DataNinja's Scintillating Digital Random Banter #231

[Rogar Demonblud]

Actually, unless you drop the weight starvation fast, the new skin growth will keep it fairly taut.

[Anonymouswizard]

My doctor suggested that a kilo per month might be reasonable for weight loss. I'm trying for a bit more than that, but I feel like he might have been right.

On the other hand, exercise is it's own reward. Makes me feel much better than virtue.

[Tvtyrant]

Actually, unless you drop the weight starvation fast, the new skin growth will keep it fairly taut.

Yeah, just don't do what I did haha. The best advice I have seen for long term weightloss and skin management is eat at 30% deficit for two weeks, maintenance 2 weeks, and back down. Keeps the pancreas from freaking out and gives the body time to heal.

[Peelee]

Yes, and that'd be good for general health, but aesthetically planting a new tree in front of a dilapidated house isn't going to improve property values by much.

A esthetically planting a tree in front of a dilapidated house will raise the property value and make the lot look nicer down the road. That's the point of that saying.

This isn't a getting in shape thing, which is something I need and I hope to do, this is an aesthetic thing: I am never going to look good without a shirt. Not even if I get myself into perfect shape and stay there, becuase the damage is already done.

You ever seen Goldmember? At the end when Fat Bastard gets in shape, he feels better but he doesn't look better.

Right now, this conversation, is about looks. Not health.

Except you're wrong. Yeah, when a person gets that big and then loses it there's a lot of extra skin that ends up in folds itself, but that's also fixable. I've seen it, both before and after. A defeatest attitude just means that it's a guarantee it'll never get better.

[Rogar Demonblud]

My doctor suggested that a kilo per month might be reasonable for weight loss. I'm trying for a bit more than that, but I feel like he might have been right.

On the other hand, exercise is it's own reward. Makes me feel much better than virtue.

When I started to get serious about it, I dropped almost a kilo a week for the first month. Amazing how both increased activity and actually monitoring your diet tag team. I slowed down after that, but that first month was a doozy.

Then I started gaining weight back as I added muscle.

[Rater202]

Just now my mother was looking through the cabinet for something for my brother's headache and noticed a "Monday-Sunday" pillbox full of blood thinners that I was one like, eight years ago give or take.

We'd thought we got rid of all of them when the doctor said I didn't need them anymore, but I guess we missed some.

[Rogar Demonblud]

And that's what scares me most about our 'just take pills' society. People hide them like squirrels with acorns, and the ones who find them are disproportionately small children.

[Anonymouswizard]

Like most dyspraxic people I don't so much have a single dominant hand but switch to whatever is easier for the task. In fact logically I'd write with my left, but I think I learnt with my right so as to not smudge the ink.

I plan to retry fencing with my left hand.

[Rater202]

1: Hypothetically, if I had an idea for a free form game where the PCs were LGBT space "pirates" on a self-sustaining ship that could travel the multiverse, would people be interested in that?

2: I don't understand the stigma against people giving money as a gift. If you can't think of something someone will appreciate then... Especially since gift-cards are so widely accepted: Why is giving people money that they can only spend at one place okay but giving them general money not?

[Tvtyrant]

1: Hypothetically, if I had an idea for a free form game where the PCs were LGBT space "pirates" on a self-sustaining ship that could travel the multiverse, would people be interested in that?

2: I don't understand the stigma against people giving money as a gift. If you can't think of something someone will appreciate then... Especially since gift-cards are so widely accepted: Why is giving people money that they can only spend at one place okay but giving them general money not?

Have you ever heard the phrase "it's the thought that counts?" A gift card often shows at least a passing knowledge of the other person's interests. General money is "you don't even warrant an after thought."

Imagine you had three uncles that made $55 an hour. One gives you $20, or less then a half hours work. The other gives you a $20 gift card to the local paintball shop because they know you are an avid paintballer strapped for cash. It's functionally identical, which means more?

[Rater202]

Have you ever heard the phrase "it's the thought that counts?" A gift card often shows at least a passing knowledge of the other person's interests. General money is "you don't even warrant an after thought."

"It;' the thought that counts" is a toxic idea.

It sounds nice, but in practice, it amounts to people using it as a shield becuase they don't know what the person wants, likes, or has a use for and didn't care to just ask them.

Or worse, did ask and then ignored what they were told.

You give me a gift card, you're telling me to buy my own gift. You're giving me an errand, and it's probably one I'm never going to do so you've probably just wasted your money.

Giving me money? I'll spend the money. Maybe I'll find something I want. Maybe I have a cost I need to cover, but it'll get used.

And that's another thing: People who insist that you spend your birthday money from grandma on frivolous stuff. I had a fight with my mother back in high school when I wanted to spend some money my grandmother gave me on kitty litter.

[Lord Raziere]

1: Hypothetically, if I had an idea for a free form game where the PCs were LGBT space "pirates" on a self-sustaining ship that could travel the multiverse, would people be interested in that?

