- Welcome to Happy Atheist Forum.
Just be happy.
Recent posts
#91
Social Issues and Causes / Re: Perceived Rudeness in a Se...
Last post by xSilverPhinx - March 26, 2026, 02:06:54 PMI find this fascinating though admittedly I don't know that much on the neuroscience aspect of perceived rudeness across different cultures.
During my 6-month stay in Houston (pre-ICE/Trump rampages, in 2023) I actually found the people there to be very polite, and the southern hospitality I got was certainly a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately things have most probably changed since.
Undoubtedly I must have been seen as the unintentionaly rude one in quite a few interactions.
Like this one time I bought a few 5L bottles of drinking water from Costco and left them at the foot of the stairs so that I could take them up to my apartment 2 by 2, and a passerby (biker-like guy, older man, long beard, lots of tattoos) just scooped up four bottles without saying anything. My first thought was that he was going to steal them so I...erm, sort of nervously shouted that they were mine. He was trying to help me bring them up the stairs. I didn't know where to hide my face after I thanked him profusely.
In terms of languages, I think the way different ones are structured in pragmatic terms may be a major reason for perceived rudeness. For instance, in Brazil when asking for something people are way more direct, which can easily be seen as impolite or even forceful in other countries. Here it is perfectly normal to say "I want so and so", or "give me so and so" when ordering something at a restaurant or asking for something at a hotel. It's not considered rude. Not much "can I have" or "could you please" in such cases.
Also, people don't have the same sense of personal space. It is certainly interesting to see how far people stand apart when talking to each other in different countries. A person standing too close can obviously be perceived as rudeness to someone who feels uncomfortable in those situations.
During my 6-month stay in Houston (pre-ICE/Trump rampages, in 2023) I actually found the people there to be very polite, and the southern hospitality I got was certainly a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately things have most probably changed since.
Undoubtedly I must have been seen as the unintentionaly rude one in quite a few interactions.
Like this one time I bought a few 5L bottles of drinking water from Costco and left them at the foot of the stairs so that I could take them up to my apartment 2 by 2, and a passerby (biker-like guy, older man, long beard, lots of tattoos) just scooped up four bottles without saying anything. My first thought was that he was going to steal them so I...erm, sort of nervously shouted that they were mine. He was trying to help me bring them up the stairs. I didn't know where to hide my face after I thanked him profusely. In terms of languages, I think the way different ones are structured in pragmatic terms may be a major reason for perceived rudeness. For instance, in Brazil when asking for something people are way more direct, which can easily be seen as impolite or even forceful in other countries. Here it is perfectly normal to say "I want so and so", or "give me so and so" when ordering something at a restaurant or asking for something at a hotel. It's not considered rude. Not much "can I have" or "could you please" in such cases.
Also, people don't have the same sense of personal space. It is certainly interesting to see how far people stand apart when talking to each other in different countries. A person standing too close can obviously be perceived as rudeness to someone who feels uncomfortable in those situations.
#92
Politics / Re: Duke of Bullshit: "The" Do...
Last post by xSilverPhinx - March 26, 2026, 01:42:36 PMErm, there seems to be a rabid orangutan on the loose...when is the US going to send it back to the zoo? It's been throwing its own faeces at the rest of the world for some time now. 
#93
Science / Re: Oral Insulin
Last post by Recusant - March 26, 2026, 02:53:10 AMA different route for oral insulin--this one may be more likely to get to the public than the nano tech in the OP.
"Insulin pills may soon replace daily injections" | ScienceDaily
The paper is behind a paywall.
"Insulin pills may soon replace daily injections" | ScienceDaily
QuoteFor more than 100 years, scientists have pursued the idea of insulin in pill form, often described as a "dream" treatment for diabetes. The challenge has been the body itself. Enzymes in the digestive system break down insulin before it can work, and the intestine lacks a natural way to absorb it into the bloodstream. As a result, many patients still depend on daily injections, which can take a toll on their quality of life.
