Lurker > Lion_of_Gemini

Heartomaton posted...

pogo_rabid posted...

I can't think of a "dry country" that currently exists as something any rational person would aspire to emulate.

Theres a difference between banning it on religious grounds and this, tbh

Guide posted...

Eh, you're defending cheap thrills over addictions and drug-influenced crimes and accidents.

Thats what Im saying. Once the high wears off, youre back to your crappy life. Its an unhealthy coping mechanism.

darkbuster posted...

Sounds like a potentially good idea, honestly. Recreational drug use is too much of a coping mechanism for some people, that causes them to take refuge in a temporary state, that leads to them eventually coming back to an unpleasant reality, that compels them to take more drugs to go back to their happy place. If they were gone, people would have to actually make efforts to make their reality something more bearable.

Thats what Im saying. Theyre essentially distracting people from dealing with their problems, personal AND societal.

Heartomaton posted...

Nah, I'm not a colossal prudish asshole.

This isn't about being prudish. It's not banning things for religious or moral reasons. It's about pushing society forward being dealing with some of the struggles that would ensure initially.

Guide posted...

tho wait, the alcohol industry is pretty huge and that's a lot of jobs...

You could say the same thing about any horrible industry. I'm sure government programs to prohibit smoking lost people jobs. It was still necessary.

Say some powerful entity-aliens visiting earth, a supernatural being, whatever-gave you the option of making all alcohol and recreational drugs disappear. In this scenario, drugs for medicinal purposes and their effects still exist: it's just that the high or trip you would normally experience no longer happen, if not are not pleasurable. If offered this option, would you accept it?

Honestly, I think alcohol alone has done more than anything to help keep people content with their mediocre-to-crappy lives and the deteriorating condition of the world and society around them. As long as they have their fix, they'll allow themselves to be walked over. Without these distractions, I think we'd see a lot more societal change for the better across the world. After that, I think we'd see a lot more innovation, focus on self-improvement, and productive activities from people.

What about you? Do you think it would be worth the sacrifice? What decision would you make?

Why delete that message? Do you regret what you said?

The results are unsurprising.

MedeaLysistrata posted...

Crushes have very little to do with love and romance, what are you talking about?

They could be a potential start to these things, however.

teep_ posted...

Imo you can't help what you feel but you can and should control how you act on your feelings

For negative feelings, this is true. But thats not what this is. This is about love and romance.

nfearurspecimn posted...

I don't have a crush on anyone but I'm pretty sure everyone prefers it that way tbh lol

You can never be sure. You may be surprised.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Its indeed a natural part of the human condition.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Hey. People cant help but feel how they feel.

I surprised there arent more yes answers.

Its that people have forgotten their true selves.

Anyone else?

You dont have to see who (unless you want to, of course), but is there anyone here thats a crush for you?

Disengaged posted...

Uh no, I need to cook with that shit.

Youre saying there is not a SINGLE ingredient out there that you could substitute it with? Really?

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Get rid of it. On the scales, the amount of good alcohol does for the 'social scene' is vastly outweighed by the plague of addictions, accidents, and long-term health problems it causes.

Exactly. Marx said religion is an opium of the masses. I'd say alcohol fits that bill better.

rexcrk posted...

I know that a lot of people truly depend on it to have a good time, and what right do I have to take that away from someone?

That sounds like the problem. In a generation or two, people won't remember what it was even like.

BloodMoon7 posted...

What about dem nukes? Those seem like a pretty bad thing for the environment.

Do you think that would be a problem based on the article Jared Diamond wrote?

archedsoul posted...

I read a theory once that alcohol is the reason humans went from hunting and gathering to agriculture.

JTilly posted...

Alcohol has advanced our technology in so many ways. Tc just let it go

Some would say that's the worst mistake humanity has ever made.

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-worst-mistake-in-the-history-of-the-human-race

Guide posted...

I would. It would hurt a lot of industries, but I think it would be good for people in the long run.

Thats what I am saying. Theres be an adjustment period, but humanity would ultimately come out of it much stronger.

indica posted...

from fermentation to antiseptics, alcohol has been a major contributor to cultural advancement. In fact, the word "alcohol" come from arabic for "coal" as a form of combustible energy

I did include the caveat that alcohol for medicinal purposes and non-drinking purposes still exists. It is just recreational alcohol that would disappear.

LeadPipeCinche posted...

That sounds like weak mindedness.

Which alcohol contributes to.

BloodMoon7 posted...

I'm very against alcohol but no. If people want to ruin lives, they can do so. In an ideal world we could all be responsible with these things but making alcohol disappear may not have the intended outcome and the evil we know may be preferable to the chaos we don't.

I think it would have the opposite effect. Alcohol is often used to compensate for mediocrity, fulfillment , and mediocrity in life ("life sucks but this beer makes it all better). Without that crutch, people would be far more inclined to make changes in their lives.

Ser_Jaker posted...

