Doesn’t have to be a thing you bought. Just some thing you didn’t have but then once you did it expanded your scope of actions.

The first obvious example that comes to mind is a car. Plenty of drawbacks to prevalence of cars, but being able to go where I want when I want, and far away, is very transformative.

I’m interested in other examples of things that aren’t just useful, but that open new possibilities.

  • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
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    9 months ago

    I had a teacher advise me to make a habit of occasionally seeking out embarrassment, to stay in the habit, and prevent being paralyzed by fear of embarrassment.

    I’ve followed that advice for years, and it’s like a super power.

    I’ve done so much cool shit that a previous version of myself would have been afraid to try.

    I don’t even remember all the embarrassing stuff, even though there’s plenty. The cool stuff is what sticks in my memory, even though I’m prone to remembering my mistakes.

    • Acamon@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Saw a Ted talk that said the same thing. The guy over came some social anxiety by actively putting himself in an awkward situation each day (his was asking if he could get his coffee for free at the coffee shop). Once he got use to low stakes situations where people were surprised, confused or mildly judgemental (but also amused or just disinterested) it was easier to do things that actually mattered without worrying about people’s reactions. And he got a few free coffees.

      • 1984@lemmy.today
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        9 months ago

        First step is to post something onpopular but true on Lemmy, and be OK with the downvotes. I dare you all. :)

        • Agent641@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Youtube is actually good for both viewers and uploaders if you use it right. If youre upset with your experience of it, its your fault.

        • Scrof@sopuli.xyz
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          9 months ago

          HAMAS are terrorists and a part of the New Axis of fascist dictatorships which consist of Russia, Iran, China and North Korea among other minor countries and militant groups. Free Palestine movement is their loud, but in the grand scheme of thinga inconsequential piece of propaganda. TikTok is one the main propaganda tools of the Axis. There. Got downvoted for this plenty of times. Good thing the useful idiots are just a loud minority of primarily well-off USA students who cosplay being communists without understanding a thing about communism.

          • jpreston2005@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            started strong, and then pivoted into “students in the US who want a better life are idiots.”

            What everyone seems to misunderstand, is that the form of government doesn’t matter. Whatever form it takes, it is only as good as the social safety net it provides it’s citizens. Capitalism, Communism, Socialism, whichever, it doesn’t matter. They all have the same pitfall, in that inevitably all the wealth and power is funneled to the top. The only way to make an equitable society, is to provide for one through strong social programs.

            Attempting to vilify one particular style of governance is like pointing out that the foundation of the house is cracked, and blaming it on the vinyl siding.

            • I want to downvote you cos I disagree.
            • But I have a policy of never downvoting unless it’s spam.
            • But you seem to be posting this to get downvotes to test the hypothesis of the OP. A downvote will help you in the long run.
            • But I disagree with you so do I wanna help you?
            • Of course I wanna help cos life is hard.
            • But I don’t do downvotes unless it’s spam…

            Segmentation fault

          • shortwavesurfer
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            9 months ago

            Socialism, the WEF, and those big organizations are ruining the world and want to enslave all humanity. You will own nothing and like it and eat zee bugs.