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self_made_human

amaratvaṃ prāpnuhi, athavā yatamāno mṛtyum āpnuhi

16 followers   follows 0 users  
joined 2022 September 05 05:31:00 UTC

I'm a transhumanist doctor. In a better world, I wouldn't need to add that as a qualifier to plain old "doctor". It would be taken as granted for someone in the profession of saving lives.

At any rate, I intend to live forever or die trying. See you at Heat Death!

Friends:

A friend to everyone is a friend to no one.


				
User ID: 454


				
				
				

			

		

	














	


		


			



	

		

			

			

				

					

						

							
						

						

							
							

								
self_made_human


								

								

								
								
									
								
								
								
								

								
							
					
 
				


				
amaratvaṃ prāpnuhi, athavā yatamāno mṛtyum āpnuhi

				
				
				

				

					16 followers  

					follows 0 users  

					joined 2022 September 05 05:31:00 UTC
				


				
					

					
I'm a transhumanist doctor. In a better world, I wouldn't need to add that as a qualifier to plain old "doctor". It would be taken as granted for someone in the profession of saving lives.


At any rate, I intend to live forever or die trying. See you at Heat Death!



				

				
					
Friends:

					
A friend to everyone is a friend to no one.


				

				

				

				

					

					

					
					
					

					
User ID: 454


					
					
					
				

			


					

						
					



		

	

 











			
			

			
			

			




	


		

			
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				Wellness Wednesday for May 27, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Ah, the 60 yo senior charge nurse and the gay pharmacist can openly yap (in the middle of the ward corridor) about attending a strip show, but I talk about my dating life and end up in front of HR? How rude, is it because I'm brown?


Frankly, my dating life should get me in front of a psychiatrist instead. I went on a date with someone who described herself as an asexual lesbian (but had, most recently, dated a dude with a dick and tits) questioning her sexuality. Apparently she thought I might have answers. The main answer I got from that date was that I do not enjoy being choked, MMA style.*


The worst part? That was my idea. Not even for erotic reasons, I was just that bored and out of good ideas. Spent them at work, curing everyone but myself. This is not even the worst date I've been on, in fact, she's very hot and pleasant company, which is more than I can say about most straight women. I am clearly doing things very right or very wrong, but I am not qualified to tell. I'll probably see her again.


*She trains, but it's clear that I could have killed her if I wanted to. I told her that up front, sometime around the start of the date, and pointed at a convenient bridge nearby. She actually agreed, and still went for a walk with me through a rather deserted neighborhood. Queen shit.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Wellness Wednesday for May 27, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
No gym, some exercise, my excuse is that I'm overworked and depressed. At least I get cardio when I catch my bus or when I run around the hospital.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry. I'd say that words are worth very little, but that would be a cynical lie. I know I've been in bad places and kind words even from a stranger helped.


My grandpa isn't all there anymore. At 96 and change, the actuarial tables aren't looking good. But he's at home, and goddammit, he might have spent his life at hospital but if he goes, he'll go at home. Or stay home, surrounded by people who love him. That would include me, if work lets me fly away. This is a grim hypothetical I'm forcing myself to confront instead of unaddressed, and I'm worried about my parents because I'll be damned if they don't another 20 years of reasonably healthy life. Might as well hand in my badge and walk away if I can't do that.


Hoping you're okay now, and the grief has been dulled by the passage of the time. Too much to expect it to just go, it won't.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				The Fundamentals of Cogitism: Grounding Ethics in the Nature of Consciousness
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
This is getting out of hand, now there's two of them! Phenomenal.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I can't imagine taking my dad to a dive bar, and neither of us are willing to start fights (I'm a gentle soul), but I do appreciate you standing up for your dad. If someone did actually lay hands on my family, you bet I'd come in swinging.


The story makes it all worth it. I think you left an impression on your dad, the "my little boy is all grown up" kind. And that's really all we can ever expect from our dads.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I usually go for coffee, stronger and a quarter of a quarter of a substitute for the medication I need. But please do send it through, since you're expecting no promises about anything (and thank god for that haha, my soul is barely recovering).


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Heh. Fair, if you still need eyes on the final draft I can go for it with more time and energy this time.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I sometimes wish I was a dentist (not pretty enough to be a hygienist, but I could do with a harem). Mostly for the captive audience for my lectures.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Oh, different thing than I was envisioning. I was talking about the elevated risk of neurodegenerative disorders in neurosurgeons. I mean, I doubt it's all easily condensed down to a single factor, but we quite recently found out that gum infection is linked to cardiac disease too. So I suppose I'm going to keep my eyes peeled and brush my teeth better.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I mean, AFAIK the infectivity thing is mostly for neurosurgeons? People who are actively at risk of inhaling potential abnormal proteins.