A team at Kumamoto University, led by Associate Professor Shingo Ito, has now developed a promising solution. Their approach uses a cyclic peptide that can pass through the small intestine, known as the DNP peptide. This platform allows insulin to be delivered orally in a way that was not previously possible.
To make this work, the researchers designed two different methods to help insulin cross the intestinal barrier:
Mixing method (interaction-based): The team combined a modified "D-DNP-V peptide" with zinc-stabilized insulin hexamers. When given orally to several diabetes models, including chemically induced (STZ mice) and genetic (Kuma mice) models, this mixture quickly brought blood sugar levels down to normal. Stable glucose control was maintained with once-daily dosing for three consecutive days.
Conjugation method (covalent-based): Using click chemistry, the researchers attached the DNP peptide directly to insulin, creating a "DNP-insulin conjugate." This version lowered blood sugar just as effectively as the mixing method, confirming that the peptide actively helps transport insulin through the intestine.
One of the biggest obstacles for oral insulin has been the need for extremely high doses, sometimes more than ten times higher than injections. This new platform significantly reduces that requirement. It achieved a pharmacological bioavailability of about 33-41% compared to subcutaneous injection. That level of efficiency suggests oral insulin could become far more practical for real-world use.
[Continues . . .]
The paper is behind a paywall.
QuoteAbstract:
Oral administration of protein therapeutics, such as insulin, is hindered by enzymatic degradation and poor intestinal permeability. To overcome these barriers, we present a peptide-based delivery platform that uses a DNP peptide that is permeable in the small intestine.
We engineered DNP-V, a modular carrier peptide, fused to an insulin-interacting peptide. We demonstrated that the coadministration of DNP-V with zinc-stabilized insulin hexamers in diabetic mice enables a rapid, robust, and sustained reduction in blood glucose levels to near-normal levels. This effect was reproducible across multiple diabetic models, achieving significant suppression of the initial postprandial glucose surge with once-daily oral dosing.
This platform can be easily applied to long-acting insulin analogs, allowing for oral delivery without the need for complex preparation changes. Additionally, covalent conjugation of DNP peptides to insulin via click chemistry yielded stable insulin conjugates that significantly enhanced intestinal absorption and produced comparable oral glucose-lowering effects. This confirms the direct contribution of the carriers to the absorption.
These findings establish DNP peptides as versatile, modular platforms for the oral delivery of macromolecular therapeutics. As long as an appropriate conjugatable partner is available, this technology can simply and effectively convert injectable biopharmaceuticals into orally administrable forms, offering a promising path to practical, patient-friendly oral therapies.
#94
Laid Back Lounge / Re: What's on your mind today?
Last post by billy rubin - March 25, 2026, 12:45:04 PMawkward isnt it, bud
im sucking water out of contaonment sumps on a west virginia well pad, so i have to climb over the containment walls.
only about 42 inches but i dont bend easily anymore either.
im sucking water out of contaonment sumps on a west virginia well pad, so i have to climb over the containment walls.
only about 42 inches but i dont bend easily anymore either.
#95
Religion / Re: Evangelists
Last post by zorkan - March 25, 2026, 11:57:36 AMThe new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullaly is to be enthroned today.
This has annoyed some African churches within the "Anglian communion" who don't like the idea of a woman occupying the holiest position.
So after all the paedo stuff at the time of the previous incumbent comes the misogyny.
Before the ceremony begins she is denied entry to the cathedral, and will only be admitted until she has knocked 3 times on the west door with a staff. The door is then opened from the inside and an official asks "What do you want?"
Puerile or what?
Her official role is 'Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Church of England, and Lord Spiritual.'
The Church of England is regarded as god's very own church in England.
The wearing of silly hats is a must and might even be a factor in declining attendances.
https://spectator.com/article/the-cofes-female-clergy-muddle-is-not-sustainable/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21835-coulrophobia-fear-of-clowns
This has annoyed some African churches within the "Anglian communion" who don't like the idea of a woman occupying the holiest position.
