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AskReddit/dhvh41j
6ckwbg
Why people can't tolerate the truth?
People get too emotionally tied to the decisions they make. For many, admitting that they're wrong is far more than, admitting a mistake. It admitting that something about them is wrong. "The Truth" can be a very invasive thing. Whether it's the core values they were raised with, their religious beliefs, their world view, these things that make us who we are, these things that identity us, are hard to have questioned because, it causes us to question are own existence in a very uncomfortable way. Some people just don't have the wherewithal to survive such naked self-examination.
3
AskReddit/c184lay
ehf2d
What was your worst nightmare as a kid?
My worst night terrors always involved an invisible phantom that would attack me in the same fashion I pictured a powerful poltergeist would; by picking me up in the air, throwing me around rooms, against walls, through doors, crushing and constricting me, and most predominantly stealing my breath away. I would always wake up in a panic and breathing EXTREAMLY hard. It was always accompanied by ominous changes in lighting and the feeling of a terrifying presence. It has carried on into my adult life (though not as frequent). My girlfriend has witnessed this take place because the few times it has happened around her it has woken her from sleep when it begins with my breathing patterns changing and becoming very heavy and raspy. I have awoken screaming like I'm being murdered once and have awoken flailing violently, as if desperately pushing something away from myself. My girlfriend was trying to wake me this time and I ended up clocking her in the face in my confusion. She was unharmed and a good sport about it. God love her. First post on reddit btw. Long time lurker. I created an account just now, specifically to respond to this post. Very interested to see any response
2
AskReddit/cnk2o5r
2rwyvy
What everyday object is more commonly used for something other than its original purpose?
Cigarette lighter socket had this happen often enough the original purpose got replaced by the new one. Lots of young people don't even know that the 12V socket in their car was originally for a cigarette lighter.
2
AskReddit/dr51z5s
7japl4
What don’t you see anymore?
A younger generation that is not overweight. It’s actually very sad. The other day I watched a dad put a coke, yes a normal coke into his daughters bottle, she couldn’t have been more than 18 months old and she just started drinking it without hesitation. Poor kid.
1,727
explainlikeimfive/d3hz9gp
4kuwsy
What is the significance of gene CYP1A2?
CYP1A2 basically is part of metabolic function. According to wikipedia, the enzymes synthesized from this gene have a role in metabolizing some drugs. Based on the result you provided, you are considered normal and should have no problems in relation to this.
2
AskReddit/cg9j4xn
214hbg
If you won the lottery, what would you NOT change about your lifestyle?
Honestly, I would change almost nothing. I make just over what minimum wage would be (I'm salaried), and my lifestyle wouldn't change if I had more money. I may get a car with a working air conditioner. Mine has been totaled for 3.5 years
2
AskReddit/d8kjkr4
56lsri
What is the creepiest thing that society accepts as a cultural norm?
People not taking no for an answer when pursuing people. Entire movies being made about the quest of someone to annoy/scare someone enough that they'll say they'll go out with them, and calling it romantic. EDIT: By far my most upvoted comment on reddit, glad that it's a monument to me calling out creepy societal norms.
4,055
askscience/c61809p
z3nb3
Could we force an eruption of Yellowstone if we buried a nuke underground and set it off?
A Yellowstone eruption similar to that of previous massive eruptions wouldn't destroy North America that's for sure, just cover it in about a metre of ash instead and probably throw earth into an ice age, or at least a large cooling period due to the amount of ash in the atmosphere. However, back onto the actual question. Considering the size of these eruptions have the energy of thousands of Nuclear explosions, I would doubt that a singular nuclear device would be able to cause it to to erupt. The only time that may work is if it was literally on the brink of eruption. However someone with more knowledge may be able to answer your question with better detail.
5
AskReddit/dlm5t3y
6to8fd
What is true love?
True love is the greatest thing in the world, except for a nice MLT: mutton, lettuce, and tomato sandwich - where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomatoes are ripe. Mwah! They're so perky, I love that.
3
AskReddit/e2nm9tk
904cbm
What do you miss from the pre-Internet time?
born in 1989 so I don't remember too much of the pre-internet time, but from what I recall it felt like everything had the volume turned down. Obviously always being connected to anything and everything is great - but whenever I fondly remember my childhood without internet, I strangely let out a sigh of relief of how lucky I had it.
2
AskHistorians/cnggpwu
2rj1n7
When is the first recorded instance of military leaders studying military history to plan for future battles?
I don't know about "military leaders studying military history," but one of the oldest military treatises that I know of is the Liutao written by Lu Shang, a Zhou dynasty general sometime around 1000 BC. He wrote this treaty upon reflecting on his defeat of the Shang dynasty forces during the overthrow of the Shang dynasty. It discusses both civil and military affairs, however, so it is not quite "military history," but it is known today as one of the great Chinese military works alongside the more famous Art of War.
3
AskHistorians/en30bvq
bmry35
Why did Douglas MacArthur want to use the nukes against China in the Korean War when he was against the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
There are two things here. One is whether MacArthur really opposed the use of the atomic bombs against Japan, and why he would have said that (after the fact). The other is his views on the Korean War and future uses of atomic bombs. With World War II, MacArthur was part of a group of high-level military men who later said that they had doubts about the use of the atomic bomb (Eisenhower and Leahy are also in this group). There isn't any evidence that they voiced this doubts at the time; rather, their voicing of opposition seems to have been a postwar activity direct tied into the over-attribution of the end of the war to the atomic bomb (and not conventional actions) and the subsequent fear that reliance on nuclear weapons would mean deep cuts to the conventional military budget (which were not entirely unfounded — Truman cut the defense budget to lows in the immediate postwar that the US has not seen since the Korean War) would all lead to a much smaller US military posture than they desired. They were, it is worth noting, backed up by the US Strategic Bombing Survey, which concluded that the bombs were not really necessary to end the war. At its heart, this argument was not a moral one — they were not arguing that the destruction of Japanese cities or lives was a problem, just that in the case of the atomic bombs it was unnecessary, because they had already beaten Japan through the conventional destruction of Japanese cities and military infrastructure. Their problem with the bomb was not, in other words, that of regarding it as a "taboo" — it was a very different sort of objection than those that argued that the weapons were immoral, weapons of slaughter, etc. Consequently it is not really paradoxical that they also essentially supported the idea of atomic weapons as not being inherently "special." They saw them as perhaps a more efficient form of munition and destruction, but not a morally different form. Consequently when it came to things like the Korean War, if the atomic bomb was the weapon that would achieve the best military ends, they had no real qualms. The really interesting thing is that many of those who supported the bombings of Japan opposed the use of atomic weapons more broadly, and believed in their "special" nature. Truman was very much of this turn of mind: he saw the atomic bomb as something quite different from other conventional weapons, as something that could not only not be used lightly, but not even trusted to the military. In the postwar, he frequently espoused the view private that the bomb did pose moral and ethical hazards that would restrict its possible use, whatever the military advice might be. The reason this all feels surprising to a modern reader is that our politics of the bomb have shifted dramatically over the course of the Cold War. I like to bring this up when talking to audiences about the politics of the atomic bomb: they are contextual, and not obvious. On the construction of the "specialness" of the bomb, see Michael Gordin, Five Days in August, and also Nina Tannenwald, The nuclear taboo.