And Alzheimer's, in particular, is quite common even without a family history. If you have the option, I would strongly advise starting on a GLP-1 drugs. It's too late when the AD has already set in, but I'm not sure if it makes a difference during the mild cognitive impairment stage, and you're better off starting early. Might be worth getting screened for APOE-4 allele if budget allows, that's a massive risk. 50% of AD cases or more have at least one of them.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Ouch. I'm sorry man, that's the worst, because there's very little you can do about it once it kicks in. One of the many reasons I tell my parents to start or continue semaglutide is the immediate cardiovascular benefit, which translates to drastically reduced dementia risk. I'm guessing this comes too late for you, and if so, my condolences.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I will take a look, I do have softness for noir.


I did read both! I loved Anathem, one of his best, but Seveneves sorely disappointed me. The story should have just ended 2/3rds of the way through and it would be a much better book for it.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
How old do you think were when the transition from your parents worrying about your health to you worrying about their health happened?


I'd say late 20s for me, not very long back really. They're in their 60s now. I suppose it's confounded by the fact we're all doctors, and I have a (small) degree of confidence that they can look after themselves and vice versa. Still have to yell at my dad to get his heart checked, and my mom to up her semaglutide dose, but they need to check in on me too so it all cancels out.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of May 18, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I'm couching my words carefully: I'd rather stay in my couch and let the experts handle these things. I have few neurons left to distribute to even the most normal of tasks.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of May 18, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Aww, it's sweet that you thought I'm joking. No. I have brain damage from too many exams, including having to memorize all the fun properties of a normal distribution, as well as the abnormal ones.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Nothing, but at least that means I'm not performing a close reading and textual analysis of the DSM-5, ICD-10 and ICD-11.


I genuinely would take recommendations now. Recommendations for the recommendation would be that I mostly prefer nerdy hard sf bullshit, but I could branch out.


But if someone were to recommend Heidegger, I'd say hi, and then dig two graves before embarking on a journey of revenge.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I read it not that long ago, and enjoyed it. I want to claim I finished every novel set in that particular universe, and that's probably true.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of May 18, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Hey, at least Hlynka is gone (suicide by mod). While he's enjoying his retirement, my blood pressure does much better.




And now I can't help but worry that many of the other posts on the Motte are similarly compromised. Have we become (or always been) just another midwit debate site?




We were supposed to at least be midwits? I got 70 on my IQ test, which must be 70% of the maximum and a passing grade!


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I think my vision and discernment is fine, actually, but sure. The other explanations are at least plausible.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I'm not autistic, I just happen to be nerdy enough to blend in.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I have generated a lot of images in a day, including hitting the ~hourly-rate limits multiple times, and I can't say I've noticed this at all.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of May 18, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Brother, insight without action is as worthless as the spectacles it came with. Don't take the bait, at least if it comes at the cost of your sanity. Or do, if you end up feeling some degree of catharsis, idk, I'm not your shrink. I'm not doing a very good job at being my own shrink.


Perhaps it does serve a useful function to point out when people are being pigheadedly wrong about things. Someone's got to do it, or ought to do it, and I'm just glad that someone is very rarely me these days. I've got booze to drink, and Scottish women to introduce to the single mother lifestyle.


But yes, if we meet in the breadlines or in the intake unit for the paperclip factor, I'll save an understanding nod for you. Fist-bumps wouldn't be befitting.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 24, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I use both GPT Image 2 and Nano Banana Pro 2, but these days, mostly the former. NB was clearly better until I2 came out, and you can probably use them pretty interchangeably, but I get subjectively better results from the former, particularly if I use it through the GPT 5.5 (Thinking) route, which allows for a combination of thinking and image gen.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				The Fundamentals of Cogitism: Grounding Ethics in the Nature of Consciousness
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I mean, I know it's a delusion, for the standard working definition of "know". My point is that your internal processes are not perfectly reliable, and that treating them as reliably axiomatic is a bad idea when psychiatry is a real profession. How would you know from the inside view?


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of May 18, 2026
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
The longer I spend here, the more I understand why @DaseindustriesLtd got so fucking mad at some of the quality of the takes on AI and decamped to fairer lands. I mean, I'm still here, and I'm not really going anywhere, but I've already said I'm largely bowing out of the conversation.


That's probably because I am less Russian and more patient than he is, but some of the bullshit I've heard has driven me towards drink*, and my patience is at an all-time low. I just get where he's coming from.


*Making me spiritually Slavic, or at least Scottish. There are no shortages of European nationalities with a national fondness for drink.