it's weird how presumably neurotypical people complain about paper straws feeling weird, but my autistic ass couldn't give less of a shit about their texture.
The odd time I end up eating fast food and getting a paper straw, it's the fact that it goes mushy before I finish my drink. I think that's the texture issue people are talking about.
Out of curiosity, what businesses are you getting these straws from? The few times I got a paper straw I didn't really notice an issue other than the texture on my lips. I wonder if those companies are just skipping on the quality. The good paper straws probably cost more than the plastic ones right now and I'd bet their trying to meet the same margins, or tighter.
The really bad experiences I've had with straws is at movie theatres. In that case you're given a pretty big drink in a flimsy cup, and you're slowly drinking it over a couple of hours.
There's no way that the paper straw holds up in those circumstances. You also don't want to drink without the straw, because the cup is so flimsy that if you try to drink from it like a regular cup/glass it's likely to collapse. I have permanent metal / rubber straws at home, but of course I never remember to bring them with me when I go to a movie, since I only go a couple of times a year.
The only solution I've found is to take 3-4 paper straws with me, and change them out over the course of the movie.
I think they've gotten better, or the ones a lot of people are familiar with are just kinda miserable. I'm most familiar with the ones from when I worked at Disney's Animal Kingdom like fifteen years ago. They were texturally kinda strange and would get mushy at the top partway through an American-sized soda. They used those straws because the regular plastic ones could have been harmful to some of the animals in the park and I was lead to believe that those straws were pretty common in zoos in general.
I think there was only one time that I had a paper straw and thought that it was good enough. But it felt... expensive? In my mouth. Like you could tell they hated to have to shell out for that. Just to have straws that are possibly as acceptable replacement.
Remember when people lost it because disabled people wouldn't be able to drink again and then they all died of dehydration after these draconian straw laws severely impacted my day
I remember when disability rights groups pointed out that these laws were placing extra burden on disabled people that weren't being put on everyone else.
These laws accomplish nothing except make liberals feel good that they actually passed some kind of environmental rules. Meanwhile, conservatives are making sure they can legally torture gay kids, let billionaires get away with pedophilia, and burn lots and lots of coal. But we passed straw bans in a couple of cities. Yay us.
Yes, and they surround themselves with enough menial nothing-problems to convince you they're too busy to focus on frivolous things like "human rights" and "the fascist problem."
This does not convince me that we should redirect all effort away from environmental legislation. In my view human rights are very much intertwined with environmental stewardship.
I agree. So why are we stagnating between fascism and neoliberalism? Neither of those are stewards of either human rights, nor environmentalism. One of the two works very hard to convince you otherwise while stuffing their pockets full of petroldollars.
Laws related to plastic straws are like the only environmental legislation that's been passed recently (aside from the Inflation Reduction Act's various environmental policies which hell yeah) which is what they're getting at. Democrats are only able to pass the tiniest of laws to reduce environmental impact and Republicans are out here actively trying to genocide queer and brown people.
If democrats were just 20% as aggressive as republicans at actually passing policy to advance their agendas this country would be in a far different place. There's a reason prominent democratic representatives have been talking about how much their constituents are demanding they actually take action and do something, it's because they haven't been doing much for the last 20+ years.
The Fight For 15 has been going on so long that the $15 minimum wage they've been demanding is now worth the same as the current federal minimum wage ($7.25/hr) was when The Fight For 15 first started! The fact that they couldn't even raise the federal minimum wage to match inflation when they had a majority in all branches of government 5 years ago speaks volumes
If we had politicians in power who actually cared about the environment, we'd have personal vehicle weight limits, all EV new car sales, remote work incentives, ebike and public transit incentives, solar panels on every roof, single use plastic ban, strict emissions limits for industries, a carbon trading system to further financially encourage lower carbon business practices, strict ewaste controls to route working systems back into service that otherwise get junked, etc. Etc. instead all we have is gestures at everything
Just to point out tho, liberals have had a trifecta for two 2-year periods out of the last 25, while I do think they could have been a lot more aggressive during that time (especially "let's compromise on that Obama") but it's not like they've had 12 years of real control and did nothing.