No because alcohol is a significant part of the workforce. Bartenders, bar owners, distillers, breweries, vineyards, sommeliers etc etc would all be fucked and out of work.

I'm sure other industries would grow (coffee, milkshakes, marijuana, etc.) to fill its place. When one industry leaves, another usually replaces it.

Say a supernatural being of some sort appeared before you and offered you the choice of making all types of alcohol meant to be drank (beer, wine, liquor, etc.) disappear. Alcohol for medicinal purposes still exists, but for reasons unexplained, it's unable to be invented in drinkable form again.

The world would have significantly reduced road fatalities, domestic abuse cases, liver disease, homelessness, strain to physical and mental health services, and so much more. But people do love to drink.

Would you accept this?

@Doom_Art

Really, how do you think your dad would feel if he knew you posting this stuff about him?

Questionmarktarius posted...

Let it go. CE feuds are best abandoned

What feud? I'm just letting him know that I don't think his dad would appreciate him telling the whole world his business.

Questionmarktarius posted...

Let it go. CE feuds are best abandoned..

What feud? I'm just letting him know that I don't think his dad would appreciate him telling the whole world his business.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/400-current-events/79826861

How do you think your dad would feel if he knew you were sharing these private, intimate, details with everyone on the internet for everyone to laugh at?

Think about it.

The Wheelman1 posted...

Not surprising at all coming from the most obese country in the world.

Not in the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_obesity_rate

In the past, people used the gods and goddesses of old to guide and teach them. Do you think Star Wars, with its place in our society and culture, fills that role for us?

What do you think?

I mean, just out of morbid curiosity, would paying someone to do this not qualify as prostitution?

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


You can get your fix other ways.

FortuneCookie posted...

I mean...

You could always become a neopagan if that's your cup of tea.

Its not the same when you know its not real.

Despite being connected by technology, people are more isolated and unhappy than ever. It seems like the future is bleak and that there is nothing to look forward to. It's not an optimistic time. We're likely just dust in the world and will disappear into nothing one day.

One thing I am jealous of people in ancient times is just how much more interesting and fascinating the world must have been back then. Just look at the list of deities that used to exist:

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gods_and_goddesses
https://simplewikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mythologies

They really believed all of this was real. They really believed we lived in a world in which giants, monsters, and ghosts existed and could be anywhere in the world. It's both terrifying and fascinating. It's like living in an actually JRPG without any of the actual dangers of them (Think Sin from FFX) actually attacking.

I know these creatures likely aren't real, but widespread belief that they existed seems like a far more fascinating reality than the existential one we live in today.

Combine that with the belief that magic, gods, and an afterlife and it seems like we got the boring world.

Doom_Art, have you ever thought about how your dad would feel if you knew you shared this information with everyone about him behind his back? You really need to think about how others feel before most private, personal, information like this.

I didn't expect CE to be so selfish...

Why not just hire a dominatrix or something will to do that? Maybe more expensive and time consuming, but beats registering as a self-offender.

LeoRavus posted...

As to the question, I wouldn't sacrifice myself and all humans so animals could reclaim the planet. I mean, what would be their purpose? There's no proof that there's other intelligent life out there that would find and appreciate Earth. And no guarantee that a more destructive species wouldn't evolve from the animals.

This is a reality in which aliens are making you this deal. So I think it's safe to say life exists out there and may discover our planet. In this scenario, the odds of the planet still being by the time it's discovered increase dramatically.

spanky1 posted...

Fun fact, the climax of a fantasy book I'm writing right now is sort of this, basically. Two characters, one an optimist, the other a miserable, bitter, hate filled thing (although both lived pretty rough lives) have to decide whether to pull a switch or not that would save or doom humanity.

Sounds like a good book. I hope they make the right decision.

Crescente posted...

A bunch of Hitlers in this topic

Completely different. It's merciful and indiscriminate for all of humanity. Look at how much the planet recovered from the COVID lockdowns. Imagine that times thousands.

Esrac posted...

Nothing more peaceful than genociding an entire species.

Many would consider this mercy, especially considering the inevitable future.

Doe posted...

'Spared'

Whoops! Fixed my typo!

Sackgurl posted...

but who would feed the dogs

For the sake of mercy, say human-dependent animals would also be spared. Otherwise, all wild biodiversity would thrive.

Nukazie posted...

what is actually stopping them

Your consent.

Killmonger posted...

What?

Aliens meet with you and give you the option to peacefully eliminate all humans from the earth, leaving only the rest of the biodiversity.

Would you accept it? Would you be willing to make that sacrifice?

...would you accept it?

Say they descended and offered a quick, painless, option to eliminate all human beings from our earth. They wouldn't even know what hit them: all living humans would vanish in an instant, Infinity Gauntlet style before they even realized what was happening. As an extra bonus, all potential life-destroying human created industries would be shut down. The planet and its animals would reclaim the planet.

Would you accept this? Sacrifice your own species for the sake of all other biodiversity?

Honestly, I think it's safe to say that if you don't choose a certain option, you are a selfish, selfish, being.