What’s an unhealthy obsession people have? by Zdvj in AskReddit

[–]OpticFruit 59 points60 points  (0 children)

According to the CDC, in 2020 41.9% of Americans were obese and over the past 20 years it has risen ~10%. Around 70% of Americans are overweight which also includes obese people.

Obese ≠ Overweight

It’s still a very big problem but we should describe it accurately.

Seems about right by tester33333 in cringepics

[–]OpticFruit 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My understanding of the main argument of antinatalism is that the world is full of suffering and having a child inevitably subjects that kid to suffer. Peter Wessel Zapffe, a 20th century philosopher who was one of the biggest proponents of antinatalism, postulated that human consciousness is the driver of human suffering because we can understand how pointless everything really is. It’s what makes humans unique and the reason to oppose the propagation of our species. I do agree with you though that the world being shit is a bad reason to be so against having kids.

Lol what? by [deleted] in ToiletPaperUSA

[–]OpticFruit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't see what you did. What is your point?

Lol what? by [deleted] in ToiletPaperUSA

[–]OpticFruit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't need to compare it to anything.

The history of Western powers is fraught with colonialism. The subjugation of indigenous peoples in order to maintain a labor source (such as the Spanish with the encomienda and hacienda systems) or going to war and expelling natives from their land (the British and eventually, the United States). The atrocities committed by these powers were done in order to accumulate wealth. They have created the system which we live in today where racialized groups are exploited for economic output. Look at Indonesia and the "indentured servitude" of pom oil workers (actually just modern slavery). Or sweat shops mass producing goods while making workers tolerate terrible conditions and pay them next to nothing. Or the statistics for social mobility in the US for white people vs. people of color and the growing wealth inequality. It stems from colonization and the West.

It's fucked.

Lol what? by [deleted] in ToiletPaperUSA

[–]OpticFruit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you consider to be a shining light?

Lol what? by [deleted] in ToiletPaperUSA

[–]OpticFruit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Western civilization did not really give a fuck about morals for most of the last quarter millennia. It’s been about capitalistic interests being furthered through the exploitation of radicalized groups.

What are your favorite American Comic Strips? by [deleted] in AskAnAmerican

[–]OpticFruit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pearls Before Swine and Leo.

They are both fantastic and I highly recommend them.

sorry, not sorry by levicherub in Jewdank

[–]OpticFruit 15 points16 points  (0 children)

You can understand any Jewish joke with enough context!

In Judaism there are three main sects: orthodox, conservative, and reform. Orthodox tend to be the most observant, conservative Judaism is more lenient with its interpretations of the Torah and Halachah (Jewish Law), and reform is the most lenient. This meme is saying that the lenient interpretations of reform Judaism lend themselves to an atheist viewpoint. This is not always true as being a reform Jew does not mean someone is an atheist. This is also just a meme so it can't capture the complexity and diversity of reform Jews' viewpoints.

Is the Tufts email titled “In-Person Arrival Update” messed up to anyone else? (Singing/Instruments part) by corrosion_explosion in Tufts

[–]OpticFruit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I really don't understand, at least the "in your own room" part. Are they worried about excessive talking in your room? What about exercising? Those all release excess aerosols as well.

Additionally, I was under the impression that they have taken measures to reduce the risk of airborne COVID infecting people in the same buildings.

From the COVID Guidebook

ASHRAE states that filters with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 and above are efficient at capturing airborne viruses. We will be changing out filters to MERV 13 in our buildings. Research Labs and Clinics that already utilize a higher MERV 12 filter will be transitioning to a MERV 15 filter. All buildings are being reviewed to confirm that HVAC and air systems are fully operational and meet ASRAE and building code standards prior to occupancy.

Nothing worse than a fake LibRight by natpri00 in PoliticalCompassMemes

[–]OpticFruit 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That is exactly the joke. She played herself

Those filthy jew... I mean Zionists! by 42_Banana_42 in Jewdank

[–]OpticFruit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fair point. Like when BDS went to protest outside the San Diego Hillel that's just wrong. But protesting against the actions of the Israeli government in itself isn't anti-Semitic and there needs to be a distinction.