That is however assuming they need a trifecta to pass legislation, and that they can only pass effective climate legislation at the federal level. Again this is something republicans have mastered, they take every boring race at every state they can and dig in and try to fuck shit up to advance their shitty agenda. Some states and cities have been relatively aggressive about this, such as California, Oregon and New York, but ultimately they could go further
Democrats aren't dreaming big. They aren't rallying around a noble but difficult to achieve cause like Republicans rallied around banning abortion for the last half century. Like I get it, they also aren't doing as much blatant saying one thing publicly then passing legislation to do the opposite, and their causes aren't about making everything more expensive for consumers and enriching large businesses, but god damnit I want to see people start trying to actually make a better world and dream big and make big changes to achieve that
They kind of did need a trifecta because the GOP made their #1 priority to stop literally everything Dems wanted to do, whether they agreed with it or not.
What do you call a "victory" that took a lot of political capital and then accomplished basically nothing?
What did the straw ban do? It's certainly not reducing waste on its own in any significant way; if every single plastic straw was banned worldwide, its impact would still be tiny in comparison to the overall problem. There was a argument that it would get people to start thinking about how much waste is in their lives. That was six or seven years ago. None of that has come to pass, and I'd argue that it was obviously speculative even before anything took effect.
You can't change anything that matters with this nickel and dime policy shit. It is not even worth the effort to push it.
Well yeah, their base keeps alienating themselves from their own party and not voting for anything outside of clicking with each other in parks.
Modern leftist are historically one of the most ineffective head up their own ass groups that ever existed.
Anyone remember that time they convinced millions to stand in a street. Nothing came of it. But they did it. They are so proud they did it. Good times. Maybe they'll do it again in a year or two. That's what progress is all about
This would be a type of peaceful protest. Doesn't mean it's the most effective or useful form of peaceful protests. A 100 year old unchanged protest isn't really effecting in modern times. Maybe before television was a thing.
I mean it would actually impact my ability to hydrate certain patients under certain circumstances if there really ever 0 plastic straws anywhere ever.
Here in the house we have re-usable, washable plastic straws.
Out and about I'll use the disposable straws because the whole turtle-death thing was over-exaggerated. (Microplastics from automotive tires are killing us, though. There are real great filters to be navigated)
I also just don't eat out much, especially since the 2020 lockdown.
Not sure how up to date this is, but synthetic fibers are the #1 source of micro plastics, followed by car tires and city dust. Car tires are absolutely a contributor and we should cut our reliance on personal transportation for more reasons than just micro plastics. In addition, we need to move away from polyester, nylon and a slew of other materials.
Most household furnishings used to be made of natural fibers. These days carpets, couch covers and filling, curtains, clothing, etc are often derived from a petrochemical. I suspect oil companies will continue to pivot into these areas to continue as we very slowly ween ourselves of gasoline.
This raises a big question of what the heck comprises city dust. Is there a microplastic element to concrete or asphalt? Is it just more tire deterioration? City dust is a conspicuously vague category.
the only "straws" i use now are the built-in straws on my water bottles. when dad was dying, he had drop-neck and bendy straws let him drink on his own. something about both being a straw and at whatever angle he needed for his mouth, since he rarely stood or sat entirely upright. he could not drink directly from a glass without burying his nose in it or spilling half of it. for me it's not one of those "hey, now that this effects me" bullshits, it's more "hey, now that i understand how necessary they are in specific contexts" bullshits.
if they can make a corn or paper bendy straw that functions properly, i'm all for it. until then, there are much bigger and better things to worry about than straws.
Thank you for this perspective because I'm one of those who never saw the appeal to straws.
I just wanna say that paper straws are lined with PFAS and similar substances, I would NOT use them at all. Mark my words they'll be banned in the EU in 20 years.
I'd rather try a pasta straw, if the metal ones are not viable. If using plastic, prefer a more rigid plastic if possible, Policarbonate (like in a Nalgene bottle) is safer than Polyethylene; or at least I would avoid them with hot drinks.
Iced drink tend to taste better with straw tbh, sipping from the cup mean you're taking in watered down stuff, and also tiny ice or ice blocking the flow of the drinks.
Fast Food Nation, the paper/plastic cups are flimsy and need a lid for structure.
We get so used to it that when we eat out, we want straws.
I've never really cared. IF they bring wrapped straws, i'll generally not open it and stash it in my car for the next time a fast food straw breaks. If it's open, I use it because it seems more of a waste to throw it away unused.
There probably is some decent point to the server groping all over the outside of your glass or the dishwasher handling it, but i'm not really a germophobe.
I'm unsure how much benefit reusable straws really are because at a restaurant, they're probably gonna give you straws anyways and I don't think they'd put unused ones back in the box, especially post covid.
