Our Physiology always amazes me. A fun one for you to look at is the Mamalian dive reflect. If you ever want some fun freediving videos to augement, just let me know.
My first thought related to this was to Jean-Paul Sartre, who wrote a book called "Nausea". But, given his pessimistic personality, he would have been unlikely to have written one about euphoria.
Pessimistic, but also: very insightful. I didn't grow up learning about Sartre, perhaps because he runs against the grain of the narrative the system wanted us to believe.
Sartre flew under my Python-radar, although I did catch a ton of other stuff by trying to figure out what Eric Idle or maybe Michael Palain had quickly quipped. Those guys threw like 20 jokes out every ten seconds!
When I was 10, the LA amusement park scene tiered up from Disneyland >> Universal Studios >> Magic Mountain. Jungle Cruise >> Jaws >> The Revolution (and later an even bigger all wood roller coaster called Colossus). Graduating to Magic Mountain and roller coasters was the absolute best. We wanted ALL the dopamines, closing the park down as the lines got shorter and shorter. Our record for The Revolution was six times in a row before they kicked us out.
I remember one roller coaster called White Lightning (sounds super racist, but it was innocent as far as I know). This thing was old and wooden, but it had really good falling points, where you'd just drop way down. I liked these more than the upside-down loopy ones; those never seemed to do much for me.
Revolution featured a 360 loop, but you were not alone as Colossus featured several BIG drops (preceded by the click-clack-click anticipation long ride up) and also featured side-by-side seating so you could scream alongside your bestie with the Revolution was a single snake of seats.
People got excited by those loops, but they were just a boring inconvenience that kept us getting to the climb and drop, as far as I was concerned. That side-by-side seating thing was huge!
I feel you brotha, but you gots to have a BRAND, a signature EXPERIENCE. Revolution nailed that. Something to anticipate in that line, to talk about - get the juices, err adrenaline going. In the cavalcade of roller coasters to come we got the water one - SPLASH, the one where you hung upside down/inverted (never rode that, looked terrifying), the one where you went backwards. Roller coaster designer surely is a great gig. I went to an amusement park last week in Mexico. Roller coaster was still under construction but man did they have some over-the-top water shows ala Bellagio. That seems to be a new frontier in amusement.
To be honest Andrew, I couldn't get on roller coasters due to my Epilepsy. Smaller rides now, I could do. Today my Epilepsy is partially under control but even today I wouldn't risk getting on a ride. I only went on one ride when my seizures were not even partially under control and screamed the whole time due to the feeling it gave me. The feeling I got or the aura I got before a seizure was one of death. I couldn't breath and it was complete fear, so I got nothing out of that feeling. I still get nothing out of that feeling, although I try to laugh it off as certain sounds, etc. truly cause one. It's the same feeling you get from a shock or being scared only multiplied. I'm also guessing because I've truly only been seizure-free before 11yrs and don't remember it well. I don't get as much of a "thrill" from being scared because I'm used to it, etc. I know that some people do though. I know that it only messes with the gut health of some but roller coasters are sadly a life and death situation for me. They are just simply less of one today because my seizures are partially under control. Even if they were under control 100% though, I wouldn't risk it because I will always be Epileptic. It's interesting that you mention the vagus nerve because before I got brain surgery in 2003 for my Epilepsy, I was told about another operation. They implanted what is called the Vagus Nerve Stimulator in those with Epilepsy to help control their seizures. It would go off automatically to stop a seizure but that proves that you are very right. It also has gotten me to research it a bit and what is offered today may help my seizures as they aren't 100% under control. They might not help...I don't know but thanks for bringing that up. If you hadn't I wouldn't have researched it. I don't say any of this stuff to scare people. Those who do not have Epilepsy don't have as much to worry about there. Still, if it can cause a seizure, I have ABSOLUTELY NO doubt that it could mess with gut health and cause nausea. It's all a question of if it is worth the risk?
Angela, thanks for sharing this perspective! it's good for folks to read.
I am optimistic about improvements to treatments between the gut and brain, especially since we're only just now starting to get an idea of what's going on. Hang in there and maybe we'll all be able to benefit from this knowledge one day - I will do my best to keep folks curious!
Love rollercoasters and can absolutely relate to the feeling of elation being mixed or even dependent on the feeling of slight fear or apprehension.
Some of the best rollercoasters were always the ones that gave me that feeling of "Oh, shit, what did I get myself into?" The ones that pushed me a little bit out of my comfort zone.
Our Physiology always amazes me. A fun one for you to look at is the Mamalian dive reflect. If you ever want some fun freediving videos to augement, just let me know.
Nice. You're right- that could be a really fun one to explore! Noted and intrigued.
