This is The Average Man's Body

Off Topic
141

[quote]LoRez wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

[quote]LoRez wrote:
I really don’t have a solution for how to use automation to benefit society as a whole.[/quote]
There isn’t a solution. People will adapt. People always adapt. [/quote]
Well, I mean, the historical response has basically been an anti-technology or anti-intellectual movement of some kind.

We’re talking stuff like people destroying modern farming equipment so they can farm the land by hand and at least have a job. The cost of food increases significantly, but at least they can provide for their family now that they have a job.

Increased taxation to fund social programs isn’t a particularly good solution either.

I mean, if your job was automated away but you could maintain the same standard of living as before, that would be one thing. But that’s now how it is.[/quote]

I’m not sure I agree at least big picture. I feel like, yes some folks can’t adapt and end up in poverty or on government assistance, but in general most people do adapt. Whether that’s moving to a new city and learning a different trade or going back to school while working part time or whatever. I truly believe the majority adapt. Farmers for example may not need as many hands in the field, but they have logistical issues they never had before. Or Accountants don’t need to spend hour upon hour filling out the minutia of a tax return, but application of ever changing tax law can never be automated in my estimation at least. Same thing with other finance related jobs, like Bookkeepers for example.

Technology may close a door, but typically it opens another.

142

[quote]The Ox Man wrote:
I would like to add that anyone who thinks there aren’t slaves in the US or other developed countries is wrong.

People from poorer areas of the world get promised jobs in the US so they come willingly, then when they arrive their “boss” confiscates their passports and withholds their pay.

This isn’t just sex slavery, do a quick google search and you’ll find a lot of examples.[/quote]

Passport confiscation is a complete myth.

143

If you simply look at energy systems in the body and muscle fiber composition you can theorize as to why certain races/nationalities of people are predominately fast twitch.

To put it as simply as possible…

Extreme humidity causes blood in the body to rush to the surface making it less available to transfer oxygen throughout the body for energy.

Slow twitch muscle fibers use oxygen for energy, fast twitch muscle fibers use glucose, etc…

So, through micro-evolution the human body would adapt by being fast twitch dominant.

I wasn’t saying blacks are physically superior, I was saying that the physical traits of any race or people can be explained through science and adaptations to climate, not fairy tales about ‘vikings’ and ‘slaves’. All races and people are guilty of doing this and it’s extremely annoying to me, hence my outburst haha.

Also, NOBODY IS INDIGENOUS TO JAMAICA SLAVES WERE BROUGHT THERE FROM AFRICA. AGAIN, READ A BOOK.

Seriously, research the human body and it’s reactions to climate and weather conditions, it’s very interesting and explains a lot as to why we all look different.

144

[quote]SuperVillian wrote:
If you simply look at energy systems in the body and muscle fiber composition you can theorize as to why certain races/nationalities of people are predominately fast twitch…

Seriously, research the human body and it’s reactions to climate and weather conditions, it’s very interesting and explains a lot as to why we all look different.
[/quote]

Interesting, though I’d wager your view is over-simplified.

But given where we’re at (and progressing) genomically, this may well be figured out in our lifetimes.

145

[quote]SuperVillian wrote:
If you simply look at energy systems in the body and muscle fiber composition you can theorize as to why certain races/nationalities of people are predominately fast twitch.

To put it as simply as possible…

Extreme humidity causes blood in the body to rush to the surface making it less available to transfer oxygen throughout the body for energy.

Slow twitch muscle fibers use oxygen for energy, fast twitch muscle fibers use glucose, etc…

So, through micro-evolution the human body would adapt by being fast twitch dominant.

I wasn’t saying blacks are physically superior, I was saying that the physical traits of any race or people can be explained through science and adaptations to climate, not fairy tales about ‘vikings’ and ‘slaves’. All races and people are guilty of doing this and it’s extremely annoying to me, hence my outburst haha.

Also, NOBODY IS INDIGENOUS TO JAMAICA SLAVES WERE BROUGHT THERE FROM AFRICA. AGAIN, READ A BOOK.

Seriously, research the human body and it’s reactions to climate and weather conditions, it’s very interesting and explains a lot as to why we all look different.
[/quote]

Good points.

