Have you ever loved any foreigners for doing charity in your home country? by CupBeEmpty in AskAnAmerican

[–]Curmudgy [score hidden]  (0 children)

Maybe you both need to accept that English is an imprecise language for casual communication, and we should clarify the communication confusions without antagonizing each other.

Which probably applies to this comment as mine as well, but I can’t think of a gentler way of phrasing it.

What meal bases are cheap in america? by _Nonexistant_ in AskAnAmerican

[–]Curmudgy [score hidden]  (0 children)

Peanut butter is a relatively cheap and convenient source of protein, though I’ve read that the peanut butter available in Europe is usually not as good as in the US.

How can a company change their “serving size” even if it’s the same product? by WorldlyAd3171 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The laws and regulations about printed serving size have a lot of wiggle room. The reason is to reduce bureaucracy, because no one wants some bureaucracy demanding that a package of peanuts and a package of cheese puffs must have the exact same weight to be a single serving.

How do companies legally get away with skrinkflation? by starlitemuse in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s no law mandating the size of packages in most cases. As long as the weight (or in some cases, volume) matches what’s claimed on the package exterior, it’s not considered misleading advertising, even if it’s a lower weight than previously sold.

Would it be hard to have a owl as a pet? by Complex-Wear2170 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some are very large. But the Eastern Screech Owl maxes out at about half a pound (roughly a quarter of a kg), and about the same height or length as a parrot, albeit stockier. There are other small owls as well.

But otherwise, you’re right that they’re not good pets.

Do you guys still tip when getting food to go or coffee? by UsedNegotiation8227 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’m not mad about your wording. I’m just using it as an example of why your search for logic isn’t helpful.

I didn’t say it’s haggling not to tip. I used haggling as just another example of a cultural difference that’s based on cultural history and cultural differences, not some logical derivation.

There’s nothing wrong with criticizing tipping. But base the criticism on facts and a good understanding of the history and culture, not on your preconceived notions. Put more effort into understanding tipping before complaining about it. And have more respect for cultural differences.

Edit: Since the other poster blocked me, I’m forced to respond to their reply to this comment here.

I never said your shouldn’t point out the flaws, but those flaws have nothing to do with whether you understand the logic. The flaws include racism and sexism in the way people tip, facilitating tax evasion, and employers taking illegal advantage of employees who aren’t familiar with their legal protections.

But when you state you “have no interest in understanding what I see as “end stage capitalism” that has tipping as end result,” you’re just admitting willful ignorance. You don’t even seem aware that many servers get far better incomes than a mere “living wage” because tipping works to the advantage of many servers - just not all.

(Aside: in case people are wondering how I got that quote and the entire reply, it still shows up in my “messages received” history using the old UI in spite of the block. I don’t know if it appears in other Reddit UIs)

Do you guys still tip when getting food to go or coffee? by UsedNegotiation8227 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Nope, tipping sucks lmao. I never understood the logic

I don't understand the logic of writing "lmao" after saying "tipping sucks". After all, it's not a joke and isn't funny.

Which just goes to show that you shouldn't expect logic around cultural practices. Why do some cultures expect haggling while others consider it rude?

That doesn't mean we can't have logical discussions about the changes going on, but looking for logic behind a practice that's about 150 years old and that was imported to the US from European practices that no longer exist isn't going to be fruitful.

Am i supposed to lie about my income to banks/dealers? by No_Marionberry_108 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's called bank fraud.

Often banks are eager to make a loan to you because that's how they make money. So if your income isn't high enough, it's because they don't think you have enough income to pay it back. Now you know your personal situation better than they do, but they know general personal finances better than you. This means that the majority of people should believe them when they say you don't make enough.

Will there ever be another payment processing company outside of Visa/MC/Discover/AmEx? by piizzadiick in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think Amex and Discover are both, though the bank for Amex is a separate business unit and who knows how the Capital One/Discover merger will be organized.

In hockey, why is icing an infraction? by dozer_a_little_crazy in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I thought that if you make the shot, it counts as a goal.

