StevieSamoyed's recent activity

  1. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    StevieSamoyed
    Link
    I've been self-isolating due to being immunocompromised, so I've been reading a lot! Mostly things I've read before, was in the process of reading and just finished this week, and a few newer...

    I've been self-isolating due to being immunocompromised, so I've been reading a lot! Mostly things I've read before, was in the process of reading and just finished this week, and a few newer things.

    I've been in isolation since Sunday, and I have read:

    Homo Deus - Yuval Noah Harrari (2015). I liked this book on first read through so I'm reading it again!

    Event: Philosophy in Transit - Slavoj Zizek (2014). I read a lot of critical theory/philosophy but not a lot of Zizek, so I picked up a book of his before isolating. I enjoyed it, but I found that he could have made the book a bit shorter. He makes his points quite well but elaborates for long sections and I find myself saying "move on" as I read.

    Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1866?). Dostoyevsky is a friend's favourite author but I had never read this. I did it over the span of about 16 hours with some breaks and I gotta say, it was not my favourite book. I really enjoyed the themes of paranoia and the class struggles within the book, though, so I will probably read this again at a slower pace in order to catch more symbolism. I think the first half of the book was probably my favourite part.

    What is Power? - Byung-Chul Han (2005). I am a big fan of Byung-Chul Han, and I have a great deal of his works now, but this one was a recent buy. I think the first chapter of this book is a great resource for anybody trying to understand how power works from the critical theory perspective. I think it is likely a must-read for any student in the humanities. It's an older work of his, but I enjoyed it a lot.

    The Expulsion of the Other - Byung-Chul Han (2018). I went a re-read this book after reading the above as any further reading by a philosopher usually illuminates their work, especially reading older works and comparing it to the ideas in recent works, and how they have changed or shifted along with the recent history of the world. Since a lot of my interest in critical theory is especially to do with this idea of the Other, this book is perfectly in my wheelhouse. I'll also plug The Agony of Eros for anyone who likes the idea of the Other, most especially in a capitalist society.

    Foundation Trilogy - Isaac Asimov (first collected 1951?). One of my favourite trilogies, and I'm savouring reading and thinking about the universe Asimov created. I've done about 30-40 pages a night on top of my non-fiction reading, and I've loved every minute of it!

    King Lear - Shakespeare. My favourite Shakespeare play. Crushed it on the first day in isolation to reminisce in the times I've seen it live and my favourite adaptations. Seriously one of Shakespeare's greatest works! Reading it again even made me revisit an essay from my first year as I saw some familiar themes erupt.

    I don't really read a lot of fiction, but after Asimov I am going to move on to the entire collection of W.B. Yeats: poetry, plays, and essays. After that, I think I will re-read some of my favourite post-colonial works :)

    5 votes
  2. Comment on Pansexuality 101: Five key facts you need to know in ~lgbt

    StevieSamoyed
    Link
    Am Pansexual, enjoyed this article. Opening my comments for AMA if anyone has questions I can help answer. :)

    Am Pansexual, enjoyed this article.

    Opening my comments for AMA if anyone has questions I can help answer. :)

    5 votes
  3. Comment on Mental health support & discussion thread (May 2019 edition) in ~health.mental

    StevieSamoyed
    Link
    Dysphoria has been wracking my brain for the past week or so. I try really hard to be accepting of all of my features and the body I do have and will get further into HRT, but the facial hair is...

    Dysphoria has been wracking my brain for the past week or so. I try really hard to be accepting of all of my features and the body I do have and will get further into HRT, but the facial hair is getting really hard for me to deal with. I'd love to get laser, but at the point I'm at, I have a lot of monetary obligations and priorities that I should place in front, especially given the cost. I can't shave every day, either, as my skin is too soft to be able to take it after 6 months on hormones.

    BUT -- I am 6 months on hormones a few days ago, so there is at least that much to celebrate. Slowly, but surely, I'm getting there.

    8 votes
  4. Comment on Sex work in ~life

    StevieSamoyed
    Link Parent
    I believe you're right. It also really goes into Natalie's entire belief that people are convinced by stories. A conversation can be enough to be a story -- conversations are some of the stories...

    people tend to remember things better when it's presented in conversation form, as if between actual people.

    I believe you're right.

    It also really goes into Natalie's entire belief that people are convinced by stories. A conversation can be enough to be a story -- conversations are some of the stories we share most with others, I'd say. It makes sense that either one can be more effective tools to persuade, convince, or disarm arguments.

