This is a good reminder that most of life is “ordinary” – if you’re not enjoying and being grateful for ordinary days and ordinary things, you’ll miss out on much of life.
stoves which are increasingly induction-based and safe rather than fire hazards burners/gas
As an actual cook, I don’t find it uncontroversially progressive. You can do useful things with a readily available open flame. I get the point about efficiency, but it’s not all there is to cooking.
I don’t think the author was saying that everything is 100% ‘better’, and I think the pont about induction was supposed to be that it makes electric cooking better, and more of a viable alternative to gas, not that it is somehow equivalent or better in all regards.
The same goes for a lot of this list. I like that it reminds us that a lot of changes to normal life - even just extra options being available - can make a big difference in quality of life for many, especially those with particular traits.
Just consider the introduction of self checkouts at supermarkets. For those who sometimes find it hard to interact with a human the option to avoid this when it’s not a good day/time for it can be a huge relief.
and I think the pont about induction was supposed to be that it makes electric cooking better, and more of a viable alternative to gas, not that it is somehow equivalent or better in all regards.
I’d go further, and say that for most people cooking at home induction is better than gas. I cook a lot, have used both gas an induction a bunch, and I would not choose gas over induction for my home. I’m actually about to move to a modern house with a nice gas cooktop and I know one of the things I’m going to miss is my induction system.
Compared to previous electric cooking options… wow… induction is just a complete game changer. I don’t think that’s an overstatement.
I use both gas and induction and I’m not sure which I like better. Touch controls - that activate accidentally when you move pans - high pitched whines and beeping all cause me unnecessary irritation when using the induction job I have access to. Induction jobs with manual controls do exist, however.
Touch controls - that activate accidentally when you move pans
Most induction systems can be controlled by ovens that have physical knobs. For example the Bosch HND21MR50 [1]. The interface is de-facto standardized. For unfathomable reasons such combined induction system + compatible oven with physical controls are not sold in all markets.
Most of the list is worshiping the over-consumption and throwaway culture that is causing lots of harm to the environment and societies all over the world. But at least internet is fast and socks are cheap. :S
While many things got more convenient, I’d challenge that the world, or my life is better because of the items in the list.
I don’t say that I don’t use many things on the list, but I1d be totally fine without lots of the things our world provides us, just to be able to bear this world. I’d be much happier if the list would not be about how some consumer items became more polished, but how our societies and economies transformed to be more equal, and people would have more freetime to pursuit their family, cultural, or whatsoever personal endeavors instead of the endless toil which yields us.. powered ride-on lawnmowers, because we don’t have time to mow the lawn with an oldschool manual one while thinking about life, for example.
I have a bad aftertaste from reading articles like these, because I have this hunch that some people won’t only be using to by happy about is good, but also against those who point out what could be better.
A lot of it, like insulated houses and cheap flights is still very unevenly distributed future.
Also, while an all F/LOSS setup on servers and desktops is a reality now, mobile devices and monopolistic online services create a worse treat to freedom than anything before, and it’s a problem you cannot solve with technology alone.
This is a fantastic list, and I’ll go back from time to time to read it. Honeycrisp apples are sweet, but I like Empire Apples more. Empire Apple wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(apple)
marijuana has been medicalized or legalized in many states
I get using marijuana for medical purposes, but I don’t like how recreational marijuana is slowly becoming legalized. Marijuana may not be very dangerous in itself, but it can very quickly lead to stronger drugs. (I could be wrong though, I’m not a drug expert)
Yes, most people who use heroin and cocaine used marijuana – and alcohol and tobacco for that matter – first. But the vast majority of people who use marijuana never progress to using other illicit drugs, or even to becoming regular marijuana consumers.
Children and teenagers aren’t legally allowed to consume marijuana, just as they are not legally allowed to consume alcohol. I haven’t seen any state set the age of legal marijuana consumption below 21.
