Unpopular opinions (non road related)

[interstatefan990]

Okay, that came out of nowhere

So did the expectation that you have to wear clothes in public.

Well, not completely out of nowhere, considering that it is a societal expectation developed over thousands of years.

Yeah, but developed from where?

[kphoger]

Yeah, but developed from where?

If you go down that path, then everything developed out of nowhere, or else perhaps divine revelation.  It's the beginning of a meaningless conversation.

[interstatefan990]

Yeah, but developed from where?

If you go down that path, then everything developed out of nowhere, or else perhaps divine revelation.  It's the beginning of a meaningless conversation.

Not entirely true. Some things have developed out of basic human instincts and needs, or ever-present aspects of nature. But not wearing clothes for privacy, that was originally only to protect oneself from the elements.

[Max Rockatansky]

Yeah, but developed from where?

If you go down that path, then everything developed out of nowhere, or else perhaps divine revelation.  It's the beginning of a meaningless conversation.

But yet, I'm taking a guess it spawned out of a need to stay warm.  That was kind of a thing once humans began to migrate out of tropical climates.

[kkt]

Moving on:
Retirement is a curse, not a blessing and we would all be better off if we could remain fit enough to work until we die.

The blessing is if once you're NOT fit to work you can afford to retire.

[US 89]

Yeah, but developed from where?

If you go down that path, then everything developed out of nowhere, or else perhaps divine revelation.  It's the beginning of a meaningless conversation.

But yet, I'm taking a guess it spawned out of a need to stay warm.  That was kind of a thing once humans began to migrate out of tropical climates.

But that doesn't explain why humans who never migrated out of tropical climates still wear them.

[kphoger]

But that doesn't explain why humans who never migrated out of tropical climates still wear them.

Not all tropical cultures do–just most.

Interestingly, I recall learning about a tribe in Papua New Guinea (I think) who wear nothing but a cord around their waist to hang tools on–otherwise completely nude.  A westerner once asked a member of the tribe why he never went out without that cord around his waist.  In response he got a shocked look and the answer What, you mean naked??

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I don't think it's the nudity as much as who wants to be naked honestly. If it was Marilyn Monroe circa 1960 or the AT&T lady wanting to run around naked, people would be "hell yes!"  but because it's Chubby Hubby and senior citizen Marvin who want to be nude in public, people go "fuck no I don't want to see that, eww" .

...as we perpetuate the myth of the ideal body type and sexualize the female body...

Make no mistake that I agree with you on this, I'm just saying that's probably why we're still douchebags as a society about this instead of growing up that bodies are bodies.

[jeffandnicole]

When the house gets to 100F plus it is a bag of unfun.  I dealt with that for about a week when my AC in Scottsdale was being fixed.  At night I just threw an air mattress on the pool and slept outside.

...

I was thinking that he would fall in to the pool

My assumption was that I would wake up.  The water kept the mattress firm and it was never a problem.  Most nights it was 75-80F outside, it was dry and there wasn't any monsoons to make the air humid that week.  I camp a lot so being outside in the desert in an air mattress or sleeping bag wasn't a big deal to me.  It was substantially better than inside which would crack the high 90s coming down from the heat of the day.

That sounds like fun, but personally I think I'd be too nervous of falling in and wouldn't catch a wink of sleep. I'd just relax and stargaze all night instead.

I've fallen asleep on a pool float many times. 

It's no different than sleeping on a bed, or a couch.  How often have you fallen off of them?

[webny99]

When the house gets to 100F plus it is a bag of unfun.  I dealt with that for about a week when my AC in Scottsdale was being fixed.  At night I just threw an air mattress on the pool and slept outside.

...
I was thinking that he would fall in to the pool

My assumption was that I would wake up.  The water kept the mattress firm and it was never a problem.  ...

That sounds like fun, but personally I think I'd be too nervous of falling in and wouldn't catch a wink of sleep. I'd just relax and stargaze all night instead.

I've fallen asleep on a pool float many times. 

It's no different than sleeping on a bed, or a couch.  How often have you fallen off of them?

