4 ms·

> it annoys me when people expect “The Answer” I don't think it's unreasonable that people expect clear public health guidelines. I don't want to trudge throug

by bccdee 4y ago

> it annoys me when people expect “The Answer” I don't think it's unreasonable that people expect clear public health guidelines. I don't want to trudge through a thousand pages of research, I want the department of health to say "well we had some experts read the papers, and if you do X and Y and Z you'll probably be fine." I'd appreciate more details beyond that, of course, especially if it's an area of particular interest to me. But I can't be that interested in everything, and sometimes it's good just to put out a guideline.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
mikkergp 4y ago
I understand why you think this isn't unreasonable -- I just don't think it's _possible_ for most things (that aren't overt poisons, i.e. smoking, lead, etc). If you get skin cancer, you'll always wish you'd done more. There's just too many variables, and the department of health will likely always be too conservative(see below) for some people's take, so then which "experts" do you listen to? The reality of the advice for sun is probably similar to most things -- You need some sun, but not too much. And no one probably knows the answer, and it will probably change as a result of climate change and other factors. My wife is a high risk pregnancy because she’s over 35, but after probing the doctors what we realize is that for some women at some point between the ages of 30 and 45 the risks to your pregnancy may increase some variable amount but you know what is funny, that because these women are more closely monitored, high risk pregnancies may actually have better outcomes than low risk pregnancies! And so there’s this epically long laundry list of things that you’re not supposed to do, with very little specific guidance on the risks you might take on. But if you really want experts. The Skin Cancer Foundation at Skincancer.org suggests a shotglass full of sunscreen over your entire body every day 30 minutes before you go out, even when it's cloudy. Also, that's not enough! For a full sun protection strategy seek the shade whenever possible, wear sun-safe clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses: https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protec...
sokoloff 4y ago
Eat a lot of carbs and grains as the basis of your food intake and avoid eating fat. Oops. Smoking cigarettes to reduce throat irritation is fine. Oops. Take thalidomide to ward off the effects of morning sickness. Oops. Then there’s the whole communications fiasco around masks for COVID. A different kind of oops.
- pas 4y ago
  > Smoking cigarettes to reduce throat irritation is fine. Oops. I mean whoever thought inhaling the output of small bonfire is no biggie should try it with a big one first.
- adrianN 4y ago
  Oh no, experts are sometimes wrong. Are they wrong more, or less often, than "common sense"?
watwut 4y ago
There is simple and then there is insistence on everything to be either "you need to maximize exposure" or "any small amount of it is super bad" with no middle ground allowed. There is simple and then there is "so overly simplistic, that it is almost guaranteed to harm those who take it seriously".

by bccdee 4y ago

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

mikkergp 4y ago

I understand why you think this isn't unreasonable -- I just don't think it's _possible_ for most things (that aren't overt poisons, i.e. smoking, lead, etc). If you get skin cancer, you'll always wish you'd done more. There's just too many variables, and the department of health will likely always be too conservative(see below) for some people's take, so then which "experts" do you listen to? The reality of the advice for sun is probably similar to most things -- You need some sun, but not too much. And no one probably knows the answer, and it will probably change as a result of climate change and other factors. My wife is a high risk pregnancy because she’s over 35, but after probing the doctors what we realize is that for some women at some point between the ages of 30 and 45 the risks to your pregnancy may increase some variable amount but you know what is funny, that because these women are more closely monitored, high risk pregnancies may actually have better outcomes than low risk pregnancies! And so there’s this epically long laundry list of things that you’re not supposed to do, with very little specific guidance on the risks you might take on. But if you really want experts. The Skin Cancer Foundation at Skincancer.org suggests a shotglass full of sunscreen over your entire body every day 30 minutes before you go out, even when it's cloudy. Also, that's not enough! For a full sun protection strategy seek the shade whenever possible, wear sun-safe clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses: https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protec...

sokoloff 4y ago

Eat a lot of carbs and grains as the basis of your food intake and avoid eating fat. Oops. Smoking cigarettes to reduce throat irritation is fine. Oops. Take thalidomide to ward off the effects of morning sickness. Oops. Then there’s the whole communications fiasco around masks for COVID. A different kind of oops.

pas 4y ago
> Smoking cigarettes to reduce throat irritation is fine. Oops. I mean whoever thought inhaling the output of small bonfire is no biggie should try it with a big one first.
adrianN 4y ago
Oh no, experts are sometimes wrong. Are they wrong more, or less often, than "common sense"?

watwut 4y ago

There is simple and then there is insistence on everything to be either "you need to maximize exposure" or "any small amount of it is super bad" with no middle ground allowed. There is simple and then there is "so overly simplistic, that it is almost guaranteed to harm those who take it seriously".