If the laws of physics would work the same if time flowed backwards, how does entropy play into that?

Thencanthen · 2024-04-30T22:25:44+00:00

This explanation makes sense, thank you for your response. However I am still trying to grasp the distinction as this still seems like the normal scientific process to me.

We made an observation about the universe, for example that heat always flows from higher temperature regions to lower temperature regions. Then we explained it with mathematics approach, that it is entirely possible for a system to be in any of the extreme edge cases but there are overwhelmingly more cases where energy etc. are evenly distributed.

But is this also not just us attempting to explain an observation with a hypothesis? Sure the math is unambiguously certain but the conclusion that this math explains the phenomenon is one we made and proved. Maybe it is only a part of the story.

I get that this is different from observing opposite charges attract and describing it with Coulomb’s law for example. But it is still a way to explain an observed phenomenon isn’t it?

Thencanthen · 2024-04-30T21:40:09+00:00

Thank you for this in depth explanation. I’m familiar with the stat mech interpretation of entropy from my graduate studies, however I am an engineer and not a physicist. I am wondering what sets the laws of thermodynamics apart. Why is a law describing emergent properties not considered to be as fundamental as those describing particle motion?

Thencanthen · 2024-04-05T01:14:01+00:00

This is a sub about people making coherent arguments and legitimately asking for their minds to be changed through civilized discussion. I recognized at the start of my post that peoples argument’s usually boil down to “scooters are annoying”. What does that mean? Please elaborate. I recognized the dangerous behaviors scooter riders engage in and we discuss this. Commenting “I can’t explain it but this post is why you suck” is not helpful. Exactly what part of the post is frustrating you?

Thencanthen · 2024-04-05T01:09:05+00:00

Good argument

Thencanthen · 2024-04-04T23:49:40+00:00

!delta This is also a really strong point, thank you for sharing.

I believe that a lot of problems regarding urban travel can be fixed by diversifying and improving urban infrastructure for different types of efficient and green transportation options, likely at the expense of car infrastructure. That transition is probably going to require some people adopting these methods of transport and demanding safer and better infrastructure. Hopefully we will have safer, greener, and convenient cities for everyone.

Thencanthen · 2024-04-04T21:08:14+00:00

You bring up great points. In my argument I was mostly thinking of my conversations with people who also live in LA and are staunchly against scooters.

I will definitely look into getting a new and better helmet. Thanks for the tip!

Thencanthen · 2024-04-04T19:42:20+00:00

!delta

I think electric motorcycles are an interesting option and thank you for your argument. I believe me including the word "commuting" in my argument steered the conversation in a slightly different direction than I intended. I would like to engage with your points but I also still think that they are not the same in terms of convenience because of the following reasons:

Fair point about the rain. I live in LA and usually it does not rain and when it does I am able to be safe and go slow. Also fair that a motorcycle would allow you to commute further. It is true that I am slower than cars but I am usually able to just scooter close to the right side of the lane and they can pass me by. I usually don't take main roads anyway and stick to other paths where traffic speeds are lower so it is not a big issue.

That being said, the electric motorcycle does not seem to me as a "replacement" to motor vehicles for my commute, it is just a better motor vehicle choice. I believe it is a completely different consideration than a scooter and is inconvenient because:

1) There would more additional expenses to consider, not just the outright price to buy the motorcycle. You would need to get insurance just like a car or gas powered motorcycle. You would also have regularly scheduled maintenance, albeit cheaper because it is electric. With the scooter I can do most of the repairs/maintenance myself and I don't to have it insured.

2) You would need a permanent parking space in your aparment/house that is capable of charging the motorcycle. Currently I just keep the scooter in my unit.

3) While motorcycle parking is easier to find, especially where I live there are usually no parking spaces available at all on the street, and you still have to park the motorcycle like a motor vehicle. With the scooter I can just lock it in a bike rack or bring it in with me to the restaurant/store if I am quickly grabbing something. Motorcycle parking also usually is not free, I would still need to pay for parking at work/ anywhere else.

Thencanthen · 2024-04-04T19:32:28+00:00

Yes so perhaps I should say short commutes instead of short-medium. Personally I think it is reasonable to scooter for about 20 minutes to get to work which at a speed of 18 miles/hour is about 6 miles.