6
AskReddit/dy3l0op
8fheef
What stranger changed your life?
Not just one stranger but strangers. I have been fundraising for a local shelter to make a grooming area not only does it help the dogs but it also helps me improve my grooming skills. Because of these strangers acts of kindness i am learning and improving my skills in a career! For anyone who donates to nice causes you help in ways you dont even know.
3
AskReddit/ccwa8p6
1ow7au
What is the best (or worst) wedding you've ever been to?
As a wedding DJ, the worst wedding I've ever done was earlier this year. Awful group. Totally unprepared and they expected me to pick up so much of the slack at the last minute. Five minutes before I'm supposed to introduce the bride and groom, they say they want me to introduce the whole party now and each group has their own individual song. Then, they actually tried to screw me put of money. In my contract, I ask for the first half in cash or check sent to me as a deposit, then I ask for the balance in cash only within the first hour of the event or I go. Once I was set up I go to the person who was supposed to pay me and I say "ok I'm all set up, just let me know when you'd like me to do the announcements, and I'll need my balance of $600 by 6. Then they say "what balance?" Me: "oh the balance of $600 from the $1200 we agreed on in the contract. you guys sent me the first half as a deposit, I just need the balance by the hour." Them: "We didn't agree to that!" I pull out the contract."that's your signature, isn't it?" "Yes." Me: "ok, so in fact you did agree to pay the balance within the first hour or I leave and you lose your deposit." Them: "can we send you a check tomorrow?" Me: "no, that's not what we agreed to" Them: "nobody here has that money on them!" This just went on forever, I actually did kill the music at 6pm then they collectively gave me my money. Also, this wedding had an open bar, was at a very expensive hall, and they had a fireworks show. Yet, they said they couldn't pay me. TL;DR: The worst weddings are the ones run by cheapos
9
AskHistorians/cnj3pzd
2rtc3m
Which city would the U.S. target in a third nuclear strike against Japan?
First off, the U.S. only had 2 bombs ready. The third would not have been ready for 8-10 days after the bombing of Nagasaki. As for which hypothetical city would have been bombed, the answer is likely Kokura, which was the primary target the day Nagasaki was bombed. However, the U.S. had a list of 5 potential targets (including both Hiroshima and Nagasaki), so any of those 3 could have been chosen based on disposition of air defenses, visibility, weather, bomber range, etc. Source: Sherwin, Martin J. (2003). A World Destroyed: Hiroshima and its Legacies. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.
11
AskReddit/e57d8r6
9c1dy6
What is the first word that comes to your mind when you hear the word Pakistan?
Cricket. Personally I'm not into cricket but I'm pretty sure that's been the topic the vast majority of times I've heard Pakistan mentioned in Australia.
2
AskReddit/d0kqnb0
48m7jt
What are the pros and cons of being a freemason ?
I've been a freemason for 16 years and it's just like any other fraternal organization. You'll get out of it what you put into it. In my lodge we are heavily focused on being an integral part of the community and are constantly holding fundraisers and/or working on community projects. These are the things that I enjoy doing. Different Masonic Lodges have different focuses, some are focused on the "ritualistic" part of masonry. Some, on charity (mostly just giving $) and others have a balance. So to answer your question from my point of view: PROS: Fellowship - A chance to meet with like minded gentlemen and we also have a lot of family events. Community Involvement - Being a freemason, I've had the opportunity to participate in many community events that I might not have otherwise been part of. History - The masons have a strong historical significance in society and I'm always intrigued to learn more about the craft. Diversity and acceptance - I'm quite proud to say that in my lodge (I realize this isn't always the case) we have a few gay brethren, some staunch Trump supporters and some Bernheads; some Roman Catholics and a couple Muslims. yet we all get along. CONS: Freemasonry is slowly dying, I'm in my 40's and am one of the youngest members. The current generations aren't being provided a good reason to join. Old Boys Club - Too many people have this vision of the craft and in many lodges, it's still unfortunately the case. Misunderstanding - "Oh, you're a freemason. aren't they bad people who are conspiracy theorists?" (As we're painting their house for free) If you ever plan to join a lodge, check what lodges are around you and if their vision is interesting to you. I travel past 3 lodges to get to the one I belong to because it's where I "belong" and even though it's not in my hometown, my lodge (because of me primarily) has donated more money into my town's local baseball league than our "local" lodge. Bottom Line - Some lodges are good / Some are not. Some lodges are stuck in the 1950's. Research the individual lodge.
3
AskReddit/cn62wac
2qhans
What annoys you most while driving?
When driving cautiously and a little bit slower in the snow, there's people who feel its ok to just tail my car real close behind me. Very little room for error in case I have to suddenly stop or hit ice and that car behind me is going to run straight into my car.
2
AskReddit/cs2v6q2
39f60g
What book are you reading at the moment?
I downloaded Ready Player One last night and just finished it a couple hours ago. Now that I'm back on reddit, I realize I couldn't have picked a better day to read a book instead.
64
AskHistorians/cg6mscx
20to0k
What was the reaction to Polish territories being annexed by the Soviet Union in 1945?
