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I would like to think that I'm about as far a way from any sort of conspiracy theory as one could get. I have no time for anti-vax stuff, for example. A huge fa

I would like to think that I'm about as far a way from any sort of conspiracy theory as one could get. I have no time for anti-vax stuff, for example. A huge fan of "never blame on conspiracy what you can blame on stupidity". Etc. etc. And yet ... when it comes to sunblock ... I try to avoid sliding into a conspiratorial stance, but let's just say that I don't use it [0], and I am very curious about the reason(s) why so many of us do. ps. yes, I do know about skin cancer and have several friends and family that experienced it. [0] if am going to be outdoors all day after a long period of being mostly indoors, I'll use it for a few days to protect my nose, lips, cheeks, ears and neck. Then I'll stop. I prefer sunblocking sleeves for my arms if that sort of is necessary.

deleted 3y ago
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insanitybit 3y ago
> I am very curious about the reason(s) why so many of us do. > ps. yes, I do know about skin cancer and have several friends and family that experienced it. How are you still curious then?
- c0pium 3y ago
  Some people tan really easily and think that everyone is like them.
  - PaulDavisThe1st 3y ago
    I don't tan easily, and I don't think everyone is like me. I have friends who are even paler than me, and I get their use of clothing & sunblock. My curiosity is about why so many people use it, many of whom would appear to have no genetic requirement to do so.
- PaulDavisThe1st 3y ago
  Well, for a start, two people in that group wore sunblock religiously. But that's just anecdata, and I would certainly ridicule e.g. anti-covid vaccine arguments framed like that. It seems that the argument that solar exposure causes cancer, and if not cancer than weathered leathery skin when you're older, has been widely and effectively made, and this has been enough to get most people to hedge and just use sunblock anyway. I'm not convinced they're wrong - I'm more interested in the way sunblock brings out my own inner "conspiracy" self, even if I don't feel inclined to defend that version of me. It's actually a way to have some empathy towards people I otherwise feel no empathy whatosever for (e.g. the anti-vax crowd).
  - insanitybit 3y ago
    > It seems that the argument that solar exposure causes cancer, and if not cancer than weathered leathery skin when you're older, has been widely and effectively made, and this has been enough to get most people to hedge and just use sunblock anyway. Yes, that is literally it. That is why people wear sunblock, including "religiously". They don't want cancer or prematurely aged skin. > m not convinced they're wrong - I'm more interested in the way sunblock brings out my own inner "conspiracy" self, even if I don't feel inclined to defend that version of me Again I'm completely lost. Is the conspiracy that people don't want cancer?
    - PaulDavisThe1st 3y ago
      The "conspiracy" would be an multinational, multibillion-dollar industry making big money selling people a product they don't need and that could be harmful for their health. I didn't actually just say that :)
jncfhnb 3y ago
For sunburns obviously Even if you doubt the efficacy against skin cancer, sun burns are easily observed in short time

deleted 3y ago

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insanitybit 3y ago

> I am very curious about the reason(s) why so many of us do. > ps. yes, I do know about skin cancer and have several friends and family that experienced it. How are you still curious then?

c0pium 3y ago
Some people tan really easily and think that everyone is like them.
- PaulDavisThe1st 3y ago
  I don't tan easily, and I don't think everyone is like me. I have friends who are even paler than me, and I get their use of clothing & sunblock. My curiosity is about why so many people use it, many of whom would appear to have no genetic requirement to do so.
PaulDavisThe1st 3y ago
Well, for a start, two people in that group wore sunblock religiously. But that's just anecdata, and I would certainly ridicule e.g. anti-covid vaccine arguments framed like that. It seems that the argument that solar exposure causes cancer, and if not cancer than weathered leathery skin when you're older, has been widely and effectively made, and this has been enough to get most people to hedge and just use sunblock anyway. I'm not convinced they're wrong - I'm more interested in the way sunblock brings out my own inner "conspiracy" self, even if I don't feel inclined to defend that version of me. It's actually a way to have some empathy towards people I otherwise feel no empathy whatosever for (e.g. the anti-vax crowd).
- insanitybit 3y ago
  > It seems that the argument that solar exposure causes cancer, and if not cancer than weathered leathery skin when you're older, has been widely and effectively made, and this has been enough to get most people to hedge and just use sunblock anyway. Yes, that is literally it. That is why people wear sunblock, including "religiously". They don't want cancer or prematurely aged skin. > m not convinced they're wrong - I'm more interested in the way sunblock brings out my own inner "conspiracy" self, even if I don't feel inclined to defend that version of me Again I'm completely lost. Is the conspiracy that people don't want cancer?
  - PaulDavisThe1st 3y ago
    The "conspiracy" would be an multinational, multibillion-dollar industry making big money selling people a product they don't need and that could be harmful for their health. I didn't actually just say that :)

jncfhnb 3y ago

For sunburns obviously Even if you doubt the efficacy against skin cancer, sun burns are easily observed in short time