2: I don't understand the stigma against people giving money as a gift. If you can't think of something someone will appreciate then... Especially since gift-cards are so widely accepted: Why is giving people money that they can only spend at one place okay but giving them general money not?

1. Not sure. I do like playing rogue/scoundrel characters though. but I kind have enough roleplays as it is.

2: because its the thought at counts, meaning you have to know the person to get them a thoughtful gift see? If you give them money, the idea is that your thoughtless, because you didn't care enough to get to know them to skip giving them money to give them a gift that they wanted. its about showing how well you know the person that you can confidently get them something they will like instead giving them the means to get it themselves.

whether this is nonsense or not, is up to specific people and their social competence of course. but thats my general read of what the ideal is. though given my experience with such gifts is that I have to specifically say the things I wanted for my birthday and christmas so that people would get them often with written lists, I suspect that it was never a realistic ideal in the first place. if I didn't tell them outright, my family wouldn't even know what to get me. so I personally don't care if I get money. because I know I'm an introvert that people probably won't get or know much about, so I don't expect them to give me a gift that I'd appreciate without me having anything to do it.

I'd personally argue the worst gift you can receive is a gift that the person themselves would like but trying to apply it to you, because that means they aren't aware of their own lack of knowledge about you and think you like the same stuff, or is trying to get you interested in it and "expand your horizons".

practicality gifts are underrated though, because those at least show the person is thinking about your needs even if they don't know your desires.

[Tvtyrant]

"It;' the thought that counts" is a toxic idea.

It sounds nice, but in practice, it amounts to people using it as a shield becuase they don't know what the person wants, likes, or has a use for and didn't care to just ask them.

Or worse, did ask and then ignored what they were told.

You give me a gift card, you're telling me to buy my own gift. You're giving me an errand, and it's probably one I'm never going to do so you've probably just wasted your money.

Giving me money? I'll spend the money. Maybe I'll find something I want. Maybe I have a cost I need to cover, but it'll get used.

And that's another thing: People who insist that you spend your birthday money from grandma on frivolous stuff. I had a fight with my mother back in high school when I wanted to spend some money my grandmother gave me on kitty litter.

I'm not the king of gifts man. Gifts are culturally about sentimental value, not utility. Sorry your family didn't get you what you wanted.

[Rater202]

I'm not the king of gifts man. Gifts are culturally about sentimental value, not utility. Sorry your family didn't get you what you wanted.

Dude, no, that's a general statement: I don't understand why giving money is unacceptable but giving money with strings attached is.

[Anonymouswizard]

Because tradition.

It's like how not everybody thinks digital gifts should count. Gift cards are okay because it looks like you put effort in, even though we know you don't. Money isn't because the computer rules says no. The rules for gifts are weird.

I've got my valentines gifts in the post now, which consist of neither money nor gift cards.

[Peelee]

"It;' the thought that counts" is a toxic idea.

It's not in any way toxic. The thought is what counts. If someone thinks enough to get you a gift, regardless if what that gift is, that is what counts. If you hate it, they still thought of you and tried, and that's what counts. I reject in the strongest possible terms that it's a toxic idea and if anyone I knew IRL espoused that belief, that would only serve to get me to stop thinking about them.

[Rater202]

It's not in any way toxic. The thought is what counts. If someone thinks enough to get you a gift, regardless if what that gift is, that is what counts. If you hate it, they still thought of you and tried, and that's what counts. I reject in the strongest possible terms that it's a toxic idea and if anyone I knew IRL espoused that belief, that would only serve to get me to stop thinking about them.

In my experience, the people most likely to say "it's the thought that counts" are people trying to cover up the fact that they got someone a gift out of obligation or simply becuase they think it reflects well on them and didn't care to try and figure out what someone wants or needs.

Or, in short, while "it's the thought that counts" is n idea that sounds good on paper, in practice, it's used as a shield to enable people who didn't really put much thought into it at all.

(Not my family. Other people I know.)

[Rockphed]

Gah! I have an unyielding hatred against imperial units. I mean, 12 inch is a foot, 3 feet is a yard and 1760 yards is a mile. There's just... no consistency. And a furlong!? WHARGLBARGHWARGHL

That is because you are missing 2 seldom used units: barleycorns and hands. There are 3 barleycorns to an inch, 4 inches to a hand, 3 hands to a foot and 3 feet to a yard.

In my experience, the people most likely to say "it's the thought that counts" are people trying to cover up the fact that they got someone a gift out of obligation or simply becuase they think it reflects well on them and didn't care to try and figure out what someone wants or needs.

Or, in short, while "it's the thought that counts" is n idea that sounds good on paper, in practice, it's used as a shield to enable people who didn't really put much thought into it at all.

(Not my family. Other people I know.)

In my experience it is people receiving weird or poorly made gifts from children who get "it's the thought that counts" aphorized at them. If I buy a gift out of obligation I'm not going to say "it's the thought that counts" in an attempt to cover up my poor choices.

[Anonymouswizard]

My general rule is that if you're not going to the actual celebration (or live with the person*) then there should be no obligation. If there is no obligation you should directly or indirectly ask if the person wants a gift and if not well the thought is still a nice gesture.