The legitimate government of Poland, the Polish Government in Exile based in London. Was staunchly opposed to the annexation of Eastern Poland and the willingness of the Western allied powers to allow the Soviets to get away with it. The British government, specifically Winston Churchill was opposed to it, until the Yalta conference where it was agreed to make the Curzon Line the eastern border of Poland. Unfortunately, the Polish government in exile's protests meant very little. The Western allies were in no position to force the Soviets to relinquish eastern Poland, the Polish Government in Exile had their authority and legitimacy challenged by the provisional government for Poland set up by the Soviets, and the Polish Home Army ( a huge, anti communist, partisan group) were decimated in the Warsaw uprising, and by advancing Soviet troops. Without the Home Army there was no serious opposition to the Communist Polish government. Also, its worth nothing that many of the lands east of the Curzon Line had been taken by the Poles in the Polish-Soviet war. And that while many of the cities were filled with Poles many areas and much of the countryside was not a Polish majority. Edit: Partisan is a better term than rebel.
3
AskReddit/ejafdxd
b50tqc
What's your local murder mistery that just doesn't make sense?
A local fella up around where I live died decades ago when running from the police after they found some teens drinking in the woods. They found him face down in some water the next day. Investigations have concluded multiple times that the death was accidental. But his parents and many other local people have been obsessing over his "murder" for decades. Truth will never come out though
2
AskReddit/edtalur
aewhjn
What name would you never name your child?
Anything that's going to be difficult for majority of others to pronounce, or that might have them made fun of, e.g. ABCDE. I still can't believe that woman named her poor child that. It's tantamount to child abuse.
7
AskReddit/dzowbce
8mn2qr
What is the difference between the dress code at school versus the dress code at work?
The intention . I think school dress codes are designed to keep students looking modest and undistracting. They are designed to keep the school functioning well. Work dress codes keep the company looking professional. They are designed to make the company look good. That is why more school dress codes are pretty similar and work dress codes can vary based on what the company wants to be portrayed as.
5
explainlikeimfive/epx9v7g
bwfut2
Why do some drinks make you pee more often than others?
Because drinks like coffee, cold drinks are diuretic and reduces the production of a hormone called vasopressin, which tells your kidneys to reabsorb water rather than flush it out through the bladder. With the body's natural signal switched off, the bladder is free to fill up with fluid.
2
AskReddit/d71dzkb
505li9
What were you most worried about during your childhood/teenage years?
Living in dire poverty during those years, my biggest fear was being put out into the street. It seems that we were always living with the threat of being just one step from homelessness. What i wouldnt have given back then for the comfort of owning my own home and complete financial security.
2
AskHistorians/cyy0m4l
40xvqq
How important were Cicero and his speeches in turning public opinion against Antony and allowing Octavian to rise to power?
The Philippics were vital, so much so that as late as 33 (probably the year of the publication of his pamphlet, de sua ebrietate, "On His Own Drunkenness") Antony was still having to defend himself against Cicero's accusations. Plutarch's biography of Antony is obviously heavily based on the Philippics, and those speeches completely destroyed Antony's reputation. The whole purpose of the Philippics, delivered between September of 44 and April of 43, was to get Antony declared a public enemy, and in that it succeeded admirably. Cicero's opposition was key, since as soon as Cicero was removed following Mutina Antony's support began to return, though his reputation was forever tarnished. And of course it's due to Cicero and the Philippics that Octavian was granted an extraordinary command at Mutina in the first place. This is not necessarily to say that Antony might not have shot himself down anyway--the line he was walking, trying to appease both Caesarians and Republicans, was dangerously thin, and as in fact turned out the slightest disturbance caused the whole thing to come crashing down--but certainly the Philippics were vital in the way things actually played out
6
AskHistorians/d11ccym
4ak8pa
Why has Portugal adopted a semi-presidential system of government?
The president is mostly a mediator, a role intended to avoid a failure along to the first republican system. The First Republic was almost fully parliamentary, and is remembered for its immense instability - over 40 governments in the course of 16 years. Thus came the necessity for a president. Other than that, the fact that the parliament has so much power has to do with democratic values, especially relevant after the fall of a 48-year long fascist-like dictatorship. So, to conclude, the president is a mediating figure the purpose of which is to avoid instability and to protect the values of the constitution (although this role belongs mostly to the constitutional court).
5
AskReddit/dpiz4cq
7blskf
What was a funny, cool, scary story you told your coworkers/friends/family.that was intended as a joke but eventually turned out to be true later on?
I remember during a really bad snowstorm (I live in the northeast) I said to my family that the state needed to start plowing the streets sooner because someone could have a heart attack and they wouldn't be able to get the ambulance through. The next day it was on the news that someone in the next town over from me had a heart attack and died specifically because emergency services couldn't make it through their street in time. His daughter was my age and I had friends who knew her I felt so bad about "predicting it".
2
AskReddit/ep8na38
bu8e5h
What’s the male equivalent of putting on makeup then taking it off because plans cancelled?
It's a (bottom) gay male thing but eating the right foods all day instead of the typical taco bell, shaving anything that needs shaving and douching. It sucks when plans cancel, that's a day I could have been eating delicious food!
16
AskReddit/eo2pz5s
bq97u9
Who has gotten stuck at the top of a roller coaster?
I got stuck at the top of Goliath at Six Flags many years ago. They couldn’t get the ride working again, so they sent workers up to escort us down the tiny metal stairs one by one. The worker was wearing one of those rock climbing harness things and was attached to the ride. Us riders got no such thing. Gathering the strength to climb out of the relative safety of the little car as the entire ride swayed in the wind was. challenging. 3/10 would not recommend. However, the fear of heights I had harbored up until then was cured.
2
askscience/czuga4c
44ynwu
How much does size effect a sensory organs acuteness?