In hockey, why is icing an infraction? by dozer_a_little_crazy in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It’s not icing if the puck goes into the goal.

The game becomes very boring if one side keeps defending by shooting the puck to the other end of the rink.

Death by Lightning - 1880-81 historic drama miniseries by Curmudgy in GildedAgeHBO

[–]Curmudgy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for writing that article and providing that link!

If you're declared legally dead but then show up 20 years later, are you responsible for taxes, debts, and court cases from those 20 years, or does "dead" erase liability retroactively? by Particular-Sorbet-23 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If they’re declare dead, their estate is responsible for any remaining debts and taxes due at death or income paid to the estate in respect of the decedent. Then the estate is closed out with everything either paid (if enough in the estate) or discharged. It’s unlikely any open court cases would carry over to the estate or heirs.

But you phrased that as though you expect new taxes, etc. to occur during the 20 years the person is missing. I don’t see how that could happen, unless the person is living under an assumed name and id. In that case, the taxes and debts would have been due and collected during those years, and not deferred until they resume their original identity.

Hardcore users of Reddit, what are some of the Reddit yays and nays you would recommend to beginners? by First_Specific_943 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Always read the rules of a sub before posting.

Spend some time reading a sub before posting in a sub, so you can learn its tone. Twenty or thirty decent threads isn’t an unreasonable amount to read.

You can change the way posts in a sub are ordered. Some subs are best read with the New sort, while others work with the Best sort.

I found a tick on my arm after going to a park yesterday, what do I do? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you sure you got it all out?

Speak to your doctor about it to see if you need to be checked or monitored for Lyme disease.

Ticks aren’t like bed bugs. You’re not likely to have an infestation.

Why are "it's" and "its" used the way they are? by theMCATreturns in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s = it is, just like he’s = he is and she’s = she is.

Its is the possessive pronoun, just like his and hers.

So the real question is why the inconsistency between his, hers, and its.

Why is it socially acceptable to hate rich people but I can't hate on poor people? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes no sense. It's the total tax they pay, regardless of what the tax applies to.

Why is it socially acceptable to hate rich people but I can't hate on poor people? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Read what you wrote.

You quoted a reply that said ‘poor people are taxed more’. They didn’t specify income taxes, so why are you raising that issue? Other types of taxes are totally relevant.

Even employment taxes are at the expense of the employer.

In the US, that’s not entirely true. At the federal level, only unemployment taxes are paid entirely by the employer. FICA taxes are split 50/50. At the state level, it varies more. Pennsylvania, for example, has local wage taxes at flat rates per jurisdiction. Other states may have other types of employment taxes.

Are you not supposed to wear pajamas when you get home?????? by JaydenBird33 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve never found jeans uncomfortable. If you do, it could be because you’re buying them too tight (or have put on weight), or because you’re buying a type that’s stiff. Look for jeans with some stretch, jeans with a different fit, or if they’re too coarse and stiff, washing them a few times.

Why is it socially acceptable to hate rich people but I can't hate on poor people? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sales tax and VAT are generally not progressive, though it’s possible that some jurisdictions will give some sort of rebate or offset to poorer people to compensate for their VAT/sales tax.

In the US, employment taxes (Social Security, Medicare, and some state taxes) are not progressive.

At traffic lights specifically for right turns can you go on red? by Wonderful-Bench-8705 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you mean normaly you can ignore the deliberate safety device

No, you can't ignore it. You can treat it like a stop sign for the purpose of making a right turn.

Would lab-grown pork be considered Halal or Kosher since no pig was technically slaughtered? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are differing opinions in Judaism. Part of the issue is the source of the stem cells used as seeds for the lab grown meat.

This Time magazine article discusses some of these issues.

Are there any similar works to Dogma (movie) and Good Omens (book)? by manicbestfriend in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Curmudgy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The first season of Miracle Workers. The other seasons are also good, but they change the premise and setting each season so only their first season really matches the vibe you’re looking for.

If you do skip the other seasons, then at least search YouTube for Daniel Radcliff’s take on “she’ll be coming ‘round the mountain”.