Your comment made me realize that used to be the same for me, but it's been years since the last time I remember being given a straw. I guess they're phasing them out
If you want like a mixed drink or a pop out of a glass while lying on the couch or in bed a straw is useful too, thats the only time i ever use them. My fiance likes a ton of ice in everything she drinks so she uses our metal straws for everything. I still prefer drinking out a can or a bottle with a screw on cap for most things when im lying down.
I bought a 4-pk of glass straws for €5 and they are awesome. The rounded edge feels smooth on the tongue/lips and drinks taste better through glass than metal.
The ones I've handled and bought are more robust than most other glassware. They can break if dropped on hard floor, but that's normal for anything out of glass.
Can confirm, they are durable. For clumsiness context, I broke some similarly sized vaporizer glassware the other day. Yet these straws have held up being thrown around in a sink full of dirty dishes.
Of the 4, only one has gotten scratched to the point that I recycled it (manufacturing error methinks), but the other 3 are holding up well. I've had them for a little over a year. They seem durable enough.
I normally just use a reusable metal waterbottle, no straw required. Although sometimes I just drink it enough that it has less risk of spilling in an open cup, even in a vehicle
I genuinely can't think of anything I can drink with a straw that I wouldn't rather drink without one 🤷
Edit: I sit corrected. Turns out there's a LOT of beverages best enjoyed with a straw, but it just so happens that all of them are things that I very rarely if ever partake in, so they weren't front of mind for me 🤷
Using a straw when drinking sugary/ acidic drinks is supposed to be better for your teeth since it limits the exposure of sugar or acid to your teeth. Not sure how true that is, but I have had dentists suggest it as a way of lowering the chance of getting cavities.
Many fast food cups lack the structural integrity to hold the quantity of liquid that they're supposed to without a lid, and using a lid necessitates using a straw
Everyone replying to you so far seems to be forgetting how you can just put a tiny hole on one edge of the lid to drink through without big ice chunks coming through
Sure, you could, absolutely. There are times when it is convenient to have one. For example, most fast food establishments will provide you a drink cup with a lid and straw. You could just rip the lid off and drink it normally, but if you are driving (which you probably are if you are getting fast food) and want a sip of your drink, it's a lot easier to just grab the cup and take a sip through a straw than it is to grab the open container and tilt it. Not to mention the chance you might hit a bump or brake hard and have it spill, either while you are trying to drink from it or even just when it's sitting in the cupholder if partially full.
Had them but they fell and broke while being in a k-hole. So metal ones are the better option. Also, they are bent so they don't roll off the mirror. Glass ones (afaik) are always straight (never gay) and roll.
That's a possibility, but a lot of work. I'm happy with my metal straws. They work, don't break, can go into a dishwasher and don't roll because they're bent. I don't need anything else, except for some ketamine :)
Don’t get me wrong. I love me a nuanced conversation about the intersections of sustainability and accessibility. If you want to, we can have that.
But this is a shitpost community. Posts here aren’t really expected to conform to reality, let alone provide exhaustive coverage of all cases. This stupid shitpost also neglects to consider folks who need to have fluids introduced intravenously and the plastic waste created by single use saline bags, or the material/lifetime of the cup in which a straw is used. This is a dumb meme about the choices that some people make with the options that they have. It is not an indictment against the people to which those options may not be available.
I don't need one but i know plenty of old/disabled people for who a straw is a necessity.
I am happy we moved away from plastic straws being mainstream but i also feel like there should have been possible exceptions for medical use. The paper and aluminium alternatives are really not that good.
Basically, there is very little study / regulation on PFAS and other harmful chemicals on really everything. However most food contact materials (FCM) are full of the stuff. It's almost always better to bypass and not use single use FMCs. The more of them you remove from your use, the less you pollute and the less you expose yourself to harmful chemicals.
That depends on the goal here. I don’t think the main benefit of removing plastic straws is a lesser co2 impact. Its less plastic garbage and environmental pollition.
Yes that is what I do. I treat them like any other dish I use for eating. The side that touches the food gets scrubbed (also the other side im not gross). And every time I bought metal straws they came with a brush.
I also just love the feeling of metal straws when drinking cold drinks because they also get cold. The drink just feels colder if the straw is also cold
The only bad thing about a metal straw is the stray ceiling tile that falls on your head. Well there is probably several bad things about a metal straw, not something a skateboarder can carry in their pocket.
Seattle has commercially compostable plastic straws. They feel pretty much like plastic but are kind of matte. Even the single use forks/knives/spoons from restaurants are like that. But then again we do large scale compost across the city.
