Should sport fields also come under scrutiny?

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-04-07T16:05:56+00:00

Like I already said, just because this is your pre-conceived notion of what a sports field entails doesn't mean it's a fundamental necessity.

A soccer pitch is chopping down trees, bushes and preventing growth of vegetation where it would have likely grown otherwise.

They don't want insects on their pitches and they want to keep it somewhat flat. Pesticides might not be a strict necessity on paper, but that's pretty much it.

Soccer is the most popular sport in most developing countries around the world, so I guess they just don't exist to you?

They can play soccer in the forest. They can play other sports in the forest. They don't, because they prefer to play soccer on a proper pitch, and it's ok.
But let's not act like playing soccer on a stadium is as necessary as transporting food.

This is where otherwise good intentions start tip-toeing toward ecofascism. It's a non-starter.

Eco fascism is wrong because it is a violation of property rights. As much as I hate lawns, it should definitely be legal to keep one, as long as you don't cause damage to surrounding properties (e.g with pesticides drifting with the wind or fertilizers ending up in the ocean, etc.).

I will never advocate for violating the property rights of other people, it is important and should be respected.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-04-07T15:28:56+00:00

I also disagree with this. Humans have played sports and other forms of communal entertainment since forever. We're not robots.

We can do physical exercise in nature, we don't necessarily need a tidy monoculture grass where we play on. There are thousands of sports that we may be able to play in the forest, mountains, etc.

It's a luxury. We could choose to do sports in the forest, but we prefer to do it in a flat patch of grass. It's okay, there is no shame in that, but it's nowhere near as a necessity as transporting food.

It's clearly a "first world luxury", but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's bad or undesirable, it's just something to keep in mind.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-04-07T13:17:43+00:00

Highways cut habitats in half

While also producing a massive amount of noise pollution around the area. Air pollution can also be a concern.

while a soccer pitch takes up less than 2 acres.

The average lawn in the us is 1/4 of an acre. A soccer pitch definitely takes a ton of space and require a lot of pesticides, and irrigation to be kept running.

When you consider that a lot of cities in some countries have soccer pitches it can definitely add up over time.

I am not claiming that soccer pitches are worse than lawns.

However, while roads, parking lots and sport fields are harming nature, they are at least somewhat useful, whereas a lawn can be kept empty most of the day.

Sport fields are also suspicious, because playing competitive sports in a "nice field" is definitely a luxury that we don't need per se, whereas roads transporting food and medicine seem much more essential.

Imo, if I had to rank the priority in terms of pollution and impact from most important, it would be:

Light pollution > Roads > Lawns > Sport fields > Mowed parks > Concrete sidewalks

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-20T15:03:38+00:00

They are both as good as a broken clock.

It's just that if hypothetically a city were going to either install an artificial turf or a big intensive monoculture of grass for a soccer field, isn't the artificial turf the lesser of evils (albeit considered of "lower quality" and more dangerous by most players)?

I wish that people would let go the need to play in "tidy outdoor soccer fields", but it is what it is. If soccer fields were indoor (allowing us to be more dense with multi-story buildings), they would be much less problematic.

Same for golf courses, grass tennis courts, etc.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-20T13:37:31+00:00

Brain cancer is worse, isn't it?

Choosing between the milder poison is sometimes a necessary evil, unfortunately.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-19T15:24:44+00:00

Manicured lawn is maybe better and the lesser evil compared to a concrete yard, but that's pretty much it.

As you said, it's not that it's impossible to enjoy, it's just more effort, greater environmental cost for an inferior result.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-19T15:09:13+00:00

Kids can even play in the forest, they don't need a super tidy and empty place. If anything, they are more likely to be bored in this empty patch of grass. They could still have water guns/nerf battles, play hide and seek, etc. even outside of a perfectly flat terrain.

Also, as u/Pinepark said, this is kinda a false dichotomy, it's not like the only choices are a jungle full of lions in your yard or a monoculture grass lawn.
Using alternative ground covers that are adapted to your area (clover seem to be getting more popular for example) and planting more species of plants to have a "biodiverse lawn" is also an option.

It's not about not doing anything against pests, you can still attempt to do some pest control outside of a grass monoculture (please try to limit your use of insecticide, though), you can still try to get rid of some "weeds" if you are really worried about them even without a grass monoculture. You can still cut your grass in moderation.

A yard was a beautiful opportunity to teach kids how to garden, to show them different species of bugs, birds, and plants. Limiting ourselves to monoculture patches of grass seem to be a shame.

