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Imagine a sci-fi story where you encounter human settlement that consumes solvent that is known to causes violence and accidents and is addictive carcinogen. T

Imagine a sci-fi story where you encounter human settlement that consumes solvent that is known to causes violence and accidents and is addictive carcinogen. The inhabitants use various methods to add little taste into it, bottle it into fancy bottles. Sophisticated solvent enthusiasts recognize different tastes and treat solvent fruit juices as the highest form of sophisticated hedonism. Alcohol as a solvent is very similar to many inhalants as a drug. Closer to paint thinner than nitrous oxide. Similar cultural affection to hallucinogens, pot or even pure methamphetamines would be less harmful. Some things are hard to perceive odd when it's everyday phenomenon. Women wearing high-heels is be another very odd cultural artifact.

blhack 7y ago
State anything without context an it will sound weird. Imagine a sci fi story where people stare into a glowing rectangular box for hours on end per day. There are whole industries surrounding the production of these glowing rectangles, and the people who are particularly good at changing the colors get paid far more than anybody else. Major efforts by the academic and altruistic class have been made to provide glowing squares to people who are starving to death, thinking that the inedible glowing squares might cause them to grow food.
- hajile 7y ago
  Considering all the studies about the bad effects of too much TV, I don't know that you are providing a counter-example. EDIT: staring at a computer screen all day is also associated with quite a few negative effects -- whether working or playing.
  - blhack 7y ago
    Interesting that you think I was talking about TV. I was talking about computing.
    - mbostleman 7y ago
      Paraphrased meme I saw on social media yesterday: Hipster mad that publication used a picture of him to show that all hipsters look alike eventually realizes that it was not a picture of him.
willis936 7y ago
Using the word “odd” to describe cultural phenomena is odd. Culture is inherently traditions that are not necessarily rooted in logic.
save_ferris 7y ago
> similar cultural affection to hallucinogens, pot, or even pure methamphetamines would be less harmful. Would love some data on your claim about meth, because I grew up near communities that were hit hard by meth, I just can’t believe that.
- johnny313 7y ago
  Same. I struggle to imagine the "good" version of meth.
  - wincy 7y ago
    I mean, I take amphetamines 20mg three times a day and would almost definitely not be a software engineer without it.
  - iandanforth 7y ago
    Adderall is meth, but yeah it appears to be more toxic by weight: Ethanol LD50 - 12g/kg Meth LD50 - ~55mg/kg (in mice / rats) Note this is the result of a quick google search and should be checked for any relation to accuracy.
  - volkl48 7y ago
    Not suggesting it can be used for recreational purposes without likely winding up causing more harm than alcohol, but: Meth (actual meth, not a different amphetamine) can be prescribed. It's typically under the brand name Desoxyn in the US. There's people who take it for ADHD. It's not really all that different from the rest of the stimulants prescribed for that purpose when used as directed and in an appropriate dose. As with many things, the benefit/harm relationship is highly related to dose, as well as the rest of the lifestyle associated with it.
  - authoritarian 7y ago
    I knew this crazy kid in college who purchased pure methamphetamine off the dark web to use as a study aid. He is currently pursuing his doctorate at one of the best medical schools in the world
sansnomme 7y ago
High-heels isn't actually that odd in a historical context, until recently men too wote high heels.
- madhadron 7y ago
  High heels make sense if you're on horseback with stirrups all day. Everything since then is social signalling based upon the former high status of cavalry, the wealth to own a horse, or the wealth to not need to wear practical footwear. Mind you, buying shoes that don't have at least a vestigial heel is pretty hard. A whole society that intentionally damages it body mechanics...
  - username90 7y ago
    High heels forces a posture similar to human lordosis behavior and is therefore very attractive to men, so it isn't that strange for women to wear high heels. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lordosis_behavior#In_humans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lordosis_behavior#In_humans
mattigames 7y ago
I find it completely odd-less, in a life filled with so much pain and meaningless-ness is the ones trying to bury their sorrows into alcohol and drugs and other ways to trick their brains (e.g adrenaline) that I find the most relatable.
MadWombat 7y ago
> similar cultural affection to hallucinogens, pot or even pure methamphetamines would be less harmful As someone who lived in a region with heavy meth use, I can tell you that I would much rather deal with drunk people than meth heads. Also, your sentences before this one don't make any sense, "alcohol as a solvent is very similar to many inhalants as a drug" what does that even mean? > Imagine a sci-fi story where you encounter human settlement that consumes solvent In your sci-fi story you forgot to mention that this solvent people drink also tastes very good, produces a sense of euphoria, lowers social inhibitions and reduces stress. > Women wearing high-heels is be another very odd cultural artifact No, same as your sci-fi story it would not. The reasons behind high heels are sad and ridiculous, but rather obvious. High heels make you look taller, give more definition to your legs and make you look a bit helpless and fragile. All of this is in tune with making females look more attractive in a male dominated society.
- HONEST_ANNIE 7y ago
  Illegality increases harmful effects. Methamphetamines were used legally long time before they became illegal. Paul Erdős was probably the most famous (amphetamine and methylphenidate) user. Using meth when studying was also common. Methamphetamine derivatives have reentered the society in the form Adderall and other drugs.
  - MadWombat 7y ago
    > Methamphetamines were used legally long time before they became illegal Methamphetamine was invented in 20th century. So "long time" is a few decades max.
    - MagnumOpus 7y ago
      Nitpick: Invented in the 19th century. Mass manufactured for OTC self-administration from 1921 onward. At least in Germany, available OTC for the next 70ish years. Became prescription-only in 1988, became banned from prescribing in 2008 -- i.e. it's been legal a lot longer than it's been illegal.
- 7y ago
fulafel 7y ago
Wait until you hear about this other even more potent solvent that humans are practically marinating in!
- benjohnson 7y ago
  It is very lethal. I don't want to overstate the facts but it's present in over 70% of all people who have died. https://www.dhmo.org/facts.html https://www.dhmo.org/facts.html
- AstralStorm 7y ago
  Even worse is the fire causing oxidizer. So much damage all the time!