Really, the problem comes down to perceived laziness. Not every instance of a gift card is lazy, but it certainly looks lazy because it's a very easy and safe option. Honestly alcohol can have the same problem, although it's better because they at least have to pick the specific bottle(s) (or set).

I have seen so much beer go bad because I only drink socially. It's a conscious decision that I made while at university, and really helps moderate intake. But it also causes a problem because I'm hard to buy gifts for.

If you don't want people to feel obligated to get presents then make that clear. My siblings and I have a standing rule that birthday presents are only required if you see them on the day, and if you do a consumable one is ideal. Christmas presents between us have also been reduced to the minimum acceptable amount (get one if they'll be there on the day, otherwise you 'left it out of your bag for space', and will get it to them soon, honest**).

* And that one isn't that strict in my book anyway.
** Or it's in the post. Which makes it awkward when you've got to communicate that no, really, their present is stuck in the mail system.

[Rater202]

That is because you are missing 2 seldom used units: barleycorns and hands. There are 3 barleycorns to an inch, 4 inches to a hand, 3 hands to a foot and 3 feet to a yard.

Is that real? It sounds like you're making that up, but...

In my experience it is people receiving weird or poorly made gifts from children who get "it's the thought that counts" aphorized at them. If I buy a gift out of obligation I'm not going to say "it's the thought that counts" in an attempt to cover up my poor choices.

See, that's the situation that the platitude is meant for: Someone did put thought or effort into it, but it's just not a good fit.

But my experiences and observations...

It's like "the customer is always right." It's supposed to be "the customer wants what they want if they want their steak raw served with icecream then as long as they promise not to sue we serve it to them" but in practice, it's mostly used as a button for people to excuse their bad behavior.

From what I've seen, people who say "it's the thought that counts" didn't really put much thought into it... Or they put the wrong kind of thought into it.

You end up with a gift that is totally inappropriate and the person excuses themselves "well, uh, I put a lo~ot of thought into it and it's the thought that counts so you should be grateful."

That's what I've seen and heard about happening most often, and a platitude that lets people get away with, for example, gifting half of a month old deli platter to someone to pull an example out of my ass, is a platitude that maybe needs to be not be spread around so much.

[Anonymouswizard]

Is that real? It sounds like you're making that up, but...

Well we were supposed to update the definition of a foot, but nobody wants to ask Her Majesty to remove her shoes for the measurement.

Seriously, while I'm not an expert on Imperial measurements, it sounds about right. I'm fairly certain there's three hands to the foot at least. There's actually many intermediary steps in Imperial, which is partially because some units are used in specialised ways (fathoms being a classic example).

Which just makes it weirder to me that Imperial uses the same unit for mass and force.

[Rater202]

Changing topics... I'm not the only one who sometimes wishes they could just put all the people they care about on a ship and just leave everything else behind, am I?

[Peelee]

In my experience, the people most likely to say "it's the thought that counts" are people trying to cover up the fact that they got someone a gift out of obligation or simply becuase they think it reflects well on them and didn't care to try and figure out what someone wants or needs.

Or, in short, while "it's the thought that counts" is n idea that sounds good on paper, in practice, it's used as a shield to enable people who didn't really put much thought into it at all.

(Not my family. Other people I know.)

I don't think your experiences are universal, is the thing. They certainly don't match what anyone I have ever known has been like. At the very least, in the circles I am familiar with, nobody acts like the people you describe knowing.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Changing topics... I'm not the only one who sometimes wishes they could just put all the people they care about on a ship and just leave everything else behind, am I?

After the last twelve months? Not in the least. In fact, I'd bet my grandpa's silver dollar that at least a quarter of the planet has had that thought, if not in those exact terms.

And I hate gift giving in general. It's all just more junk of which people have piles of already.

[Bartmanhomer]

Hey everyone. So anyway I believe in freedom for everything without traditions.

[Tvtyrant]

Hey everyone. So anyway I believe in freedom for everything without traditions.

How do you decide what right and wrong is in this system? What is the criteria if you are ignoring tradition?

[Bartmanhomer]

How do you decide what right and wrong is in this system? What is the criteria if you are ignoring tradition?

I'm chaotic neutral. I put freedom first, then the good and evil second. I don't believe in traditions.

[factotum]

Which just makes it weirder to me that Imperial uses the same unit for mass and force.

It doesn't. The unit of mass is the pound. The unit of force is either the poundal or the pound-force. They're not the same thing.

[enderlord99]

It doesn't. The unit of mass is the pound. The unit of force is either the poundal or the pound-force. They're not the same thing.

The conversion between the them is a unit of acceleration called a "G" right?

I learned that from this guy.

[Mystic Muse]

Hey everyone. So anyway I believe in freedom for everything without traditions.

I'm chaotic neutral. I put freedom first, then the good and evil second. I don't believe in traditions.

These are incredibly vague.

What do you mean by "don't believe in traditions"?

Freedom for everything? To what extent? No laws? No consequences? How far does this go?