Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with human

Apotheosis fiction

ninazer0 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:24:50 -0800

Fiction Filter: Help me find stories involving apotheosis (glorification of an individual as divine). Books or movies - it doesn't matter. As well as fiction where one of the main characters is worshipped as or assumes the position of a god, I'd also probably include those stories where the character receives or develops god-like powers or abilities.

Examples I've already collected would be Paul Atreides from the Dune books by Frank Herbert or the book "Expecting Someone Taller" by Tom Robb (where, by virtue of the Tarnhelm and Ring, pretty much becomes the accidental Master of the Universe, much to Wotans dismay).

Can anyone think of any others? (I know at least one more is out there - trouble is I only read it once about 20 years ago and can't recall much about it).

Best HCI Examples In Pop Culture

libraryman — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:09:26 -0800

What are the best examples of human/computer interaction in tv and movies (please mention specific scenes and episodes if you can). ex: HAL in 2001, The touch screen in Minority Report, Scotty talking to the mouse in Star Trek IV -lol, etc...

One more slightly dysfunctional family.

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:12:25 -0800

Help me help the addicts (and possibly the enablers) in my family. Today my mom called me with some bad news, in a year filled with bad news. My 22-year-old brother is home from college (where he has a football scholarship and is about to begin his senior year) because he's addicted to oxycontin. I was somewhat surprised, but I knew he was a daily pot smoker, and he had called me and my older brother in January because he was worried he was doing to much coke. Back in January my brother and I found him a counselor, and I tried to call him every once in a while to see if he was using. Unfortunately all three of us live in different states and don't have the ability to see each other very often, phone calls are as good as it gets.

The situation, of course, is more complicated than that. My dad struggled for four to five years with a vicodin addiction culminating with him giving himself a seizure. A month after my mom's mom had died. My mom told the doctor about his on and off addiction and the doctor dismissed it. They searched for other causes and my father wouldn't admit what caused it. About a month later my mom found some emails and my dad admitted to using, they separated for about two or three months, my dad promised to get clean, he did get clean, they got back together, and now they seem to be doing well. Although nobody really knows when my dad is using, except maybe me, and I live in a different state. Plus he has admitted in the past that had I confronted him, he would have denied it. My best guess is he's clean right now, and I've never before seen him act like he wants to be clean, so he gets the benefit of the doubt right now. My mom always claims she can't tell when someone is using and she knows how easy it is to hide from her. To make matters worse, they've given my little brother pretty much unlimited supply to their bank account since he began college.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed right now. I want to help my brother but I don't know how, and I don't want to naively assume he even wants help. I'm afraid that my mom is an enabler, but I don't know how to broach that subject or get her to get her own therapy. Because I live far away, I'm always included on the periphery of these life events (my mom calls and says things like "i'm not sure I should even tell you" but then calls for emotional support a couple of times a week).

On top of that I have had my share of addiction issues, but I got kicked out, moved far away from my parents and figured out how to clean up my act and be an adult. Even they are surprised at how far I've come.

My parents are thinking one or both of them should move back to his college town with him so he can finish playing football. And they seem adverse to sending him to rehab, they want to get him clean themselves. Thank you for reading this long post. Any advice, personal experience, or general insight would be so greatly appreciated. I tried to give a bit too much info so if you see some other patterns forming here you could point those out for me. One last thing, I'm a 24 year old female and yes, I am in therapy.

Divorce, Guilt, Pursuing Happiness

america4 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:40:13 -0800

Am late 50s, living in Portland, OR, divorced many years, really don't want to be here (interested in relocating to southern california), but have early teenager daughter. How do I reconcile wanting to pursue what I want to do with the years I have left, with staying around in this area for my daughter (my ex has custody, zero problems with visitation, etc.). By the time she turns 18, i'll be in mid 60s+, which i know is not the end of the world, but...am i being selfish for wanting to pursue what I think will make me happy, versus "doing time" here just to be physically close to my daughter (we have a great relationship). Genuine feedback appreciated.

Looking for detractors of Literary Darwinism

0bvious — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:45:07 -0800

Literary Darwinism: A relatively new field of evolutionary psychology / literary theory. What has recently been written in argument against it? I have read through some of the works of:

Joseph Carroll
Ellen Dissanayake
Jonathan Gottschall
Robert Storey
Michelle Scalise Sugiyama

...and a few others, yet I am having a hard time finding critical work designed to bring down the arguments of Darwinian Literary Studies. It appears that the field of Poststructuralism is one of the main targets of Literary Darwinism's (Lit-Dar) proponents.

Has anyone attempted to re-address the balance?

