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banyan-veterans · 11 months

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Understanding Substance Abuse Among Service Members and Veterans 🎖

The stress of deployments, the loneliness of being away from loved ones, and the unique culture of the military all offer risks related to substance abuse among active-duty personnel and veterans. Deployment is linked to smoking, unhealthy drinking, drug use, and risky behaviors. Zero-tolerance policies, lack of confidentiality, and mandatory random drug testing that might deter drug use can also add to stigma. While important for reducing substance abuse among active-duty, it can also contribute to stigma. As a family of addiction treatment facilities that offer a Military and Veterans in Recovery program, we’re sharing veteran substance abuse statistics in hopes of reducing stigma and spreading awareness.

Understanding Substance Abuse in Veterans & Active-Duty

Half of the military personnel have reported that they believe seeking mental health care would negatively affect their military career. While illicit drug use, cigarette smoking, and prescription drug abuse have decreased in recent years among active-duty personnel, rates of binge drinking remain high compared to the general population.

Additionally, service members can face dishonorable discharge and even criminal prosecution if they test positive for drug use, which can also discourage illicit drug use. Once active-duty service members leave the military, some of these protective influences are gone, and substance abuse and other mental health disorders may worsen.

It’s also important to consider that drinking is a common pastime among military troops during deployment. As boredom between assignments, along with loneliness and homesickness, may kick in, servicemembers often drink to pass the time, drown their sorrows, or celebrate successful assignments. Because alcohol is readily accessible nearly everywhere around the world and is legal to consume in most places, it’s understandable why alcoholism is a concern among active duty as well as veterans.

Over 1 in 10 veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, which is a slightly higher amount than in the general population. When looking at the pattern for male veterans ages 18 to 25, the rates were higher in veterans than males in the general population. The military veteran population is also greatly impacted by issues related to substance abuse, such as pain, suicide risk, trauma, and homelessness.

Veterans’ Addiction Statistics According to Substance

Because habits created in active duty usually follow veterans into their life after the military, our military rehab center wanted to share some disturbing veteran drug abuse statistics that portray the need for specialized care and awareness.

Illicit Drugs

Reported rates of illicit drug use increase when active-duty personnel retire from the military. According to research:

3.5% of veterans reported marijuana use.

1.7% of veterans reported illicit drug use other than marijuana in one month.

From 2002 to 2009, cannabis use disorders increased by over 50% among veterans.

More than 16% of total veteran admissions into addiction treatment facilities were for heroin (10.7%) and cocaine (over 6%.)

Nearly 11% of veterans were admitted to rehab centers for heroin abuse.

Nearly 300,00 (27%) of veterans abuse illegal drugs.

About 45,000 veterans were diagnosed with heroin use disorder in 2018.

Opioids and Other Prescription Drugs

Military physicians wrote nearly 3.8 million prescriptions for pain medication in 2009, which was more than quadruple the number of prescriptions written in 2001. Opioid use disorders in the military often begin with opioid pain prescriptions following an injury during deployment. However, because of their addiction potential, opioids – especially when coupled with mental health disorders like PTSD – can lead to opioid use disorders. Veteran opioid statistics include:

About 41,000 veterans were diagnosed with an addiction to painkillers in 2018.

Veterans are most likely to misuse hydrocodone (Norco, Vicodin.)

Two-thirds of veterans reported experiencing pain problems.

More than 9% of veterans reported severe pain, compared to only 6.4% of non-veterans.

The percentage of veterans taking prescription opioids increased from 17% to 24% from 2001 to 2009.

Overall opioid overdose rates among veterans increased from 14% in 2010 to 21% in 2016.

Alcohol

Alcohol use disorders are the most common type of addiction among military personnel. Increased combat exposure involving violence and trauma experienced by those who serve results in an increased risk of problematic drinking. Knowing this about alcohol use, the following veteran alcoholism statistics aren’t surprising:

According to a 2017 study, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data, veterans were more likely to use alcohol in one month than their non-veteran counterparts (56.6% vs. 50.8% respectively.)

65% of veterans who enter a rehab program report alcohol as the most frequently misused substance, which is nearly double that of the general population.

Male veterans are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) than female veterans.

In 2018, there were 25,000 veterans aged 18 to 25 with an alcohol addiction in the past year.

In 2018, there were 874,000 veterans aged 26 or older who had an alcohol addiction in the past year.

🚫 These barriers can make seeking help a daunting task for many service members and veterans, but it's essential to break the silence and seek support when needed.

🤝 Supporting Mental Health in the Military 🩺

Half of military personnel have reported concerns that seeking mental health care could negatively impact their military career. While there have been improvements in addressing issues like illicit drug use, cigarette smoking, and prescription drug abuse among active-duty personnel, rates of binge drinking remain high compared to the general population.

🛡️ It's crucial to provide a safe and supportive environment for service members to address their mental health needs without fear of repercussions.

The Impact of Deployment and Coping Strategies 🌍🍺

During deployments, alcohol often becomes a common pastime among military troops. The boredom between assignments, loneliness, and homesickness can lead servicemembers to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. With alcohol being readily accessible worldwide and legal in most places, alcoholism is a concern among both active duty and veterans.

🍻 It's important to acknowledge the emotional toll of deployment and offer healthier coping strategies and support to our service members.

Veterans and Substance Abuse Statistics 📈🔍

Over 1 in 10 veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, which is slightly higher than in the general population. The impact of substance abuse on the veteran population is substantial, leading to issues like pain, suicide risk, trauma, and homelessness.

❗ These statistics emphasize the need for specialized care and awareness.

Understanding the Patterns of Substance Abuse 🍁💉

Reported rates of illicit drug use tend to increase when active-duty personnel retire from the military. According to research:

3.5% of veterans reported marijuana use.

1.7% of veterans reported illicit drug use other than marijuana in one month.

From 2002 to 2009, cannabis use disorders increased by over 50% among veterans.

The numbers reveal the challenges veterans face when it comes to substance abuse.

Prescription Drugs and Opioid Misuse 💊💔

Military physicians wrote nearly 3.8 million prescriptions for pain medication in 2009, a significant increase from previous years. Opioid use disorders often begin with opioid pain prescriptions following injuries during deployment. This is especially concerning when coupled with mental health disorders like PTSD.

🩺 Providing effective treatment and support for veterans struggling with prescription drug addiction is crucial.

Alcohol Use Disorders in the Military 🍷👥

Alcohol use disorders are prevalent among military personnel, and increased combat exposure involving violence and trauma contributes to problematic drinking. The statistics reveal the following:

Veterans are more likely to use alcohol in one month compared to their non-veteran counterparts.

A high percentage of veterans entering rehab programs report alcohol as the most frequently misused substance.

🆘 Support and treatment programs are vital to help veterans recover from alcoholism and regain their health.

Breaking the Stigma and Seeking Help 🤗💪

It's essential to recognize that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. The journey to recovery may be challenging, but with the right support, veterans and active-duty personnel can overcome substance abuse and mental health issues.

💬 If you or a loved one needs help, don't hesitate to reach out. Support is available at Banyan's Military and Veterans in Recovery program to help you regain your well-being and live a healthier, happier life. 🙌

#Veterans #MentalHealthMatters #SubstanceAbuse #SupportOurTroops

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myweightlosstrainersblog · 2 years

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tallmantall · 2 years

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#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth - Study: 1 In 3 #Teens Reported Poor #MentalHealth During #Pandemic

