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> 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.

> 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 :)

> 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 :)