Seattle has commercially compostable plastic straws. They feel pretty much like plastic but are kind of matte. Even the single use forks/knives/spoons from restaurants are like that. But then again we do large scale compost across the city.
197 Comments
LouNeko@lemmy.world · 158 pts · 311d
"Sir, this is a sperm bank"
SethTaylor@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 311d
I see. So you're telling me this is not a straw and those are not boba balls?
Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de · 88 pts · 311d
it's weird how presumably neurotypical people complain about paper straws feeling weird, but my autistic ass couldn't give less of a shit about their texture.
do you chew on them, or what?
IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works · 60 pts · 311d
The odd time I end up eating fast food and getting a paper straw, it's the fact that it goes mushy before I finish my drink. I think that's the texture issue people are talking about.
Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de · 10 pts · 311d
that takes like half an hour though, and affects the bottom end.
fascicle@leminal.space · 30 pts · 311d
Depends on the straw, there are some pretty bad ones and done decent ones
RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz · 16 pts · 311d
The ones I've used have gone mushy in half that time
TheLadyAugust@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 311d
Out of curiosity, what businesses are you getting these straws from? The few times I got a paper straw I didn't really notice an issue other than the texture on my lips. I wonder if those companies are just skipping on the quality. The good paper straws probably cost more than the plastic ones right now and I'd bet their trying to meet the same margins, or tighter.
RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 310d
McDonald's, Burger King, Hesburger
DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social · -4 pts · 311d
Skill issue either way
Drink faster noobs
iloveDigit@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 311d
But if you're going to drink faster, the cold drink doesn't need ice to stay cold, so you don't need a straw or lid to avoid ice sliding in your face
This seems like a checkmate tbh
RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 310d
Great straw if you need to change the way you drink to use them
merc@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 310d
The really bad experiences I've had with straws is at movie theatres. In that case you're given a pretty big drink in a flimsy cup, and you're slowly drinking it over a couple of hours.
There's no way that the paper straw holds up in those circumstances. You also don't want to drink without the straw, because the cup is so flimsy that if you try to drink from it like a regular cup/glass it's likely to collapse. I have permanent metal / rubber straws at home, but of course I never remember to bring them with me when I go to a movie, since I only go a couple of times a year.
The only solution I've found is to take 3-4 paper straws with me, and change them out over the course of the movie.
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · -9 pts · 311d
Fast food implies fast drink, you're not supposed to let it soak in there like it's a hot tub.
LucidNightmare@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 14 pts · 311d
I think it’s called fast food because it’s delivered to you quickly, not because you’re supposed to shove it down your gullet fast…
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 311d
Lies!
DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social · 0 pts · 311d
I mean it's both, it was supposed to be something you can get on a short lunch break
IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 311d
Yes, because nobody ever took their drink to go after finishing their meal.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 311d
They have free refills
sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works · 19 pts · 311d
your ass has autism?
Hozerkiller@lemmy.ca · 23 pts · 311d
Asstism if you will.
idiomaddict@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 311d
I’ve heard of ass burgers before…
arschflugkoerper@feddit.org · 7 pts · 311d
Even if it does, straws are not really meant for it anyways.
HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club · 4 pts · 311d
It used to be ass burgers, but they redefined the ass spectrum.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 311d
Idk about you but my ass has burgers
UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 311d
Not all autism are the same, some with autism will hyperfix on the environment and not give a shit about the texture, like me.
AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 311d
I think they've gotten better, or the ones a lot of people are familiar with are just kinda miserable. I'm most familiar with the ones from when I worked at Disney's Animal Kingdom like fifteen years ago. They were texturally kinda strange and would get mushy at the top partway through an American-sized soda. They used those straws because the regular plastic ones could have been harmful to some of the animals in the park and I was lead to believe that those straws were pretty common in zoos in general.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 311d
I think there was only one time that I had a paper straw and thought that it was good enough. But it felt... expensive? In my mouth. Like you could tell they hated to have to shell out for that. Just to have straws that are possibly as acceptable replacement.
smh@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 311d
Not neurotypical, but yes, I do chew on them.
I ended up going with silicone straws in my household. Mine open up down the side so you can run your finger up them for easy cleaning.
The metal and hard plastic ones suck for chewing on.
runner_g@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 311d
We have metal ones with a silicone nib on the end. Perfect for chewing on.
Enkers@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 311d
Maybe... Is it that weird?
I always chewed on pens in school too. Hmm.
TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 310d
And I just hate every straw because they change the texture of the bubbles, which I realize it's a very autistic thing to say
JamieDub86@piefed.social · 1 pts · 310d
My only problem with them is you need a spare.
