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I think humans when exposed to new technology tend to do stupid things for a while until they get smarter and figure out what to actually do. The early decades

I think humans when exposed to new technology tend to do stupid things for a while until they get smarter and figure out what to actually do. The early decades of the 20th century brought many new and powerful abilities, mostly fueled by the combo of war and technological advancements. It wasn't clear to leaders then that giving soldiers meth or even taking it yourself wasn't such a smart move. Humans are much smarter today (about substance abuse) and we are slowly walking down the list eliminating over-use of less damaging substances like sugar, caffeine. Products like coca cola are facing a huge consumption gap in certain, very developed areas.

semi-extrinsic 10y ago
I'm with you on the sugar, but caffeine? From the (very thorough) Wikipedia page, it appears that there are as many good side effects of caffeine (such as lower risk of certain cancers, Alzheimers and diabetes) as there are bad ones.
- zinssmeister 10y ago
  I think caffeine is great in the right dosage and setting (recreational). I don't advise using it at work if you are after high productivity http://www.trinity.edu/jdunn/spiderdrugs.htm http://www.trinity.edu/jdunn/spiderdrugs.htm
  - damienkatz 10y ago
    Really? A spiders reaction to caffeine is your reason? I just quit caffeine. I'm ready for some conformation bias to justify my decision, but this is pretty weak.
    - zinssmeister 10y ago
      I agree the spider-caffeine-thing is "weak". But it's a popular argument and I don't have anything more substantial at hand. Most people I know, that still drink coffee/caffeine do tell tales of feeling "wired" and "scattered" after consumption.
      - pkinsky 10y ago
        L-Theanine (amino acid found in green tea) supplements solve that problem.
        jbpetersen 10y ago
        Got any good sources to read more about that?
        seanp2k2 10y ago
        Not a great source but it's in these and works for me: https://nootrobox.com/go-cubes https://nootrobox.com/go-cubes No jitters but if I take all 4 at once I get a pretty unpleasant "coming up" feeling for about 15 minutes. I usually just have 2 a day, and I'd recommend people start with 1 just in the morning.
      - adfm 10y ago
        Really!? Nice web. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DDg-r-S0fIkA&ved=0ahUKEwigodLGzNHPAhVG2WMKHQbFAEcQwqsBCB0wAA&usg=AFQjCNGrk__5Xjwa3MZ6qNJjTktXCGZSWQ&sig2=Dj25Avh1PzdvairhBOYTuA https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://...
      - digi_owl 10y ago
        That will depend on person and dosage thought. From persona experience i either have to go a few days without or drink my third cup (drip brewed) of the day to get anything noticeable.
  - mancerayder 10y ago
    It's a fascinating study, but the problem with extrapolating to humans is that spider brains are closer to a more basic stimulant-response behavior than we are. On the other hand, spiders DO build web 'sites' and await food delivery...
    - nonbel 10y ago
      Some may find the accompanying video to be more convincing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2HipedgM3I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2HipedgM3I
    - digi_owl 10y ago
      Never mind that the reason plants produce caffeine is that it is useful as a pesticide.
  - taneq 10y ago
    Likewise, I hope you avoid onions and chocolate as both are toxic to dogs.
- mark-r 10y ago
  Are the benefits attributable to caffeine? I think they've all been linked to coffee specifically, and there may be other agents in coffee other than the caffeine that are responsible.
  - duaneb 10y ago
    Yup, the same health benefits appear to be in decaf.
    - gcb0 10y ago
      decaf means "much less caffeine". not "no caffeine". so the effects might just need a trace amount.
- kome 10y ago
  > I'm with you on the sugar there are many good side of sugar as well, as there are bad ones. let's stop being religious with food. it's a question of education, and measure. The same could be said with fats, caffeine and so on.
unclebucknasty 10y ago
>Humans are much smarter today (about substance abuse) What about the rise of prescription drug use, supplements, and synthetic designer drugs?
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
Razengan 10y ago
> substances like sugar, caffeine. Products like coca cola are facing a huge consumption gap in certain, very developed areas. What are the safe alternatives to those, if you crave the taste?
- ethanbond 10y ago
  Contrary to popular belief, there's no evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners are bad for you ("cause cancer" or otherwise). I personally never drink soda anymore except for diet ginger ale. The acidity is still there but in my opinion it's worth satisfying that type of sweet carbonation craving. No sugar and no caffeine, also moves your taste away from the sickly sweetness of standard colas. An even more mild option is sparkling water, which to me is sometimes the most refreshing thing on earth and sometimes so bland that I can't stomach it.

