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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   2721 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for March 10, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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How does one find purpose/meaning? That is, what gives you a "reason to get out of the bed in the morning"? Particularly when "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" seem particularly aimed your way.

(More specifically, with neither the usual standbys of "faith and family," and while being too anhedonic for hedonism?)

Edit: to put it more simply, how do I find a reason to keep struggling through another 30+ years of miserable, pointless, futile existence, rather than just skipping to the end?

Have a religious revival.

If you can’t do that, take up chainsmoking so the thought of your morning cig gets you out of bed.

chainsmoking

Isn't vaping a much less unhealthy way of consuming nicotine?

Yes. The maximum bound on the "badness" of vaping is about 5% of that of cigarettes for equivalent use, IIRC. That is the maximum, there is evidence the net impact is close to nil.

Suffice to say I did read research papers before I decided to take it up (from being an adamant non-smoker) because I was convinced that barring nicotine addiction, there are no significant downsides. Nicotine isn't even notably bad for you, closer to caffeine.

If you’re chronically depressed, that might be a point in favor of cigarettes.

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