I think marijuana is popularly underestimated in terms of effects, especially at high doses or over long periods of time. I am pro legalization, but I think in 5-10 years we will realise it’s not always the (mostly) harmless high it’s often portrayed as - or rather, like alcohol, it’ll turn out that healthy moderation means a lot less, and a lot less frequently, than people often consume. I think we’ll see it mostly play out in mental health issues.
i still want to see all substances legalized and distributed in a safe way. the biggest problem with drugs is the illegality of them, forcing users to deal with organzied crime.
states could even make money with taxation, instead of spending huge amounts on criminalization. people won’t die because the drugs aren’t cut with other things. win/win/win?
people will always use drugs, no point in making it more unsafe.
I guess it depends on what you mean by safe distribution. Does that include quantity? How do you keep people from abusing hard drugs like they do with opioids? I ask this question as someone whose family member has a current addiction problem.
Also, having the government sell drugs could lead to perverse outcomes. Look at how some local governments in the US started financing their budgets via court fees. This lead to the deep resentments that exploded in ~2014. There could be very serious abuses.
That said, decriminalization is probably a good idea. People need to be able to rebuild their lives after mistakes.
This might work in the US, where healthcare is not handled the way it is in most Europe.
Many substances have adverse health and mental-hygiene effects, which would cause an even larger burden for the usually already overburdened healthcare systems.
Many substances have adverse health and mental-hygiene effects, which would cause an even larger burden for the usually already overburdened healthcare systems.
imho, the distinction between legal and illegal substances is completely arbitrary. eg. the withdrawal from benzodiazepine is more awful than most other things, still it’s in use as medication. the cutting agents used by dealers are most of the time more harmful than the substance itself. opiates have only the danger of overdosage, but no long-term negative effects. the adverse effects are mostly due to the shit life addicts have to lead to get their substances.
my stance is that people will always take drugs. information (not “drugs are bad”, but real information), legalization and controlled distribution is the best harm reduction there is.
I understand the point, and agree that the line is pretty arbitrary, but being skeptic. Alcoholism and smoking (and energy drinks…) are already a great problems just to mention legal substances. These all already take their tolls on the healthcare budgets, and I’m afraid the burden would only grow with more legal substances.
This is a good reminder that most of life is “ordinary” – if you’re not enjoying and being grateful for ordinary days and ordinary things, you’ll miss out on much of life.
As an actual cook, I don’t find it uncontroversially progressive. You can do useful things with a readily available open flame. I get the point about efficiency, but it’s not all there is to cooking.
I don’t think the author was saying that everything is 100% ‘better’, and I think the pont about induction was supposed to be that it makes electric cooking better, and more of a viable alternative to gas, not that it is somehow equivalent or better in all regards.
The same goes for a lot of this list. I like that it reminds us that a lot of changes to normal life - even just extra options being available - can make a big difference in quality of life for many, especially those with particular traits.
Just consider the introduction of self checkouts at supermarkets. For those who sometimes find it hard to interact with a human the option to avoid this when it’s not a good day/time for it can be a huge relief.
I’d go further, and say that for most people cooking at home induction is better than gas. I cook a lot, have used both gas an induction a bunch, and I would not choose gas over induction for my home. I’m actually about to move to a modern house with a nice gas cooktop and I know one of the things I’m going to miss is my induction system.
Compared to previous electric cooking options… wow… induction is just a complete game changer. I don’t think that’s an overstatement.
I use both gas and induction and I’m not sure which I like better. Touch controls - that activate accidentally when you move pans - high pitched whines and beeping all cause me unnecessary irritation when using the induction job I have access to. Induction jobs with manual controls do exist, however.
Most induction systems can be controlled by ovens that have physical knobs. For example the Bosch HND21MR50 [1]. The interface is de-facto standardized. For unfathomable reasons such combined induction system + compatible oven with physical controls are not sold in all markets.
[1] https://www.euronics.de/haus-und-haushalt/kochen-und-backen/einbaugeraete/herd-sets/hnd21mr50-herdset-mit-induktionskochfeld-bestehend-aus-hea23t351-nib645b17-m-edelstahl-edelstahl-4051168901759
Yeah, I won’t ever move in a house without a gas stove.