(NEW YORK) — The #pandemic has taken a toll on all Americans’ #mentalhealth, but now, a new study from the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention reports that more than 1 in 3 #highschool #teens dealt with poor #mentalhealth during the #pandemic, and 1 in 5 reported considering #suicide. “Our study examined how recent #adversechildhoodexperiences, or #ACEs, are contributing to poor #mentalhealth and #suicidalbehaviors among #adolescents,” said Dr. Kayla Anderson, senior study author and expert with #NationalCenterforInjuryandPreventionControl. Over 4,000 #teens participated in a 100-question online survey. Nearly 3 in 4 #teens reported at least one adverse #childhood experience — such as #bullying, loss of a #parent or violence — during the #pandemic. Prior research has established a link between adverse #childhood experiences and an increased risk of chronic health conditions, changes in #behavior, #depression, #anxiety and #suicidalbehaviors. Researchers asked #teens if they had experienced electronic #bullying, #teen dating violence, #caregiver loss, food insecurity, sexual violence or emotional abuse during the #pandemic. #Students who said they had experienced one or two of these events were twice as likely to report poor #mentalhealth and three to six times as likely to report suicidal #behaviors. Meanwhile, #students who reported experiencing four or more of these negative experiences were 25 times more likely to report a #suicideattempt. Experts said the changes in teen’s #mentalhealth may be related to stressors from the #pandemic. “With #COVID-related threats to health, events in the news, and the accessibility of information online, it’s hard to insulate yourself from the #stress, and has been even harder to find stability, support and connection — which is what teens need most at this stage of their lives,” said Dr. Neha Chaudhary, chief medical officer at BeMe Health and #child and #adolescent #psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical #School. Because #suicide has been the second-most common cause of death among those ages 10 to 14, #mentalhealthprofessionals say more research is needed to address the influence the #pandemic has had on #mentalhealth in this vulnerable population. #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Ways to help boost teens’ #mentalhealth #Adults can help #teens and #children by creating safe environments free of #bullying, online harassment and violence, according to #mentalhealthexperts. “#Teen #mentalhealth has become a public health emergency, and it’s time we started taking real, actionable steps to do something about it,” said Chaudhary. According to experts, anyone can be an advocate for #adolescent #mentalhealth. “We must connect struggling #adolescents to timely, effective care. Young people need all of the support we can give them,” Anderson said. If you are experiencing suicidal, #substanceuse or other #mentalhealthcrises, please call or text the #988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You will reach a trained crisis #counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org. Read the full article

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uncloseted · 3 years

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I hope to be better one day. I believe in only two genders because I believe science doesn’t care about your feelings and I feel trans people are really attention seeking and always seeking validation always need to be included always need to be reminding people. I was born female and I’m not always included in everything and I don’t turn around and call people sexist and transphobic, sometimes u get left out cos that’s called life. I’ve tried changing I cant. I just keep my opinion to myself and just agree publicly with what others say. I know I am not a bad person but just wonder what it is that I don’t get it, I honestly think this is just me.

Against my better judgement, I'm going to answer this ask. I'm not entirely convinced it's a question that's in good faith, and the fact that this ask is in my inbox at all suggests to me that you didn't really engage with the nearly 4,000 words I've already dedicated to this subject, so I don't know how much I'll be able to add to your thinking here. But I know a lot of people do genuinely have these questions or questions like these, and so I think it's important to take them seriously for anyone else who might read this answer. If you really hope to "be better" or to change your views, anon, maybe you'll get something from this, too.

Science Doesn't Care About Your Feelings

So, you start by saying that you "believe in only two genders because [you] believe science doesn’t care about your feelings". What exactly do you mean by this? Maybe science doesn't care about your feelings, but science also doesn't support the assertion that there are only two genders. The scientific community is in agreement that trans people exist. The scientific community created the term "gender dysphoria", and it appears as a medical diagnosis both in the DSM-5 and ICD-10 (and will appear in the ICD-11). The scientific community supports the use of medical and social transition to alleviate the stress and discomfort that trans people experience. The scientific community views social and medical transition as an important tool to reduce the number of trans people who will die by suicide. None of those positions are based on "feelings". They're based on scientific fact- on findings that are testable, observable, repeatable, universal, and measurable. If you want to dig into the scientific research that has been done on trans identities we can, but I have a feeling that's not really where you were going when you said "science doesn't care about your feelings."

Are you talking about "gender essentialism", where your gender is defined only by the sexual characteristics you have? In your previous ask, you yourself seemed to me to be unconvinced by biological essentialism. Are we just arguing over the proper use of the words, "sex" and "gender"? Science views sex and gender are fundamentally separate concepts that are often linked. For example, the World Health Organization, an international, scientific agency of the United Nations, says that, '[g]ender' refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women" and that "'masculine' and 'feminine' are gender categories." The FDA, a federal, scientific agency of the US government, uses "sex" as a biological classification and defines "gender" as, "a person's self representation as male or female, or how that person is responded to by social institutions based on the individual's gender presentation."

But even if you were to take gender essentialism to be fact (and to be clear, I don't think we should), the idea that there are "two genders" is still incorrect. As many as 1.7% of people have at least one intersex trait, and there are many more who don't have all the sex characteristics we associate with being "a boy" or "a girl". As I mentioned in my previous post, some girls don’t have a menstrual cycle (due to menopause, hormonal birth control, low body weight, PCOS, etc), but they’re still "biological girls". Some girls don’t have a uterus (for example, if they’ve had a hysterectomy), but they’re still "biological girls". Some girls never develop breasts, but they’re still "biological girls". If you take gender essentialism to be fact, what is your definition of "a biological girl" or "a biological boy"? Could trans people who have transitioned be considered, perhaps, "a biological girl" or "a biological boy"? Why not? And where do intersex people fit into that paradigm? Would they, perhaps, be a third gender, if we take gender essentialism to be fact? And if not, why do intersex people get to be "a biological girl" or "a biological boy", but post-medical transition trans people don't?

Finally, there are very much times where science cares about your feelings. The entire scientific field of psychology is dedicated to caring about people's feelings and understanding what they mean. So is cognitive science, and psychiatry, and frequently, neuroscience. Behavioral economics and linguistics care about your feelings. Even the field of artificial intelligence and human/computer interaction cares about feelings. Feelings aren't a bad thing. They can help us to understand ourselves and others, and to create systems that work better for everyone. Feelings prompt us to ask the right questions so that science can answer them with facts. In this case, the feelings of gender dysphoria that trans people feel and a feeling of curiosity on the part of scientists led to scientific research about gender dysphoria and the development of scientifically supported treatments to alleviate that gender dysphoria.

Trans People Are Really Attention Seeking

"Trans people are really attention seeking and always seeking validation always need to be included always need to be reminding people" feels like a strawman argument to me. It's just something that can't really be proven or disproven. It's a feeling that you have, but not a scientific fact.

I think it's also an example of a "relevant logical fallacy", or what's more colloquially known as a "toupee fallacy." The toupee fallacy is a type of selection bias where a negative trait is obvious but neutral traits are not. Its nickname comes from the phrase, "all toupées look fake; I've never seen one that I couldn't tell was fake," which is an example of this fallacy. You've never seen a toupee that you can't tell was fake because you assume the ones that look real are just natural hair. The same applies to trans people. If a trans person passes, you may not know (or notice) that they're trans at all. Or if a trans person "acts normal", you may not notice because you're only looking for "toupees"- trans people who are, in your view, "acting inappropriately".

Which brings me to my second point, that this is also an example of the Baader-Meinhof (or "frequency" phenomenon. This is a phenomenon where, after you notice something for the first time, there's a tendency to notice it more often, especially if it's something that makes you react emotionally. Maybe it's not true that all "trans people are really attention seeking and always seeking validation always need to be included always need to be reminding people." Maybe it's that you're noticing it more frequently because it bothers you when this occurs, but you're not noticing all of the trans people who are just quietly living their lives.

Finally, I suspect that if we were more inclusive as a society, trans people would have to talk about their transness less frequently. If people are consistently calling trans people by their deadname or using incorrect pronouns for them, of course they're going to always be reminding people that they're trans. If people are consistently excluding them, of course they're going to be seeking inclusion. This is anecdotal, but one of my best friends is trans, and she never really talks about it unless it's directly relevant. And I think she can do that because she's always respected, included, and just generally treated like "one of the girls" (because she is just one of the girls). I said this in my last post, but I think it bears repeating- the people who are most insistent on their identity being respected tend to be the people who have been the most hurt by people not respecting who they are. Being insistent about who they are is the only way they feel they can be recognized or seen. They're operating from a place of pain. And isn't that sad more than it is annoying? It certainly is to me.

But even if we accept the (incorrect) premise that "trans people are really attention seeking and always seeking validation always need to be included always need to be reminding people".... so what? Does being attention seeking and validation seeking mean that a person's rights should be taken away from them? Because if it does, a whole lot of Instagram influencers are about to lose their rights. Does wanting to be included mean you should be ostracized from society? I think we all want to be included in one way or another. We all want to be part of a community that's bigger than we are. Does always reminding people of you are warrant people rejecting your identity? If you believe that, you should never correct that one person you know who always gets your name wrong and just accept that that's your new name now. You don't have to like people who you find annoying, but you can't just take away their rights or deny them rights because of it.