It depends on the sensory organ. From what I understand, the body does a good job of averaging sensory information, though, so large surface area or volume probably won't affect an organ's performance much. The signals passed to the brain from organs such as the nose and eyes are a result of different firing mechanisms in the particular sensory neurons in those organs. Whatever information is causing those neurons to fire will determine how much information the brain gets. For instance, a larger nose means more surface area for air to pass over carrying aromatic stimulants. However, that will really just give a larger number of nose neurons a better chance of firing. It will NOT, however, change how those neurons fire and how the brain interprets them. And then you have the fact that size certainly isn't the most important aspect of a sensory organ. For instance, the number and kinds of rods and cones in a person's eye is what will determine their ability to see a wide range of color, not the size of their eye. As for brain size and intelligence, I believe it is well understood that brain size has very little to do with intelligence. Barring abnormal size, it is how a brain is trained (the repeated inputs) and the way this training is carried out, as well as the elasticity of the brain cells, that determines "intelligence". There was actually a (now debunked) study called phrenology which examined what parts of the brain/head were large and which were small to determine an individual's personality.
2
AskReddit/ckik2su
2gf8r5
If you could create a "perfect" school curriculum, what classes would be required for students to take?
Personal finance/taxes for maths classes, sciences, English. History, technology. and some kind of fun of form of physical education that doesn't involve running.
2
AskReddit/dgaqbk1
65jg35
What was "that weird kid" in your high school like?
He used to just say all kinds of weird things like he claimed his family was part of the mafia or that he has a gun etc but he never backed up any claims. He also got bullied quite a bit one time some kid was poking him with a pencil so he took it of him and ate it. He also broke a door for reasons I can't remember I think he said he could do it and some people were encouraging him so he dived into this door and it broke.
2
AskReddit/dk8xhf4
6nek22
What are some good tips for people traveling alone?
Call a friend or family member or whatever and tell them where you are and where you will be that night. Call them again later that night to let them know you're safe. Make sure they know to contact the authorities (or your embassy if you're traveling abroad) if you don't contact them after a predetermined amount of time. You can change the timeframe as you see fit. Going to Liechtenstein? Contact your family every 3 weeks if you want to. Going to Yemen? Contact them every hour asking for an Evac.
2
AskHistorians/cgup9n3
238hhb
What was the general attitude of the Russian/Soviet "everyman" as the state evolved through the 1920s and 1930s?
These sorts of questions are notoriously difficult to answer because of course there was an incredible diversity of opinion. A few narrative points first. The Russian Civil War following the October Revolution lasted until 1922, so given that your question asks about the 1920s it is hard to ignore the fact that there was a war on. There were plenty of "everymen" among the whites. Second, you mentioned the "Soviet Union began to lean towards the Axis powers leading up to WWII" and I frankly don't know what you are referring to. The Soviet Union was never on good terms with the Axis powers. The treaty between Hitler and Stalin never indicated an alliance, it was an agreement not to attack one another - which both knew was essentially inevitable. Indeed, the lead up to World War II was accompanied by a lot of anti-German propaganda and swell of pride (see David Brandenberger, National Bolshevism for more on this during the 1930s). But on to your main question: There was certainly a lot of revolutionary enthusiasm during the 1920s. In hindsight it can seem almost naive, but there were quite a lot of people who really embraced the idea that they could help build a new world. That is a powerful idea. Richard Stite's Revolutionary Dreams discusses a huge number of utopian/revolutionary experimental social movements that embraced revolutionary ideology - although that meant different things to different people sometimes. Stalin's so called Cultural Revolution of the late 1920s and early 1930s put a damper on a lot of these experiments and more clearly and rigidly defined acceptable social/cultural forms. Stalin's purges also made things more dangerous for people, as you might imagine. In some ways though after the Purges, the war helped keep the opinion of the state high. People genuinely rallied around Stalin and the Red Army during World War 2 against the Nazis. I'd also be doing a disservice if I didn't mention non Russians. You asked about the "Russian/Soviet everyman" in the question, so I'm not sure if you meant you wanted an answer only about Russians or not, but it's impossible to talk about the Soviet Union without talking about non-Russians. The Soviet state's relationship with the other SSRs and with national minorities is really complex and a many books have been written on the subject. The "national question" posed a difficulty for the Bolsheviks and they new it from the beginning. Imperial Russia had a "chauvinistic" relationship with them, and the Soviet leadership wanted to change that - at least on paper. There was a very odd mix of national autonomy and centralized authority that took shape. Again, the opinion of the Soviet state varied greatly by region. The Ukrainian relationship was tumultuous, made worse by the famine of 1932-33. The holodomor, as it is called, remains a controversial part of the history that I won't get into here, but insofar as the "everyman" was concerned in Ukraine at the time, it certainly hardened their attitude towards the Soviet leadership. And I haven't even talked at all about Central Asia, or the Caucuses, or even broadly speaking the peasants in Russia for that matter yet. The peasant issue is practically its own question - but if we are asking about "everymen" then the peasants surely need to be mentioned because they represented the majority of the population. Things like collectivization created an animosity between many peasant villages and the state. You can see what it is so difficult to talk about an "everyman" in the Soviet Union when it was so large and so diverse. The experience of the early Soviet Union depended greatly on where you lived, what your class background was, and what your experience was BEFORE the revolution. There is no doubt that many people welcomed the revolution and the changes the Bolsheviks brought. It offered them a lot of opportunities they had been previously denied. Many people genuinely bought into the project well into the 1930s. On the other hand, there were many people for whom the October Revolution was not welcome, but the particular character of their feeling or opposition to the revolution was by no means uniform.
3
AskReddit/cq9jrac
32b283
What's the worst/most regrettable story you can tell about being drunk?
Couple of years back i got really drunk and sat in on a smoke session, unbeknownst to me they were smoking both weed and spice, apparently mixing the two isn't very fun. I rarely ever smoke weed and it was the first time smoking spice. Well it got me pretty wired up, which lead to me trying cocaine too for the first time, not snorting it but wiping it against my gums. Thinking back about it i could of seriously died, i mean i was so out of it i was chugging vodka like water.
3
AskReddit/egljay5
ar93yv
What countries will be the best to live in 2030 and why?
Probably the Scandinavian countries and Canada. They’re politically stable countries with good health care and education systems and high BNP. The risk for war or environmental disasters is pretty low and technological development seems to be going in the right direction. Also these are countries with relatively low population density and pretty good ratio of resources, so people seeking refuge from war and drought/famine likely won’t pose a huge problem to the existing population’s needs.
176
explainlikeimfive/dhwh98o
6cpxwu
Why does communism not work?