So after all the paedo stuff at the time of the previous incumbent comes the misogyny.
Before the ceremony begins she is denied entry to the cathedral, and will only be admitted until she has knocked 3 times on the west door with a staff. The door is then opened from the inside and an official asks "What do you want?"
Puerile or what?
Her official role is 'Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Church of England, and Lord Spiritual.'
The Church of England is regarded as god's very own church in England.
The wearing of silly hats is a must and might even be a factor in declining attendances.
https://spectator.com/article/the-cofes-female-clergy-muddle-is-not-sustainable/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21835-coulrophobia-fear-of-clowns
#96
Laid Back Lounge / Re: What's on your mind today?
Last post by Dark Lightning - March 25, 2026, 09:56:58 AMI get you. I'm going to lean hard on the orthopedist for knee joint surgery instead of cortisone injections. I can't even wash and wax my own car, let alone crawl into a cabinet, and I'm only 73. I can get down, but getting back up is an exercise in faith. I used to be able to pick up 225# engine blocks off the ground and put them in a truck bed, unassisted. I'm currently up at 2:30 in the morning- can't sleep. Humbug. Getting old ain't for sissies.
#97
Laid Back Lounge / Re: What's on your mind today?
Last post by Icarus - March 25, 2026, 03:13:18 AMLess on my mind than on my aching body......Cabinet under kitchen sink flooded with water. Gotta fix that damned leak. I am quite capable of repairing a simple plumbing problem. On the other hand the freaking problem is inside a cabinet into which my body can not fit. So I gotta crawl around on my knees with a flashlight to see what is making the problem.
Plumbers who work in these cramped places have to be contortionists. I was pretty limber when I was 30, 40, even 50. Those days are gone forever I fear. I did fix the damned problem, it took several hours to do a 10 minute job, at the expense of my poor aged, now aching, body.
Plumbers who work in these cramped places have to be contortionists. I was pretty limber when I was 30, 40, even 50. Those days are gone forever I fear. I did fix the damned problem, it took several hours to do a 10 minute job, at the expense of my poor aged, now aching, body.
#98
Social Issues and Causes / Re: Perceived Rudeness in a Se...
Last post by Recusant - March 24, 2026, 06:33:55 AMQuote from: Ecurb Noselrub on March 23, 2026, 03:12:42 PMHaving traveled to more than 30 countries and having a workable knowledge of Italian, and rudimentary knowledge of Spanish and French, I can say that I find Americans to be the rudest of all. Russians may be second, but they live under a dictatorship. Germans may be third, but they are just more blunt.
You won't get disagreement from me on those observations. Mostly because you've got more data than I. The only Russian I knew personally was a rather suave gentleman, not rude in the slightest, but you're talking about an overall impression of behavior. Also, I assume you're talking about interactions with the people in their own country.
Americans have earned their reputation no doubt. There's a reason some of Americans try to pass themselves off as Canadians when they travel.
The phenomenon the paper is describing is intriguing. I think a similar study of for instance Spanish L1 and L2 speakers in a Spanish-speaking context could begin to show whether it's specific to a US setting* or more widely relevant.
*The study participants watched clips from a US reality television show (Below Deck).
#99
Social Issues and Causes / Re: Perceived Rudeness in a Se...
Last post by Ecurb Noselrub - March 23, 2026, 03:12:42 PMHaving traveled to more than 30 countries and having a workable knowledge of Italian, and rudimentary knowledge of Spanish and French, I can say that I find Americans to be the rudest of all. Russians may be second, but they live under a dictatorship. Germans may be third, but they are just more blunt.
#100
Social Issues and Causes / Perceived Rudeness in a Second...
Last post by Recusant - March 23, 2026, 02:45:56 AMNot being particularly proficient in any language other than English, my own experience in this realm is very limited. I do speak some French though. It's not as if the French are known for being polite to English speakers, but when travelling in France it didn't seem to me that I encountered more rudeness than average. Maybe I was just lucky. On the other hand the study is about people living in a place where their second language is spoken. Maybe if I spent more than a few weeks in France . . .