I Was Born Female and I'm Not Always Included

"I was born female and I’m not always included in everything and I don’t turn around and call people sexist and transphobic, sometimes u get left out cos that’s called life." Isn't that a bad thing, though? Don't you want to be included in spaces that you're excluded from right now? Don't you want people to be less sexist towards you? Don't you want the same rights that men have? I certainly do, and I think it's important to fight for those rights. It sucks to be left out, but more importantly, it's damaging to be left out. Being excluded from spaces has very tangible financial impacts on people, even if you don't care about the very real emotional impact it has. I don't want that exclusion to happen to me, and I don't want that to happen to the next generation of girls. Whatever I can do to make sure that stops, I'm going to do it. And yes, that includes calling people out on sexist behavior. It sucks to have to do that work, but if we don't advocate for ourselves, nobody will advocate for us. And I'm lucky that I'm in a position where I can try to be an ally to the trans community and use some of the privilege I have as a cis person to fight for them so they don't have to do it all themselves. I know how much I would love for men to use their privilege to advocate for women in spaces where we can't, and I hope I can do that for trans people in spaces where they can't advocate for themselves.

Final Thoughts

So once again, this brings me to my final thoughts, and a few questions I would encourage you to think about. What are you really worried about here? Are you worried that including trans women in women's spaces will make it more difficult to talk about issues that people with female sex characteristics face? Are you worried that trans people will center themselves in those discussions? Are you worried that cis men will masquerade as trans women to infiltrate women's spaces with nefarious intent? Are you worried that you'll say something wrong or offend someone? Are you worried that including trans women in women's issues will set women back in terms of the progress we've made? Is it a general discomfort with societal change?

Once you understand where your emotions are stemming from, then you'll be able to address them in a meaningful way. I don't think that "this is just [you]" or that you "can't change". But I do think it will be hard to change your view until you know the reasoning- might we even say... the feeling? - behind your views. You're not coming at this from a rational, emotionless, scientific perspective, and that's okay. But that means that, despite my best efforts, I probably won't be able to debate you into changing those feelings. Only you know where those feelings are coming from, and only you can choose to change them. I think you can "be better one day", but you have to choose that for yourself.

Extra Credit

If you're interested in digging further into this topic (or if you're looking for a fun and educational way to spend thirty minutes), I recommend the ContraPoints video "Pronouns":

youtube

It absolutely will not dissuade you of the notion that trans people are attention seeking, because Natalie is, at her core, a fabulous performer who uses elaborate aesthetics and sarcasm to illustrate her points and to make her philosophy lectures more fun. But it does directly argue against Ben "facts don't care about your feelings" Shapiro in a rational, logical way. It delves into a lot of the topics I was talking about the other day and also a lot of the topics you bring up in this ask. Natalie even talks herself about how the polite, easy thing to do is call someone by their preferred pronouns, but that she wants to truly understand why people use the preferred pronouns they do instead of defaulting to them because it's "dogmatically the woke thing to do". In my opinion, it's a good video, but even if you don't end up agreeing, it's not that long, so try it out anyway.

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trongdatnguyen · 3 years

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Thấy mình viết hay qúa nên post lên đây hihi:

Topic: consumer evaluation of food quality. Do the consumers take the environmental aspect into account?

I. Introduction

Since the 1970s, the culture of consumption has shifted from producer-central to consumer-central. Consumers no longer decide to buy a product solely due to its availability. They consider different aspects related to the product before a decision. These aspects reflect consumers' attitudes and worldviews, which are influenced by societal perception and behaviors at a time. As such, producers need to understand consumers' demands to stay in the business. In the present, climate change starts to impacts consumers daily life. Accordingly, people's perceptions about environmental impact of food and food production are prone to change. Therefore, to know if the environmental aspect is part of consumer evaluation of food quality is inevitable concerns for food producers or food policymakers to be relevant in the future. In this essay, reports and literature will be reviewed to discuss the raising concern, focusing on the European region.

II. Literature Review

To begin with, Wikstrom et al addresses the mismatch between values assigned to a product by consumers and producers through modernity frameworks1. In which, producer's assignments are based on the belief that social progress is important and dependent on science and technology advancement. This belief is inevitable to resolve societal issues in the past. In the food industry, when food security was not concrete, mass production is expected. Nevertheless, producers rely on their know-how and deliver refined food of longer shelf-life with the idea that consumption of food is for nutrition. Accordingly, consumers were left with less choice. They then purchase due to the availability of products in the market with the assumption that food quality is predetermined.

However, as time changes, previous societal issues are no longer relevant, sharing space and time for a new problem to arise. In which, customers recognize that they are not merely consumers, they also create their images and increasingly strive to feel good through trading activities. The change in consumer perception and behaviors happens gradually overdecades and eventually impacts all industries. For example, consumers' confidence in science and technology imposes a contradiction to GMO and addictives usage in food production while striving for the product with natural and organic origins. This example alone causes producers to be more transparent or even change their production routines. Nevertheless, policymakers also need to apply new regulations to fulfill the needs of the population. Understanding this shift in the culture of consumption is more important than ever for the food business to stay relevant in the present time. Moreover, understanding the exact demands of consumers from the product might help food producers move forward with potential profits.

Consumers' demands become quality evaluation factors before they buy food products. The number of and the extent of these demands differs from time to place. These demands are influenced by societal changes around consumers universally and locally. An excerpt from European Commission Public Opinion Reports in 2010 presents common trends in European consumers' needs in the last decades2. Consumers' needs were evaluated and positioned fresh and tasty food with implication on pleasure by consumption to nutritional needs as the priority. It was followed by affordable prices, and safety. After ten years, the ranking for European consumers' future needs remains the same in their 2020 report3.However, a new expectation for future food products appears, which is "impact on the environment and climate". This expectation from European consumers is reasonable because climate change has a profound yet negative impact on their life across the region. The expectation is further amplified by an increasing number of internet content based on present food production culture presenting the unbecoming future. Consumers are not only urged to change their consumption behavior but also demand food producers react before the unfavorable future arrives. Hereby, public concerns are partly resolved by the directions given by United Nations in their Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and implemented by governments.

To evaluate if consumer's demand for environmental aspects is more truthful than just survey results, Wikstrom works were reconsidered. The study discusses that new consumers' demands can initiate the re-organization of traditional food producers or the birth of new producers to fulfill those needs1. In the food industry, where rising demands of less environmental impacts from traditional production are becoming popular, an alternative to traditional foods is created. Oatly and Impossible Foods are two companies selling traditional food alternatives that are gaining notable success in recent years. In which, Impossible Food was founded in 2011 stating its aim is to give people the taste and nutritional benefits of meat without the negative health and environmental impacts associated with livestock products. This statement aims directly at public concerns found in the listed surveys. After nearly ten years of development, their value is estimated to be 10 billion $ in 2021 and still accelerate their international growth. On top of this, Oatly shares a similar idea to Impossible Food but in a different context. They are founded early in the 1990s and starts to gain recognition and success in the last decades. To recap their exponential growth, even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Oatly's North American President Mike Messersmith said that a big part of their success derived from consumer preferences evolving toward sustainability and health4.

III. Discussion and comments

From the above, it would seem that the environmental aspect in food and food production is gaining more recognition from the public. Consequently, it would become the determining factor before a consumer purchases food products in the future. However, it could be claimed that the argument is based on the modernity frameworks - which is originated from the West and not suitable to adapt to the rest. Modernity and postmodernity ideologies took place within the advanced capitalist and postindustrial computerized societies5. Since different countries have different political beliefs and development conditions, we can not apply directly the study framework from one country to another. In this case, as all European countries are developed, the argument can be oversimplified as societal trends in consumption and production from developed countries is inapplicable to developing countries. For example, in Vietnam, people tend to go to a nearby market to shop for food products supplied directly by farmers instead of going to the supermarket like European consumers. In this case, if we apply the modernity framework as reasoning above, consumers' demands are met but to a very different extent. The "local" values in developed countries are derived as opposed to mass production caused by their negative impact. However, "local" values in developing countries like Vietnam are derived from tradition, convenience, and affordable prices. Moreover, as if the "local" factor in consumers' evaluation is achieved, the food safety and quality are not usually predetermined. It is because farmers don't need to have any certifications to sell their products in the local marketplace.