This is an extreme simplification, but I have read that communism doesn't work because it fails to account for human nature, and capitalism works because it depends on it. In other words, communism--as in true communism--requires more selflessness than humans typically have.
2
explainlikeimfive/dbm4p6v
5k87ey
How can a number be irrational if it has fixed length?
> its a fixed length Absolutely correct > but yet it doesn't every really end? The decimal representation of it does not end. That's just a name that number has. The same as number 1 is called number one, in decimal square root of 2 is called 1.4142135623. it corresponds to a single, fixed number, but unfortunately name of it takes infinitely many digits to fully write. But when you draw a triangle with right angle where two sides are length of 1, hypotenuse of that triangle is sqrt2. So obviously you can represent this number despite decimal naming system struggling with it.
7
AskReddit/cg4lnij
20m56k
If you could freeze time for an hour only once in your life, when would you use it and what would you do within that hour?
Well, I guess I'd freeze time before I'd be shot dead, or a split second before I'd die (any cause) and use that hour to just think about everything I've ever done. And focus on all the good about it. I guess in an hour, you couldn't do much, but its something. It's just enough time to accept my inevitable death.
2
AskReddit/eo90bqy
bqzo1v
What common interview question needs to be retired?
All of them. Such a stupid unnatural setting. I've had interviews where people ask questions relevant to the job, not just something they seemingly got out of a "what to ask a potential job candidate" in Youtube video. It was interesting, I had more respect for the place because they actually seemed serious, and I enjoyed answering the questions as well.
2
AskReddit/eivuim0
b2yeb2
What's the best movie original soundtrack you've heard in recent times?
For original scores I would have to throw in any collab with hand Zimmer and christopher nolan, they make the music part of the movie in a way that is beyond immersive. Then for non original scores I think that baby driver or bad times at el royal did a fantastic job.
3
AskReddit/cutsdxi
3k0f9l
How would the world be different if humans had 9 lives?
I think death would be handled much more as a noble thing in both litterature, drama and arts. Whats worth sacrificing one of your lifes for? Love? Money? Power? Passion? I imagine stories of nobles who sacrificed a life for true love or gaining a step on the influence ladder. Stories of miners who have lost 8 lives working the mines, and expect the final death to come rather soon and how it will be a relief. Or an office clerk who have tried killing himself too many times to remember. Stories of soldiers who used up all of their lives in a glorious push towards victory and how we all should be thankful. Stories of a world where people only had one life, and how the world would look. Medical care would also be different. Some cases might just be simpler to solve by sacrificing one life and wait it out. But people would fear the final death just as much as we fear our only death. And I reckon that the final death would be a rather taboo subject.
618
AskReddit/dwz6uj5
8ajuh7
What's the thing you shouldn't say to someone depressed?
I'd be depressed too if I had to go through your life with your face, lack of tact, intelligence, or any other admirable or amicable trait. But hey, could be worse. Not sure how, but there is a universe of possibility out there, and you seem destined to find the bottom. There's that, at least. You have unprecedented and uncanny skill in this regard. Cheer up. Oh, and it's your turn to pay.
14
AskReddit/e237ex1
8xh6t7
When cleaning your room or house what is the weirdest things you have found?
I had a single key to my car where the plastic piece was broken so i couldn't keep it on a ring. I had it in my pocket one winter while helping take apart a fallen tree in my yard. Lost the key. Towed my car to the dealership to get new keys made and programed. A year later, i found the original key under my bed, UNDER a tote that I literally have never moved from under my bed since putting it there.
2
AskReddit/etishrk
cbtnmx
What is the scariest situation you've been in?
When I was 10, my best friend and I were abducted by a middle aged man. I honestly thought he was going to kill us and I remember us holding hands in the back of his car. It was the worst experience I've ever had and that friend is very messed up these days.
2
AskReddit/dblanyx
5k4tu3
How did you decide the job you wanted to do after school?
I went into university planning to go to medical school to be a heart surgeon. The drawbacks were that I had to take out massive student loans, and I had to do 8 years of school after my bachelor's minimum. My parents suggested cardiovascular perfusion, which is a related job in the same field. I decided to go with that because I wanted to a) practice medicine, b) do minimal time in school, c) operate machinery, and d) not have to interface with people (at least, not as a job requirement). Currently I'm a Physics major in my university, planning to transfer to complete my degree in Cardiovascular Perfusion. tl;dr--parents suggested a similar job in the same field, I looked into it and decided to do it.
2
AskReddit/cznda53
444ils
Who was the creepy kid at your school?
The kid who got caught pulling at it while staring at the creepy English teacher who I was convinced was some form of alien android cause she had a habit of rolling her eyes back and fluttering them between thoughts.
5
AskReddit/c1f3aa6
fddw8
For all you guys out there, what is the absolute best thing a girl could do for you on Valentines day?
Best Valentines Day I ever had: She still lived with her parents but she came over to my place and prepared my favorite dish. She wasn't much of a cook but it was the gesture that counted. After dinner she gave me a stuffed kangaroo and we cuddled on my couch watching old movies. We then made love. Not just having sex.the passion that was there between the both of us that night.that was making love.
3
AskReddit/ceuqdmk
1vq0bn
What were you teased/bullied for growing up?
My mom used to write me notes on my lunch bag every day. I got teased a bunch for it, especially as I moved into middle school and high school, but I never asked her to stop, because I really did like seeing a note from her every morning and reading it as I ate lunch alone.
836
explainlikeimfive/dr1647r
7isyix
How can a film that grosses higher profits than the budget it took to make it still sometimes be considered a financial flop?
In addition to the money to make the film, there are substantial costs to distribute and promote it. A film generally needs to gross double its production budget to be considered a great financial success. But often, as you suggest, high expectations can result in a near-or-moderately successful film being considered a flop.
4
AskReddit/ejshdnw
b7kupb
What songs are completely different with context?
People think “Baby it’s cold outside” is about date rape or whatever, but viewed in the context of sexual politics of the time, it’s more a song about a woman wanting to stay with a man but having to keep up an air or “respectability” by not seeming eager
7
AskReddit/edu63pi
aezhau
Are there any other Reddit users that have ADHD, take medicine for it, and feel as if their ADHD medicine makes them quiet or feel as if they cant start/contribute to conversations because they just freeze up and dont know what to say?