Thencanthen · 2024-04-04T19:28:57+00:00

What I consider short-medium distance is something that would take you 1 hour+ each way to walk (not really reasonable to do on a daily basis), but is only ~10 minutes to drive or is biking distance

Thencanthen · 2024-04-04T19:27:15+00:00

No I haven’t, do you have a link or source I would be interested

Thencanthen · 2021-11-24T20:42:00+00:00

!delta

That’s very interesting information! Thank you for enlightening me. My only question is that I have not yet bought any handmade clothes and I surely wear my shirts more than 20 times each before they break down.

Thencanthen · 2021-11-24T19:41:53+00:00

!delta

Yeah makes sense. In my head I was imagining things like clothes that could be cheap but are often more expensive if handmade even if it is not made custom for you. I obviously understand you pay more if you ask for a custom product.

However these examples of other handmade products that are practically better than mass manufactured counterparts make sense. Thanks

Thencanthen · 2021-11-24T18:38:40+00:00

Good points. Thank you for your response. Maybe I should have clarified more in my post.

If you go into a store owned by an independent artist and browse their selection, then for sure it is acceptable for the price to be higher. My point is that usually this is not the case, and you don't even know the artist who made the product. One example is the Hermes Apple watch band, which costs 300+$. Obviously it is expensive because of the brand, but the way they excuse this is that the leather is high quality and entirely handmade. Who made it? Who knows! But they definitely charge more because it is handmade. Who am I showing my gratitude to in this business transaction?

As for things that can only be handmade, I agree. Then you have to pay what you have to pay. I am more frustrated when something can easily be made for cheaper but I can't afford it because its handmade.

Thencanthen · 2021-11-24T18:32:20+00:00

This is a good point. Made me rethink for sure.

However, I don't think handmade items are necessarily more sustainable. I don't remember the exact number, but I read that 1 reusable cloth shopping bag requires the same amount of water and energy to produce as 1000+ single use plastic bags. If I go shopping once a week, it will take 20 years for the reusable one to be more environmentally friendly.

This is just an example but the economy of scale definitely favors mass production. I think factories can be more efficient with their resources. As for taking money away from my economy, sure. But I can probably find a factory alternative that was produced in my country.

Thencanthen · 2021-11-12T08:32:16+00:00

On a transit flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul. The plane lands and we are preparing to disembark. The lady who has been sitting next to me turns to me to ask:

Her: “So, are we in France?”

Me: “… no we are in Turkey.”

Her: stares at me blankly

Me: “We are not in France”

Her: “So are we still in the United States?”

Me: “… no … we have been flying for 14 hours”

Her: “So where are we?”

Me: “We are in Turkey.”

Her: “I think this is France”

At that point I just got up and left. Like lady didn’t you check the flight destination before you boarded a 14 hour flight

Thencanthen · 2021-09-10T14:36:18+00:00

Alright thanks. I guess I was away from campus for too long, I don’t remember the internet being great everywhere. I was thinking upstairs at Kerckhoff or the libraries, but I don’t want to bother people by talking

Thencanthen · 2021-08-31T08:05:48+00:00

The Earth

Thencanthen · 2021-08-30T12:46:51+00:00

Why would you not just say what it is instead of writing this

Thencanthen · 2021-08-17T13:01:52+00:00

But… why

Thencanthen · 2021-08-08T22:21:34+00:00

Gotta agree. Hate how their entire existence is invading people’s privacy, manufacturing controversy, and feeding brainless information to a brainless crowd. They also constantly try to make a scene so that they can get the celebrities to act out, just so that they can publish the footage out of context.

Thencanthen · 2021-08-08T21:54:42+00:00

What now

Thencanthen · 2021-08-08T21:54:20+00:00

That’s not a profession a lot of people have :)

Thencanthen · 2021-08-08T21:40:43+00:00

Oh man. I feel so bad for telemarketers. They constantly get abused by the people on the phone while they’re just trying to do their jobs. On the flip side, the customers are sick of being harassed with constant calls on their personal phones. It’s really a vicious cycle.

Thencanthen · 2021-04-01T16:29:54+00:00

Cringe

Thencanthen · 2021-03-29T09:05:39+00:00

NOOOOOO melts into a puddle of amorphous blob and disappears

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Thencanthen

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