I figure since the placebo effect is basically a neurologically based “treatment” even when applied to non-neurological conditions, it perhaps has a far more substantial effect on neurological conditions even if it is no cure. Of course, that's completely guessing.

The more you understand about something, the less you have to resort to simplistic answers. As you said, the brain is freaking complex, but it’s a level of complexity that isn’t fully understood, so there’s no choice but to operate on it simplistically. Mental health is past the stage of “disease is a smiting from…

The issue is one of treatment. How to make the pain go away is going to differ between the two. You can’t just put the person on opiods for the rest of their life, in either case. In the physical case, you have to attack the outside antagonist (or if it were an autoimmune issue potentialy use immunosuppressive drugs).…

I would think of this as the difference between the materialist (is that even a thing) and the capitalist: the capitalist doesn't see the point in shelling out too much for things that don't appreciate.

Everyone reading BCO needs to make a pact. If you see someone like PF Changs lady when you are out eating, and they get their way, approach the manager. Tell him or her that you are disgusted by having to watch that persons horrible behaviour, that it has ruined your meal to be in a restaurant where this person would…

Sounds like the first documented case of "Electra Complex by Proxy."

To be fair, manatees are basically the suuuuper drunk fratboys of the ocean, in that the come up and touch your butt and put their flippers around you with no regard to your personal space, but are so inept and unaware that you find their short-shorts and pastels kind of charming, until you realize that if they…

“Catch them while they’re young and mold them into what you want, while putting them through enough trauma that they will be emotionally dependent on you” was my guess, but I prefer you succinctness.

Mary Monogatari, by Murasaki.... I mean Barbara Walters.

I mean the manga is known for the amusing but sexualized food reaction shots, but the anime seems like it decided to go all in on that as its big thing and messed it up majorly. Based on increasing length they could have gotten comedy, porn, or absurdist comedy, and they definitely went for the porn length.

The end to that second story is still incredibly depressing, because it illustrates how much tipping is basically an empathy tax.

Starred for poop punning.

You know, your comment sounds very combative. You really should have closed with a nice phrase like "bless your heart" to make it a cordial reply.

Applebee's: where justice is served with half price apps (someone probably beat me to this, but I'll say it again).

Usually autocorrect saves me, but I may have typed it too many times for that to work anymore. I blame diffusion.

Just realized: what does one call accidentally slipping extra u's into words when talking about English things? An Victorian slip?

Cool Britannia's epitaph almost makes being unable to taste all these flavours bearable.

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "one smart cookie."

With qualifiers about sexist assumptions and anecdotes, I feel like the women I know are better negotiators, but are uniquely unsuited to negotiating with the largest subset of guys I know. It seems like when arguing the points they put forth are negotiating points, whereas with guys I know the points being put forth…

Sweaty selfie actually sounds like a good name for that. I definitely do this, but I cant say I've actually ever shared any (except the one that ended up as part of a dating profile).