Right, blacks are not indigenous to Jamaica. They were brought there, just like they were brought to the rest of the Caribbean (Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Haiti, and so on), South America, and the United States.

We don’t only look different. It is more than skin color and outward physical features.

146

Regarding slavery, I do see some people’s points, although I am too lazy to re-read pages of posts. There’s no doubt there is mass exploitation going on in this country, which is what happens EVERY time there are different groups of people in varying numbers and of different abilities and outlooks on life and this world. If you want to call this slavery in the non-traditional sense, fine. I was simply stating before that there is no formal government program in which people are forced to move here and work, which is what happened with our Atlantic slave trade.

147

[quote]roybot wrote:

[quote]The Ox Man wrote:
I would like to add that anyone who thinks there aren’t slaves in the US or other developed countries is wrong.

People from poorer areas of the world get promised jobs in the US so they come willingly, then when they arrive their “boss” confiscates their passports and withholds their pay.

This isn’t just sex slavery, do a quick google search and you’ll find a lot of examples.[/quote]

Passport confiscation is a complete myth. [/quote]

Doesn’t any sense either. If your passport is confiscated by someone you go to your nearest embassy or consulate, report your passport lost or stolen then get issued a replacement.

149

[quote]batman730 wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

[quote]BrickHead wrote:
What’s an inflated minimum wage, $13 an hour? [/quote]
Minimum wage, due to it’s very nature, is an inflated wage.

My father in law and I argue about this. He is of the impassioned opinion that anyone who is willing to work is owed a “living wage”. He loosely implies that this wage might be around $15/hr. From an emotional standpoint it’s not hard to get behind the idea that if a person works, he should be able to afford a basic standard of living for his family.

Unfortunately, it seems to me that if the government were to impose a $15/hr minimum wage on corporations who employ minimum wage labourers we would only see an initial increase in the standard of living for people in that earning bracket. Does anybody really think it would being before the corporations would increase the cost of basic goods and services to regain their lost profitability? The minimum wage earners would soon be right back where they are in terms of buying power while those of us who have managed to elevate our market value above the minimum would find our buying power eroded (until we, in turn, begin to charge more for our goods and service).

[/quote]

The thing is that prices should be higher. Walmart, McDonald’s, Tim Horton’s, etc… all turn huge profits while tax dollars subsidize an otherwise unsustainable commodity they require to operate (if not for government money their labor force wouldn’t survive, and they’d be out of business with no one to flip patties). In what kind of bizaro world should a big mac cost less to buy than it costs to make while McDonald’s still turns a profit on every sale?
That’s crazy. I want lower taxes, not cheaper big macs.

150

As for the original topic, I have no doubt that black slaves were selectively bred in America, but so were the Irish ones, and I don’t see too many of those in the NFL. Sure do wish the Egyptians had done a better job breeding whites though. More pyramid block pulling power would really help out in the gym.

151

[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
Also, just to add to this, minimum wage is intended to help the poor in this country. But what it really does (in addition to the above) is increase unemployment among the same population it’s supposed to be helping. When companies have to pay more for jobs than they are worth, they simply get by with employing less of those people and spending more money to automate more jobs.[/quote]

Eh, business owners will automate even if minimum wage didn’t exist.

[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
Also entry level wages ($7-15/hr) were never meant to be living wages. They are a starting point. The employee needs to develop his skills and move up the chain and build a career, the same way the rest of successful people do. If all you want to do is go to work, do some menial job and go home, don’t expect to ever earn a livable wage.
[/quote]

This type of system requires an actual pathway that you can follow up. Such a thing doesn’t practically exist- There are always fewer management and higher level folks than lower level folks.

So the reality is that a good chunk of the people must be consigned to living at an unlivable wage.

Which means they’ll either have to be homeless or starve.

152

[quote]magick wrote:

This type of system requires an actual pathway that you can follow up. Such a thing doesn’t practically exist- There are always fewer management and higher level folks than lower level folks.

So the reality is that a good chunk of the people must be consigned to living at an unlivable wage.

Which means they’ll either have to be homeless or starve.[/quote]

Excellent facts that few seem to think of.

