1

Complementary Medicine / The Benefits of Air Baths...

« on: 25/05/2023 08:36:07 »

Are there any real benefits to "air baths"? Benjamin Franklin reportedly used to take them. He basically just sat around the house naked for a couple of hours. I assume he put a rob on if he had any guests. But is there any real medical benefit? Nudists are welcome to this discussion.

2

Just Chat! / Re: How Human Morality 'Evolves'...

« on: 16/04/2023 08:05:35 »

Anyways, just to close out this thread, I just wanted to share these Star Trek quotes. From time to time, you'll hear me talking about, or perhaps just alluding to, the relativity of morality. No, I don't believe in the relativity of morality myself. Quite the contrary in fact. But I think it can be a motivating force in human life, to question the values that humans sometimes have and just take for granted.

Pursuant to that, I have collected the following quotes from Star Trek that deal with this issue, that I have also made into memes, and shared on the internet. Enjoy.

"The difference between generals and terrorists is only the difference between winners and losers. If you win you are called a general. If you lose…"
— Kyril Finn, The High Ground (episode), Star Trek: the Next Generation,
Stardate 43510.7.

"One world's butcher is another world's hero. Perhaps I am neither one."
- Jarok, to Picard, TNG episodes
The Defector (episode).

"She was right. But at the wrong time."
- Kirk and Spock, Star Trek: TOS,
The City on the Edge of Forever (episode).

"Why do you resist? We only wish to raise quality of life for all species."
—LOCUTUS OF BORG, ST: TNG, The Best of Both Worlds Part II
Stardate: 44001.4
Original Airdate: 24 Sep, 1990.

"Doctor, the sperm whale on Earth devours millions of cuttlefish as it roams the oceans. It is not evil. It is feeding."
- Picard, to Dr. Kila Marr, TNG episodes
Silicon Avatar (episode).

3

Physiology & Medicine / Re: Dealing With An Embarrassing Problem...

« on: 15/04/2023 03:15:41 »

Hi.

   I am not a doctor and this site is not meant to give professional medical advice.  If you have genuine health concerns then you must talk to a doctor or similar professional about it.   The content found here can be generated by an arbitrary member of the public and has no guarantee of reliability or accuracy.

Most people would be too embarrassed to even ask their doctor.

    That has to stop.  Doctors are meant to handle these issues, that is their job.  They won't be embarrassed or unwilling to discuss something like that.

- - - - - - - - - -
   Your advice about delaying a visit to the toilet is not generally recommended.   That is likely to cause constipation in most people.   However, your situation may be different, we just don't have the medical details.

   It is not clear (to me) if the problem you are discussing is constipation, diarrhoea, incontinence or something else.   Usually constipation and diarrhoea are considered as opposing symptoms but there are conditions where you could have both of those symptoms.   We don't have enough information to discuss your particular situation.

    Recently you seem to have started a number of threads and not returned to them.   There's already information about most things on the internet and at the moment it would be very difficult to discuss your topic in anything other than the broadest terms and end up just repeating that information.

What happens down the road? Is there anything they can do then?

    We are speaking in very general terms only.   If the only thing a doctor has suggested so far is taking some fibre, then you have a long way to go before modern medicine runs out of things that will help.  You should have a long and productive life ahead of you. Don't worry.

Best Wishes.

I am sorry if I broke any rule. That was not my intention, and please accept my sincerest apologies.

You people do seem to be a lot more serious on these boards, and I guess that is probably a good thing. Most other boards tend to take a more hands-off approach. But I will try to remember your advice in the future.

I guess part of my post was more like trivia. Maybe I should have put it in Chat. Although I did include a question.

"...Recently you seem to have started a number of threads and not returned to them...."
I am not sure what you mean by this. I check your boards everyday. Has someone asked me a question that I did not answer?

And BTW, as you probably know, I am a very reasonable man, and very approachable. I always have been. If there is any problem, please bring it to my attention immediately. And I will help you anyway I can.

4

Just Chat! / An Open Statement To Atheists...

« on: 07/03/2023 12:28:40 »

I feel compelled to say this at least once. Don't worry though, I think this is probably the last time I will post something like this.

But I like to think I believe in God now. But I am very skeptical, and I seem to become more agnostic the older I get. So atheists, I know where you're coming from, and tend to agree with you even. But no, you're not perfect either. Because no one is.
 
No, it's not your fault. It's just human nature really. But I do have to say one thing, has anyone ever noticed how obnoxious some atheists are getting? No not all, and I hope not most. But Christian's are at least still courteous and polite. Has anyone else ever noticed this?

As I said, I'm sorry I had to say that. But it's true.

5

Technology / My Views On First Contact...

« on: 07/03/2023 12:13:06 »

Well, I'd call this something related to technology. Decide for yourselves.