Though consumption behaviors are different in developing countries, environmental aspects in food product evaluation still exist but to a different extent than in developed countries. Both share similar origins from customer's perception transformation due to environmental changes in their local and global surroundings. These changes can be amplified both physically by governmental policies and virtually by internet campaigns, influences. However, perception transformations do not necessarily correlate with transformation in consumption behaviors. As mentioned earlier, the alternative to traditional food is one of the direct approaches to resolve environmental impacts by food production. However, this approach requires not only large capital investment but also advanced science and technology - which are both not readily available in developing countries. As such, even though there is a demanding market and the needs of society are undeniable, consumption behaviors cannot change without the possibilities provided by developing science. Some might argue that developing might import environmental-friendly food products from developed countries to fulfill the tangible needs. I would say that action only satisfies the guilty of wealthy consumers while ignoring the environmental impact of transportation in their calculations.

IV. Conclusion

To conclude, there is an uprising trend in the culture of consumption that environmental aspects are considered upon purchase of food products. This trend is inevitable due to the profound effects of climate change and international and governmental attempts to promote, especially in developed countries, such as European regions. Though there are also changes in the perception of consumers in developing, consumption behaviors there are not yet transformed mainly due to the possibilities provided by developing science to make affordable products for the population.

V. References

1. Wikström S, Jönsson H, Decosta PL. A clash of modernities: Developing a new value-based framework to understand the mismatch between production and consumption. J Consum Cult. 2016;16(3):824-851. doi:10.1177/1469540514528197

2. Eurobarometer 389. European’s Attitudes Towards Food Security, Food Quality and the Country Side. Published online 2010.

3. Eurobarometer 505. Making our food fit for the future – Citizens’ expectations.pdf. Published online 2020.

4. How Oatly accelerated growth during the pandemic. 2020. https://www.fooddive.com/news/how-oatly-accelerated-growth-during-the-pandemic/589004/.

5. Radhakrishnan R, ed. Theory in an Uneven World. Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 2003. doi:10.1002/9780470775660

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wellmetkinsman · 4 years

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here’s a take: I literally cannot stand serial killer media.

the only exceptions for me were Criminal Minds cause it was character driven with a solid plot (for a while) and Dexter cause it was hilarious and made for a good drinking game

(note how both these were fictional. i’m straight up not watching the nonfictional ones, though I have seen plenty before growing up in the time before netflix and before I dived into youtube)

*AT BEST* you can pretend it’s not real and just enjoy the horror movie thrill of it all?

at worst — and this is the main point — it’s either a demonstration of the ignorance/apathy of, or the *CELEBRATION* of the sociological factors that create a serial killer (in America, btw): the consequences of the inescapable white male hegemonic nature of our culture.

> Hatred of women — mandated both implicitly and often explicitly by parents, other family members, friends, indeed western society as a whole, then worstened by an abusive upbringing and/or undiagnosed, untreated, or simply unnoticed mental health concerns.

> Financial insecurities. Yes this is the norm for most, *excruciatingly* so, but, in my opinion, a white man finding himself financially insecure — especially one brought up in an entitled, conservative household, let alone entire culture — is more prone to lashing outward at perceived aggressors than inward. It is an unequivocal fact that crime, violent or otherwise, is primarily a consequence of financial insecurity, which leads to essentially a forced foregoing of morals and social norms in order to continue to subsist. *However,* as we know from serial killer media, serial killers, insofar as they are not simply a murderer — meaning a person who has caused the death of someone else one or more times with varying levels of intent, ranging from reasonably non-accidental, to planned and intentional murder — are rarely brought about by a single motivating factor. Serial killers — repeated/habitual murderers, often with explicit intent, habitual/ritualistic behavior, compounding crimes such as sexual violence, etc — are propagated via a particularly virulent concoction of overlapping factors that are simply not present in other people that have committed a murder. Factors which, indeed, set them apart and render them prime content for speculation, discussion, and media consumption. All of this is to support my point that financial security affects us all, but that it creates the necessary conditions in white men in America in particular to become violent and antisocial, indeed occasionally to the point of engaging in serial murder. TL;DR: entitlement plus the rest of the factors on this list.

> Religious trauma. I’m tempted to simply say enough said and move on, however, I’ll save myself another bullet point by saying that this is the primary reason that homophobia is a partial motivation for serial killers. If you’ve even a cursory knowledge of American serial killers, you know the primary example(s), and can agree that it’s more than clear that being told — again, implicitly or explicitly, by one or more persons close to the killer or simply by media, and therefore more broadly “society” — that there are essentialist, objective truths, essentialist, objectively “good” and “bad” people (let alone good and bad behaviors themselves), that YOU are but one decision away from engaging in objectively bad behavior and becoming an objectively bad person, and then being told that ANY interest �� no matter how potentially inconsequential— in those assigned the same gender as you is objectively evil, and in fact perhaps the most unforgivable evil one can commit, creates a specific form of internalized hatred of oneself that compounds and renders one stunted and incapable of healthy interactions with themselves and others.

> Mental health. This is truly the most nebulous point, yet I’m coming to believe that it is the perhaps the one least worth considering in the *formation* of a serial killer, though perhaps not in the analysis of their behavior. Why? Because it has become increasingly clear, especially in the era in which we live, that we are all more than capable of exhibiting behavior which can be considered a mental illness as it is currently defined. Without dipping into the nature vs. nurture rabbit hole, the best explanation for this that I have settled in is derived from the theory (the name and creators of which escape me) that we all have varying levels of disposition for “mental illness,” and that environmental factors therefore need to push us in varying degrees in order to manifest it. The effect of the pandemic on our behavior and mental health has been the primary factor in coming to this conclusion for me, however, it cannot be overstated that behavior deemed negative by society that has been understood previously as mental illness is often a product of financial insecurity. (It’s Capitalism. it’s the Capitalism. In case that’s not clear). Anyway, while I do understand that our brains are capable of being formed in different conditions and experiencing different conditions, the point is that perhaps nearly ALL of us experience these conditions — albeit in infinitely various ways — but that these conditions **DO NOT LEAD PEOPLE TO BECOME SERIAL KILLERS IN AND OF THEMSELVES.** Mental health concerns, when noticed, diagnosed, and treated with care, empathy, and attention by a network of support, are things that can be dealt with in a healthy way, and can even bring about a deeper appreciation of who we are and how we can interact with the world in better ways. The notion that schizophrenia = murderer, OFTEN PERPETUATED BY SERIAL KILLER MEDIA, has done nigh irreparable harm to our perception of the condition, and indeed our understanding of mental health/mental illness as a whole.

There are obviously infinitely more factors to consider than simply these, however, when looking at the statistics of serial killings in America and perhaps abroad as well, the trends skew towards white men spurned noticeably by the aforementioned conditions. I cannot pretend that it’s not true that I would not know this if not thanks to the Pychology courses I have taken in both high school and college, as well as both fictional and nonfictional serial killer media, however, it is not the serial killer media that brought me to any sort of nuance in my understandings.

**THIS** is where I make my point. Serial killer media almost ALWAYS is not made to raise awareness. It is not made to any of the aforementioned real, ubiquitous, and oft completely unaddressed issues in our society. It is almost always not made to benefit any of the affected communities: see parents and priests interviewed when discussing a serial killer with clear religious trauma and internalized homophobia. And finally, IT IS NOT ALWAYS EVEN PRODUCED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CONDEMN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE KILLER, TO A HORRIFYING DEGREE.

Serial killer media does not always constitute or lead to an explicit defense, appreciation, fetishization, or lionizing of the serial killers that it discusses, however, it has become evident that it can, and does, and apparently to an increasing extent.

Again, to me, it’s the Capitalism. Insofar as coverage of horrible circumstances can be sold and consumed more effectively when sensationalized, constructed around a central figure, and presented with increasingly minimal nuance — that is not to say increasingly minimal detail, look at how much the lives of serial killers are scrutinized down to the absolutely microscopic level — so as to create a narrative, that narrative will do as narratives do. At least in the west, almost the entirety of our media consists of stories that follow the hero’s journey, with all its hegemonic influence (straight, cis, white, male, Christian influence, implicit or explicit). That is to say, it will create a hero out of a narrative.