That and why is there still a plastic lid, and I dont think that the cup is recyclable due to the coating.
Axolotl_cpp@feddit.it · 0 pts · 311d
I don'5 really understand complains about paper straws, i never had problems with them!
::: spoiler :3 Also there is the nice bonus that after drinking i can chew them while i walk to the trash can :::
Agent641@lemmy.world · 39 pts · 311d
I guess you could say I use a reusable straw
Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net · 19 pts · 311d
Please don't do that. A lot of garden hoses are made of junk plastic, which leaches along with metals into the water.
Blum0108@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 311d
Those are flavor crystals
moseschrute@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 311d
wabasso@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 311d
Could that be mostly alleviated by running it for half a minute before drinking?
Earwigs came out of mine once, so I always wait for those to stop coming out.
ckunr@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 311d
The brand on that hose is more expensive. https://www.eleyhosereels.com/collections/garden-hoses/products/5-8-polyurethane-garden-hose
Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca · 13 pts · 311d
Found the Gen X-er. Good day to you, my fellow hose-water connoisseur.
etherphon@midwest.social · 3 pts · 311d
l_isqof@lemmy.world · 39 pts · 311d
Am I the only one still cupping my hand under the tap?
cepelinas@sopuli.xyz · 31 pts · 311d
I don't even cup it just drink straight from the stream.
Ioughttamow@fedia.io · 13 pts · 311d
May not be the most practical, but I do find this the most satisfying way to drink water
gigachad@piefed.social · 8 pts · 311d
I usually swallow a lot air doing this
Ioughttamow@fedia.io · 7 pts · 311d
Oh yeah, with an aerated faucet I end up having to burp after, but feeling the cool water run down both my throat and chin is very satisfying
BurgerBaron@piefed.social · 1 pts · 310d
SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP SLORP
chunes@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 311d
Diogenes would be proud.
MTZ@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 311d
No, I do that a lot. Lol
Inaminate_Carbon_Rod@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 311d
You mean hose right?
Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 311d
You mean prehistoric mountain stream, right?
Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 311d
Remember when people lost it because disabled people wouldn't be able to drink again and then they all died of dehydration after these draconian straw laws severely impacted my day
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 27 pts · 311d
I remember when disability rights groups pointed out that these laws were placing extra burden on disabled people that weren't being put on everyone else.
These laws accomplish nothing except make liberals feel good that they actually passed some kind of environmental rules. Meanwhile, conservatives are making sure they can legally torture gay kids, let billionaires get away with pedophilia, and burn lots and lots of coal. But we passed straw bans in a couple of cities. Yay us.
village604@adultswim.fan · 8 pts · 311d
You know that governments can focus on multiple problems at once, right?
GlitchyDigiBun@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 311d
Yes, and they surround themselves with enough menial nothing-problems to convince you they're too busy to focus on frivolous things like "human rights" and "the fascist problem."
TriplePlaid@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 311d
This does not convince me that we should redirect all effort away from environmental legislation. In my view human rights are very much intertwined with environmental stewardship.
GlitchyDigiBun@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 311d
I agree. So why are we stagnating between fascism and neoliberalism? Neither of those are stewards of either human rights, nor environmentalism. One of the two works very hard to convince you otherwise while stuffing their pockets full of petroldollars.
TriplePlaid@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 311d
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 4 pts · 311d
Laws related to plastic straws are like the only environmental legislation that's been passed recently (aside from the Inflation Reduction Act's various environmental policies which hell yeah) which is what they're getting at. Democrats are only able to pass the tiniest of laws to reduce environmental impact and Republicans are out here actively trying to genocide queer and brown people.
If democrats were just 20% as aggressive as republicans at actually passing policy to advance their agendas this country would be in a far different place. There's a reason prominent democratic representatives have been talking about how much their constituents are demanding they actually take action and do something, it's because they haven't been doing much for the last 20+ years.
