your body and needed fixing. Now most of the time you can get that alarm to stop going off by attending to whatever the situation is and go on with the rest of your day. Imagine though that something in that alarm wasn't working right so it was being set off constantly, you try to deal with it and nothing works. You try to go about your day with it just constantly going off and hope that you acclimate. After it going off like this incessantly, you might become irritable, you might become angry, frustrated, depressed but no one else can hear the alarm so for them, your behavior is at best a minor annoyance, after a while they may try to avoid dealing with you and at worst when you try to explain to them but they don't understand they look at your behavior and attempts to deal with the situation with contempt. Then imagine that same alarm going off for weeks, months, years, decades.

    Sorry if I jumped around a little, I was trying to cram a lot in. If you have questions, feel free to ask away.

    2 votes
  5. Comment on Rudy Giuliani says US President probably can pardon himself in ~news

    Nyxie
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    Giuliani's comments and behaviour since joining Trumps legal team has been reckless and ridiculous. They're trying to get the idea of self-pardoning into the national discussion so that if it...

    Giuliani's comments and behaviour since joining Trumps legal team has been reckless and ridiculous. They're trying to get the idea of self-pardoning into the national discussion so that if it comes to that they already have a base of support for it.

    11 votes
  6. Comment on 2-factor authentication in ~tildes

    Nyxie
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    I'd prefer 2fa if it were to use an existing app instead of my having to download and use a separate app or physical item for it.

    I'd prefer 2fa if it were to use an existing app instead of my having to download and use a separate app or physical item for it.

    4 votes
  7. Comment on What are you passionate about? in ~talk

    Nyxie
    Link
    I'm passionate about figure skating and chronic pain. They're super different of course but I could go on for hours about people's misconceptions about chronic pain and figure skating judging. One...

    I'm passionate about figure skating and chronic pain. They're super different of course but I could go on for hours about people's misconceptions about chronic pain and figure skating judging. One of these passions has caused me to end my volunteering in the other but I'm no less passionate about them.

    2 votes