Depends on who exactly you mean, but thinking of the ‘high school bullies’ of my day in general, mostly prison.

A challenge for you (or anyone interested in taking it up): Once a day, while waiting for public transit, pay attention to the people around you. Does anyone have something interesting about them (hair, clothes, jewelery, weird keychain thing on their phone, etc.)? Ask one identified person about it. See someone who looks like they are on the verge of tears? Ask them “Hey, is everything ok?”

9/10 times you’ll have a brief Q-A-back off interaction, but sometimes it’ll turn into a longer conversation. Yes, it feels awkward. Yes, in some places you’ll come across as rude/uncomfortably weird (keep your dominant culture in mind - you probably wouldn’t try this in some place like Finland or something). But I’ve had some very interesting experiences doing this in the past (usually with the ones who look upset - if you’re willing to be a sympathetic ear you might just make that person’s day).

It’s funny you mention tattoos - my favourite part was the huge endorphin rush it produced. I’d wager the whole tattoo ‘addiction’ thing tattoo artists and the heavily inked are familiar with is usually endorphin based, with aesthetics serving as justification.

You’re right about stubbing a toe or biting your tongue, but there are other activities people engage in that involve a direct seeking out of pain (Drag’s in this thread talking about an unfortunate one, then there’s stuff like certain activities in BDSM play [which, a surprising amount of the time, isn’t always a precursor to sex], etc.). With enjoying really, really spicy stuff, there’s the stimuli [pain], the endorphin release, and the justification and side effects that may bolster justification (‘flavour’ even in cases where little is actually detectable beyond ‘mouth hot’; satiation after getting food in you, etc.).

I’m just some random guy speculating (I’m sure there’s studies somewhere, though tricky to do direct research ethically), but I imagine it goes something like this for a lot of folks in a lot of contexts:

Stimuli -> Pain -> Dopamine release. If dopamine response is greater than pain response, is a good thing (then justified with reference to specific stimuli and context of stimuli). If pain response is greater than dopamine response, is a bad thing.

…reading it back I think specific type of stimuli, context, and the subject’s predilections are very relevant to this calculation, but not a psychologist or neurologist, so idk.

Fair enough, I was thinking in more of an adult context. Totally respect your personal preference in that regard.

With teens, it’s kind of a combination of factors - lack of space they can privately do whatever intimate thing they please (malls/bleachers/whatever are public spaces, sure, but are places they can easily meet away from parents. They don’t necessarily care about the rest of the public), not yet being comfortable with the more fun stuff, and it still feels pretty good (though lower on the total spectrum of good feeling things possible between humans).

I can guarantee there’s kids in a mall somewhere making out while we’re having the conversation, unaware that they engaging in a dying ritual lumbering its way into the mists of time.

Being a little literal, but I can guarantee someone has said 1, 3, 5, and 7 in the past twenty years. Heck, probably the last year.

Payphones are still a thing in some places and get used - I started doing a thing involving them a yearish ago (it’s in my post history if anyone really cares). Literally had someone ask “Hey, are you done with that phone?” as I was jotting down its number, which was shocking. Can confirm where I am they still take coins (it’s 50 cents now, unless you’re calling a toll-free number).

VHS is making a … come back isn’t really the right word, but there’s a small number of folks interested in what’s on old tapes they find and some hobbyists swap stuff. And there are still a few video rental places around (though really, really rare - or near places like campsites, catering to folks with cars that still have DVD players or households with spotty internet).

It’s all still disappearing, no doubt, but not 100% dead yet.

IIRC it produces endorphins, though for a significant amount of folks not well enough that they’ll subject themselves to it.

It’s a precursor to the more fun things, ratcheting up the excitement levels for most.

Do people really just dive straight for the clitoris/dick without making out first? Not judging, just literally never considered that as a possibility. Also noted there are other forms of foreplay, but outside of some S&M branched stuff I always figured there was making out somewhere in the mix most of the time.

There’s something about going to an event with like-minded people, listening to a band you like live with (often, not always) optimized sound for the space, and 99% of folks uninhibitably jamming out and having a good time.

I can definitely see how the experience would be unappealing to some folks, though. And I should note I’m more of a gig goer than concert attendee - so sound optimization is hit or miss, and the jamming out % is lower. Still fun, still not everyone’s cup of tea.

Edit: Idle thought that came up reading this back: what is music, for you - as in, what is your relationship to it? Where does music live in your world? Is it something that comes out of a machine to fill silence in your space or block out noise? Is it something produced by humans, of which MP3s/FLACS/CDs/Vinyl/radio waves etc. are just imprints/simulacrum for wider dissemination?

Basically, is it an activity, or a product at its core? Not really expecting anyone to answer (though they can), just a reflection I personally found interesting. Many acceptable answers.

What would this sound like played in aplay?

Agreed, fuck this Newspeak nonsense. People kill, die, fuck, shit, piss, go off half-cocked making asses of themselves, etc.

I’m all for censoring pejoratives that are inherently derogatory on the basis of sex, gender, nationality or racial characteristics, but I am deeply critical of shit like ‘unaliving’. I am open to someone correcting this view, but it’s something that started with large corporations afraid for their bottom line. IMO it has no place in the Fediverse.

steps off of soapbox, curious if the ban hammer cometh

For only checks again $44.99 USD you can become a doktor in the Church of the Subgenius.

https://www.subgenius.com/scatalog/membership.htm

Honestly, same.

Secret Order of the Lemmings? Can we have a sh.it.head rite?

From what I understand, intensity will vary from chapter to chapter. A belief in God is a requirement, but there can be some wiggle room on exactly what that means.

Looked into it because it sounded cool, attending some sort of group thing would probably be a good idea for me, and I find ritual fascinating. Shit gets expensive, though.

Edit: Who am I kidding, it’s mostly because I want my wallet contents to sound like Grandpa Simpson’s

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

(When all else fails, play dead)

I wouldn’t go that far - oftentimes people actually do like those books that get name dropped for clout.

I would say if you take a recommendation and aren’t digging the book, drop it with absolutely no guilt. If something like (for example) Infinite Jest just feels like a slog with no payoff, and you just wanna kick back with something trashy, do it and fuck the haters.

But you may find you dig it - you won’t know without giving it a shot.

The core is basically this.

1. Go where the humans are. Do so on a regular basis. It doesn’t really matter where, so long as it’s a place where a) socialization is not actively discouraged, and b) people are likely to show up more than once.
2. Talk to as many humans as possible until you find humans you click with.
3. Bring other people into the fold as you meet them.

There are environments that make this easier - hobby groups, certain ‘scenes’ in your area (music, art, etc.), volunteer organizations, etc. - but you can start the work pretty much anywhere humans congregate.

Are there any hobbiest groups re: digital art or adjacent activities in your area (zine making socials always sounded pretty fun)? Is there something you’ve always wanted to try that’s on offer as a group event? Start there, talk to the humans, show up more than once and there’s a good chance you’ll be off to a good start.

…said the kettle.

Shut up and take my investment money.

(Please note I have no investment money.)