I have found little in Lit-Dar writings about specifically text and textuality, something the Postmodernists very much conern themselves with. Surely there is some work on the subject that addresses its absence from Lit-Dar writings?

(I am not interested in the critique of Evolutionary Psychology - of which there is plenty - unless it specifically addresses the Literary and Textual concerns of Darwinian Literary Studies.)

Thanks a lot

a piece of work

Pater Aletheias — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:14:10 -0800

I'm looking for quotations or video clips which deal with what it means to be human. The only one I can come up with is:

Hamlet:
What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and
admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet,
to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me—
nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.

Anything, popular or classic, fits the bill, if it's very focused on the nature of humanity. I'd like a variety of perspectives for my project.

TIA!

From A to B

hapax_legomenon — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:45:26 -0800

Newly single (after 10-yr relationship). How do I get from Point A to Point B, with Point A being meeting a potentially interesting person, and Point B being the point where I can smoothly ask them to do something with me. All, you understand, in service to just getting to know this other person better. The possibility of a hook-up is secondary (although not completely disregarded.) I'm not shy, and I have a lot of friends. I have no problem asking relative strangers to participate in social events. However, there are those (guys) who fall into the category of "I'd like to get to know you better mostly because you seem like an interesting person BUT if things go well, I would not be averse to, well, you know..."

My question is about how to go from initial meeting through subsequent meetings to that point where one can smoothly introduce an invitation to do something interesting together, 1x1.

I know, I know, I could be super straightforward and say, as soon as I feel it, "Hey! Let's go do X sometime."

But I like to be smooth (it usually works better, let's face it) and I'm into orchestrating interactions that have flow. I'm not trying to play a game here, I'm really just trying to ride the wave of momentum and orchestrate an encounter that feels like it's naturally evolved from the previous encounter.

It's a style thing. Would love to hear from those who know what I'm talking about and how you've timed and engineered things to achieve this result.

Suggestions for ways to rev up the romance at home?

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:27:25 -0800

Suggestions for fun/romantic nights at home? I need some ideas/suggestions for fun/exciting/romantic activities to do at home with my partner. While the intent is that it would lead to great sex, fun without sex or just getting to know you better/feeling more intimate type of activity suggestions are also welcome. I'm mainly looking for suggestions for things my partner and I can do at home without having to arrange for a babysitter.

Posting anonymously because I feel lame about not being able to think of anything fun/romantic on my own, and I'd rather that my partner not know that I asking a bunch of internet nerds for romance tips.

Help me build a bicycle powered water pump.

electroboy — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:37:12 -0800

Help me build a bicycle powered water pump. So I got drafted into putting together a human powered water pump for the neighborhood Green Fair. I tried to tell them I'm a civil engineer, not mechanical, but to no avail. So I thought I'd ask y'all for suggestions.

Anyway, the organizer is interested in a demonstration pump similar in concept to the Playpump, so that the local kids can pump water from Bucket A to Bucket B. Eventually the pump will end up at the community garden to be used to pump water from the rain barrel onto the plants.

So the basic requirements are:

1. Relatively cheap (hopefully the bike will be donated)
2. Somewhat durable. It won't be used 24 hours a day, but should be able to stand up to rowdy kids and semi-regular use in the garden.
3. Reasonably efficient, so that a normal person pedalling at a moderate rate can move 3-4 gallons in a few minutes.

It'll be drawing out of a rainbarrel so it won't need to generate a lot of suction, nor will it need to blast the water out of the hose.

I was thinking of trying to salvage a waterpump from a car and fitting it with a sprocket. Is this a reasonable idea? Any other suggestions for cheap, nonelectric pumps? Will the gear ratio be enough to get any volume out of the pump or should I try something different? Has anyone built anything like this before?

Hey, are you my long lost tenth cousin?

brandnew — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:19:17 -0800

What's the chance that we're related? I had read somewhere (I forget where or the details) that researchers had determined through mathematical and Human reproductive analysis that all living Humans are likely to have had a shared ancestor that lived around 2,000 years ago. Don't quote me on the exact numbers.

I'm curious, how many years would I have to go back in order to predict that a random stranger and I have a 25% chance of a common ancestor?

OK, that last sentence was worded kind of ambiguously and confusingly); let's see if I can state it more mathematically. For any two randomly selected Humans, there is a 25% chance that they have a common ancestor within the last X years. What is X?

So, my boss hates me and wants me to quit.

Gular — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:46:36 -0800

I think my boss is trying to get me to quit. I've been getting this feeling over the past couple weeks that my boss doesn't like me: continually dumping tasks with no explanation and then chastising me for not prioritizing tasks to her liking.