Finally, wherever or not one enjoys serial killer media and forms what I would deem an unhealthy interest in the serial killers themselves is, to me, ultimately inconsequential. This is my personal taste and opinion speaking, this is not a broad statement about the media, but I do not believe that it is worth consuming. I believe that serial killers and the socioeconomic/political/environmental/etc,etc factors that bring them about are worth *understanding,* as this understanding can bring about awareness both of the forces that influence our lives and the ways in which we can better influence ourselves and those around us, however, I do not believe it is meant to be dwelled upon. Essentially, once the average person such as myself has enough understanding about the topic — as much as I need in order to say I got it, and it won’t benefit me or my job or my relationships or my schooling in any tangible way to continue to dwell on it — I believe it’s time to move on. This is because I believe the things we dwell on tangibly affect our lives. I’d rather spend my limited amount of time dwelling on things that bring about deeper appreciation of life. This means that for me I spend my free time outside, or consuming media that seeks to help us understand or appreciate something, even if it’s not always sunshine and rainbows.

I mean... I just... don’t wanna sit around all day and look at the same disheveled white guys and the same grossly, wildly inappropriately sexualized bloody bodies of primarily young, conventionally attractive women. I don’t find it personally enjoyable, but I also don’t believe it brings about positive results in the understandings and behaviors of many of the people that watch it, especially those without the cursory understanding of sociological and psychological concepts and economic factors that I’m lucky to have with my stupid little bachelors degree. As a Leftist, I truly believe it is responsible for reinforcing the poor societal conditions we find ourselves in, as it seeks not to explain or condemn the factors that perpetuate our situations, but to gloss over or even excuse them at best, or indeed to actively encourage and being about them at worst.

This isn’t to say I want all media to be utilitarian and pleasant, or that serial killer media shouldn’t exist, I simply believe that there is a certain threshold in which either the production of or excessive consumption of it becomes irresponsible and potentially harmful to an individual or to society as a whole, and that, at the very least, American obsession with it has reached a genuinely concerning state.

I’ll leave you with this: my favorite line in the book “My Year of Meats,” which I was assigned to read by my favorite gay, Latino professor, who’s research and works are intentionally influenced by his indentity and experiences, is the line in which the protagonist reflects on America’s intrinsic obsession with violence, especially insofar as it prevents us from forming positive connections with eachother and the world around us and making positive steps toward the future, laments that “ours is a bloody culture.”

#personal #rant #serial killers

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eyebrarian · 5 years

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My observation of the human-to-avatar pipeline, at least when it comes to what I’ll call victim-style avatars.

Stage 1-- Preparation

The person is molded into having a personality that can easily connect to a given fear. This can either occur naturally, or be deliberately engineered, though it seems like it’s hard to artificially guarantee an affinity to a power (look at Peter’s siblings.)

If stopped on this stage... well, that’s just a normal person with some personality quirks. It can be assumed that many people in the world are at stage 1.

Stage 2-- Contact

The person has come into direct contact with an entity and has been “marked” by it. It’s unlikely that they can begin to be influenced by an entity without being exposed to it in some way.

This does basically apply to every victim that we hear from. If a person experiences stage 2 with none of stage 1, the process is nearly certain to stop here (and you can also have instances like Jonathan, who are marked by multiple entities but only prepared for one.)

Stage 3-- Compulsion

The Entity has begun to affect the person’s mind, so to direct their behavior. This tends to come in the form of a fear or distress that only lifts when the person acts in a way that benefits their patron. Sometimes, this might change to a positive (versus negative) reinforcement, with the person experiencing feelings of pleasure or love by doing these acts.

Someone who stops at this stage would probably still be considered a human victim of an Entity, though possibly a dangerous one.

Stage 4-- Physical Alterations

The way the person’s body works changes to suit their purpose/their patron’s needs. The influence of the Fear is so great that the person’s physical health declines if they don’t “feed” it with the fear of others.

This can be considered the point-of-no-return, since it doesn’t seem like the person can be separated from their patron when it begins to directly affect their body. Not following its will doesn’t seem to really be an option that works in the long-term. It’s somewhere around this stage that people tend to draw the “not human” line.

Stage 5-- Undeath

The person has experienced something that can-- and did-- kill their human body, but persist due to an Entity’s power. They are completely reliant on their patron for their life. All bets are off in regards to what human limits they’ve retained and which they can discard.

This framework breaks apart when it comes to what I consider warlock-style avatars (Jude manifested physical alterations before/at the same time as compulsion, Elias and Peter don’t seem to have any kind of compulsion at all, Mike Crew basically speedran straight to undeath.)

#sorry i just... ive been thinking about this for a while and i got the free time to try and explain it #im just talkin tonight.#ooc #the magnus archives

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boostgood · 2 years

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Are You Using Sex Drugs Before Sex?

You might be thinking about using a sex-related drug. Doing drugs prior to sex can lower inhibitions and lead to inappropriate behavior. You might be less aware of your boundaries when you're high, and the drugs can make this even worse. Before you go out with someone, think about the boundaries you want to establish. If you're not comfortable, it's okay to withdraw your consent and find an alternative partner.

Vardenafil is a prescription drug, is taken 30 minutes before sex. It is available in brand-name and generic versions. It can be consumed with or without food and lasts approximately six hours Potenzmittel bestellen. According to the American College of Physicians, you should pick a medication the one that best suits your preferences and the length of time you'd like it to last. You may want to think about making use of a brand-name medicine that you've heard of or opt for one of the generic brands.

Nearly half of women and men surveyed admitted to using drugs in the past year. Incredibly, straight males were more likely to use drugs than bisexual males. The results show that women and men alike are using drugs to facilitate multiple sexual relationships. However, it appears that the majority of respondents are heterosexual. And while men and women make use of sex drugs to enhance their sexual experiences, many women are using them to help facilitate relationships with multiple partners.

UCL research found that two-thirds of respondents used at least four drugs during sexual activity in the past six months. Four out of ten participants had consumed more than three units of alcohol in one session. The most frequent reasons for using drugs during sex are to increase arousal, reduce inhibitions, or intensify sensations. However, the majority of respondents rated their use as acceptable and exciting. Drug users were also more likely to engage in sexual activity that was not protected and use condoms was not common regardless of drug usage.

Chemsex refers to the use of drugs for sexual pleasure. A large portion of the participants of this study engaged in chemsex, which is the deliberate use of drugs to boost sexual activity. They did it in various situations, such as clubbing or spontaneous hook-ups Potenzmittel rezeptfrei. Their experiences were largely about balancing negative effects of drugs and positive aspects. Their conscious decision of their environment, their personal circumstances and their risk concerns all played a role in their decision to engage in chemsex.

While sexual health clinics can be effective in treating sex addicts, they do not have the expertise needed to manage their use of drugs. In fact, a lot of chemical users are concerned that these facilities are not equipped to address their issues. The treatment and diagnosis of drug-related issues could be taught to sexual health providers. Additionally specialist referrals should be easy to obtain. Additionally it is recommended that a multidisciplinary approach be considered for some patients.

Furthermore, consent to drink must be explicit and voluntary, as well as clear. It should not be given under any pressure or undue influences. In no way is it acceptable to profit from a person's impairment due to drugs or alcohol. People who aren't able to consent cannot give the consent. If you plan to have sex while taking alcohol or drugs, seek the consent of both.

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kiapet2 · 3 years

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Aperture Sides Facility, Chapter 16: Caro Mio Addio

Masterpost

Chapter Summary: A last goodbye.

Chapter Warnings: Past Serious Injury, Leaving Loved Ones Behind

Thomas, can you hear me? C’mon kiddo, you’re gonna be okay, just wake up!

Do not worry, Patton. While some health complications are to be expected, he was only exposed to the extreme conditions of space for six point five seconds, well below the threshold for death.

Do you remember in that one movie when the guy got blown out the airlock and he turned blue and swelled up until his eyes popped out of his head and he exploded?

Oh my god, can you shut up???

Hold up guys, I think he’s coming to.

You groan, blinking as your vision fades in and out of focus.

“Thomas? Can you hear me?” It’s Roman’s voice, you think, and you look up at the others, a rainbow of colors shining down at you.