    2 votes
  5. Comment on Australia election results discussion in ~talk

    StevieSamoyed
    Link Parent
    I have a list, but I'm not sure you'd have access to them. A lot of them are through my University's portal, and I wouldn't know where to find accessible stuff. I think I'm certainly overly...

    I have a list, but I'm not sure you'd have access to them. A lot of them are through my University's portal, and I wouldn't know where to find accessible stuff.

    I think I'm certainly overly pessimistic, and that you ought not listen to some crazy laywoman on the internet.

    That being said -- I'm not the only one saying this. Most speakers I see talking about the next financial crisis will be telling you to watch China (which is exactly what I think, as well) and how their asset bubbles are forming, as well as watching student loan debt (ballooning like crazy, we all know that), and, of course, watch the regulations on banks.

    Canada has extremely tough rules on banks thanks to the intelligence of our former governments (collectively). I think we will weather the storm fairly well. Depending on who is in power at the time, I think that will strongly affect who gets hit the hardest.

    Prepare to tighten your belt -- if you don't have huge capital, you don't stand to lose much. If you have cash, hold on to it, wait FOR the crash, and then buy good stocks when they're low so you can make a profit off everyone else's misery. Saving, preparing to ride the stocks after the recession, may just get you into a better position afterwards than you were before.

    Also: PROPERTY PROPERTY PROPERTY

    I can PM you the reddit post I made, once reddit is back up and I'm awake, if you like.

    1 vote
  6. Comment on Australia election results discussion in ~talk

    StevieSamoyed
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    I'll give credit to Harper where it's due. He allowed it to happen - he didn't capitulate to the fiscal conservative side of himself, and knew when to use Keynesian economics when he needed to. I...

    I'll give credit to Harper where it's due. He allowed it to happen - he didn't capitulate to the fiscal conservative side of himself, and knew when to use Keynesian economics when he needed to. I don't agree with all of his policies, though some admittedly had some effect (I would question if there were better areas).

    Certainly though, it's not solely thanks to the Liberals or anyone. It's in huge part thanks to Senators of all kinds, MP's of all kinds, etc.

    There's a great quote of Harper even admitting to using Keynesian economic theory. It's one of my favourite clips.

    Edit:

    I really don't want to downplay Harper's role, but at the end of the day he's just the PM and head of party. He did have a top down approach to managing the party, but I think a lot of his fiscal wing acted appropriately. When I say Harper "allowed" this, I really do mean huge props for it. That's not something a lot of leaders would do - look at Trudeau and his staff with the SNC affair, for instance. I doubt there was much drama when push came to shove with the economic specialists from Harper's team telling him now was the time. Harper listened, and he did what was best for Canada - that's very big.

  7. Comment on Australia election results discussion in ~talk

    StevieSamoyed
    Link Parent
    I had a reddit thread where I discussed this happening - I also think the recession will be a global economic meltdown of kinds. I'm really quite pessimistic about the 2020s. I've noticed that in...

    I had a reddit thread where I discussed this happening - I also think the recession will be a global economic meltdown of kinds. I'm really quite pessimistic about the 2020s.

    I've noticed that in many countries, this is one of the first times where typically fiscally conservative governments will be in power during a slump. Austerity measures during a recession (which will inevitably happen in many of these countries) will NOT be popular, to say the least.

    I'm Canadian, and I expect the CPC, our Conservative party, to win the federal election, and be completely unprepared for the economic mess they will have no choice but to catch halfway through their term. Back in the Harper days during the 2008 global recession, the Keynesians in the party probably saved their skin big time - but Canada suffered a lot, even if not as bad as the U.S. thanks to laws put in place well before Harper.

    I think it will be fascinating to see how these governments maneuver a large fiscal crisis, and it could decide how politics shifts for a long time.

    3 votes
  8. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life

    StevieSamoyed
    Link Parent
    I mean, the culling of their people didn't really help them in terms of numbers. Overall, though, you're right. It's sort of like a country that accepts very few immigrants, but has a very high...

    I mean, the culling of their people didn't really help them in terms of numbers.

    Overall, though, you're right. It's sort of like a country that accepts very few immigrants, but has a very high emigration rate -- the economy is bound to be troubled (like any economy, but markedly worse).