The Fight For 15 has been going on so long that the $15 minimum wage they've been demanding is now worth the same as the current federal minimum wage ($7.25/hr) was when The Fight For 15 first started! The fact that they couldn't even raise the federal minimum wage to match inflation when they had a majority in all branches of government 5 years ago speaks volumes
If we had politicians in power who actually cared about the environment, we'd have personal vehicle weight limits, all EV new car sales, remote work incentives, ebike and public transit incentives, solar panels on every roof, single use plastic ban, strict emissions limits for industries, a carbon trading system to further financially encourage lower carbon business practices, strict ewaste controls to route working systems back into service that otherwise get junked, etc. Etc. instead all we have is gestures at everything
BanMe@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 311d
Just to point out tho, liberals have had a trifecta for two 2-year periods out of the last 25, while I do think they could have been a lot more aggressive during that time (especially "let's compromise on that Obama") but it's not like they've had 12 years of real control and did nothing.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 4 pts · 311d
That is however assuming they need a trifecta to pass legislation, and that they can only pass effective climate legislation at the federal level. Again this is something republicans have mastered, they take every boring race at every state they can and dig in and try to fuck shit up to advance their shitty agenda. Some states and cities have been relatively aggressive about this, such as California, Oregon and New York, but ultimately they could go further
Democrats aren't dreaming big. They aren't rallying around a noble but difficult to achieve cause like Republicans rallied around banning abortion for the last half century. Like I get it, they also aren't doing as much blatant saying one thing publicly then passing legislation to do the opposite, and their causes aren't about making everything more expensive for consumers and enriching large businesses, but god damnit I want to see people start trying to actually make a better world and dream big and make big changes to achieve that
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 311d
They kind of did need a trifecta because the GOP made their #1 priority to stop literally everything Dems wanted to do, whether they agreed with it or not.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 311d
That's true, I kinda blocked that period out of my memory
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 311d
How often did Republicans get a trifecta in the same time period? How does their policy agenda successes compare?
Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 311d
The right took every small victory they can get and used that momentum to catapult to the next until there was enough momentum to make large changes.
The left had lots of victory's that they then spent the following weeks arguing why those were actually losses
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 311d
What do you call a "victory" that took a lot of political capital and then accomplished basically nothing?
What did the straw ban do? It's certainly not reducing waste on its own in any significant way; if every single plastic straw was banned worldwide, its impact would still be tiny in comparison to the overall problem. There was a argument that it would get people to start thinking about how much waste is in their lives. That was six or seven years ago. None of that has come to pass, and I'd argue that it was obviously speculative even before anything took effect.
You can't change anything that matters with this nickel and dime policy shit. It is not even worth the effort to push it.
iloveDigit@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 311d
I dare them to try it. Even just one would be nice.
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 0 pts · 311d
You know that US liberals have shitty success stories about anything anywhere in the last two decades, right?
village604@adultswim.fan · 3 pts · 311d
That doesn't have any relevance to my point.
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 311d
Sure it does. If government can focus on more than one thing, but there are limited success stories, what does that tell us?
Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 311d
Well yeah, their base keeps alienating themselves from their own party and not voting for anything outside of clicking with each other in parks.
Modern leftist are historically one of the most ineffective head up their own ass groups that ever existed.
Anyone remember that time they convinced millions to stand in a street. Nothing came of it. But they did it. They are so proud they did it. Good times. Maybe they'll do it again in a year or two. That's what progress is all about
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 311d
Right, so you also don't know how peaceful protest works as a strategy.
Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 311d
The color red stops cars.
This would be a type of peaceful protest. Doesn't mean it's the most effective or useful form of peaceful protests. A 100 year old unchanged protest isn't really effecting in modern times. Maybe before television was a thing.
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 311d
Try this: https://infosec.pub/post/36270822/18522294
Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 311d
Yay!! 🙌
ethaver@kbin.earth · 7 pts · 311d
I mean it would actually impact my ability to hydrate certain patients under certain circumstances if there really ever 0 plastic straws anywhere ever.
Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 311d
bus_factor@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 311d
What happened to those Italian pasta straws? They looked promising.
mugthol@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 11 pts · 311d
They aren't gluten free, so not very inclusive
psx_crab@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 311d
There are those made with rice tho. But also expensive.
MeatPilot@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 311d
How about bamboo?
psx_crab@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 311d
Wow, that's new to me.
curbstickle@anarchist.nexus · 3 pts · 311d
And thats why I have metal straws (plus I got them for free)
Ioughttamow@fedia.io · 1 pts · 311d
Mama Mia!
Ioughttamow@fedia.io · 2 pts · 311d
Bucatini? I can grab that at my local grocer
ThePantser@sh.itjust.works · 23 pts · 311d
$20 metal straw? I think all the metal ones I have were about .25
FireRetardant@lemmy.world · 51 pts · 311d
The lead ones are more expensive but improve the flavor of most beverages.