I've not said anything negative to her or anyone in HR and have been mainly keeping to myself to refrain from "excess socializing" which I had been yelled at for in the past.

Today, after arriving into work between 5 and 10 minutes late, I get called into an HR meeting with my boss and our director of HR. I get a written warning for arriving late and for bouncing a bouncy-ball with a coworker the afternoon before after just about everyone in the office had left.

Said coworker was also late today, arriving more than 20 minutes after I came through the door. He received a verbal warning only.

On top of all of this, I was lectured for lack of productivity. My boss has done little more than put paperwork on my desk, not talk to me and walk away for 2 weeks or more. My lack productivity could not have been charted in any way.

3 months back, I told my boss that I didn't think I could get everything done that she wanted me to. She told me that "it would be fine" and did the "psh" lax hand wave. Now I'm not productive enough.

I've also taken on a project which was up for grabs, which I have not been trained on yet. I also updated vital information for my department which had gone out of date and filled in information gaps since the company expanded.

Due to my supposed lack of productivity, I now have to chart all of my acitivities through out the day and then meet with either the Director of HR or my direct boss once a week for a month to see how I can become more productive.

All of this talk of productivity came out of *nowhere* for me and the warning has nothing on it about the amount of work I do in a day.

I'm currently job hunting to begin with since coming to the conclusion that my boss doesn't like me. In the meantime, I have *no idea* what to do as a sort of triage for the situation. Do I talk to HR about how I feel I'm being unfairly treated and the complete lack of any idea about my productivity (or any way to really know if my productivity is bad)? Do I just take it and get out ASAP and hope I don't get fired before then? Should I just quit and hope I find a job before I have to move back home with Mom and Dad?

I'm completely clueless.

How Things 'Become': The Infinity of Definition

0bvious — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:18:41 -0800

I am looking for writings on the infinity of definition. I am interested in the exponentially divergent curve that is definition.

We create writings and art to better define the world, yet true definition is infinite.

We mediate the universe by erecting borders of definition, i.e. all striped, four-legged, hooved mammals are probably zebras. We categorise the universe into hierarchies, but the more we examine the more pronounced and expansive these hierarchies become.

Language is our greatest defining tool. Yet, the metaphors we evolve to expand the potential of language can themselves only be made to refer back to the language which created them. An infinite loop emerges in most definition.

As new technology emerges we use it to 'add' meaning to artifacts which are already partly defined. By looking at the world with ever more refined microscopes we bring reality into greater clarity. This metaphor can be expanded to refer to texts, art, archaeology, culture etc.

Who has written on the problem of definition? What critical theory has been written on the emergence of infinity?

This question adds on to past questions I have asked at MeFi including (in reverse order):

- Art and artifacts experienced through technology
- The mimetic and narrative capacities of artefacts
- Examples of 'The Infinite' in Myth and Their Effect on Conditions of Truth

Here's hoping you have some ideas...

Do fish wear lipstick?

Solomon — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:57:45 -0800

What are some things that humans do, that no other animal species does? Things like "humans use computers" isn't what I'm looking for, because other animals (chimps, some birds) use tools. A certain species of monkey copulates to affirm social status, even the infants - they don't do it just to reproduce. Beavers modify their environment to suit themselves.

I'm thinking of things like blushing through embarrassment, laughing, etc. As far as I'm aware, human beings are the only species that domesticated animals to suit their own purposes, or that plant seeds to raise crops. Or that wear clothes. Or that commit suicide. Those are the sort of things I'm looking for.

How can I encourage my talkative boss to stick to a meeting agenda?

katala — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:24:47 -0800

How can I encourage my talkative boss to stick to a meeting agenda? My boss, while a nice person at heart, loves to talk (and talk and talk) and also loves to schedule numerous meetings where she talks some more. I'm tired of being stuck in endless unproductive and incredibly dull meetings with her and would love to find a way to encourage her to stick to a meeting agenda.

If you've been in a similar situation yourself and have any advice for me I would be eternally grateful! Please note that being blunt with her probably won't do any good as she seems to have low self-esteem and can be very touchy, I need a subtle solution if at all possible.

A huge thank you in advance for any help you can give!!

Assesssing employee value

Palaverist — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:44:41 -0800

How can I assess the economic value of an employee (namely me)? So I've just been offered a very good job in technical writing, for a large sum of money, and I'm curious how I would even begin to assess whether I am adding as much value as the company is spending. Any theoretical basis for assessing the value of workers like product developers, technical writers, HR people, etc. would be much appreciated.

