4 ms·

I can easily see this being 80-100% of the population in a few years. The human body is not some miracle or well oiled machine. It is a poorly and erratically

I can easily see this being 80-100% of the population in a few years. The human body is not some miracle or well oiled machine. It is a poorly and erratically manufactured product done in inconsistent environments. As we learn more about our bodies, we will regularly discover things that should be fixed or optimized. I have asthma. Only in childhood did it threaten my life, but why wouldn't I want to breathe well all the time? A friend has ADHD. Sure, he can do ok without the meds, but is now a superstar with them. Birth control can eliminate all sorts of annoying fertility issues for women beyond simply not getting pregnant.

rf15 3y ago
On the other hand there's an entire industry around selling placebos of various shapes and sizes; and even the meds that are functional often ruin your kidneys and other organs over time. Medication, while useful in many cases, is often a double edged sword we use too liberally and irresponsibly overall.
- chiefalchemist 3y ago
  For example, antibiotics. Over-prescribed to the point there infections / bacteria immune to them.
onetimeuse92304 3y ago
I have no idea what causes asthma. But I disagree on one thing, I do think human body is a miraculous, well oiled machine. It is just that we tend to misuse the machine and do things to it that were not foreseen by the manufacturer, so to speak. You void the warranty if you sit by the computer all day, move only with your car and then ensure there is something sugary in your mouth for 16 hours a day. I did have a lot of health problems which I corrected once I put enough (a lot, actually) effort into understanding and correcting them. I am not saying that all health problems can be resolved this way, but a lot of them can be solved with simple lifestyle changes. Especially if you live in a western world and have income to be free in choosing what you eat and able to have a good night of sleep and spend a part of the day in exercise.
almatabata 3y ago
Does 80% of the population really need prescription medicine to optimize their health? People currently can already improve a lot of their problems by working out and eating healthier. Of course if you have a health issue like asthma then you should take the medicine. But 80% of the population sounds a bit high.
RhysU 3y ago
Is the erratic manufacturing referring to the lovemaking or to the gestation?
- chimpanzee 3y ago
  My guess would be the lovemaking, but I’m no bonobo.
ramblenode 3y ago
> It is a poorly and erratically manufactured product done in inconsistent environments. As we learn more about our bodies, we will regularly discover things that should be fixed or optimized. This is a poor model for understanding the human body. The body is a massively high dimensional chemical and physical system where there is no objective function that will maximize performance in all possible environments. Every new environment will have new challenges and a new objective function to maximize. The common denominator that reflects our last global optimum is our genetics and epigenetics, which has some randomness but is not at all erratic. Most bodily processes are some kind of trade-off. You can have faster metabolism but you will age quicker. You can have a strong type I immune defense against infection but you will be more prone to autoimmunity. You can have greater anabolism and become stronger but that will compete with catabolic pathways and increase the risk of cancer. Nothing is free. Medication is the same way. For people with a moderate or serious condition, any downsides are worth it, but there are always side effects. No bodily system exists in isolation.

rf15 3y ago

On the other hand there's an entire industry around selling placebos of various shapes and sizes; and even the meds that are functional often ruin your kidneys and other organs over time. Medication, while useful in many cases, is often a double edged sword we use too liberally and irresponsibly overall.

chiefalchemist 3y ago
For example, antibiotics. Over-prescribed to the point there infections / bacteria immune to them.

onetimeuse92304 3y ago

I have no idea what causes asthma. But I disagree on one thing, I do think human body is a miraculous, well oiled machine. It is just that we tend to misuse the machine and do things to it that were not foreseen by the manufacturer, so to speak. You void the warranty if you sit by the computer all day, move only with your car and then ensure there is something sugary in your mouth for 16 hours a day. I did have a lot of health problems which I corrected once I put enough (a lot, actually) effort into understanding and correcting them. I am not saying that all health problems can be resolved this way, but a lot of them can be solved with simple lifestyle changes. Especially if you live in a western world and have income to be free in choosing what you eat and able to have a good night of sleep and spend a part of the day in exercise.

almatabata 3y ago

Does 80% of the population really need prescription medicine to optimize their health? People currently can already improve a lot of their problems by working out and eating healthier. Of course if you have a health issue like asthma then you should take the medicine. But 80% of the population sounds a bit high.

RhysU 3y ago

Is the erratic manufacturing referring to the lovemaking or to the gestation?

chimpanzee 3y ago
My guess would be the lovemaking, but I’m no bonobo.

ramblenode 3y ago

> It is a poorly and erratically manufactured product done in inconsistent environments. As we learn more about our bodies, we will regularly discover things that should be fixed or optimized. This is a poor model for understanding the human body. The body is a massively high dimensional chemical and physical system where there is no objective function that will maximize performance in all possible environments. Every new environment will have new challenges and a new objective function to maximize. The common denominator that reflects our last global optimum is our genetics and epigenetics, which has some randomness but is not at all erratic. Most bodily processes are some kind of trade-off. You can have faster metabolism but you will age quicker. You can have a strong type I immune defense against infection but you will be more prone to autoimmunity. You can have greater anabolism and become stronger but that will compete with catabolic pathways and increase the risk of cancer. Nothing is free. Medication is the same way. For people with a moderate or serious condition, any downsides are worth it, but there are always side effects. No bodily system exists in isolation.