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> it’s good to be informed about these things That's an interesting assumption. Is it really? I suspect that informed citizens are better for society, but it

> it’s good to be informed about these things That's an interesting assumption. Is it really? I suspect that informed citizens are better for society, but it might be worse for the the individuals.

galleywest200 2y ago
In regards to things like microplastics, knowing which products to avoid may be useful to the individual.
- teaearlgraycold 2y ago
  Exactly. Use less plastic for food containers. Don’t use plastic cooking utensils, filter your water, etc. This is one you do have some influence over. Oh, and donate blood as often as they let you.
  - simianparrot 2y ago
    How exactly is donating blood “as often as they let me” good for me?
    - hgomersall 2y ago
      It's a good way to drop your blood pfas levels.
      - teaearlgraycold 2y ago
        And probably other toxic junk from the environment.
        stevenAthompson 2y ago
        <jk> Maybe they were onto something with bloodletting. </jk>
        hgomersall 2y ago
        Blood letting is occasionally the right treatment, for example for hemochromatosis.
        teaearlgraycold 2y ago
        Go to a blood donation center. You'll notice the blood bags say "VOLUNTEER" on them. Not because some people are getting their blood stolen. The alternative is "THERAPEUTIC". We still bloodlet today.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
rTX5CMRXIfFG 2y ago
Of course it is. Knowing the events shaping your world have repercussions on your personal decisions. What should I eat? What should I learn? What career should I embark upon? What should I invest in? To think that you can shield yourself from the world is one of the biggest yet most foolish ideas of individualistic cultures
- stevenAthompson 2y ago
  For most people the answers to your questions are all obvious without anything more than weekly local news. Maybe without even that. > What should I eat? Food, from the grocery store. Adjust based on your family doctors advice and your own preferences. > What should I learn? Whatever your boss suggests will advance your career. > What career should I embark upon? Whatever is available locally and, optionally, suited to your abilities and interests. > What should I invest in? Whichever index fund option in your 401k is least volatile.
  - Spivak 2y ago
    Or most volatile depending on your age. Yoloing an all stock portfolio is a pretty safe bet when you have time to play the long game.
  - rTX5CMRXIfFG 2y ago
    Most people don’t consult their family doctors when food isn’t available or when they are confronted with a variation in recipe. It isn’t the case that most people blindly follow their boss’ advice. Most people don’t decide their careers based on short-term local availability. And almost no investor who’s financially literate enough to consider an index fund would consider volatility as a metric of attractiveness of the fund. I was going to say that your arguments only hold so long as you oversimplify what are inherently complex decisions that require multiple and current information sources, but the very foundation of your line of questioning is just plain wrong.
    - jpc0 2y ago
      I'm going to disagee with you there. You are seeing the world through a different lens driven by constant churn in the tech industry. In many industries if you are just a drone that does their job reasonably well, will work overtime every now and then when it's available and have shown willingness and ability to improve, management will make sure you stay at that company. Your only actual fear would be that the company fails but then very likely you are on the shortlist for that same management at their new company. Assume incompetence not malice, people aren't out to get you and trying to get the worst for you, they want to best for themselves and if you make it so that making you comfortable also makes them comfortable then you aren't at risk. Regarding food... Buy what's on the shelf, nobody needs their special kale only diet or whatever is the trend. What the parent was saying is follow general food guidelines, avoid excessive meat, keep portion sizes reasonable, half you plate should be vegetables etc... Same with the index fund thing, if you start investing with a reputable investor when your are in your 20s even if it doesn't beat the market you will retire comfortably. You don't need to minmax life. You can hit autopilot and just go where life takes you while just make small course corrections every now and then and you will be fine. You wont have a great life or a bad one. You will fall close to the middle of the bell curve and that's actually good enough. Focus on the things that are important, spend time with your loved ones etc. Trust me I understand your point of view as well, that's me I can't be vanilla with these things, my mental health doesn't allow it. I need to shoot for the moon and do it as efficiently as possible. I just know that's not necessary.