I haven't used pool floats that much, but I could probably fall asleep on one for a brief afternoon nap. That's different than a full night, though, when it's dark and you might be startled or disoriented by any movement. Also, falling into the pool is much more dangerous than falling off the couch or out of bed.

[kernals12]

I'm on concerta. I can't fall asleep in the middle of the day.

[Scott5114]

Moving on:
Retirement is a curse, not a blessing and we would all be better off if we could remain fit enough to work until we die.

I am basically "retired" at the moment (between regular jobs, working on establishing a business at my own schedule and pace) and I like it. Most people have things they like to do that would be difficult or impossible to make a living at. It's nice to have time to indulge in those activities instead of wasting time doing pointless things for someone else's benefit.

[oscar]

Retirement is a curse, not a blessing and we would all be better off if we could remain fit enough to work until we die.

Retirement is a blessing, and would be more so if it weren't wasted on the elderly. Better if we could work things so we can enjoy retirement while young, and return to work when we get tired of retirement and/or run out of money.

(speaking as someone who got to retire relatively early, from a workplace which used early-outs and buyouts to replace us expensive old farts with cheaper and more energetic young squirts)

[Max Rockatansky]

Moving on:
Retirement is a curse, not a blessing and we would all be better off if we could remain fit enough to work until we die.

I am basically "retired" at the moment (between regular jobs, working on establishing a business at my own schedule and pace) and I like it. Most people have things they like to do that would be difficult or impossible to make a living at. It's nice to have time to indulge in those activities instead of wasting time doing pointless things for someone else's benefit.

While that would be great to have in my view it isn't a necessity to have a good life.  I have a career that has consistently frustrated me for two decades, but it has enabled me the financial freedom to indulge the things I actually enjoy in life, I don't see that as a negative.  So many think that a successful career is something that is a prerequisite for happiness in life.

[kenarmy]

kphoger's profile pic is creepy 😭

[1995hoo]

Moving on:
Retirement is a curse, not a blessing and we would all be better off if we could remain fit enough to work until we die.

It's only a curse for those that had so much of themselves wrapped up in what they for work that they end up losing their purpose in life when they retire.  Speaking for myself I'm hoping to retire at 55, at current moment I'm on pace to do so. There is much outside of work that I do now that would easily occupy all that time I spend at work.  I've been in a career for 20 years at this point, it doesn't define who I am.  It is (IMO) unhealthy to live to work or let work define how you live.

I currently am putting aside 1/5 of my income, between FICA and 401k contributions, for my retirement. That's a lot of money that I'd rather be able to spend on something else. Think of the states forever struggling with unfunded pension liabilities.

And in the future, technology should give us more than enough leisure time for travelling, playing golf, and spending time with our grandchildren.

I certainly agree with the final clause of kernals12's first post on this issue: Of course we would all be better off if we could remain healthy enough to keep working until we die. But that's not the same thing as saying we'd be better off if we kept working, which I think almost all of us would disagree with. My mom was certainly thankful that she and my dad were able to retire and take some long trips together to various parts of the world, trips that they would not have been able to take had either of them still been working. Now that my dad's gone, she's said she doesn't think she'll travel abroad again–she might do some domestic travel, but she has no interest in working again because she has enough other things she wants to do.

As far as saving money for retirement and wishing you could spend that money on other things.....most likely nobody's forcing you to save (unless your employer has some mandatory amount you must contribute), so if it bothers you so much, reduce or eliminate your contribution. It'll cause you difficulty later, of course.

[webny99]

kphoger's profile pic is creepy 😭

I can't even tell you how many times I've had to remind myself that it's not really him.

[kphoger]

Moving on:
Retirement is a curse, not a blessing and we would all be better off if we could remain fit enough to work until we die.

I am basically "retired" at the moment (between regular jobs, working on establishing a business at my own schedule and pace) and I like it. Most people have things they like to do that would be difficult or impossible to make a living at. It's nice to have time to indulge in those activities instead of wasting time doing pointless things for someone else's benefit.