It would be interesting to hear what our neuroscientist PhD has to say on the topic after having lived in the US for a while.
"Trying your best in a second language? Here's why native speakers seem so rude" | The Conversation
The paper appears to be open access. If the link doesn't work, try clicking through from the link in the original article.
"Emotion and moral stance in evaluations of impoliteness in L1 and L2 from video clips of workplace interactions" | Lingua
It would be interesting to hear what our neuroscientist PhD has to say on the topic after having lived in the US for a while.
"Trying your best in a second language? Here's why native speakers seem so rude" | The Conversation
QuoteRudeness, whether real or perceived, can deeply affect cooperation, trust, and workplace culture. But judgements of what we consider rude aren't confined to specific disrespectful words or phrases – they are shaped by the listener's emotional processing, attention to non-verbal cues, and underlying moral stance.
In multilingual settings this complexity is compounded, as misunderstandings don't just arise from vocabulary gaps or grammar mistakes. In fact, they often have more to do with ourselves – our own emotional and moral judgements of what others say and do – than the words being uttered.
If you frequently communicate in your second language, you'll have encountered this regularly. Someone might speak to you calmly, clearly and without a hint of ill will, but still leave you with an uneasy thought: "they didn't say anything wrong... but it felt rude".
Our research sheds light on this phenomenon by looking at the intersection of pragmatics (how language is used in context), emotion research, bilingualism, and moral psychology.
[. . .]
Our study revealed two major patterns.
First of all, second language speakers are more sensitive to rudeness. Spanish speakers using English as their L2 tended to rate the same interactions as more impolite than L1 English speakers did. Importantly, this does not mean they misunderstood the language.
One explanation is that L2 users may overestimate offensiveness, a pattern previously observed with taboo or emotionally loaded language in L2 contexts. Some clips also included swearing or tense exchanges, presenting a possible "red flag" for L2 viewers in situations that L1 speakers were able to interpret with more nuance.
Another explanation lies in attention: because processing speech in an L2 involves greater cognitive effort, participants may have relied more on facial expressions and gestures. Reading these cues as signs of tension or conflict may have led to higher impoliteness ratings.
It is also possible that L2 speakers may be more sensitive to cues they interpret as impolite and more alert to potential disrespect, perhaps due to underlying uncertainty about cultural or pragmatic norms.
The second finding was that emotional reactions are surprisingly similar across groups. Despite differences in perceived impoliteness, both groups reported similar emotional reactions to behaviour they saw as impolite.
[Continues . . .]
The paper appears to be open access. If the link doesn't work, try clicking through from the link in the original article.
"Emotion and moral stance in evaluations of impoliteness in L1 and L2 from video clips of workplace interactions" | Lingua
QuoteAbstract:
This study investigates how emotions and moral stance influence evaluations of impoliteness between first language (L1) and second language (L2) English users, from an interdisciplinary perspective combining pragmatics, bilingualism, emotion research, and moral psychology. The study widens previous impoliteness research by focusing on both L1 and L2 users and analyses moral stance and emotions following a mixed methods approach. The study was preregistered prior to data collection and analysis.
Fifty-five L1 English participants and 45 Spanish-speaking participants with L2 English watched video clips of workplace interactions and assessed the level of impoliteness in these videos. Moreover, the participants indicated the emotions they experienced after watching the video clips and completed the Moral Foundations Questionnaire. The results revealed that L2 users perceived higher levels of impoliteness. By contrast, emotional reactions to impoliteness did not significantly differ between L1 and L2 English users.
Qualitative analysis of the participants' emotions showed that these alluded to notions of moral order, with moral emotions being prevalent. The moral foundation of harm/care appeared to be the most prominent within impoliteness evaluations. In light of the above findings, this study suggests L2 (pragmatics) teaching should raise L2 learners' awareness of the personal and psychological factors involved in impoliteness events, provide input on inferences from gesture, and draw on workplace interactions as a useful context for discussions on infelicitous interactions.