Yes, when I was in high school I always took my meds before hanging out with people, before tests, and before presentations. I have stoped taking them because I want to develop healthier ways of dealing with my adhd ( I realized it wasnt smart to stay on them because my resting heart rate was 110) and have since gotten better at controlling my adhd, but while I was in high school meds were super helpful
2
AskReddit/eom15zs
bsdilb
What’s the next big thing in gaming, whether an existing, small game waiting to explode or the next big genre?
I'm annoyed that it will probably be more down the line of monthly or weekly released story modes, like a tv show subscription that you pay for monthly. multiplayer seems to carry games through any length of time nowadays, as long as there's some form of battle royale or big team deathmatches, so giving people a weekly challenge in the form of a continued story is easy income.
3
explainlikeimfive/ca1attf
1ek2w3
Where does the cloud of gnats that follow me come from whenever I go outside?
I'm guessing you live on the US East Coast based on your timing. I don't know why gnats do this, but they follow and swarm around any traces of Carbon Dioxide they can find, and when we go outside that is what we breathe out.
2
AskReddit/euey1fy
cg6jrb
What is routine thing in your country that you discovered that is considered weird in other countries?
Here in Brazil we have little trash cans by the side of the toilet to throw used toilet paper, and I recently discovered that in the USA (idk if other countries too) just throw it in the toilet.
2
AskReddit/ccn8dxx
1nyidb
What is something your parents said to you (often or not, simple or not) that always would make you mad?
For instance if my parents got a new device or something they would say "be careful it's not a toy". Or my dad said/implied this a bunch "You sued my computer last, you broke it!" Just because I'm the tech guy in our family doesn't mean I affect everything the instant I touch it.
3
AskReddit/cw7c8nw
3pljtg
Where do you live, and how much do you pay for rent?
Canada/BC, Vancouver island. Upper floor suite of a house with a couple, I pay 400$/mo, I think they pay 500 and 550-600. 3 rooms, one bathroom, open concept kitchen and living room, small dining room area.
3
AskReddit/eek3p0f
ai166f
What religion would you never be willing to try?
Scientology, imo, all religions are delusional but, Scientology takes the cake. DC-10's flying through space carrying the souls of a destroyed race, created by a failed science fiction writer? A vampiric savior or a man-elephant seem tame.
6
AskReddit/c40j8k7
quhao
How bad is smoking pot compared to smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol?
Do not start smoking cigarettes. Biggest WRONG move you can make. That said, pot is ok. It does have some of the same carcinogens as cigarettes, but funny thing. It doesn't give you cancer and actually has anti-cancer properties. If you use edibles, you're doing it right. Booze is a mixed bag. As with anything, some people can handle it, some can't. My main rule is, anything in moderation.
6
AskReddit/cvylmtj
3omjow
How do deaf people read without that voice in their heads reading the words?
The voice is called sublocution, and people who can silence it can actually read a lot faster if they want to. It's a skill called speed-reading, and it's pretty cool. So it's totally possible to read without that little voice, but most people can't not sublocute.
2
AskReddit/e61lau8
9g5ik3
What’s something that you learnt later in life that most people found out way younger than yourself?
I had no idea that Noah Cyrus and Miley Cyrus were related until I said "hey she kind of looked like Miley" and my younger sister just made me feel dumb for not knowing.
2
AskHistorians/d0olqg4
48xym4
Did Brueys set springs at the Battle of the Nile?
Brueys did not order the fleet to do so, no, but some of his captains chose on their own initiative to set springs on their individual ships. Bonaparte had essentially ordered the fleet into a position that was convenient for his army's purposes and it was clear he did not much care what happened to it; Brueys and his officers knew they had essentially been abandoned and operated with a weird indifference in the days before the battle. Not only did he not order springs set, he did not even clear for action on the inshore side of his ships.
2
explainlikeimfive/ddxpocx
5uxz50
How does cooking meat provide more energy?
Cooking meat doesn't add more energy into the food - what it does (in simple terms) is make it easier for the body to get the energy out of the food. This essentially means that it takes less energy to digest the food so the overall energy gain is greater - it also makes the food more able to be digested completely meaning less energy is wasted by not being digested.
7
explainlikeimfive/cyb9jb0
3y7wx4
Are we really getting older slower if we are in outer space?
It's not being in outer space that matters. It's moving at high speeds, near the speed of light. In Interstellar it was because they were in a powerful gravity field, which is sort of the same thing. This is because of Special Relativity (or General Relativity in the case of gravity).
6
AskReddit/ekez201
baylvg
What's the weirdest thing you've seen while visiting a country?
While I was at Uruguay I stayed at a hostel, probably the weirdest place I've ever been at. We got there, and we walked into the main "lobby" (it was a small place), and there's a urinal on the wall, just hanging there as decoration. And in our room there were these shelves and there were about 10 small sculptures of penises on them. It was so freaking weird
3
AskReddit/e7dvqqw
9mdm16
What's the funniest thing you've heard someone say while talking in their sleep?
I have a story about someone else and myself I once heard a story of a acquaintance that woke up. Screamed RAISE THE SAILS! And then pulled down the curtains. When camping is always talked in my sleep. People said I screamed sometimes but the most awkward one is that I confessed my love to my crush.
3
AskReddit/dp332ix
79m30b
If you could relive 1 whole minute in the past for a better future, how would you make use of it?
Midnight. Found my daughter out cold from drinking, her newborn on the floor beside the bed crying her little heart out. I positioned Mom and put the baby to her breast. Quiet suckling and peace. I wish I had taken the baby, wrapped her up warmly and made a bottle for her and kept her in my own room. Maybe coming to with her baby gone would have shocked the mom into better behavior. I'll never know, but that was one minute I've wished a million times that I could change.
2
AskReddit/ef1xhma
ak6dza
What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever received?
I got the family ring heirloom. It meant a lot to me as I am adopted , and to have received such a huge and emotional keepsake meant a lot. It was my grandmother’s, who passed away a couple years ago, and has a gem for each of her children (there’s 12 of them). My family and, most importantly, my grandma before her passing agreed that everyone fought to have me in the family, that I deserved the ring since our fight to get me in the family.
