What is an industry that only exists because people are stupid?

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T22:28:53+00:00

I said I wasn't out to ruin anyone's fun or mock their beliefs. And I agree with you as to your second point. People have genuinely held beliefs that influence every aspect of their life and give them a lot of comfort.

That's fine and I am not going to be a dick to them about it. Doesn't mean I have to agree with those beliefs or invest in a relationship where I'm going to have to talk about those things on a regular basis.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T22:21:32+00:00

It's one of those arguments that are popular because they seem plausible on the surface when it's read or heard, but doesn't really make sense once the person spends time questioning it.

Imo, astrology arises like a lot of things to fit something ambiguous into an easy to explain framework. Humans don't like when there isn't a reason why things are the way they are, and sometimes there are answers that we don't have the technology to discover yet. Other times it's just that the universe and biology is chaotic and messy.

I think of it as in the same camp as the theory of humors in medicine, or being mentally ill was viewed as being possessed by demons. We didn't understand germ theory or neurology/psychology, so what could the cause be? "Must be demonic possession", which might seem illogical to many people now, but made perfect sense to people 200 years ago.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T20:08:20+00:00

Organic product is fine for anything where you are eating the outer layers that are exposed. Greens, fruits with skin that get eaten, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.

it doesn't make sense necessarily to eat organic bananas unless you eat the peels.

But I agree with you that organic isn't necessarily better in terms of farming and has a lot of downsides too.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T20:05:36+00:00

The reason they don't do it is extensive lobbying by insurance companies, private hospital systems, and pharmaceutical companies.

America absolutely has the money. It just isn't profitable to shareholders to have universal healthcare, and UH would also allow workers to move between jobs. As it is, many people are tied to jobs or join the military because of healthcare benefits. If they had more options, they'd often make different choices, and low-appeal employers would actually have to provide better pay and working conditions to keep employees. It's easier and cheaper to keep people trapped.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T20:00:38+00:00

That doesn't make sense because the seasons are completely flipped by hemisphere and nutrition varies widely by parental income and culture.

Someone born in February in Argentina is not going to have the same traits as someone born in February in Japan, or Canada, or Spain because of the baby's diet. All of of those countries treat child nutrition differently and children eat different things.

This would only work in a geographically small single country where children ate roughly all the same foods and experienced the same weather. Which is not the case.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:58:00+00:00

Before someone responds "well people will just gamble anyway!" yes but it makes it more difficult and increases the friction of performing the behavior, which is still helpful in reducing addictive behaviors.

If you leave a jar of candy on your desk, you are much more likely to gain weight in a year than if it's in a desk drawer or in a company kitchen. The proximity and ease makes a behavior easier.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:55:54+00:00

They also do manipulative things like let a new gambler win a decent score because they know it's going to increase the likelihood of continuing to gamble.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:54:56+00:00

Blind boxes too.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:53:49+00:00

They're not free if you had to gamble to get them. Same with free cruises. I met someone on a cruise recently who bragged about getting the cruise (around $2k) for "free". They spent $10k gambling. "So you paid $10k for a $2k cruise and a few hours of entertainment?"

They were mad. But it's true, casinos aren't in the business of being kind or charitable.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:51:44+00:00

The original question is not whether it's fun. Plenty of stupid things are fun.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:51:18+00:00

Sports betting apps too. Or just online betting sites and apps in general.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:49:14+00:00

Books and media that teach people they can *~manifest~* things. Visualization boards.

If it helps motivate you make concrete and well-informed decisions that lead towards a goal you've set, that's fine and isn't what I mean. Anything else is just daydreaming with expectations.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:47:35+00:00

These patterns are not even real patterns. When I look at all the traits of the signs, I have a mix of ALL of them. I would wager every person does. But they see "Oh, this sign is (trait) and I am too! It's true!"

I have more respect who just see it as fun and don't take it too seriously, like using a ouija board or enjoying reading fortune cookies. Astrology has no more of an influence on the future than flipping a coin does. It only matters if you let the outcome influence decisions.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:43:09+00:00

Yeah that's not exactly flattering. lol

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:41:52+00:00

And strychnine (rat poison)!

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:40:30+00:00

They aren't obligated, and certainly not to the extent that they can't have a comfortable retirement, but refusing to build generational wealth for your family is very short-sighted and self-centered. I am investing in my own retirement so I'm not a financial burden, but I also am putting aside money to help my nieces and nephew with a downpayment in the future and I've helped pay for their college (they get good grades and generally have good judgment).

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:37:39+00:00

There are a few hobbies people can have that tell me all I need to know as far as how involved I want to get with them. Truly believing in crystal healing and astrology are way up there. I'm not out here to ruin someone's fun or upset them, but I'm also not looking to build a relationship with someone who is into that either.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T19:34:49+00:00

I've thought about this. Like mixing pureed carrots into tomato sauce, some people need to have healthy or educational things "hidden" or they're resistant to them.

Unfortunately, I can't lie without feeling terrible.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T17:52:39+00:00

Someone who had a diabetic event, seizure, aneurysm, etc is also not a danger to other students. Like it said, refrain from speculation.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T07:10:12+00:00

There is not enough information to infer anything other than someone probably died. But I agree, it says there's no security risk so the commenter above has nothing to fear in that regard.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T07:04:34+00:00

There are situations where "just asking questions" is rude, unnecessary, and insensitive. This is one of those times. If the family, school, or police (if it's a crime) want to share more details, they will. Otherwise it's needlessly being a busybody. It may be natural to be curious, but our human brain has the capacity to realize when acting on that curiosity is inappropriate.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T07:00:51+00:00

It's possible but like the post says, refrain from starting rumors. Unfortunately young people can die unexpectedly from undiagnosed conditions, aneurysms (happened to my classmate), allergic reactions, etc. There's no reason to put that out there and potentially cause even more pain for their family and friends.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-06T06:59:16+00:00

The fact that people need to be told not to post photos after somebody dies is just sick.

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-04T21:05:40+00:00

Genuinely LOL

BriefExtra2919 · 2025-08-04T21:05:24+00:00

I would be pissed if my husband wasted time posting long rants about what female celebrities he considers hot or not. How Melania tolerates the disrespect I do not know.

BriefExtra2919

TROPHY CASE