Una@europe.pub · 11 pts · 311d
I only accept Uranium straws :3
MTZ@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 311d
Ahh, a true man (or woman) of culture.
i_dont_want_to@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 8 pts · 311d
Great tip, I love sweetened drinks!
uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 20 pts · 311d
Here in the house we have re-usable, washable plastic straws.
Out and about I'll use the disposable straws because the whole turtle-death thing was over-exaggerated. (Microplastics from automotive tires are killing us, though. There are real great filters to be navigated)
I also just don't eat out much, especially since the 2020 lockdown.
WALLACE@feddit.uk · 5 pts · 311d
We have silicone ones but I don't like them as they retain the taste of washing up liquid on them
exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 311d
You can release some of the stuck on flavors from silicone by heating it in the oven to 250°F/120°C for 20-30 minutes.
IMALlama@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 310d
Not sure how up to date this is, but synthetic fibers are the #1 source of micro plastics, followed by car tires and city dust. Car tires are absolutely a contributor and we should cut our reliance on personal transportation for more reasons than just micro plastics. In addition, we need to move away from polyester, nylon and a slew of other materials.
Most household furnishings used to be made of natural fibers. These days carpets, couch covers and filling, curtains, clothing, etc are often derived from a petrochemical. I suspect oil companies will continue to pivot into these areas to continue as we very slowly ween ourselves of gasoline.
uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 310d
This raises a big question of what the heck comprises city dust. Is there a microplastic element to concrete or asphalt? Is it just more tire deterioration? City dust is a conspicuously vague category.
Honytawk@lemmy.zip · 20 pts · 311d
Straws are to prevent ice from sliding into your face
PillowTalk420@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 311d
Skill issue. Just stick your lips out further.
KittyCat@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 311d
Just open wider, ice is a nice crunchy treat!
cley_faye@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 311d
As a person with skin surrounding his skull, I don't really get why that's an issue.
CucumberFetish@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 311d
Mah lips be hurting from the big chill
RagingRobot@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 310d
Plus they help keep your mustache dry!
supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz · 19 pts · 311d
Me a failed intellectual
ReginaPhalange@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 311d
Surely you can't be serious
Snowpix@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 310d
Shirley is always serious.
sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 310d
Please don't call him that. It isn't his preferred name
MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 310d
I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.
(Sorry, someone had to do it correctly)
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 311d
the only "straws" i use now are the built-in straws on my water bottles. when dad was dying, he had drop-neck and bendy straws let him drink on his own. something about both being a straw and at whatever angle he needed for his mouth, since he rarely stood or sat entirely upright. he could not drink directly from a glass without burying his nose in it or spilling half of it. for me it's not one of those "hey, now that this effects me" bullshits, it's more "hey, now that i understand how necessary they are in specific contexts" bullshits.
if they can make a corn or paper bendy straw that functions properly, i'm all for it. until then, there are much bigger and better things to worry about than straws.
pipes@sh.itjust.works · 11 pts · 310d
Thank you for this perspective because I'm one of those who never saw the appeal to straws.
I just wanna say that paper straws are lined with PFAS and similar substances, I would NOT use them at all. Mark my words they'll be banned in the EU in 20 years.
I'd rather try a pasta straw, if the metal ones are not viable. If using plastic, prefer a more rigid plastic if possible, Policarbonate (like in a Nalgene bottle) is safer than Polyethylene; or at least I would avoid them with hot drinks.
lengau@midwest.social · 4 pts · 310d
I hate that restaurants will give me (non bendy) straws even when I specifically ask to not get a straw.
InFerNo@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 310d
It might sound silly, but sippy cups are also an option. You can lift and drink from the cup without spilling that way
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 310d
No, no they aren't.
psx_crab@lemmy.zip · 15 pts · 311d
Iced drink tend to taste better with straw tbh, sipping from the cup mean you're taking in watered down stuff, and also tiny ice or ice blocking the flow of the drinks.
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml · 14 pts · 311d
I feel like this might be an American problem, with straws being more necessary for drinking in cars, which are all too common there.
I rarely drive and basically never drink out of a straw, there's just no point when you can drink directly out of the cup.
rumba@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 311d
Fast Food Nation, the paper/plastic cups are flimsy and need a lid for structure.
We get so used to it that when we eat out, we want straws.
I've never really cared. IF they bring wrapped straws, i'll generally not open it and stash it in my car for the next time a fast food straw breaks. If it's open, I use it because it seems more of a waste to throw it away unused.
There probably is some decent point to the server groping all over the outside of your glass or the dishwasher handling it, but i'm not really a germophobe.