“M’good,” you slur. “Actually, everything hurts, but what else is new.”

“We need to get him to a MedPod!” Virgil says. “We don’t know how badly hurt he is. He could be dying!”

“A wise course of action,” Logan says. “I believe the closest is-”

“Wait,” you grunt. You take a deep breath, fighting to stay conscious. “Hold up, guys. There’s one- one thing we need... to do first.”

You look down to where Patton is still cradled in your arms.

“Wha- me?” Patton says.

You nod, instantly regretting it when your head bursts into pain. “There’s one more core to be added, before you’re complete.”

Patton looks back and forth between you and where the other Cores are gathered, then rapidly shakes his head. “No, I couldn’t. Not after all of that.”

“Sure you can,” Roman says.

Patton shakes his head even harder. “You never should have chosen me-”

“No, we were right to pick you,” you say.

“What? No, how can you-”

“We were right,” you repeat, as firmly as you can manage while barely conscious. You smile faintly at Patton. “We were wrong to pick only one person, but we were right to think you’d be the one who could resist the corruption. Because you were.”

“But I didn’t!” Patton practically wails. “I nearly destroyed the facility, I- I hurt you-”

“But in the end,” you say, “You chose to let Janus replace you, so the-”

A fresh wave of pain hits and you close your eyes against it, hissing through your teeth. When you open them again the others are giving you concerned looks, but you just take a deep breath and press on.

“-so the facility could be saved.”

“And you weren’t even trying to kill Thomas!” Roman says. “The other two tried to kill him like the whole time. That’s gotta count for something!”

“Right, he only tried to kill me,” Janus drawls. “Totally different.”

“Of course it is!” Virgil says. “You tried to kill us first. Payback’s a-”

“The point,” Logan interjects, “Is that despite your missteps as head of the facility, you ultimately demonstrated the ability to give up your power, despite being under rather extreme influence to do otherwise.”

“They’re gonna need you, Pat,” you say. “They need their Morality.”

Patton trembles in your hands, rattling faintly.

“Alright,” he says after a moment. “If that’s what you all want, then I’d do it. I’ll join you.”

The others give cheers and words of encouragement as the robotic body lowers to your level. You carefully press Patton against the final port, feeling a click as he locks into place.

Task done and energy spent, you let your hands fall as the world fades into unconsciousness yet again.

Music is the first thing you’re aware of: a cheery tune playing on loop, coming from somewhere nearby. You groan and shift slightly, feeling too comfortable to want to move. You blink your eyes open and squint at the bright light as the clear covering above you slides open.

“Dim that light!” someone barks. “And will someone turn off that god-awful music?”

“I dunno, it’s kinda grown on me,” someone else says, but after a moment the music stops and the light above you dims.

As the spots in your vision clear you see several familiarly round shapes peering down at you.

“Thomas?”

You groan and push yourself to a seated position. You’re in the same room as you were before, but it looks substantially different. The holes in the ceiling have been patched, and colorful tiles have been added to the walls, breaking up their sterile appearance.

A metal grabby arm comes out from the ground, and you flinch as it comes near, but it just deposits a soft blanket around your shoulders before disappearing again. You pull it tighter around yourself as you look at the others.

“How are you feeling, Thomas?” Logan says gently.

You pat down your front, marveling at the lack of pain. “Surprisingly, pretty okay.”

“We were really worried for a bit there, kiddo,” Patton says, “but you should be right as a rainbow now. The healing chamber didn’t even give you another nipple!”

You self-consciously feel at your chest, then glance down when you feel soft fabric in place of your dirty old tester uniform. You didn’t notice before in your haste to check for injuries, but you’re now wearing a simple tee shirt and sweatpants, both emblazoned with the Aperture Science logo. You decide you’re going to be appreciative of the more comfortable clothes and not think about a group of ball-shaped robots seeing you naked.

Speaking of certain metal balls…

You look up and get a good look at the others for the first time. You don’t know what you expected- Janus’ snake-like body with everyone else latched onto the side, maybe- but instead the mechanical form in front of you looks almost like an upside-down tree. The long, flexible body forms the “trunk,” but instead of continuing until it reaches the Core at the end it instead splits into six about halfway down, each of the Cores appearing to operate one part independently of the others. It should look almost bizarre, but instead you find there’s a strange sort of beauty to it.

“And… you guys?” you say, almost afraid to ask.

“Our behavior seems to be within acceptable parameters,” Logan says. “There have also been no attempts at murder or kidnapping so far, though with the only human unconscious I am unable to say for sure if this was due to lack of human subjects.”

“Naw, there’s plenty of things around we could still murder!” Remus says. “Turrets, plants, that bird that flew in before we fixed the roof, each other…”

“But we’re not doing that,” Roman says pointedly.

“Nope!” Remus agrees cheerfully. “Fun to imagine, though!”

You can’t help it; you break into a smile, then a laugh.

“Hm,” Janus says with exaggerated seriousness, “It looks as though we may have corrupted Thomas this time. Such a dark sense of humor, Thomas!”

“You’re part of me, so what does that say about you?” you say, still smiling.

“Clearly, I am the superior part,” Janus says snottily.

Virgil snorts. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that.”

“Well I think you’re all pretty great!” Patton says.

“Right back at you, Pops,” Roman says, but Patton just ducks his head and doesn’t respond.

That’s a wound that’s probably going to take some time to heal, you think. But Patton is probably the strongest person you know, er well, the strongest person you’ve met since you woke, and he has the others now. He’ll be alright.

You stand, wobbling a bit before steadying yourself, and take a few steps across the room. You don’t know if it’s the healing chamber or just getting hydration, nutrition and sleep, but you’re actually feeling pretty good, all things considered.

You look back at the others and smile. “You patched me real good. Thanks, guys.”

“Technically, the healing chamber did all the work,” Logan says, then adds on, “but you’re welcome after Patton pointedly clears his throat.

“Thomas,” Roman says with uncertainty in his voice, “I know you just woke up, but… do you know what you’re going to do now?”

You sigh, scrubbing a hand down your face. A few days ago you would have answered “get out of here as soon as possible,” but a lot has changed since then. You’ve found friends- family really- and are loath to leave them. But at the same time, you’re not sure you could survive spending the rest of your life in this place.

“Give me a few days?” you say tentatively.

“Of course,” Janus says. “Tell us whenever you’re ready.”

And so for the next week or so, you stay. You eat canned meals and vitamin supplements, sing and dance with Roman and the others, monitor everyone for any signs of negative influence and have long discussions about the hundreds of humans still suck in cryosleep and the best, most humane ways to wake them.

It’s… good. It feels nice to be around these people- these parts of you- without the constant threat of death hanging over your head.

And yet, by the end of the week you find yourself packing a satchel full of food and survival equipment, and then trekking up to the Control Chamber to see the others.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you,” Janus says flatly, as soon as he sees your face.

“Yeah,” you say quietly. “Don’t get me wrong, I love all of you, and if I could stay with you and be happy I would. But it would kill me to live my life here. I want to see the sky.”

The Cores all exchange looks, then Patton says, “we understand.”

“You’re welcome back anytime you want to visit,” Virgil says. “Not that anyone ever really visits Aperture, but if you’re in the neighborhood…”

“I’ll look you up,” you say, the thought bringing a smile to your face.

“Virge,” you say, “I’m really glad I met you. You’ve saved my life so many times, and taught me so much about myself. I’m never going to think of my anxiety the same way again.”

“Doofus,” Virgil mutters, but he’s smiling so you call it a win.

You turn to Patton next.

“Thomas,” he says, “I’m so sorry for everything, again. I just knew everyone was counting on me, and I got it into my head that I couldn’t fail, no matter what.”

“But you can fail,” you say, directing your smile towards him. “Because someone is always gonna be there to catch you.”

Patton bends down, and you gather him into a hug. “I’ll miss you, Thomas,” he says.

You hug tighter, ignoring the metal digging into your arms. “I’ll miss you too.”

“Next, you go to Roman. “You’ll need to have many more adventures, for me,” he says, chuckling wetly.

“Same to you,” you say, trying really hard at this point not to choke up yourself. “Always remember how special you are, okay?”

“I will,” Roman says, “I swear it.”

You turn to Logan. “Logan, you’ve been my rock this whole time. I don’t know where any of us would be right now without you.”