I enjoyed this. It’s good to once in a while have a reality check that yes, there actually is progress! It’s not all doom and gloom :)
Most of the list is worshiping the over-consumption and throwaway culture that is causing lots of harm to the environment and societies all over the world. But at least internet is fast and socks are cheap. :S
While many things got more convenient, I’d challenge that the world, or my life is better because of the items in the list.
I don’t say that I don’t use many things on the list, but I1d be totally fine without lots of the things our world provides us, just to be able to bear this world. I’d be much happier if the list would not be about how some consumer items became more polished, but how our societies and economies transformed to be more equal, and people would have more freetime to pursuit their family, cultural, or whatsoever personal endeavors instead of the endless toil which yields us.. powered ride-on lawnmowers, because we don’t have time to mow the lawn with an oldschool manual one while thinking about life, for example.
I have a bad aftertaste from reading articles like these, because I have this hunch that some people won’t only be using to by happy about is good, but also against those who point out what could be better.
A lot of it, like insulated houses and cheap flights is still very unevenly distributed future.
Also, while an all F/LOSS setup on servers and desktops is a reality now, mobile devices and monopolistic online services create a worse treat to freedom than anything before, and it’s a problem you cannot solve with technology alone.
This is a fantastic list, and I’ll go back from time to time to read it. Honeycrisp apples are sweet, but I like Empire Apples more. Empire Apple wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_(apple)
I get using marijuana for medical purposes, but I don’t like how recreational marijuana is slowly becoming legalized. Marijuana may not be very dangerous in itself, but it can very quickly lead to stronger drugs. (I could be wrong though, I’m not a drug expert)
I thought it was common knowledge by now that the idea of marijuana being a “gateway drug” is a myth. Here’s a random link off the top of a search engine: https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/04/26/is-marijuana-a-gateway-drug/fears-of-marijuanas-gateway-effect-vastly-exceed-the-evidence
OK, I’m wrong. But marijuana also has other harmful side effects, especially on children and teenagers.
Children and teenagers aren’t legally allowed to consume marijuana, just as they are not legally allowed to consume alcohol. I haven’t seen any state set the age of legal marijuana consumption below 21.
I think marijuana is popularly underestimated in terms of effects, especially at high doses or over long periods of time. I am pro legalization, but I think in 5-10 years we will realise it’s not always the (mostly) harmless high it’s often portrayed as - or rather, like alcohol, it’ll turn out that healthy moderation means a lot less, and a lot less frequently, than people often consume. I think we’ll see it mostly play out in mental health issues.
i still want to see all substances legalized and distributed in a safe way. the biggest problem with drugs is the illegality of them, forcing users to deal with organzied crime.
states could even make money with taxation, instead of spending huge amounts on criminalization. people won’t die because the drugs aren’t cut with other things. win/win/win?
people will always use drugs, no point in making it more unsafe.
I guess it depends on what you mean by safe distribution. Does that include quantity? How do you keep people from abusing hard drugs like they do with opioids? I ask this question as someone whose family member has a current addiction problem.
Also, having the government sell drugs could lead to perverse outcomes. Look at how some local governments in the US started financing their budgets via court fees. This lead to the deep resentments that exploded in ~2014. There could be very serious abuses.
That said, decriminalization is probably a good idea. People need to be able to rebuild their lives after mistakes.
This might work in the US, where healthcare is not handled the way it is in most Europe.
Many substances have adverse health and mental-hygiene effects, which would cause an even larger burden for the usually already overburdened healthcare systems.
imho, the distinction between legal and illegal substances is completely arbitrary. eg. the withdrawal from benzodiazepine is more awful than most other things, still it’s in use as medication. the cutting agents used by dealers are most of the time more harmful than the substance itself. opiates have only the danger of overdosage, but no long-term negative effects. the adverse effects are mostly due to the shit life addicts have to lead to get their substances.
my stance is that people will always take drugs. information (not “drugs are bad”, but real information), legalization and controlled distribution is the best harm reduction there is.
I understand the point, and agree that the line is pretty arbitrary, but being skeptic. Alcoholism and smoking (and energy drinks…) are already a great problems just to mention legal substances. These all already take their tolls on the healthcare budgets, and I’m afraid the burden would only grow with more legal substances.