blhack 7y ago

State anything without context an it will sound weird. Imagine a sci fi story where people stare into a glowing rectangular box for hours on end per day. There are whole industries surrounding the production of these glowing rectangles, and the people who are particularly good at changing the colors get paid far more than anybody else. Major efforts by the academic and altruistic class have been made to provide glowing squares to people who are starving to death, thinking that the inedible glowing squares might cause them to grow food.

hajile 7y ago
Considering all the studies about the bad effects of too much TV, I don't know that you are providing a counter-example. EDIT: staring at a computer screen all day is also associated with quite a few negative effects -- whether working or playing.
- blhack 7y ago
  Interesting that you think I was talking about TV. I was talking about computing.
  - mbostleman 7y ago
    Paraphrased meme I saw on social media yesterday: Hipster mad that publication used a picture of him to show that all hipsters look alike eventually realizes that it was not a picture of him.

willis936 7y ago

Using the word “odd” to describe cultural phenomena is odd. Culture is inherently traditions that are not necessarily rooted in logic.

save_ferris 7y ago

> similar cultural affection to hallucinogens, pot, or even pure methamphetamines would be less harmful. Would love some data on your claim about meth, because I grew up near communities that were hit hard by meth, I just can’t believe that.

johnny313 7y ago
Same. I struggle to imagine the "good" version of meth.
- wincy 7y ago
  I mean, I take amphetamines 20mg three times a day and would almost definitely not be a software engineer without it.
- iandanforth 7y ago
  Adderall is meth, but yeah it appears to be more toxic by weight: Ethanol LD50 - 12g/kg Meth LD50 - ~55mg/kg (in mice / rats) Note this is the result of a quick google search and should be checked for any relation to accuracy.
- volkl48 7y ago
  Not suggesting it can be used for recreational purposes without likely winding up causing more harm than alcohol, but: Meth (actual meth, not a different amphetamine) can be prescribed. It's typically under the brand name Desoxyn in the US. There's people who take it for ADHD. It's not really all that different from the rest of the stimulants prescribed for that purpose when used as directed and in an appropriate dose. As with many things, the benefit/harm relationship is highly related to dose, as well as the rest of the lifestyle associated with it.
- authoritarian 7y ago
  I knew this crazy kid in college who purchased pure methamphetamine off the dark web to use as a study aid. He is currently pursuing his doctorate at one of the best medical schools in the world

sansnomme 7y ago

High-heels isn't actually that odd in a historical context, until recently men too wote high heels.

madhadron 7y ago
High heels make sense if you're on horseback with stirrups all day. Everything since then is social signalling based upon the former high status of cavalry, the wealth to own a horse, or the wealth to not need to wear practical footwear. Mind you, buying shoes that don't have at least a vestigial heel is pretty hard. A whole society that intentionally damages it body mechanics...
- username90 7y ago
  High heels forces a posture similar to human lordosis behavior and is therefore very attractive to men, so it isn't that strange for women to wear high heels. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lordosis_behavior#In_humans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lordosis_behavior#In_humans

mattigames 7y ago

I find it completely odd-less, in a life filled with so much pain and meaningless-ness is the ones trying to bury their sorrows into alcohol and drugs and other ways to trick their brains (e.g adrenaline) that I find the most relatable.

MadWombat 7y ago

> similar cultural affection to hallucinogens, pot or even pure methamphetamines would be less harmful As someone who lived in a region with heavy meth use, I can tell you that I would much rather deal with drunk people than meth heads. Also, your sentences before this one don't make any sense, "alcohol as a solvent is very similar to many inhalants as a drug" what does that even mean? > Imagine a sci-fi story where you encounter human settlement that consumes solvent In your sci-fi story you forgot to mention that this solvent people drink also tastes very good, produces a sense of euphoria, lowers social inhibitions and reduces stress. > Women wearing high-heels is be another very odd cultural artifact No, same as your sci-fi story it would not. The reasons behind high heels are sad and ridiculous, but rather obvious. High heels make you look taller, give more definition to your legs and make you look a bit helpless and fragile. All of this is in tune with making females look more attractive in a male dominated society.

HONEST_ANNIE 7y ago
Illegality increases harmful effects. Methamphetamines were used legally long time before they became illegal. Paul Erdős was probably the most famous (amphetamine and methylphenidate) user. Using meth when studying was also common. Methamphetamine derivatives have reentered the society in the form Adderall and other drugs.
- MadWombat 7y ago
  > Methamphetamines were used legally long time before they became illegal Methamphetamine was invented in 20th century. So "long time" is a few decades max.
  - MagnumOpus 7y ago
    Nitpick: Invented in the 19th century. Mass manufactured for OTC self-administration from 1921 onward. At least in Germany, available OTC for the next 70ish years. Became prescription-only in 1988, became banned from prescribing in 2008 -- i.e. it's been legal a lot longer than it's been illegal.
7y ago

fulafel 7y ago

Wait until you hear about this other even more potent solvent that humans are practically marinating in!

benjohnson 7y ago
It is very lethal. I don't want to overstate the facts but it's present in over 70% of all people who have died. https://www.dhmo.org/facts.html https://www.dhmo.org/facts.html
AstralStorm 7y ago
Even worse is the fire causing oxidizer. So much damage all the time!