    7 votes
  9. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~health

    StevieSamoyed
    Link
    Girls with endometriosis should be lining up for their cheques. Pre-existing condition, after all ;)

    Girls with endometriosis should be lining up for their cheques.

    Pre-existing condition, after all ;)

    3 votes
  10. Comment on Sex work in ~life

    StevieSamoyed
    Link
    I really enjoy Philosophy Tube's work lately, even if Ollie is going for a lot more of a theatrical kind of style (which seems appropriate, given his major (and I think he still acts) was in...

    I really enjoy Philosophy Tube's work lately, even if Ollie is going for a lot more of a theatrical kind of style (which seems appropriate, given his major (and I think he still acts) was in theatre IIRC).

    This episode honestly taught me a whole lot about sex work, and the best course of action. The one thing it didn't teach me was the usual -- if we really want to know what's going on, we need to be communicating with front line workers and customers.

    What's best for protecting the consumer and the sex worker? These are the first and foremost considerations we ought to take in mind when either legalizing or decriminalizing (which I have always preferred, even with cannabis). This is an area I feel like government's are consistently doing wrong, even when businesses are getting better in that area.

    Great video as usual, and I'd love to see some debate or discussion in the comments. This isn't an area I am particularly educated in (even after a 45 minute long video), so it's fantastic seeing some other perspectives.

    Also, to OP: is your username saying you like your earl gray tea cold? I mean, you spelled gray right, at least, so I assume you're not a complete monster! ;)

    8 votes
  11. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~talk

    StevieSamoyed
    Link Parent
    I recently found a club that allows me to get very precise measurements - plus, I know exactly which kind of mushrooms I'm getting, which is a huge bonus. When I did them as a teenager, and even...

    I recently found a club that allows me to get very precise measurements - plus, I know exactly which kind of mushrooms I'm getting, which is a huge bonus. When I did them as a teenager, and even the last few years, I never really knew what I was getting. Now I've learned a ton about mushrooms, and how different kinds can give you different highs. A lot of my knowledge about cannabis helped me understand how that works, but it is still surface level understanding.

    I'm getting what's known as "Penis Envy", and I'm really looking forward to it.

    Maybe one day, when these things are destigmatized as well, and the choice and education is there, your partner will be more open to trying. :) Otherwise, I'd encourage you to share your desire with her. I'm sure finding a club near you wouldn't be too hard.

    2 votes
  12. Comment on Abolish the priesthood: To save the Church, Catholics must detach themselves from the clerical hierarchy—and take the faith back into their own hands in ~humanities

    StevieSamoyed
    Link Parent
    That was my exact thought upon reading the headline. The entire article reads like something I'd expect a Protestant to have always said about the organization of the Catholic church.

    That was my exact thought upon reading the headline.

    The entire article reads like something I'd expect a Protestant to have always said about the organization of the Catholic church.

    10 votes
  13. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~talk

    StevieSamoyed
    Link
    I picked up an extra shift, so I'm working closing shifts tomorrow and Sunday - not that I'm upset. I'm getting really bored at home lately, and don't like to spend money on myself, so things get...

    I picked up an extra shift, so I'm working closing shifts tomorrow and Sunday - not that I'm upset. I'm getting really bored at home lately, and don't like to spend money on myself, so things get stale.

    Other than that, tonight I'll probably do a microdose test of some mushrooms I'm getting. That'll be fun.

    3 votes
  14. Comment on Paolo Nutini - Scream (Funk My Life Up) (2014) in ~music

    StevieSamoyed
    Link Parent
    He's a super interesting figure - I didn't know about that contest, only that he was signed only immediately after turning 18 or so. I love These Streets, another of my favourite albums I think,...

    He's a super interesting figure - I didn't know about that contest, only that he was signed only immediately after turning 18 or so. I love These Streets, another of my favourite albums I think, and very different from Caustic Love.

    This is probably one of my go-to "show-off" albums.

    1 vote
  15. Comment on Paolo Nutini - Scream (Funk My Life Up) (2014) in ~music

    StevieSamoyed
    (edited )
    Link
    This song* is the opening track, and one of the singles from the album Caustic Love (2014). An amazing album, and one that I constantly share with people as it seems to come from a deeply...

    This song* is the opening track, and one of the singles from the album Caustic Love (2014).

    An amazing album, and one that I constantly share with people as it seems to come from a deeply emotional place.

    2 votes