153

[quote]Broncoandy wrote:

[quote]batman730 wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

[quote]BrickHead wrote:
What’s an inflated minimum wage, $13 an hour? [/quote]
Minimum wage, due to it’s very nature, is an inflated wage.

My father in law and I argue about this. He is of the impassioned opinion that anyone who is willing to work is owed a “living wage”. He loosely implies that this wage might be around $15/hr. From an emotional standpoint it’s not hard to get behind the idea that if a person works, he should be able to afford a basic standard of living for his family.

Unfortunately, it seems to me that if the government were to impose a $15/hr minimum wage on corporations who employ minimum wage labourers we would only see an initial increase in the standard of living for people in that earning bracket. Does anybody really think it would being before the corporations would increase the cost of basic goods and services to regain their lost profitability? The minimum wage earners would soon be right back where they are in terms of buying power while those of us who have managed to elevate our market value above the minimum would find our buying power eroded (until we, in turn, begin to charge more for our goods and service).

[/quote]

The thing is that prices should be higher. Walmart, McDonald’s, Tim Horton’s, etc… all turn huge profits while tax dollars subsidize an otherwise unsustainable commodity they require to operate (if not for government money their labor force wouldn’t survive, and they’d be out of business with no one to flip patties). In what kind of bizaro world should a big mac cost less to buy than it costs to make while McDonald’s still turns a profit on every sale?
That’s crazy. I want lower taxes, not cheaper big macs.[/quote]

You’re gonna have to prove Big Mac’s are sold at a loss and if that’s a part of their overall sales strategy, ie a loss leader.

154

[quote]magick wrote:
Eh, business owners will automate even if minimum wage didn’t exist.
[/quote]

Not necessarily. It will always come down to the cost/benefit of automation. Automation isn’t free. Not initially and not going forward.

[quote]
This type of system requires an actual pathway that you can follow up. Such a thing doesn’t practically exist- There are always fewer management and higher level folks than lower level folks.

So the reality is that a good chunk of the people must be consigned to living at an unlivable wage.

Which means they’ll either have to be homeless or starve.[/quote]

That isn’t necessarily true either. There’s no reason why a person can not work two jobs and live with multiple roommates (or remain with their parents) until they either receive a promotion where they currently work or find another higher paying job.

The crux is they have to cultivate a skill, gain useful experience, or education/knowledge about a subject and no one is going to just hand it to them.

Lastly, yes some level of poverty will always exist.

155

[quote]BrickHead wrote:

[quote]magick wrote:

This type of system requires an actual pathway that you can follow up. Such a thing doesn’t practically exist- There are always fewer management and higher level folks than lower level folks.

So the reality is that a good chunk of the people must be consigned to living at an unlivable wage.

Which means they’ll either have to be homeless or starve.[/quote]

Excellent facts that few seem to think of. [/quote]

This “arrangement” is temporary for the vast majority of people.

156

[quote]Phoenix44e wrote:

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I saw my wife’s nephew at Thanksgiving. This kid (age 33…) gets bigger and bigger every time I see him. His parents always coddled him and he was always a soft fat kid. He’s some sort of vegetarian, his 2 food groups are dairy and carbs. So far his health is okay. I’m surprised his parents don’t try to influence him to take better care of himself, as they are health nuts who equate being skinny with being in good health.

I got a neighbor down the block, younger than me by a few years. This guy is tall and is about 375 lbs. He has a spotty employment record, which is partly due to his appearance, plus he smokes cigarettes and cigars… he basically stinks. His wife is a saint, she does everything around the house. When it snows, she’s out shoveling while he watches TV inside. I tried to get him to join a gym, he says yeah, yeah and that’s it.

Both these people have all the tools around them to eat better and get in a better state of health, yet they ignore it. How many people over the age of 60 to 70 do you see that are morbidly obese… none really.[/quote]

Not sure if this was in reference to something someone wrote on here, but it does partly echoed what I mentioned earlier.
IMO there’s a duality within people who have health/weight issues. For Some they’re even able to realize how bad it is. Yet, still can not pull themselves out of the hole…almost like a form of addiction. (and then there’s the whole-society pushes people into that direction-, debate)

Also I see plenty of people in my area over the age of 60 who are overweight, boarder line obese.[/quote]

When I said obese I was talking about people in the 300-400 lb range who can barely get themselves around.

