Thing of Things

Thing of Things examines the intersection of ethics and personal responsibilities within the context of modern societal issues, historical perspectives, and personal well-being. It delves into effective altruism, mental health, historical analysis, community behavior, and the implications of personal choices on moral grounds, offering insights into both contemporary and timeless dilemmas.

Effective Altruism Mental Health Historical Analysis Community Behavior Personal Well-being Ethical Decision-Making Literature and Media Analysis Sexuality and Relationships

The hottest Substack posts of Thing of Things

And their main takeaways

Against Nonlinear

805 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Critique Community Ethics Transparency Values
  1. Effective altruist culture should prioritize spending resources efficiently for doing good.
  2. Career opportunities in effective altruism should be based on merit and skills, not connections or social status.
  3. Maintaining transparency and accountability is crucial for building trust and ensuring the effectiveness of organizations in the effective altruism movement.

Community Responses To Bad Behavior

275 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture
  1. Communities can respond to bad behavior by doing nothing, which is the most common response for trivial issues.
  2. Whisper networks are a flexible tool for low-drama prevention of bad behavior, but can lead to misinformation and exclusion of vulnerable people.
  3. Callout posts make wrongdoing public but come with significant downsides for all parties involved, leading to intense scrutiny and negative consequences.

Guest Post: Medieval Warfare Was Bad, Actually

255 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Fantasy Violence Atrocities
  1. Medieval warfare in 'A Song of Ice and Fire' is depicted fairly accurately according to military historian Bret Devereaux.
  2. The size of armies in medieval settings and the logistical challenges they faced were realistically portrayed in the novels.
  3. Warfare in medieval Europe involved widespread devastation, looting, and rape, challenging the idealized portrayal often seen in popular media.
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Insomnia Advice

176 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Insomnia Sleep Therapy Medication Advice
  1. If you have occasional insomnia, believing that lying down with your eyes closed can be almost as beneficial as sleeping might help.
  2. For chronic insomnia, consider trying antidepressants or other sleeping medications under your doctor's guidance. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is also effective.
  3. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia involves following a strict routine, including tracking sleep patterns, setting a consistent wake-up time, and avoiding napping during the day.

Linkpost for February

137 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🔬 Science Psychology Economics Politics Short Stories Fun
  1. Long-term monthly payments and lump sum cash transfers are both effective ways of helping people, but short-term monthly payments are less effective.
  2. The Copenhagen Consensus Center has identified twelve programs that are more cost-effective than unconditional cash transfers for addressing global poverty.
  3. Malaria vaccines may be less cost-effective than bednets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention due to logistical challenges and similar efficacy.

Book Review: Magnificent Sex

157 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Book review
  1. The book 'Magnificent Sex' studies people with great sex lives, focusing on two groups: those over 60 married for 25+ years and queer, kinky, and/or poly people.
  2. Interview transcripts for both study groups were indistinguishable, showing similarities in their sex lives despite differences in age and orientation.
  3. Contrary to some beliefs, people actually having great sex did not agree with the opinions of sex therapists on what makes a good sex life.

The Sad Showtunes Shit Scale

137 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Anime
  1. The Sad Showtunes Shit Scale is discussed on thingofthings.substack.com
  2. Anime scholars created the Weeb Ass Shit Scale for anime rating from 0-10
  3. The Weeb, Ass, and Shit scales are used to rate different aspects of anime

Is Transitioning Harmful To Prospective Trans Lesbians?

137 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Gender identity
  1. Some trans lesbians have dysphoria, which can be relieved through social and biomedical transition.
  2. Many dysphoric trans lesbians may not realize they are dysphoric and mistakenly attribute their feelings to other causes.
  3. Before claiming that transition won't solve someone's problems, it's important to check if there are underlying issues beyond wanting to be with lesbians.

EA Funds Post Update

39 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy
  1. Effective altruism funds involve donating to specific grantmakers who then distribute the money strategically.
  2. The author encourages sharing new funds or updates on existing ones for inclusion in the annual list.
  3. Grantmakers are urged to start their own unique funds to offer donors more choices and set higher standards.