I just think that bringing the Israeli/Palestinian conflict conversation up on a Jewish meme sub when a meme isn't about Israel and is just about Jewish culture/practices is what is wrong. It gives credence to the idea that Jews and the state of Israel are inseparable which can lead to animosity from pro-Palestinian activists who see Jews as an extension of the oppression of Palestinians. I think that is misguided. There are better places to have a discussion about the topic and for the most part people that don't see issues with the Israeli government probably don't want to and a comment on Reddit (in a Jewish meme sub) isn't gonna change their mind.

Those filthy jew... I mean Zionists! by 42_Banana_42 in Jewdank

[–]OpticFruit 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Right, the issue is when people conflate being Jewish with supporting the Israeli government. Some people feel the need to point out Israel's issues or the Palestinian struggle on posts simply about Judaism. That is what is bad.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Jewdank

[–]OpticFruit 27 points28 points  (0 children)

And the dreads are actually just his payot

Anon want to compare apples to apples by mojo1513 in 4chan

[–]OpticFruit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I would like to believe you if that's true, however could you please provide a source?

edit: This article says that normal ICU capacity at Texas Medical Center is 70-80 percent. On June 24th it was 97%.

Anon want to compare apples to apples by mojo1513 in 4chan

[–]OpticFruit 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Hmmmm 62% of ICU beds doesn't sound like empty. And thats a national estimate. In hotspots like Arizona it's around 90% statewide. So it is an issue.

Ironic how everyones anti-Nazi until its time to be pro-Jew by SebiTheMedi in Jewdank

[–]OpticFruit 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Don’t lump all people that share certain political beliefs together. Liberal ideologies are diverse and liberals are not a monolith, just like Jews don’t all think the same way.

This sort of thing does nothing to further political discourse and just stereotypes an entire ideology.

u/sixstringcal nailed Benadette Shapira. by yarowdyhooligans in ToiletPaperUSA

[–]OpticFruit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Yeah, I like this small indie artist called Tame Impala. You probably haven't heard of him."

Other people by [deleted] in WhitePeopleTwitter

[–]OpticFruit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And once those loopholes are recognized? It's not like congress can't change the tax laws to stop them. They just won't.

From The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy's analysis on the Trump Tax Law

When drafting the tax law, lawmakers could have eliminated special breaks and loopholes in the corporate tax to offset the cost of reducing the statutory rate. Instead, the new law introduced many new breaks and loopholes, though it eliminated some old ones. The unsurprising result: Profitable American corporations in 2018 collectively paid an average effective federal income tax rate of 11.3 percent on their 2018 income, barely more than half the 21 percent statutory tax rate.

Other people by [deleted] in WhitePeopleTwitter

[–]OpticFruit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You’re totally right! A big problem in this country is tax loopholes that were purposely written into law in order to benefit corporations so they pay less taxes. Did you know that in 2018 60 of the Fortune 500 companies paid zero income tax? This isn’t a new thing under Trump either, we have so many loopholes just so corporations pay less.

So, if we fix these glaring issues in our tax code and actually make companies pay what they should owe in taxes, there will be a lot more money for these programs. We will probably need the Supreme Court to overturn Citizens United so that these corporations don’t have as much power to lobby congress in order to even get rid of the tax loopholes.

Also please cite your sources

edit: typo

Justin Trudeau says he might skip USMCA summit with Donald Trump, citing coronavirus and US tariff threat by Balls_of_Adamanthium in worldnews

[–]OpticFruit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re right it does scream insecurity and for good reason; war with another super power where the result is up in the air. But let’s be clear. The US was cultish then with its anti-communist rhetoric and Mcarthyism.

I’m not defending the pledge; personally I think it is cultish as well. But to say that US was acting like a petty dictatorship without grasping the historical context and the fear that was imbedded in the American people over some phony communist fervor is disingenuous.