My first thought related to this was to Jean-Paul Sartre, who wrote a book called "Nausea". But, given his pessimistic personality, he would have been unlikely to have written one about euphoria.
Pessimistic, but also: very insightful. I didn't grow up learning about Sartre, perhaps because he runs against the grain of the narrative the system wanted us to believe.
I only got to know about him because Monty Python namechecked him in a couple of sketches. So if they thought he was important....
Sartre flew under my Python-radar, although I did catch a ton of other stuff by trying to figure out what Eric Idle or maybe Michael Palain had quickly quipped. Those guys threw like 20 jokes out every ten seconds!
That was where having the book of the scripts came in handy.
We merely had laserdiscs and VHS tapes, alas.
They have an annotated edition out now- came out fairly recently.
When I was 10, the LA amusement park scene tiered up from Disneyland >> Universal Studios >> Magic Mountain. Jungle Cruise >> Jaws >> The Revolution (and later an even bigger all wood roller coaster called Colossus). Graduating to Magic Mountain and roller coasters was the absolute best. We wanted ALL the dopamines, closing the park down as the lines got shorter and shorter. Our record for The Revolution was six times in a row before they kicked us out.
I remember one roller coaster called White Lightning (sounds super racist, but it was innocent as far as I know). This thing was old and wooden, but it had really good falling points, where you'd just drop way down. I liked these more than the upside-down loopy ones; those never seemed to do much for me.
Revolution featured a 360 loop, but you were not alone as Colossus featured several BIG drops (preceded by the click-clack-click anticipation long ride up) and also featured side-by-side seating so you could scream alongside your bestie with the Revolution was a single snake of seats.
People got excited by those loops, but they were just a boring inconvenience that kept us getting to the climb and drop, as far as I was concerned. That side-by-side seating thing was huge!
I feel you brotha, but you gots to have a BRAND, a signature EXPERIENCE. Revolution nailed that. Something to anticipate in that line, to talk about - get the juices, err adrenaline going. In the cavalcade of roller coasters to come we got the water one - SPLASH, the one where you hung upside down/inverted (never rode that, looked terrifying), the one where you went backwards. Roller coaster designer surely is a great gig. I went to an amusement park last week in Mexico. Roller coaster was still under construction but man did they have some over-the-top water shows ala Bellagio. That seems to be a new frontier in amusement.
You bring up a good additional wrinkle: water rides.
I always felt like they were mostly gimmicks, but the ones with the big freefalls were still awesome.
+1 in notes
russian roulette? :)
Did you ever play? Now that would be a story!
To be honest Andrew, I couldn't get on roller coasters due to my Epilepsy. Smaller rides now, I could do. Today my Epilepsy is partially under control but even today I wouldn't risk getting on a ride. I only went on one ride when my seizures were not even partially under control and screamed the whole time due to the feeling it gave me. The feeling I got or the aura I got before a seizure was one of death. I couldn't breath and it was complete fear, so I got nothing out of that feeling. I still get nothing out of that feeling, although I try to laugh it off as certain sounds, etc. truly cause one. It's the same feeling you get from a shock or being scared only multiplied. I'm also guessing because I've truly only been seizure-free before 11yrs and don't remember it well. I don't get as much of a "thrill" from being scared because I'm used to it, etc. I know that some people do though. I know that it only messes with the gut health of some but roller coasters are sadly a life and death situation for me. They are just simply less of one today because my seizures are partially under control. Even if they were under control 100% though, I wouldn't risk it because I will always be Epileptic. It's interesting that you mention the vagus nerve because before I got brain surgery in 2003 for my Epilepsy, I was told about another operation. They implanted what is called the Vagus Nerve Stimulator in those with Epilepsy to help control their seizures. It would go off automatically to stop a seizure but that proves that you are very right. It also has gotten me to research it a bit and what is offered today may help my seizures as they aren't 100% under control. They might not help...I don't know but thanks for bringing that up. If you hadn't I wouldn't have researched it. I don't say any of this stuff to scare people. Those who do not have Epilepsy don't have as much to worry about there. Still, if it can cause a seizure, I have ABSOLUTELY NO doubt that it could mess with gut health and cause nausea. It's all a question of if it is worth the risk?
Angela, thanks for sharing this perspective! it's good for folks to read.
I am optimistic about improvements to treatments between the gut and brain, especially since we're only just now starting to get an idea of what's going on. Hang in there and maybe we'll all be able to benefit from this knowledge one day - I will do my best to keep folks curious!
Love rollercoasters and can absolutely relate to the feeling of elation being mixed or even dependent on the feeling of slight fear or apprehension.
Some of the best rollercoasters were always the ones that gave me that feeling of "Oh, shit, what did I get myself into?" The ones that pushed me a little bit out of my comfort zone.
Writing for other people is a little like that, right? I mean, if you're taking risks.