4
explainlikeimfive/e6k6dzg
9ijziw
How did so many other creatures survive the asteroid impact that completely killed all the dinosaurs?
Fun fact. not all the dinosaurs were killed. And it didn't happen instantly. Additionally you must realize there were other extinction events that wiped out many species, with some living and evolving. Now. back to the dinosaurs. Before the asteroid hit some theropod dinosaurs were evolving. They survived the impact and we know them now as "birds". Technically speaking all birds are dinosaurs. Sharks, and turtles, also existed prior and did survive the extinction event. Mammals were around at that time too and survived. For some animals the key to survival would have been their metabolism. If they need to eat lots they probably didn't survive. If they could eat very little, and go long periods of time without eating (think hibernation) then they had a better chance. Many amphibians and reptiles even now go months without eating, so surviving such an event where food would have been tough to find would have been easier for those animals. Being able to fly (or somewhat fly) to find food certainly would have helped the early birds.
7
explainlikeimfive/edtftqf
aewqb6
Why do Italians consider that ordering cappuccino after lunch is rude/offensive?
Because cappuccino is a breakfast only beverage. It can be tolerated if you use it for a snack mid-afternoon, but usually it's strictly morning beverage. For us Italians someone ordering a cappuccino after lunch is not rude, we see it as "stupid" or a distinction between a foreigner and a local. It's like eating ice cream between pasta and a steak, or a salad after a coffee and bitter. The only beverage after lunch that is tolerated is coffee, maybe with some milk, but even milk and coffee (latte macchiato) is frown upon.
5
AskReddit/eitivue
b2m6bu
What you hate and why?
Collectivists. They have stopped seeing the idividual and accepting agency in place of their own ideologically driven preconceptions of a group with an immutable characteristic. Im black so i must vote democrat. Im male so i cant understand women's issues. At leasts white supremacists are honest enough to say they hate me but these guys act like they are doing me a favor.
5
explainlikeimfive/e5pp1nu
9el2xs
How does creatinine work in the body?
Creatinine is a metabolic byproduct that is produced in muscle tissue. Specifically it is used as an indicator of kidney function because the kidneys are the only organs that filter it out of the blood. It is formed in the body, usually at a fairly set rate and the kidneys will remove it at a set rate. Normally we expect creat levels in the bloodstream to be 0.5-1.0 in adults. As that number begins to rise, it indicates that the kidneys are not functioning properly. It doesn’t tell us specifically what’s wrong with the kidneys, it just tells us SOMETHING is wrong with them. Hence, they call it an indicator of kidney function. Usual follow up testing for elevated creatinine levels range from imaging, ultrasound and possible biopsy. It doesn’t indicate liver function at all to my knowledge.
4
AskReddit/dllhqiv
6tl1ob
What if there was a compulsory resit of Driving tests every 5 years, followed by more Driving lessons for failures?
If the tests were as easy as they are now then we wouldn't see much better drivers on the road. Every bad driver you've ever seen has (with very few exceptions) passed both their written and driving tests and obtained a license. You only need the barest knowledge and skill to pass.
2
askscience/cxlwqy1
3v92tv
Why don't we use the chemicals from glow worms to create artificial light?
Because it's efficient but not very bright. You'd need loads of it to light a room and have to keep drums of chemicals around to keep your lights working. Imagine trying to light your house with glow sticks to get an idea of why it wouldn't work.
4
AskReddit/cc4kymb
1m001z
What's the worst thing a friend has ever done to you that didn't destroy your friendship?
He pulled my pants an underwear down in front of his entire wedding reception. I was one of his groomsman. It was still early there were grandparents and church staff still there.sun was still up. I felt somebody right behind me, hands on my waistband and boom next thing I know pants are around my ankles and the preacher and brides grandparents are at the nearest table just mortified. I can still feel their eyes on my wang.somehow we are still kinda friends
3
AskReddit/es38fub
c5pwii
What did you do that felt embarrassing but actually isn't?
In Australia the fuel prices vary day by day with Monday usually the cheapest sometimes by up to 25-30% Often if I need fuel and I know Mondays just around the corner I'll only put $10 gas in, which feels embarrassing because I feel like I look broke asfk but I have a genuine reason.
3
AskReddit/exwo4tv
cup3nh
Is Disney or Sony at fault in the new Spider-Man contract disputes and why?
Disney. Spiderman isn't their character. Sony bought him fair and square. Sony already basically let Disney use Spiderman for free in the avengers movies and now Disney is altering the deal it made with Sony. Sony is putting their foot down.
4
AskReddit/dl7x9hd
6ruzd6
What's the smartest way you've saved money?
I do not pay for cell phone insurance. Instead I put $40/month away in a savings account. Once I have $1000 saved up I stop. You don't get cell phone insurance back if you don't use it. However, if I don't break my phone I still have that $1000 sitting in a bank account.
2
AskReddit/dlikrmk
6t7wa0
Who else quickly turns off the microwave at 1 second just so you dont hear the beep?
Protip: If you microwave a bowl of grapes for 1-2 minutes, it will disable the tiny speaker making that sound. It will also make the grapes much sweeter.
2
AskReddit/cwmbxef
3rafv1
What are some fast food chains that are exclusive to your region?
Swensons in northeast Ohio! It's a drive in restaurant so kind of fast food kind of not but it is so good. They've won all sorts of awards for their food and the milkshakes are available in 32oz and are delicious. I highly recommend it.
2
AskReddit/d23n728
4ev7aj
Why does the trip back seem shorter than the trip to?
Probably 'anticipation'. However, I have always found that the trip back seems far longer. If you are flying by aircraft, one direction will always take longer than the other. For example, the trip to the USA from the UK is significantly shorter than the trip back.
3
AskReddit/eplvn52
bv6l5l
Would you take a million dollars, no consequence whatsoever, or flip a coin for a billion?
I’d take the million. I’d probably keep myself awake for the rest of my life thinking I should have flipped the coin but at least I’d be laying in a nice enough bed in a nice enough house while I did it.
2
AskReddit/c0hq8p6
aihih
How many Atheist Redditors still "celebrate" Christmas?