Logan makes a noise like clearing his throat, as if self-conscious. “You also have taught me much, Thomas. I am honored to be a part of you.”

You don’t turn to Remus so much as have him tackle-hug you.

“I heard there are nasty looking aliens out there,” he says. “Kill one for me?”

You laugh again. “You know what? If I can handle things in here, I can handle a few aliens.”

And finally, there’s Janus, fully restored in his black-and-yellow casing. For a moment you stare at each other, neither sure exactly what to say. Then you say, “I know we started off a bit rough, but I’m really glad to have known you. I consider you a friend.”

“The same to you,” Janus says, and this time you know he isn’t lying.

You hold out the portal gun. “Thank you for letting me use this- even though you originally intended to kill me and get it back.”

“Keep it,” Janus says softly. “It will be harder to use outside, but not impossible. Around him the others all nod their agreement, and that’s when the tears come.

“Goodbye,” you say as you step into the elevator and the doors close behind you. “Goodbye.”

Halfway up, the elevator slows and the door opens. In front of you is a massive chamber absolutely full of turrets, and for a moment you’re convinced you’re about to die, before you see that none of them are shooting or even aiming.

The turrets begin to sway their side flaps back and forth, and sounds of music come from them, halting at first but growing in strength and complexity as more join in. Then, a voice comes in with the melody, apparently from nowhere- a rich baritone, strikingly similar to your own.

Roman.

Another voice joins it, similar to Roman’s but with a distinct rasp that you know belongs to Virgil. More voices add to the song: Patton’s, clear and gentle like a lullaby; Logan’s, starting out pitchy but growing in strength and certainty as he continues; Janus, dark and smooth as chocolate, and finally Remus rounding out the harmonies in a nasal tenor. It’s a song of farewell, one that grows to a crescendo as your elevator once again begins to rise, before coming to a gentle resolution as the elevator arrives at its destination.

You blink the tears out of your eyes as the elevator doors open, revealing another door that slowly swings open to reveal light too warm and bright to be anything artificial. You look back over your shoulder one more time as you let your eyes adjust.

“Thank you for everything,” you whisper, not sure if the others can still here you but still wanting to try. “Goodbye.”

Then you step out into the light, and for the first time you can remember, see bright blue sky.

#aperture sides facility #my writing #ts storytime

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rdclsuperfoods · 3 years

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Often, messages that pose as health promoting are actually the opposite. There are obvious examples, like the doctor pushing an all-meat diet, or the celebrity wellness influencer telling the world that voluntarily getting stung by bees will reduce inflammation. But the more dangerous messaging is subtler, more insidious, and widespread: that fat bodies are inherently unhealthy.

In a recent New York Times article, health columnist Jane Brody points out that Americans have been hit harder by COVID than most other countries, then blames this on our personal health habits, namely diet and exercise. She spends most of the column raising alarm bells about quarantine weight gain, high-calorie foods, and fatness in general.

In doing so, she’s not promoting healthier habits. The truth is, health and weight are not nearly as entwined as we think they are. (Not to mention there’s far more to America’s COVID crisis than personal health; limited access to health care, systemic discrimination and inequality, and the politicization of the virus have all played huge roles.) Overemphasizing weight loss is stigmatizing and can actually be detrimental to individual health. Here’s why we need to rethink this kind of messaging.

“Fat” Does Not Mean “Unhealthy”

Brody talks of the many people in her life who have “packed on quite a few pounds of health-robbing body fat this past year.” This is an undeniably stigmatizing statement, and it also makes a major assumption that happens to be false: that gaining weight, or being naturally bigger-bodied, is inherently unhealthy. (As a journalist, I’m constantly irritated that other journalists can write things like this without citing a shred of evidence, whereas I have to add an entire paragraph with several citations every time I suggest that weight loss isn’t always a helpful or realistic goal.)

It’s possible to be healthy at a higher weight, just as it’s possible to be unhealthy at a lower one. One 2016 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association even found that Danish adults in the “overweight” BMI category actually lived the longest. Being at a higher weight is associated with a higher risk of certain diseases, yes, but that doesn’t mean someone at a higher weight is necessarily unhealthy. “You absolutely cannot infer health information or information about one’s health behaviors based solely on their weight,” says Mary Himmelstein, a researcher at the University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. Someone in a thin body may be completely sedentary and eat a diet of mostly processed foods and very few fruits and vegetables, while someone in a larger body might be extremely active and eat loads of nutrient-rich foods.

All of this to say: the relationship between weight and health is far too complicated to make blanket statements like “health-robbing body fat.” Both weight gain and weight loss can be healthful or harmful. It all depends on context.

Eating Well Isn’t Simple

For years, Brody has presented herself as a living example of sustainable weight loss—about 50 years ago, she lost 40 pounds in two years and has kept that weight off since. In this particular column, she offers up her personal eating regimen as the solution to pandemic weight gain (and fatness in general): eat a diet “based primarily on vegetables, with fish, beans, and nonfat milk [as one’s] main sources of protein,” along with a bit of portion-controlled ice cream, the occasional burger, and daily exercise. But while that approach may seem realistic compared to all the fad diets out there, experts warn that it’s not as accessible as Brody makes it sound.

This “I can do it, so can you” attitude is out of touch with many people’s reality, says Jennifer Jackson, a dietitian based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The nonprofit Feeding America estimates that 15 percent of Americans can’t afford enough nutritious food to meet their needs, and Bloomberg reported earlier this year that 12 percent of Americans live in poverty. Stressors like working multiple jobs, raising children (especially as a single parent), lacking health insurance, and living in unsafe neighborhoods also make prioritizing good nutrition more complicated. Health behaviors often have more to do with someone’s privilege than their motivation, Jackson says.

Even if everyone did eat according to Brody’s recommendations, it doesn’t mean we would all magically be at what Brody and the BMI scale (the height-to-weight ratio used to group people into weight categories) deem a “healthy” weight. “Weight is not simply calories in, calories out,” Himmelstein says. In fact, the body actively resists weight loss: a 2015 literature review published in the International Journal of Obesity explains that the body generally adapts to calorie deficits by burning fewer calories, using less stored fat for energy, decreasing the fullness-signaling hormone leptin, and increasing the hunger-signaling hormone ghrelin. It’s also widely accepted that there’s a genetic component to obesity, and a 2018 review in Current Obesity Report outlines the significant amount of evidence suggesting that stress plays a big role in body weight as well.

“Weight and weight gain are the result of our genetics, our physiology, our environment, our personal stress levels, and our behaviors,” the authors write. Assuming that weight is impacted only, or primarily, by our behaviors, is wildly inaccurate. And maintaining weight loss long-term is even harder than acheiving it in the first place. A 2020 review in The BMJ found that while diets lead to weight loss and health improvements in the first six months, these benefits typically disappear by the one-year mark.

Shame Doesn’t Motivate

Relentlessly encouraging weight loss does more harm than good. “Fat-shaming messaging increases weight stigma, which increases stress and inflammation—which are negative health outcomes,” says Amee Severson, a dietitian and the owner of Prosper Nutrition in Bellingham, Washington. A 2015 study in Obesity, of which Himmelstein was the lead author, found that individuals who reported experiencing weight stigma had higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, than those who did not. Chronically elevated levels of cortisol have repeatedly been linked to an increased risk of many diseases, as outlined in this 2017 review published in the EXCLI Journal. And a 2018 study in Health Psychology, also authored by Himmelstein, found that coping with weight stigma can negatively impact both physical and mental health.

While articles like Brody’s are presumably meant to promote health and healthy behaviors, they actually do the opposite. A small 2014 study of 93 college-age women in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that those who saw themselves as overweight felt “less capable of controlling their eating” and consumed more calories after reading a weight-stigmatizing news article than those who read a non-stigmatizing article. A larger 2017 study in Preventative Medicine found that experiencing weight stigma as an adolescent significantly increased a person’s risk for binge eating and unhealthy weight-control behaviors as an adult. And, as Severson points out, it makes bigger-bodied people less likely to seek out health care, too.

Live and Let Live

No one owes it to the world to be healthy. “I think that every single person has the right to choose how important health is to them,” Severson says. People are allowed to have different values, and healthy behaviors like eating nutritious foods and getting regular movement are not a moral obligation.