> it’s good to be informed about these things That's an interesting assumption. Is it really? I suspect that informed citizens are better for society, but it might be worse for the the individuals.

galleywest200 2y ago

In regards to things like microplastics, knowing which products to avoid may be useful to the individual.

teaearlgraycold 2y ago
Exactly. Use less plastic for food containers. Don’t use plastic cooking utensils, filter your water, etc. This is one you do have some influence over. Oh, and donate blood as often as they let you.
- simianparrot 2y ago
  How exactly is donating blood “as often as they let me” good for me?
  - hgomersall 2y ago
    It's a good way to drop your blood pfas levels.
    - teaearlgraycold 2y ago
      And probably other toxic junk from the environment.
      - stevenAthompson 2y ago
        <jk> Maybe they were onto something with bloodletting. </jk>
        hgomersall 2y ago
        Blood letting is occasionally the right treatment, for example for hemochromatosis.
        teaearlgraycold 2y ago
        Go to a blood donation center. You'll notice the blood bags say "VOLUNTEER" on them. Not because some people are getting their blood stolen. The alternative is "THERAPEUTIC". We still bloodlet today.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

rTX5CMRXIfFG 2y ago

Of course it is. Knowing the events shaping your world have repercussions on your personal decisions. What should I eat? What should I learn? What career should I embark upon? What should I invest in? To think that you can shield yourself from the world is one of the biggest yet most foolish ideas of individualistic cultures

stevenAthompson 2y ago
For most people the answers to your questions are all obvious without anything more than weekly local news. Maybe without even that. > What should I eat? Food, from the grocery store. Adjust based on your family doctors advice and your own preferences. > What should I learn? Whatever your boss suggests will advance your career. > What career should I embark upon? Whatever is available locally and, optionally, suited to your abilities and interests. > What should I invest in? Whichever index fund option in your 401k is least volatile.
- Spivak 2y ago
  Or most volatile depending on your age. Yoloing an all stock portfolio is a pretty safe bet when you have time to play the long game.
- rTX5CMRXIfFG 2y ago
  Most people don’t consult their family doctors when food isn’t available or when they are confronted with a variation in recipe. It isn’t the case that most people blindly follow their boss’ advice. Most people don’t decide their careers based on short-term local availability. And almost no investor who’s financially literate enough to consider an index fund would consider volatility as a metric of attractiveness of the fund. I was going to say that your arguments only hold so long as you oversimplify what are inherently complex decisions that require multiple and current information sources, but the very foundation of your line of questioning is just plain wrong.
  - jpc0 2y ago
    I'm going to disagee with you there. You are seeing the world through a different lens driven by constant churn in the tech industry. In many industries if you are just a drone that does their job reasonably well, will work overtime every now and then when it's available and have shown willingness and ability to improve, management will make sure you stay at that company. Your only actual fear would be that the company fails but then very likely you are on the shortlist for that same management at their new company. Assume incompetence not malice, people aren't out to get you and trying to get the worst for you, they want to best for themselves and if you make it so that making you comfortable also makes them comfortable then you aren't at risk. Regarding food... Buy what's on the shelf, nobody needs their special kale only diet or whatever is the trend. What the parent was saying is follow general food guidelines, avoid excessive meat, keep portion sizes reasonable, half you plate should be vegetables etc... Same with the index fund thing, if you start investing with a reputable investor when your are in your 20s even if it doesn't beat the market you will retire comfortably. You don't need to minmax life. You can hit autopilot and just go where life takes you while just make small course corrections every now and then and you will be fine. You wont have a great life or a bad one. You will fall close to the middle of the bell curve and that's actually good enough. Focus on the things that are important, spend time with your loved ones etc. Trust me I understand your point of view as well, that's me I can't be vanilla with these things, my mental health doesn't allow it. I need to shoot for the moon and do it as efficiently as possible. I just know that's not necessary.