semi-extrinsic 10y ago

I'm with you on the sugar, but caffeine? From the (very thorough) Wikipedia page, it appears that there are as many good side effects of caffeine (such as lower risk of certain cancers, Alzheimers and diabetes) as there are bad ones.

zinssmeister 10y ago
I think caffeine is great in the right dosage and setting (recreational). I don't advise using it at work if you are after high productivity http://www.trinity.edu/jdunn/spiderdrugs.htm http://www.trinity.edu/jdunn/spiderdrugs.htm
- damienkatz 10y ago
  Really? A spiders reaction to caffeine is your reason? I just quit caffeine. I'm ready for some conformation bias to justify my decision, but this is pretty weak.
  - zinssmeister 10y ago
    I agree the spider-caffeine-thing is "weak". But it's a popular argument and I don't have anything more substantial at hand. Most people I know, that still drink coffee/caffeine do tell tales of feeling "wired" and "scattered" after consumption.
    - pkinsky 10y ago
      L-Theanine (amino acid found in green tea) supplements solve that problem.
      - jbpetersen 10y ago
        Got any good sources to read more about that?
        seanp2k2 10y ago
        Not a great source but it's in these and works for me: https://nootrobox.com/go-cubes https://nootrobox.com/go-cubes No jitters but if I take all 4 at once I get a pretty unpleasant "coming up" feeling for about 15 minutes. I usually just have 2 a day, and I'd recommend people start with 1 just in the morning.
    - adfm 10y ago
      Really!? Nice web. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DDg-r-S0fIkA&ved=0ahUKEwigodLGzNHPAhVG2WMKHQbFAEcQwqsBCB0wAA&usg=AFQjCNGrk__5Xjwa3MZ6qNJjTktXCGZSWQ&sig2=Dj25Avh1PzdvairhBOYTuA https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://...
    - digi_owl 10y ago
      That will depend on person and dosage thought. From persona experience i either have to go a few days without or drink my third cup (drip brewed) of the day to get anything noticeable.
- mancerayder 10y ago
  It's a fascinating study, but the problem with extrapolating to humans is that spider brains are closer to a more basic stimulant-response behavior than we are. On the other hand, spiders DO build web 'sites' and await food delivery...
  - nonbel 10y ago
    Some may find the accompanying video to be more convincing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2HipedgM3I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2HipedgM3I
  - digi_owl 10y ago
    Never mind that the reason plants produce caffeine is that it is useful as a pesticide.
- taneq 10y ago
  Likewise, I hope you avoid onions and chocolate as both are toxic to dogs.
mark-r 10y ago
Are the benefits attributable to caffeine? I think they've all been linked to coffee specifically, and there may be other agents in coffee other than the caffeine that are responsible.
- duaneb 10y ago
  Yup, the same health benefits appear to be in decaf.
  - gcb0 10y ago
    decaf means "much less caffeine". not "no caffeine". so the effects might just need a trace amount.
kome 10y ago
> I'm with you on the sugar there are many good side of sugar as well, as there are bad ones. let's stop being religious with food. it's a question of education, and measure. The same could be said with fats, caffeine and so on.

unclebucknasty 10y ago

>Humans are much smarter today (about substance abuse) What about the rise of prescription drug use, supplements, and synthetic designer drugs?

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

Razengan 10y ago

> substances like sugar, caffeine. Products like coca cola are facing a huge consumption gap in certain, very developed areas. What are the safe alternatives to those, if you crave the taste?

ethanbond 10y ago
Contrary to popular belief, there's no evidence to suggest that artificial sweeteners are bad for you ("cause cancer" or otherwise). I personally never drink soda anymore except for diet ginger ale. The acidity is still there but in my opinion it's worth satisfying that type of sweet carbonation craving. No sugar and no caffeine, also moves your taste away from the sickly sweetness of standard colas. An even more mild option is sparkling water, which to me is sometimes the most refreshing thing on earth and sometimes so bland that I can't stomach it.