4 ms·

I fully agree. But I'm often flabbergasted at how unfathomable large something like "throw out the TV altogether" or "start walking/cycling to places" is for ma

by berkes 3y ago

I fully agree. But I'm often flabbergasted at how unfathomable large something like "throw out the TV altogether" or "start walking/cycling to places" is for many. I guess it's part herd behaviour and part natural resistance to change, but what has made "us", the human species so entrenched, that we think we need cars, TVs, premade meals? Humans "never¹" had them, yet now, within one or two generations somehow believe we cannot do without it? All while the rational evidence is clear that it's hurting both individuals², all of humanity and in some cases all of nature? ¹ statistically seen, if we take the entire history of the human kind ² to clarify the difference with something like "health care" that the human kind also statistically "never" had.

Tade0 3y ago
I have an answer to that: because it's more comfortable that way and people naturally seek comfort. Whenever I stop at a fueling station I see the same picture: a young, somewhat overweight man wearing tracksuit pants picking up junk food. He chose comfort. Can you honestly blame him for that? Of course as a species we thrive in discomfort, but the benefits come with a delay - there's usually no incentive to start.
- berkes 3y ago
  > Can you honestly blame him for that? Why, yes, off course. I don't judge him for that, but certainly he's the (only?) one to blame for his "somewhat overweight" and all the health issues that might come from that. One might argue that marketeers, big-food, TV, influencers, politicians, and whatnot also may hold blame here, e.g. by "making this man believe he wants this", but that's a whole different debate.
  - Tade0 3y ago
    > but certainly he's the (only?) one to blame for his "somewhat overweight" and all the health issues that might come from that. Do you believe he values this over being comfortable? > "making this man believe he wants this", I don't think it takes much convincing - after all being comfortable is great. It's deciding to be uncomfortable - so walking/cycling instead of driving, eating less overall etc. that goes against our basic instincts - I'm surprised that you're surprised that not that many people do it when out of the two lifestyles it's the one that requires more effort.
    - berkes 3y ago
      > after all being comfortable is great. Diabetes isn't comfortable. I know all about it, I'm type I. Hardly any health issues related to "moving too little" or "eating unhealty" are comfortable.
      - Tade0 3y ago
        True, but that man isn't experiencing them now - at least not to the extent that would make him change anything. Most of my friends with health issues associated with lifestyle got their first wakeup call right before their 30s. Plenty of time to develop habits which take over a decade to drop - or more if they started during childhood. And here's the kicker: not all of them made the necessary changes. Also some others did, but are unhappy with this new lifestyle and would like to go back but external factors like the threat of divorce keep them from doing so. What I'm getting at is that it's the people who consciously choose effort who are the weirdos. Healthy, longer living weirdos, but weirdos nonetheless. People drive cars, eat trash and lay on the couch because they like to. You'll only get other outcomes in an environment where it's too hard to do any of those things.

by berkes 3y ago

Tade0 3y ago

I have an answer to that: because it's more comfortable that way and people naturally seek comfort. Whenever I stop at a fueling station I see the same picture: a young, somewhat overweight man wearing tracksuit pants picking up junk food. He chose comfort. Can you honestly blame him for that? Of course as a species we thrive in discomfort, but the benefits come with a delay - there's usually no incentive to start.

berkes 3y ago
> Can you honestly blame him for that? Why, yes, off course. I don't judge him for that, but certainly he's the (only?) one to blame for his "somewhat overweight" and all the health issues that might come from that. One might argue that marketeers, big-food, TV, influencers, politicians, and whatnot also may hold blame here, e.g. by "making this man believe he wants this", but that's a whole different debate.
- Tade0 3y ago
  > but certainly he's the (only?) one to blame for his "somewhat overweight" and all the health issues that might come from that. Do you believe he values this over being comfortable? > "making this man believe he wants this", I don't think it takes much convincing - after all being comfortable is great. It's deciding to be uncomfortable - so walking/cycling instead of driving, eating less overall etc. that goes against our basic instincts - I'm surprised that you're surprised that not that many people do it when out of the two lifestyles it's the one that requires more effort.
  - berkes 3y ago
    > after all being comfortable is great. Diabetes isn't comfortable. I know all about it, I'm type I. Hardly any health issues related to "moving too little" or "eating unhealty" are comfortable.
    - Tade0 3y ago
      True, but that man isn't experiencing them now - at least not to the extent that would make him change anything. Most of my friends with health issues associated with lifestyle got their first wakeup call right before their 30s. Plenty of time to develop habits which take over a decade to drop - or more if they started during childhood. And here's the kicker: not all of them made the necessary changes. Also some others did, but are unhappy with this new lifestyle and would like to go back but external factors like the threat of divorce keep them from doing so. What I'm getting at is that it's the people who consciously choose effort who are the weirdos. Healthy, longer living weirdos, but weirdos nonetheless. People drive cars, eat trash and lay on the couch because they like to. You'll only get other outcomes in an environment where it's too hard to do any of those things.