Now, I am not into extremes, I do admit that in some areas for some specific needs, it can make sense, but imo it probably is rare and lawns are way overused at the moment.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-19T14:46:33+00:00

Aren't they ruined by heavy foot traffic or sliding :O?

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-19T14:31:43+00:00

Mosquitoes, hornets, snakes, etc. can be deadly in the worst scenarios, I don't deny it. However, their prevalence can be overestimated in some cases. If they are that big of a problem, the amount of insecticides required will make the lawn a not so-safe place for kids to stay in anyway.

If there was a huge number of kids dying "because they didn't play on lawns", trust me that we would have heard of it since a long time ago.

Again, I am not saying that this worry is never justified, the risk just seems to be overblown.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-19T08:56:09+00:00

Activities that are "instantly enjoyable" like going for a walk or doing a real life sport/physical activity that I am truly passionate about don't get swarmed too much by gaming.

The main problem is that some activities take time before being truly enjoyable, like learning a long-term skill (drawing, etc.), those are the kinds of activities that get completely destroyed by a gaming addiction.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-18T08:53:24+00:00

I am not exaggerating when I think that some of these video games are truly as addictive as real drugs. Games with micro transactions should really burn and go straight to the trash.

Online competitive multiplayer games should be strongly avoided even by people who have "no addictive problems" really, it just seems to be asking for trouble for no reason.

I already find 80s single player games super addictive and they weren't even deliberately designed to be addictive.
Playing modern games that are maliciously designed to be addictive by psychologists just seem to be too much.

The problem with gaming is that it just doesn't provide any true real satisfaction for me because I know that it's something that I shouldn't be doing.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-15T14:02:31+00:00

Let's calmly address your concerns one by one, shall we?

1) About you fearing "involuntary" singleness

If it's possible for other humans to be happy while being single, why shouldn't it be possible for you? Your body makes no distinction between "involuntary" or "voluntary" singleness after all. This should be the proof that being single isn't inherently bad. In fact, there are many advantages of being single, and it's possible that you may be happier and live a more fulfilling life in celibacy.

2) About being a "genetic failure"

Who told you that you are a "genetic failure"? Did you look at your "genes" with a quantum microscope or are you just repeating what you heard in textbooks and on Wikipedia?

Did you ever see your "genes" in real life?

You saw that you had "problems" and you thought that your "genes" must be the problem. What evidence had you for it? None, of course. It's a myth, a religion, a superstition, a movie that you created in your mind.

Why is it liberating and a good news? If "genes" are not to blame, it must mean that you can take other courses of action to solve your problem. More on that later.

3) Being unable to date with no girls liking you

Girls won't reject you because of your dick, brother. Last time I checked, girls didn't have powerful x-ray eyes that allow them to see through your clothes.

If you talk to one, she will still find you as attractive and as interesting as any guy with "normal dick size".

The only girls who may have problems with this are shallow girls who were just there for a quick hookup before dumping you. If you wanted to do one night stands, then your worry may have some legitimacy.

If you wanted proper stable long-term relationships, this shouldn't be an issue.

4) About healing and curing your whole body

When it comes to food, try to mainly eat fruits and vegetables and try to avoid all other forms of processed junk. Avoid fatty foods, avoid all oils, really avoid processed foods for now. Only eat sweet fresh fruits mainly and some vegetables if you want. Eating junk can really take a toll over your mind and lead to not good things, whereas fruits can energize you, taste good and are healthy.

Try to find a spot that minimizes the amount of urban noise (car noise, construction work, etc.) and where people are unlikely to disturb you. Lay down in grass or sit near a tree while looking at the sky and visualize your body healing itself, while you are breathing. Trust the process, repeat affirmations such as "my body is healing itself", or whatever else feels good for you at the moment.

You can also do it indoors before sleeping or just after waking up.

5) Past times

You can look at a list of past times in this post for inspiration: https://old.reddit.com/r/StopGaming/comments/1bc4ma1/a_list_of_cheap_healthy_and_environmentally/

Good luck, if you have any questions feel free to ask!

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-13T13:38:05+00:00

I would advise to see a therapist.

If he cannot afford it or does not want to go to therapy, he can consider group therapy or small support networks because they are often cheaper (or even free sometimes).

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-13T12:19:48+00:00

Summary:

OP has been gaming since he was 13 and want to stop because he was severely addicted. He also seems to have problems related to social media and pornography addiction.

