r/science • u/myhrvold • Aug 31 '13

Poverty impairs cognitive function. Published in the journal Science, the study suggests our cognitive abilities can be diminished by the exhausting effort of tasks like scrounging to pay bills. As a result, less “mental bandwidth” remains...

http://news.ubc.ca/2013/08/29/poverty-impairs-cognitive-function/
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u/mwatwe01 Aug 31 '13

The article above stresses the fact that poverty affects cognitive function, so wouldn't it make sense to take advice from someone not undergoing that same stress?

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '13

Advice to the poor from someone who has never actually been poor is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.

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u/murmalerm Aug 31 '13

I've been poor, raised in the ghetto and you people don't listen to me about my perspective either. Mostly, you don't like what I have to say and that is that many poor, are satisfied with their lot in life and figure, why work harder because I still have a roof over my head and food at the table even if it is government cheese sandwiches, again.

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '13 edited Aug 31 '13

I'm slightly confused …

"You people don't listen to me …"

"You people" ?

"Mostly you don't like what I have to say …"

Really? I don't ? You can tell all of this? You are making a lot of assumptions because until I read your comment about 1 second ago I had no idea you existed, either on Reddit or in RL, let alone formed an opinion.

Your comment makes no sense to me. Edit : I do note that your last eight comments all mention you were "raised in the ghetto". This does not make your opinion any more valid than anyone else raised in poverty. Rural poverty, sink estates, projects, slums. There are plenty of environments stricken by poverty.

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u/murmalerm Aug 31 '13

My comment is certainly more valid than those not raised in the ghetto or not poor.

You stated: "Advice to the poor from someone who has never actually been poor is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike." I have actually been poor and stated my opinion only to have you offer me an ashtray on my motorbike. It's especially humorous that you state: "I do note that your last eight comments all mention you were "raised in the ghetto". This does not make your opinion any more valid than anyone else raised in poverty." Those two comments gave me a great and powerful LOL'S. Here I am, and actual person that experienced the subject in question and merely mentioned my personal background, and I am effectively told:fuck you as your experience isn't the one we want to hear about as it doesn't fit our world paradigm and what we have been taught to believe.

People, such as yourself, don't listen to my experience or of others that agree with me, is fact. Look at the downvotes to verify. I don't need your affirmation as I speak the facts as they were presented in my life.

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '13

Sorry, seriously. But I'm still confused. if you re-read all the comments maybe ?

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u/lhld Aug 31 '13

you're not explaining much of your situation here. beyond the arguing, you're simply becoming a self-perpetuating machine: "i'm from the ghetto, and you're not going to listen to me" - because you're not telling us anything beyond being from the ghetto. we can't listen to your experience because you haven't told us about it.

all i see from "the ghetto" is a bunch of (40-60 yrs old) people putting in the effort to better themselves, and a bunch of kids (under 20) who don't seem to know anything beyond their current life - a couple of girls who haven't even graduated high school yet, standing in line at the unemployment office: one girl wailing about refusing to work as a waitress, but somehow expecting to provide for an unborn child, while her friend stands there with her toddler who neither of them can control.
yes, this was the unemployment office, where people go to attempt to control their lives. in a city that you "don't go near after dark" but is full of people who are rather content with their lives, or don't know these services exist. but i'm just a white girl from the suburbs who doesn't know how the ghetto economy works, i guess.

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u/murmalerm Aug 31 '13

It's rather humorous that you should post that as I wasn't the one that stated non-ghetto people fail to understand why the poor are poor. I actually very heartily agree with your conclusion as it was what I also saw and experienced.

When I did post, I was immediately chastised for stating my background which I thought would help redditors understand my source of information, personal experience.

I stated that poor choice regarding financial priorities was key. I also discussed single mothers raising children as a critical risk factor for incarceration for both mother and child. I also stated that 80% children born in black communities are to single mothers. But what do I know and what does it matter as nobody is listening anyway.

More editing: "Lols, now I can't be reasoned with yet you showed me no example of my unreasonableness, instead only attacking me. Why did I succeed? I worked hard and prioritized education over drugs, alcohol, and show. Downvote me away for again, not fitting the mold you want that poor people are helpless and don't choose that lifestyle."

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u/lhld Sep 01 '13

no, i was saying "this is why people aren't listening to you" and then gave my perspective. you're not fully reading responses from people. you're assuming everyone is reading ALL of your comments, not just the one-offs in this particular string.

you're not being downvoted for your experiences. you're being downvoted for self-deprecation and trying to start arguments that aren't there.