I blame that the world, especially work, is more unforgiving of ADHD traits. Scatterbrained-ness isn’t as much of a deal in agriculture (where you usually can course-correct in time, I’d imagine) or monotonous factory repetition (of course it probably really sucks for ADHD-Hs for… well… monotonous repetition), but definitely is in an office environment. Also so many things now prey on your attention in constantly developing ways (all the ads trying to sell you things, just about every online service, streaming services, social media) that it scrambles even NT peoples’ brains, so of course it only makes it harder for ADHDers.

It mulled in the background for about 30 years to process, and then I came to the conscious conclusion that out of all the possible equally pointless reasons to hang around, for me satisfying my curiosities and improving the world for my fellow experience-capable-beings are the ones I want to do. Of course I still slip into mind-numbing distractions a lot, that’s just being human in the world we live in.

That, and that practically, what are the options anyway? No point in ending it early, or wasting your finite life on something you don’t actually want.

My choice of philosophy is absurdism, honestly because I think it sounds more fun than “optimistic nihilism” or “existentialism”. IMHO there’s a whole host of philosophies that basically suggest the same guide to living well, with different emphasis (for example):

1. Figure out what you want (<- 20th century existentialism)
2. Do it the best you can (<- stoicism, confucianism)
3. Don’t let the other stuff distract you (<- stoicism, buddhism)

buttmonkey → b8y

I’d read b8y as “baby”, so absolutely ❤ this. Was this intended, am I an idiot for not reading the others as anything?

I know, it’s mostly the comments making fun of “bland european cuisine” that got to me; plural, so didn’t respond under one. The meme doesn’t even mention Europe. Sorry, should have been clearer.

And sure, you can say that soy sauce is spice, or that the scallions and sesame oil in scallion pancakes are a spice, or that the soup portion of french onion soup is nothing but spice… Personally, I think in those cases what you call “spice” is one of the ingredients being celebrated (or in the case of soy sauce, sometimes just a way to add liquid salt). Such as in the case of spaghetti aglio e olio, garlic is the thing (along with quality ingredients), whereas in spicy foods it’s nearly always about the balanced spice blend. Even in something like chili, the peppers play a smaller part.

Okay, that chicken looks disgusting, but really. Minimalist cooking celebrating the ingredients without leaning into spices is a whole thing. Sashimi? Cong you bing? Tamago gohan? Spaghetti aglio e olio? Fresh bread or “new potatoes” with butter? Finnish salmon soup (clear or creamy)? How could you not appreciate those just as much as a well-seasoned flavor bomb?

Also to defend european cuisine, yes chicken is boring, that’s why actual European recipes would also drown it other stuff: coq au vin, arroz con pollo (Spanish variant), frango piri-piri, chicken paprikash, Kyiv chicken…

I’m going to steal this.

As a woman diagnosed at 40+, when responsibilities finally overwhelmed my coping mechanisms, this rather irritates me. “No you don’t have this condition we’re just starting to take seriously, for which there are medications and which entitles you to at least understanding if not accommodations in the workplace. You have ~lady hormones~. Are we going to acknowledge perimenopausal women might face challenges and benefit from workplace adjustments, but are still capable people? Silly hormonal thing, of course not.”

Ameglian Major Cow

While this is often true, I think it’s also important to say that peoples’ mental health struggles are equally real even if they have financial security and everything apparently well in their lives.

I absolutely adore that you looked it up, and feel seen and validated.

I thought this was on medical care for their dogs. Nope, acquisition. Huh.

Honestly this is the kind of ridiculous luxury shit I wish rich people would spend their money on. Bet those dogs are loved as heck, and improve the family’s quality of life more than $200k of just about anything else. That’s $200k that stayed in real economy without disappearing into the stock market black hole, into more “stuff” and pollution, or into inflating house prices by treating a fundamental need as an investment. Kudos to them!

Question about autistic friends, how do they/you feel when someone politely and moderately informed-ly disagrees with your take on the topic of choice?

Personally I love it when people question or even disagree with me, yay learning something new or a new perspective, but sometimes the intensity makes expressing disagreement or “uh, actually, that’s a common misconception but…” feel offensive.

In a similar vein, fund a few events for local groups for the less well-to-do to go see a local band. Just get the money in circulation in a way that keeps it local, and does some good (for myself or others) without consuming too many natural resources.

If I buy it used, it means someone is willing to pay that much for a used one, it’s practically an investment!

People knowing when they die at the latest will probably mean more than it being 50. At some point after abt 45 life becomes either (finances allowing) a hedonistic spree, gracefully putting your affairs in order, and/or an anxious nightmare watching the hours tick by. Not sure if people will come together enough to demand a kind of pension to allow for a year or two of calm for that, but anyone that can, will take it anyway.

People will focus on their health a little less when there’s no time for many lifestyle-related illnesses to manifest.

The speed of scientific development slows. People have less time to learn, experiment, and mentor the next generation.