Per any BMI chart, I come up as obese at a 30 BMI. I had one doctor tell me a few years ago that I should weigh 170 lbs… doable with a chainsaw.

157

[quote]BrickHead wrote:
Regarding slavery, I do see some people’s points, although I am too lazy to re-read pages of posts. There’s no doubt there is mass exploitation going on in this country, which is what happens EVERY time there are different groups of people in varying numbers and of different abilities and outlooks on life and this world. If you want to call this slavery in the non-traditional sense, fine. I was simply stating before that there is no formal government program in which people are forced to move here and work, which is what happened with our Atlantic slave trade. [/quote]

Good post.

158

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

[quote]BrickHead wrote:

[quote]magick wrote:

This type of system requires an actual pathway that you can follow up. Such a thing doesn’t practically exist- There are always fewer management and higher level folks than lower level folks.

So the reality is that a good chunk of the people must be consigned to living at an unlivable wage.

Which means they’ll either have to be homeless or starve.[/quote]

Excellent facts that few seem to think of. [/quote]

This “arrangement” is temporary for the vast majority of people.

[/quote]

Also, working 3 part time jobs at 15hrs each equals 45 hrs a week. So $7.25x45x51weeks a working year for most people= $16,638.75/12=1386.56 gross, and witholdings out of that will be small. Get a roommate doing the same thing you or have a spouse and that comes out to $33277.50 a year household or $2773.13 a month. You may not can have cable, a smart phone, clothes that don’t come from Walmart or the thrift store, food from a restaurant or even the exact foods you want, but you can live and not got hungry.

159

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

[quote]BrickHead wrote:

[quote]magick wrote:

This type of system requires an actual pathway that you can follow up. Such a thing doesn’t practically exist- There are always fewer management and higher level folks than lower level folks.

So the reality is that a good chunk of the people must be consigned to living at an unlivable wage.

Which means they’ll either have to be homeless or starve.[/quote]

Excellent facts that few seem to think of. [/quote]

This “arrangement” is temporary for the vast majority of people.

[/quote]

Also, working 3 part time jobs at 15hrs each equals 45 hrs a week. So $7.25x45x51weeks a working year for most people= $16,638.75/12=1386.56 gross, and witholdings out of that will be small. Get a roommate doing the same thing you or have a spouse and that comes out to $33277.50 a year household or $2773.13 a month. You may not can have cable, a smart phone, clothes that don’t come from Walmart or the thrift store, food from a restaurant or even the exact foods you want, but you can live and not got hungry.
[/quote]

Not to mention that 45 hrs a week leaves time to continue your education/learn a useful skill that will get you out of the rut of having to work 3 jobs.

160

[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

[quote]BrickHead wrote:

[quote]magick wrote:

This type of system requires an actual pathway that you can follow up. Such a thing doesn’t practically exist- There are always fewer management and higher level folks than lower level folks.

So the reality is that a good chunk of the people must be consigned to living at an unlivable wage.

Which means they’ll either have to be homeless or starve.[/quote]

Excellent facts that few seem to think of. [/quote]

This “arrangement” is temporary for the vast majority of people.

[/quote]

Also, working 3 part time jobs at 15hrs each equals 45 hrs a week. So $7.25x45x51weeks a working year for most people= $16,638.75/12=1386.56 gross, and witholdings out of that will be small. Get a roommate doing the same thing you or have a spouse and that comes out to $33277.50 a year household or $2773.13 a month. You may not can have cable, a smart phone, clothes that don’t come from Walmart or the thrift store, food from a restaurant or even the exact foods you want, but you can live and not got hungry.
[/quote]

Not to mention that 45 hrs a week leaves time to continue your education/learn a useful skill that will get you out of the rut of having to work 3 jobs. [/quote]

Really, working 45 hrs a week is basically working one job only spread out over three different employers, with the advent of online programs now there are definitely options for those that wish to take advantage however some people just aren’t cracked up to be anything more than low skill low income labor and they will never get out of having to work 3 part time (essiantially one full time) jobs to get by. Not everyone is a special snowflake destined for greatness, some people are born to flip burgers, just the way it is.