Anyways, I might as well tell you all, I believe that humans are now just basically waiting for first contact. Perhaps an advanced alien entity is just waiting for us to cross certain ethical and technological thresholds. And this topic is often best explored in the fictional sci-fi series Star Trek. You know, I like that sci-fi series. It's fictional, yes. But a lot of what they predict may come true. Some writers are just more perceptive to things like that. Think of Jules Verne. Plus it really doesn't sometimes take a genius to predict the future. We can make some educated guesses now. Can't we?

But, as in Star Trek, some believe that this advanced entity will share its technology with us, but when they think we're ready for it. Perhaps now, they are simply observing.

I am reminded of that ST: TNG episode First Contact (original air date, February 18, 1991). In it Malcor III is preparing to develop warp drive technology, and the Federation is beginning to observe them, in anticipation of this. But unlike other races, the Malcorians are more suspicious of the idea of being observed, and this creates unanticipated problems.

This story is interesting. Because in the end, they decide to delay first contact instead. But what I like about the episode, is Science Minister Mirasta Yale decides to stay behind on the episode, she essentially does experience first contact you could say. You know that idea does sound tantalizing, doesn't it? What if only one human could see how an advanced alien race lives, and stay on their home world? Because think of it. Then he or she to continue on as a kind of ambassador or liaison between and two races. I'd sign up for something like that. Wouldn't you?

Also, I wanted to tell you, last year I finally was able to get one of those 10-north glasses from ST: TNG on Ebay. I searched high and low, but I finally got it. (They were really just candle holders, in case you didn't know.) And of course I immediately made an Absinthe Martini, my second favorite drink (a Manhattan is my first BTW). And I immediately took a picture.

You know, if I ever was in the above situation, the first thing I would have to have is a synthehol Manhattan. Wouldn't that be nice? But the holodeck or simulated reality would be the first thing I would have to try (of course once you got a matter replicator first, you'd be all set—think about it). I'll attach the picture, along with a couple of links describing the episode (as a citation—as I said, I for one think they are accurate, in some of their predictions of the future).

And I've got to ask you all. If you were taken to the advanced alien home world like Science Minister Mirasta Yale, what's the first thing you'd have to try? Because it just fires the imagination, doesn't it?

Here are the links (read them, please ):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Contact_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/First_Contact_(episode)

6

Physiology & Medicine / Akathisia and the Rights of the Mentally Ill...

« on: 17/02/2023 16:46:12 »

I don't know if any of you are aware of the medication side effect of akathisia. It sounds so harmless, a simple side effect. And it certainly isn't deadly. But it can be quite painful.

My father had a nervous breakdown in 1996 and 1997 after my mother's death. But he was obviously already bipolar, and had been hospitalized as a young adult too. And that is when we found out quite a bit about the mental health system (esp. in Michigan, where we live).

Akathisia is a very common side effect associated with antipsychotic neuroleptics. It is often not associated with the the new class of atypical antipsychotics. And it can be quite painful.

Now no one is saying we should do away with psychiatric drugs or treatment. No one should take them who doesn't need them. But for those who need them, they can be a lifesaver.

And even doctors who work in the better mental health settings tend to be impatient with patients who complain about akathisia. We had good insurance, so we were always in the best places. But I can only imagine what it must be like for a mental patient dealing with akathisia in jail, or even worse prison, where I would imagine they'd be much less sympathetic.

As I said, no one is saying to do away with antipsychotic or antidepressant drugs. But dealing with akathisia can actually be quite simple. There are many drugs to eliminate or at least lessen this side effect, Cogentin is often used. Or something as simple as taking the medication at bedtime might be enough, because you can apparently sleep the side effect off.

My father was initially put on Haldol, the first drug of choice back then. But it is notorious for the side effect of akathisia. And he really didn't need, because as it turned out another medicine was more effective anyways.

I don't know how much people who advocate for prisoner or mental health rights are aware of akathisia. But if they aren't aware of it, they definitely should be.

7

Just Chat! / An Open Question To A Moral Nihilist...

« on: 10/02/2023 13:57:35 »

Just one question I always wanted to ask a moral nihilist.

Why wouldn't science apply to human ethics too. Science can help us build a better mouse trap, bake a better cake, fight a better war, etc. Shouldn't it help us find the best moral system.

Plus I'm guessing even moral nihilists think there's a moral system better than the rest. Mercy instead of cruelty? Love instead of hate? Happiness and well-being instead of hardship? And when is inflicting pain ever right? Because isn't pain always a horrible thing to go thru? Who ever says it's nice? Some people think it's sometimes necessary or unavoidable. But I've never heard anyone say it's nice or they enjoyed it.

See what I mean?