Looking for First Hand Info

paris2000 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:11:31 -0800

Applied to law school, looking to do work in human rights or civil liberties - but my info base is low. Just need more first hand information. Would love to hear about attorneys who love what they do - or if you know an lawyer who loves what they do. What kind of law? What does their/your work entail? Or sites that can give me further information. Thank you!!

Examples of 'The Infinite' in Myth and Their Effect on Conditions of Truth

0bvious — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:32:00 -0800

I am searching for examples of The Infinite, or the immeasurably large, in our mythologies and archetypes. I am also interested in the categories of Truth which came out of the emergence of Western, ontological thought. Does the trust in a rationally conceivable reality deny us the infinity of the mythological realm? By rooting ourselves in the present, and denying atemporal mythologies, do we also deny the infinite origins from where we came? Mythologically rooted cultures do not usually posit a beginning of time. Humans exist as part of a holistic cycle which spans back and forward into the infinite realm of mythology. There can really be no 'truth' in this perennial world of myth, where the spiritual and 'unseen' realm is just as 'real' as our present state of being.

Western 'truth' (ontologically defined rationality) denies the holism of all things (as do the Monotheistic religions), actively attributing identity to patterns perceived in the world we can see (or to God). This taxonomy or identification of patterns creates a false belief in a fully formed reality - a 'truth'. This taxonomic understanding is to simulacrum what philosophical enquiry was to Plato's shadows in the cave. In consequence, our distinction from The Infinite, from the realm of myth, qualifies us as distinct from reality - we live the simulation, not the absolute.

----------

I am just going off on one here, to outline vaguely what the forms of infinity, myth and ontology have had on our development (/evolution?).

Please feel free to agree, disagree or add to my examples.

Thanks for reading. I look forward to your responses.

Teaching resources about racial concepts: their biological validity and various cultural expressions

LobsterMitten — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:22:51 -0800

I need teaching resources about race: the biology of human "races"; why "race" is not biological but social; how racial categories have shifted over time and place; and related questions on teaching about race? This is as a supplement to reading The Mismeasure of Man in a university "Critical Thinking" class. I need more science and verifiable cross-cultural examples to back up my "there are no biological races" claim. Give me your best clear, scientific teaching resources (websites, books, examples) about why the idea that humans belong to different biological races has been discredited.

Two objections I'm especially interested in answers to:
1. Sickle cell anemia, Tay Sachs disease etc. Some groups do have biological characteristics in common (eg susceptibility to certain diseases). Why not then say that race has some usefulness in making biological predictions?

2. "Why are blacks such great athletes? I heard they have extra tendons in their legs, and more ATP." (!!!) I have a student who is very attached to racial categories. What do scientists make of the observation that, for example, many Kenyans seem extra well-suited to be long distance runners? Is there any good science on this?

Another request - evidence that race categories are arbitrary and shifting.

3. Pictures and info on different racial categorization systems that have been used in different places and times -- the more different from present-day USA, the better.

4. Sources of quotes etc on past racial categorizations (eg, the filthy Irish) that would discriminate against people who would now be considered "white".

How do I deal with a super-chatty co-worker I can't afford to offend?

katala — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:54:25 -0800

How do I deal with a super-chatty co-worker I can't afford to offend? I've recently started a new job and my supervisor is extremely chatty to the point where it's seriously disrupting my ability to get work done. The trouble is she's not only a lovely person who I don't want to offend, she's also my boss so I literally can't afford to offend her!

I've tried all the standard methods of politely indicating I need to keep working - headphones on, working and saying "mm hmm" while she's talking (at me most of the time I'm afraid, not to me), and not-very-subtly pointing out in the morning how full my schedule for the day is - but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I think she simply really enjoys talking, and thankfully doesn't usually require much response, but I'm still not sure how to keep on her good side AND get my work done. I certainly don't mind listening to her, and do my best anyway to listen carefully and make other people feel valued, but I don't particularly enjoy being stuck at work late playing catch-up.

Do you have any suggestions of how I can deal with my super-chatty supervisor without offending her? Quitting or moving teams / rooms isn't an option, but any other suggestions would be very very (did I mention very?) welcome. Thank you :)

How do people go about bringing honest communication into their friendships and relationships?

gregb1007 — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:12:03 -0800

How do people go about bringing honest communication into their friendships and relationships? A lot of the "human relations" questions on Mefi have made me reflect on the fact that friends or romantic partners often keep quiet about the dislikes/issues they have with another person. This can sometimes lead to a build of up festering resentment and the straining of either friendship/romantic relationship.

