> I have discovered that when I make this case, even to highly intelligent and health-conscious men and women, a psychological truth quickly becomes as visible as a pair of clenched fists: They do not want to believe any of it.
LOL this happens whenever I talk about this issue with people here in Poland. Part of it is their family is here, it's hard to immigrate, deep down they know it is a problem. It was upsetting to tell my Polish wife that we need to move out of Poland and to scary USA but... she agreed with me and we're doing it. For us, the risk of death is far higher here with all the smoke. Even the California wildfires are relatively harmless in comparison, we get that every year in Poland and no one cares, at least in Calfornia everyone recognizes that it's a problem and people stay at home.
But here, wood burning(or even coal burning), is a part of the culture, giving warm fuzzy memories at granny's house burning horrid things in the furnace for others to enjoy.
I think some people are so afraid of dangers to their health that they are even afraid to acknowledge them. I think I've seen a lot of this during the pandemic. When you try make people acknowledge the dangers they are facing they are going to panick and defend their peace of mind furiously.
Anyways, good luck in the US. Avoid getting shot, having a pool, drinking sugared water instead of water, any medical issue and getting on the bad side of the law in any way. ;-)
You realize your risk of death of air pollution in polish cities is 160/10,000 people? In the US the risk is 5 in 100,000 people.
sugar water will be a problem, I did not like this about the USA.
medical issue - with FAANG you're fine
bad side of the law: in the communities we live in faang, again, not a problem, you're on the right side of the law. Unless you're black, then that is quite a problem unfortunately.
Man, that article is a bummer! I grew up in a house with an open fireplace and for long periods we literally used it to cook on (out of poverty, not choice). Those are some of my happiest memories. And now some crazy "rationalist" wants to take away my open fire? IT'S ALL LIES I SAY.