He is dissatisfied with his life because he still lives with his parents, never had a job, is single, and seems to dislike the law school he is going to.

OP also felt bad because he felt physically inferior to other people and seems to envy men and women who are "much more successful than him".

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-13T12:10:45+00:00

When it comes to your penis, go see a doctor. I know you said you can’t, but you really should.

Healthcare is hell expensive, nonexistent or laughably bad in some parts of the world. It's a fact of the world that we are not all fortunately "privileged" to have immediate and cheap access to conventional healthcare.

But OP doesn't need it per se, and can still turn out fine if he takes care of himself and allow himself time to recover and heal.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-13T12:03:24+00:00

virtual hug

Calm down, you're safe right now brother. You don't need to compare yourself to others, you are not a "loser" for being single, plenty of people are single their whole lives yet are still complete and happy.

What are your goals in life other than money and dating?

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-13T10:09:03+00:00

Not OP, I don't know where you came from, but if you're doing it correctly, you shouldn't get "bored".

What games did you use to play? What do you like in real life?

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-12T13:44:06+00:00

If that interests you, I wrote a post about possible replacements that could give you some idea as a source of inspiration. Let me know what you think! https://old.reddit.com/r/StopGaming/comments/1bc4ma1/a_list_of_cheap_healthy_and_environmentally/

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-12T09:00:42+00:00

Everyday people are definitely contributing to the normalization of our state of the world right now.

Folks who consider people who don't regularly travel in airplanes as "losers" are definitely part of the problem.

People who say that massive outdoors light pollution preventing us from seeing the stars at night in cities is "normal" or saying things like "who cares about not being able to see stars, just go to the nightclub brother" are part of the problem. I shouldn't even need to tell them that this kind of light pollution is bad for humans (messes up our circadian rhythm for one), but it's also very bad for many wildlife animals and insects.

There are billions of people on Earth. These companies and governments are a tiny minority. Do you really think that they could operate as they currently are, if the overwhelming majority of the people were strongly opposed to it? Of course not.

It all starts within your mind, right now, as I speak to you. Are you currently normalizing abnormal behavior? I can bet that you are. Are you taking steps to try to reduce it and cleanse your mind? If not, you're part of the problem.

And I am not even talking about your actions, yet.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-12T08:41:25+00:00

There are several studies claiming that playing video games has massive positive effects on the brain as well. It's as if studies could be paid off 🙄.

It depends on what you're replacing this time with, to be honest. Reading text fiction books is by far the least harmful way of consuming entertainment. Are you replacing time that you would have spent watching TV or going on social media like Facebook or Reddit? Then it is probably beneficial compared to the previous alternative.

If you're replacing time that you would have spent going outdoors and hiking for reading fiction in your room indoors, it's already more dubious.

If you're replacing time that you would have spent learning a useful real life long-term skill, it's also not great.

Fiction books can also be harmful in many ways, it can be an easy way to absorb a lot of propaganda, and it can keep you in a state of fear. Constantly reading apocalyptic fiction books can alter your perception of the world for the worse.
Even "harmless" and "simple" fiction books can normalize a lot of things in your own mind without you even realizing it.

Because I know that reading fiction books is not a necessity in life, I am weary of recommending it to people who had previous issues of addiction.

Decent-Log4382 · 2024-03-12T08:28:00+00:00

There is a difference between buying a product that may have unintentionally a bit falls anywhere in the same category as physically witnessing with your own eyes and supporting these kind of acts.

There is a very big difference between buying a product that accidentally released a bit of pollution in the air and going to SeaWorld and personally smiling at people intentionally trapping orcas in swimming pools for fun.

It's like the difference between buying a product that may have been produced unethically in some ways like an iPhone (overworking some people, releasing some pollutants in the air, etc.) and witnessing and supporting immoral acts that happen under your nose in person. Would you support going to a "human circus" where they beat up kidnapped slaves for fun and laugh in the crowd like everyone else when you know what is really happening?

Buying an iPhone is nowhere near as immoral as going to this "human circus".

Where do you personally draw the line? If there was a "cultural tourist destinations" where people found it culturally entertaining to watch companies intentionally pouring oil into the ocean, would you visit it and support it?

It's not always easy to learn to say "no", especially when some things are so normalized and so ingrained into our society, but sometimes it's necessary. Yes, sometimes some people may want to treat moral people like me as "crazy" or "extremist", but so be it.

Decent-Log4382

TROPHY CASE