this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2023
26 points (86.1% liked)

No Stupid Questions

2298 readers
1 users here now

There is no such thing as a Stupid Question!

Don't be embarrassed of your curiosity; everyone has questions that they may feel uncomfortable asking certain people, so this place gives you a nice area not to be judged about asking it. Everyone here is willing to help.


Reminder that the rules for lemmy.ca still apply!


Thanks for reading all of this, even if you didn't read all of this, and your eye started somewhere else, have a watermelon slice 🍉.


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 24 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Veritas@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago
[–] Vampiric_Luma@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago

How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler changed my life.

I wanted to learn some nutrition science to stop my mother from drinking so much dandelion tea that The View was shilling to her. She wasn't buying it. I decided I needed a better core understanding in order to convince her. Naturally if I'm going to read a bunch of science journals and such I thought I could increase efficiency through improving another core skill - reading. Special thanks to video games for teaching me learning techniques or I wouldn't have made the connection.

What followed was a painful yet wonderful journey of self discovery and I'd likely still be an ignorant bigot if it weren't for that book. I'm still ignorant, but I'm trying!

She never listened in the end though. :')

[–] mrbn@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
[–] Veritas@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)
  • Zeitgeist Movie: This is a documentary film that explores various conspiracy theories related to religion, politics, and economics. It challenges the viewer to question their beliefs and assumptions about the world.

  • "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins: This book presents a new perspective on the evolution of life on Earth, arguing that genes, rather than individuals or species, are the fundamental unit of selection. It challenges traditional views of altruism and cooperation in biology.

  • "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle: This book challenges readers to live in the present moment, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It provides practical guidance for achieving inner peace and happiness.

  • Lemmygrad.ml website: This website provides a critical analysis of the Soviet Union and its legacy, challenging traditional views of communism and socialism. It offers a unique perspective on the history of the 20th century and its relevance to the present day.

  • "Paleo Diet" by Loren Cordain: This book challenges traditional views on nutrition and health, arguing that a diet based on the foods our ancestors ate during the Paleolithic era can improve our health and well-being.

[–] snoons@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

lemmygrad is just a russian troll hut.

[–] Veritas@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I read lemmygrad since I joined a year ago and can tell you most trolls came after the Reddit blackout.

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You seem to confuse "challenge" and "conspiracy theory about".

Except Dawkins, everything you posted is bullshit at best. And even Dawkins didn't age super well.

Do you happen to be a 14 years old edge lord or did you really not research for just 2min what media you're consuming?

[–] Veritas@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You seem to confuse “challenge” and “conspiracy theory about”.

You seem unable to read. Read the question again. Then write a comment that makes me think you actually know what you are talking about and we can argue.

[–] agressivelyPassive@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well, Zeitgeist is known to be a conspiracy theory compilation. There's nothing eye opening about it.

You are not as smart as you think you are, if the most eye opening media you can come up with is the most vanilla teenage edgelord reading list.

Seriously, just google any of your recommendations for just 30s and you'll see, that they're pretty much bullshit.

[–] Veritas@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
  • Zeitgeist Movie: This is a documentary film that explores various conspiracy theories related to religion, politics, and economics. It challenges the viewer to question their beliefs and assumptions about the world.

I already say it's a video about conspiracy theories in my comment above. None of it is proven. But if you don't even consider a conspiracy theory before dismissing it, you just lack critical thinking.

So, you think the video is wrong, God is real and the US government isn't corrupt? Maybe you and I live in different worlds, I guess one of us lives a fantasy and the other in reality.

Finding the truth is much more difficult than just googling stuff. You need to look at something from all different perspectives, gathering all possible information and sifting through it to find the truth.

The US propaganda machine explained

The whole point of conspiracies is to raise a bunch of “questions” without any evidence or justification and then try to shift the burden of proof on everyone else.

That which is presented without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. Stupid “theories” are not worth of any time, energy, or serious consideration.

[–] Anissem@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago

For me that moment was in the early 90s on a dial up community service from Sierra Online called “Imagination Online”. Before that the game Doom consumed me, but this was my glimpse of what I’d eventually know as the internet. Suddenly there was this entire new world to explore and the ability to make connections with people was so fascinating.

[–] Biscuit303@reddthat.com 4 points 1 year ago
[–] jadero@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago

The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants

In addition to the simple act of adding to what I see when I look, it changed the way I think about the underlying rules that govern everything about the way the world is, from it's "construction" to the individual and collective behaviours of the objects and beings that populate it.

[–] DerisionConsulting@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

Honestly, probably the Bible, but that was over 20 years ago.

Having a father who was a pastor and the head of the local Gideons, there were always dozens of bibles around the house. But being given my own copy that I could highlight/make notes in as a birthday present just prior to jr. high was the beginning of freeing myself from Christianity.

I didn't have the internet and I lived in a small town, so interacting with those critical of Christianity wasn't really an option for me. Being able to note major inconsistencies throughout the Bible, including the core "easter story", was enough to make the scales fall from my eyes.

[–] danielquinn@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. I bought the book 'cause the author and I have the same name.

The premise of the book is really just a conversation between the protagonist and a gorilla, but the thesis is far more interesting and literally changed my life. You read it, and suddenly so much makes sense, but not in the way you expected it to.

It's hard to explain it to someone who's never read it, but essentially Quinn separates those who accepted the idea of infinite growth (most people) from those that took a pass, then digs into the reasons why we've adopted this worldview, where it comes from, whether it's rational, and if it's possible to change.

It's a weekend read and may well break your brain in a good way.

[–] Smatt@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Yes good call. I read this one in high school and also remember it as worldview changing.

[–] fckreddit@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I find fiction to be a great tool to understand people and societies. Books that broadened my understanding of the nature of power and people who seek it are Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind manga by Hayao Miyazaki.

[–] Veritas@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago
[–] TotallyHuman@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

The Dictator's Handbook. I knew about realpolitik, of course, but it was a really good description of how it affects dictators' behaviour, and how seemingly stupid actions may simply be the result of callous calculation.

[–] SlikPikker@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

The book "Seeing like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed."

I think it illustrates, better than most more political arguments, why authoritarianism usually cannot be used for good.

[–] Veritas@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago
[–] Bleach7297@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The first two seasons of MLP:FIM. Had lost all sophistication by the end of the 3rd season.

Also HIGNFY. Its good to know there are people with crazier politics than us. Other than Americans.

[–] Smatt@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

FYI IDK TA (These Acronyms)