Health is personal, and what is considered healthy when it comes to eating and other behaviors varies between individuals. It’s incredibly difficult to give effective health advice to a large audience, but there’s still room for health-promoting messages in the media. We need to think critically about the harm certain messages may cause. Mandating fruits and vegetables for people who can’t afford them is offensive and misguided. Demonizing fat and weight gain is demoralizing and harmful to people who live in larger bodies. We know that shame doesn’t motivate healthy behaviors—and it absolutely harms health.

via Outside Magazine: Nutrition

#IFTTT #Outside Magazine: Nutrition

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tallmantall · 2 years

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#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth - Study: 1 In 3 #Teens Reported Poor #MentalHealth During #Pandemic

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harold-leitner · 3 years

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Think Rewards Not Discounts

Author: SK Tirumala

Fear and money are significant motivators to influence behavioral change and works better than simply advise and education. This is particularly applicable for auto insurers who are trying to encourage their insured to drive more responsibly. Analysts who regularly survey the market report that nearly 20% of US insurers are already offering telematics solutions to promote safe driving in exchange for premium discounts. While these early adopters need to further optimize their programs to drive greater adoption and profitable growth, what about the other 80%?

While telematics-based auto insurance is picking up steam, many insurers are still on the sidelines in a “wait and watch” mode. In my own interactions, I found that these insurers are quick to assume that a telematics program means a hit to their topline revenue with no real assurance of positive impact to loss ratio. They believe in the theory but are unwilling to move forward until there is more proof from the market, a well-tested UBI product, more attractive pricing factors, and better ways to prevent gaming of the system. They also fear losing loyal customers due to the negative perception of “big brother watching”.

Their reasons do make sense, but I believe that the trick to successfully lowering risks and staying profitable using telematics lies in having a good end-to-end strategy and roadmap that balances the current opportunity with innovative ideas, adequate preparedness, and a well-orchestrated roadmap that delivers desired outcomes. Moreover, maintaining the status quo could eventually hurt the books when good drivers gravitate towards insurers offering more tailored products and pricing, leaving behind only risky drivers with higher claims exposure. Insurers who wait will then be compelled to take counter measures such as raising premiums to protect margins, causing further erosion of the book.https://www.xemplarinsights.com/think-rewards-not-discounts.aspx

Insurers should not rush towards UBI if they are not ready, but should at least consider providing cost-effective safe driving tools based on telematics as a free value-added service to their current policyholders without sacrificing any premium. Just as for good health, exercise and eating healthy are necessary, and much easier to achieve with tracking tools to monitor progress. Telematics would provide factual insights into how safely one drives and unsafe habits they ought to change. To further show that their insurer cares about their safety, creative opt-in “cash back” schemes using gamification and safe-driving contests would drive their adoption of safety tools. Best of all, the driving behavior data derived from the insured participating in these opt-in programs, would be an invaluable asset when the business is ready to compete in the UBI market more aggressively. I would call that a win-win-win game plan.

#Think Rewards Not Discounts

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echoesofscreams-archive · 3 years

Photo

Basics:

Name: Otto Bagman Pronunciation: aa·tow Meaning: Wealth, Prosperity Birthday: 21 March Age: Twenty-Two Pronouns: He/Him Sexuality: Pansexual Siblings: Ludovic Bagman Parents: Samuel Bagman (Father) & Allura Bagman (Mother) Other Family: Daisy Hookum (Basically a Sister) Languages: English Current Residence: London, England Hometown: London, England

Wizard Fun:

Education: Hogwarts - Ravenclaw Year of Graduation: 1977 Occupation: Librarian at Idle Hour Library Pet: Goober Blood Status: Halfblood Species: Wizard Patronus: Cat Boggart: Ludo hurt Amortentia: tbd ! Wand type: Dogwood & Unicorn Affiliation: Neutral

Appearance:

Height: 5′11″ Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown Typical Hair Style: Shaggy and “it does what it wants” Fashion Style: HAHAHA. He wears whatever he can find that’s clean. Mostly comfortable clothing, t-shirts and jeans. Distinguishing Features: He broke his nose once and it wasn’t set right, so it’s a bit crooked

Personality:

Positive Traits: Easygoing, Spontaneous Negative Traits: Childish, Flaky Quick Facts: He drinks dumb bitch juice on the regular Theme song: Dancing Queen by ABBA

Biography:

Triggers: Undiagnosed mental health (ADHD & Autusm)

The Bagman family did never have much influence in wizarding society. Samuel and Allura met at Hogwarts and eventually married. Though Samuel was a pureblood and Allura a halfblood, his family had never been one for blood supremacy. Their families were happy as long as they were happy. Samuel made his money at a job in a wizard technology company and Allura was a mediwitch. Both of them worked long hours at their jobs and never made a lot of money. However, it wasn’t long before they had their first child, Ludovic. Not too long after, Otto followed. From the moment he was born, they knew that Otto was going to be a handful. As a toddler, he followed anyone around that he could asking questions and when that person got annoyed at him, he’d go and find someone else to ask his questions. He never noticed that it made him obnoxious. He was seven before they found that they could just give Otto a puzzle and it would keep him occupied. Otto became super focused on the task in front of him rather than bother those around him. From jigsaw, mechanical, and logic puzzles, he found it easy to forget everything else and solve the the problem in front of him.

Magic was a large part of his life. Since his parents were both full time workers, Otto was used to seeing magic around the house helping them with basic chores. Wizarding London was the only London to him. Otto’s parents had decided since their son was a bit of a handful, they would rather keep him isolated to Wizarding London where they could keep an eye on him. However, at the age of nine, he took a wrong turn and it led him into a completely different world. Otto was fascinated by all of the muggle technology and wanted to know more. He became lost in a world of televisions, cars, lawn mowers, and telephones. The people in muggle London had no magic and it fascinated him that they could function without magic, the technologies they created. He didn’t want to leave, though eventually his parents found him and took him back home. As much as his parents hated it, whenever he had a chance, Otto would find himself back in muggle London. He saved his pennies and started buying muggle technology and objects as often as he could.

Otto watched Ludo go off to Hogwarts and wanted to hear about all the fun his brother had at the school while he eagerly awaited his own chance to go to school. He waited patiently for his brother’s letters, coming up with all sorts of lists of things he wanted to try when he got his chance to go. It wasn’t long after that he did get his chance to go. Otto expected to be sorted into Hufflepuff, like his father, or Gryffindor, for his more chaotic behavior and although the hat considered those for a brief moment, it ended up calling out a house that surprised him: Ravenclaw. Otto didn’t have a love of learning like the rest of his house, but it was his curiosity and love of academic challenges that got him sorted into Ravenclaw. Hogwarts was much different than his home. There were strict rules and he wasn’t used to that. After two detentions, he decided that he would learn all of the school rules, so he sat down and memorized them all. He learned them so he could break them. That’s how he realized that he was sorted into Ravenclaw for a reason and that he had a photographic memory. He knew that would be a very useful skill.

While being a very intelligent boy, Otto was lazy. His reputation among the castle was not positive. Otto had the skill to be better, but he rarely applied himself in his classes. That statement continued until his sixth year, when Otto nearly flunked out of school and had to repeat the grade. That summer is when Otto’s parents finally took him to a muggle doctor where they diagnosed him with ADHD and autism. With that knowledge, he was able to pass the rest of his classes with more ease, as the professors gave him more time to complete his work and helped him focus. He didn’t graduate at the top of his class, but at least he graduate. Otto still struggles with trying to focus from time to time and often will disappear for days at a time when he finds himself working on a project.

Since graduating, Otto got a job at the Idle Hour Library as a librarian. He didn’t expect it to be a job he’d enjoy, but he does. It gives him plenty of time to work on projects and it isn’t overly stimulating to work there. He also has access to a lot of books where he can research anything his heart desires. When it comes to the war however, Otto has chosen to stay out of it. He doesn’t really know what benefit he would be to the war effort. He’s worried that he’ll be on the losing side of the war. He helps the war effort in the ways that he can, including providing false documentation for wix that want to leave England unknown and provides a safe haven to anyone that asks, but as far as everything else, Otto Bagman prefers to keep his distance.

#𝙊𝙏𝙏𝙊 / about.#𝙊𝙏𝙏𝙊 / intro.#ahintro

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