I don't think the modern version of Christmas has much to do with Jesus or religion. Plus, most American's grew up in Christian families, so it's a family tradition. That being said, I am an atheist and am celebrating Christmas today.
5
AskReddit/ehjghnm
aw25cq
What was the most embarrassing thing you’ve done at school?
We wanted to go in the teachers class before school because we were all confused on this one question. There was a part of the blinds that was messed up and I looked in and it lined up with his clothed junk. So I said yeah he’s there you can see his junk. All the girls laughed hella loud. He later confronted me and understood it was a joke but that was so embarrassing that he heard me.
2
AskReddit/e7ke4nz
9n8mmb
What’s a great joke that makes no sense at all if you translate it to English?
This is a Finnish joke. I will translate it without regard to English syntax and structure. Two moose sit in a sauna. One moose says to the other; "Jet fuel can't melt steel beams"
20
explainlikeimfive/chjafrk
25os4r
What are the rational arguments that would convince average Americans that giving ISPs the right to control internet traffic is a good idea?
The best arguments I've heard is that if they're allowed to charge certain sites (say Netflix) more then they'll be able to use the money to build out extra capacity to handle Netflix's traffic. Which is in theory good. But that's not how it would work in practice. There's no incentive for them not to just pocket Netflix's money and slow everyone else down a bit to give Netflix more bandwidth.
2
AskReddit/dexmdrj
5zf7at
If you could convince Netflix to revive one show that you think ended too soon, which one would it be?
Lie to me Tim Roth is so good in this series, it's his show plain and simple. There are 3 seasons on Netflix (I think they're still on there) and they leave everything super open at the end of season 3, but the show never got its 4th season.
3
AskReddit/e64usub
9gkym7
What's it like moving to a different country?
Depends, I moved from the UK to Canada. Culturally the countries are similar and I knew people here who I could live with and didn't need to worry about visas or immigration and the like. So my experience is probably not that typical.
2
AskReddit/crpqgq9
37tg6g
What celebrity death really hit you hard?
He wasn't that well known but still a celeb. Harris Wittels dying hit me pretty hard. You might know him as the white animal control stoner from Parks and Rec. I had just discovered him a few months before he died and he was one of the funniest comedians I'd ever seen. His views on life and death honestly changed my views on it.
4
explainlikeimfive/d3pgdl7
4lr2rv
Why are CGI effects so expensive to produce, when they are a virtual tool, that seemingly only requires software?
It requires software and large teams of highly skilled artists and animators, and a significant amount of computer hardware for those people to use, and even more to render the video. A large proportion of the cost comes from the wages of paying the people making the CGI. But the cost of the equipment adds up to a lot too. And then add in admin staff and the general cost of running an office and all those computers.
9
AskReddit/eyf4168
cwu8hg
How can someone become less awkward when they engage with people?
Practice makes perfect. Put yourself out there, get out of your comfort zone, and keep at it. To put it simply, just engage with people more frequently and in time it can feel more natural and less uncomfortable.
4
AskReddit/cwrxz93
3rwmck
What has the Internet ruined for you?
Social media ruined the way we interacted with friends and family. It's so easy now to think that a friend is doing fine just because they are posting positive statuses, or for that matter, posting no status but liking/commenting on yours. It's only when you meet them when you realize what was really going on all that time, whether good or bad.
22
askscience/ce8zj6h
1tk4ed
Why can't an HIV vaccine include an antigen that doesn't mutate often?
There are not many different molecules exposed on the surface of the virus. The lipid and protein-attached carbohydrates are made in the host cell and thus are not "foreign". The main envelope glycoprotein (called either GP160 or called by its two fragments GP120/GP41) is the only real target. Its exposed parts are variable. Its less variable parts are not exposed (thus antibodies can't bind to them). So far, no vaccine has been able to elicit a reliable response to an important, but exposed and less variable portion of the protein.
4
AskReddit/d72xe7t
50cd4d
When the gov says they hold secrets to protect the people, what kind of secret are they holding?
Back in the day during ww2, Japan was floating bombs by hot air balloon over to the US which dropped and exploded pretty randomly. Extremely unsuccessful because America is mostly empty space and the bombs had no accuracy. The govt kept it secret in order to not cause panic. People kept seeing "UFOs" in the sky and reporting them and the FBI would investigate and cover it up. There was going to be no casualties at all, but years later, some little kids stumbled onto what they thought was a toy parachute (the big ones kids play with) and ended up detonating the bomb and they all died.
2
AskReddit/c9el2x2
1ca9la
Why are males never in the passenger's seat of motorcycles?
I've hauled my brother around quite a bit on the back of my bike, and I would have to say that the majority of sport bikes just aren't designed for two males to ride comfortablely (one of the guys is going to be singing falsetto if you brake too fast). Another aspect is that I like being the one in control, so I don't think I would handle being "pillion" very well. However, those are just my opinions.
3
AskReddit/ek603t9
b9palf
How did you meet your closest friend, and when did you realize they would become an important person in your life?
I met him when I was a toddler, our parents were good friends and we started to develop a strong friendship over time, now I am proud to say that we are best friends because we can tell each other anything without the other one to start laughing about the stupidness of the thing we just said
3
AskReddit/c0f3a06
9z0jw
What's the best excuse you've used to be late to work?
The best excuse for me was the time I didn't need to say anything. I was dropped off at the front door of work in a Sheriff's car, and walked in to see my boss's and coworker's jaw on the floor. I didn't even get the chance to explain anything for a few minutes after I showed up.
7
AskReddit/c9cntxj
1c3jto
How did you figure out what you wanted to do for your job?
I found a subject that interested me, and focused on finding a job that dealt mainly with that. OP, if you wanna do something to do with computing, consider being a control-systems engineer. With the music side, you could compose electronic music on the side if you wanted to, although it seems like you lack motivation.
2
AskReddit/cracvy7
363h8x
Why is it considered racist for me to imitate an accent of an ethnic minority, yet if I imitate a French or German accent, nobody bats an eyelid?
Power equivalence. Mocking the French or Germans has zero impact on them. Mocking certain other groups that still struggle with acceptance in Western societies does have an impact on them. Not saying that's ethically rigorous, but that's the reason why people react like that.
13