4 ms·
> Caffeine is a very interesting drug that makes capitalism and just daily work bearable. It's interesting that this went all the way to 1800s for the US. Mich
by slibhb 2y ago
> Caffeine is a very interesting drug that makes capitalism and just daily work bearable. It's interesting that this went all the way to 1800s for the US.
Michael Pollan's thesis is absurdly exaggerated. I've been on and off coffee for the past few years and it's not necessary to "make daily work bearable". His link between caffeine and capitalism is just silly.
- leobg 2y agoLaborers in Somalia chew khat Soldiers crave their cigarettes. Office workers need their cup of coffee. You can, of course, say it’s just human nature to enjoy an altered state of consciousness. but when it becomes a habit like that, it’s really hard not to see it as a symptom of the slave mentality. The little window of freedom that you have in your otherwise unfree life. Makes me think of billboards advertising cigarettes to taxi drivers. Trying to associate the break for a smoke with the feeling of freedom. Or television commercials for coffee. Suggesting you can have a stressful day, but never run out of energy because you “enjoy the aroma“. When I feel under pressure and have deadlines coming up, I definitely drink a lot more coffee. I do it because I feel like I cannot afford to take a nap. I pull that lever to make myself function. If my kids did that, I wouldn’t consider it healthy. Not saying Pollan is right. But I wouldn’t call it a completely absurd point of view either.