So, have any of you learned to avoid building up resentment with friends or lovers by communicating your dislikes? How did you bring yourself to have the courage to say unpleasant, critical things to said friend/lover?

Seems to me that this kinda of honesty, while avoiding build up of resentment, can also offend the person who becomes the subject of criticisms/complaints/nitpicking? So I guess with all of that in mind, my question basically comes down to two issues:

1.) How to get the courage to communicate honestly
2.) How to "criticize" people in a way that gets your message across but doesn't insult them and make them feel horrible? (The goal is to to be honest, but not be a jerk.)

How do I reduce glare in our sunlit design room?

jmprice — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:55:21 -0800

i work for a medium-sized web design company. How do I reduce glare inside of our design room while keeping our natural light? Hello. We have about 12 employees inside of our design room that's directly underneath a sunlight.

Here are pictures of our office:
http://www.box.net/shared/j9xgu252fg
http://www.box.net/shared/0ieif63pzu

The setting and natural sunlight is great but the glare is starting to strain our designer's eyes.

What is the best solution to reduce screen glare and designer eye strain? Is there something I can install elevated, in the center of the room, that will do the trick (an artificial cloud or something)? Should I instead just invest in anti-glare screen filters? Is there another solution?

It's pretty clear my boss is looking for outside the box solutions so I welcome your wildest suggestions.

Something to do with my hands

heavenstobetsy — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:48:56 -0800

Something to do with my hands that doesn't make me look like a serial killer? I have restless hands. I'm not sure why, it's always been that way. I never really saw it as a problem until recently when the only thing around to fiddle with was a steak knife. I wasn't alone or else it probably wouldn't have been an issue. Also if I hadn't been staring into space while rotating it in my hands.

Basically, it led to my friends mentioning that it was odd that I always have to be doing something with my hands (smoking, writing, twisting the cap on my pen, etc) and apparently this isn't the first time it has looked weird (or creepy). Is there something innocuous and yet not annoying (the pen thing is apparently annoying) that I can carry around and "fiddle" with to keep my hands busy? I have tried worry rings and it isn't enough, if that makes sense. Seems to always be something a little more substantial like a pencil, or pen. Also, something that will not stick out, so no nunchuks. Or is it always going to be noticeable, regardless of what I'm playing with?

What makes this girl so strong?

lastobelus — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:58:58 -0800

What are the factors that control/limit human strength? I've been reading about Varya Akulova the Ukranian girl who is incredibly strong, and I've become very curious about how she might be different than a typical human.

From pictures, you can see that she has very well developed musculature, however her strength seems to far exceed what you would normally expect from muscles that size. Other things you can tell from pictures are that her tendons are very large in relation to her muscles, and they seem to attach much farther from the joint than in a typical human.

Are these factors enough to explain her strength? Or are there other factors in the muscle tissue itself?

How much weaker than possible is ordinary human muscle tissue, and what mutations or genetic changes make it stronger?

What are the tradeoffs in tendons attaching farther from the joint? Would she be measurably slower at some tasks? I think I remember reading that this was one of the main reasons apes are so much stronger than humans. What evolutionary reasons are postulated for our current joint-tendon setup? Why have we traded off strength, and what does it get us, evolutionarily?

Upgrade parts for humans

V-Turn — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:49:19 -0800

A few years ago I stumbled on a website that proposed (very likely fake) upgradeable human parts for sale : added memory, bionic eyes, legs, etc. I can't recall this website and can't find it on Google, does that ring a bell to anybody?

Why Pose As A Woman?

misha — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:42:51 -0800

What reason would there be for a male to pass himself off as a woman on the internet? Should I tell my girlfriend her online confidante is actually a guy? I have two online friends (yes, I have more, but this concerns these two, okay?) that are connecting over the internet, which would be well and good, except one (call her S) is female and one (J) is male, and S thinks J is a female, too. This is not simply a misunderstanding; in addition to using an androgynous nick, not posting a pic of himself and not indicating his gender, J has actually cultivated this image by using--I don't really know how to put this--feminine terms in chat. S feels safe revealing personal info, believing she's chatting with another woman.

The thing is, I know J better than I do S. Or thought I did. And I can't for the life of me imagine why he would do this. I *think* he is heterosexual, but I don't interrogate my friends on their sexual preferences. He's had relationships with women, but there are situations with men in his past that now have me wondering. He played a female character in an online game before he met S, but so what? I never considered that a big deal. This behavior with S, though, seems over the top.

Normally, I don't butt into my friend's relationships, online or otherwise. But if I were S, I would want to know that J's a guy. I'm stumped. Help, please?