But aren't you glad to have that new business to work toward?  I find that free time is more enjoyable when I know it'll eventually end.  I mean, how is retirement all that different than unemployment, except that you planned ahead for it?

kphoger's profile pic is creepy 😭

I can't even tell you how many times I've had to remind myself that it's not really him.

Yes it is.

[formulanone]

kphoger's profile pic is creepy 😭

I can't even tell you how many times I've had to remind myself that it's not really him.

Yes it is.

No offense, but I always thought it was a slightly creepy-but-silly clown.

[webny99]

kphoger's profile pic is creepy 😭

I can't even tell you how many times I've had to remind myself that it's not really him.

Yes it is.

I'm not sure whether to believe this or not, considering the pictures you've posted elsewhere on the forum.

[kernals12]

Moving on:
Retirement is a curse, not a blessing and we would all be better off if we could remain fit enough to work until we die.

It's only a curse for those that had so much of themselves wrapped up in what they for work that they end up losing their purpose in life when they retire.  Speaking for myself I'm hoping to retire at 55, at current moment I'm on pace to do so. There is much outside of work that I do now that would easily occupy all that time I spend at work.  I've been in a career for 20 years at this point, it doesn't define who I am.  It is (IMO) unhealthy to live to work or let work define how you live.

I currently am putting aside 1/5 of my income, between FICA and 401k contributions, for my retirement. That's a lot of money that I'd rather be able to spend on something else. Think of the states forever struggling with unfunded pension liabilities.

And in the future, technology should give us more than enough leisure time for travelling, playing golf, and spending time with our grandchildren.

I certainly agree with the final clause of kernals12's first post on this issue: Of course we would all be better off if we could remain healthy enough to keep working until we die. But that's not the same thing as saying we'd be better off if we kept working, which I think almost all of us would disagree with. My mom was certainly thankful that she and my dad were able to retire and take some long trips together to various parts of the world, trips that they would not have been able to take had either of them still been working. Now that my dad's gone, she's said she doesn't think she'll travel abroad again–she might do some domestic travel, but she has no interest in working again because she has enough other things she wants to do.

As far as saving money for retirement and wishing you could spend that money on other things.....most likely nobody's forcing you to save (unless your employer has some mandatory amount you must contribute), so if it bothers you so much, reduce or eliminate your contribution. It'll cause you difficulty later, of course.

I don't if I'll be able to keep working when I'm 67.

[kphoger]

kphoger's profile pic is creepy 😭

I can't even tell you how many times I've had to remind myself that it's not really him.

Yes it is.

I'm not sure whether to believe this or not, considering the pictures you've posted elsewhere on the forum.

It's a picture I took with my cell phone several years ago.  I made a goofy/creepy face and took it from right up close on purpose.  It's still my profile pic on my wife's phone, so that's what pops up whenever I call her.  I can't recall offhand if the one she has is in color or black and white.

[kphoger]

Here are two from just a minute ago, for comparison:

[webny99]

kphoger's profile pic is creepy 😭

I can't even tell you how many times I've had to remind myself that it's not really him.

Yes it is.

I'm not sure whether to believe this or not, considering the pictures you've posted elsewhere on the forum.

It's a picture I took with my cell phone several years ago.  I made a goofy/creepy face and took it from right up close on purpose.  It's still my profile pic on my wife's phone, so that's what pops up whenever I call her.  I can't recall offhand if the one she has is in color or black and white.

Wow, that changes things. I apologize.

Here are two from just a minute ago, for comparison:

[img snipped]
[img snipped]

OK, now I don't feel quite so bad. The profile pic really does look like a different person to me.

[wanderer2575]

The whole back and forth comes down to this:  The one who is cold can put something on.  The one who is hot can take something off. 

The first part is true, but the second part is only true to a certain extent, which is one reason why many people (myself included) would rather be too cold than too hot.

My implied joke is that the one who is hot could end up in his/her birthday suit.  And you know what they say about nudists usually being people you don't want to see naked.  Hence, choose the thermostat setting wisely.