JackbyDev@programming.dev · 4 pts · 311d
I'm unsure how much benefit reusable straws really are because at a restaurant, they're probably gonna give you straws anyways and I don't think they'd put unused ones back in the box, especially post covid.
zerofk@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 311d
The only thing that comes with a straw in the restaurants I visit, is cocktails.
Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 311d
Nearly every restaurant I go togives straws with your drinks, including water
AlolanYoda@mander.xyz · 2 pts · 311d
Your comment made me realize that used to be the same for me, but it's been years since the last time I remember being given a straw. I guess they're phasing them out
emeralddawn45@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 311d
If you want like a mixed drink or a pop out of a glass while lying on the couch or in bed a straw is useful too, thats the only time i ever use them. My fiance likes a ton of ice in everything she drinks so she uses our metal straws for everything. I still prefer drinking out a can or a bottle with a screw on cap for most things when im lying down.
beansbeansbeans@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 311d
I bought a 4-pk of glass straws for €5 and they are awesome. The rounded edge feels smooth on the tongue/lips and drinks taste better through glass than metal.
Axolotl_cpp@feddit.it · 3 pts · 311d
I would probably break them in a way or another
Postmortal_Pop@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 311d
I'd be worried about breaking them if I take them places. Do they hold up well?
Lichtblitz@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 311d
The ones I've handled and bought are more robust than most other glassware. They can break if dropped on hard floor, but that's normal for anything out of glass.
moseschrute@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 311d
Can confirm, they are durable. For clumsiness context, I broke some similarly sized vaporizer glassware the other day. Yet these straws have held up being thrown around in a sink full of dirty dishes.
Postmortal_Pop@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 310d
Funny enough, the same day I asked, my wife got one in a cool jar cup she bought. Guess I get to try one out.
beansbeansbeans@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 309d
Of the 4, only one has gotten scratched to the point that I recycled it (manufacturing error methinks), but the other 3 are holding up well. I've had them for a little over a year. They seem durable enough.
betanumerus@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 311d
Bamboo straws make you feel like you're on some exotic, tropical island!
SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 311d
After reading about that lady who died because she fell on a metal straw and impaled her eye and brain I threw away my metal straws.
HeroHelck@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 23 pts · 311d
Understandable, but thats a bit of an overreaction don't you think?
CubitOom@infosec.pub · 15 pts · 311d
Yeah that could happen with a fork, or a toothbrush, or really anything that size if you land on it hard enough
BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 311d
You don't typically walk around with those in your mouth, especially outside your home
CubitOom@infosec.pub · 6 pts · 311d
You typically walk around with a straw in your mouth?
BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 311d
Yeah if I'm drinking something on the go
CubitOom@infosec.pub · 1 pts · 311d
I normally just use a reusable metal waterbottle, no straw required. Although sometimes I just drink it enough that it has less risk of spilling in an open cup, even in a vehicle
BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 311d
I also carry a water bottle with me but I can't exactly go to the coffee shop and ask them to pour my latte into my bottle
WALLACE@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 311d
As a kid I had to go to hospital because I ran around with a toothbrush in my mouth and fell on it
db0@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 311d
In all seriousness, there's some drinks that need a straw
Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 311d
Which ones would that be?
I genuinely can't think of anything I can drink with a straw that I wouldn't rather drink without one 🤷
Edit: I sit corrected. Turns out there's a LOT of beverages best enjoyed with a straw, but it just so happens that all of them are things that I very rarely if ever partake in, so they weren't front of mind for me 🤷
db0@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 311d
Frappé coffe, my own stimulant of choice.
Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 311d
Yeah alright, that's fair 😁
smoker@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 311d
Also anything with tapioca pearls/other mix-ins
croizat@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 311d
A thick milkshake would be very awkward without one
MrSmith@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 311d
Anything with floating Ice Cubes / Anything Iced.
MrSmith@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 311d
You need a fucking glass for you water? Pussy.
Hozerkiller@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 311d
Real men dunk their entire head in a lake and drink enough water for the next week in 15 seconds.
MTZ@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 311d
Lol wat
Nickelalloy@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 311d
Please enlighten me, why do u even need a straw, can't you just drink from the cup, like in the bottom pic?
*Im genuinly wondering.
JollyG@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 311d
Using a straw when drinking sugary/ acidic drinks is supposed to be better for your teeth since it limits the exposure of sugar or acid to your teeth. Not sure how true that is, but I have had dentists suggest it as a way of lowering the chance of getting cavities.
village604@adultswim.fan · 7 pts · 311d
Some people have disabilities
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 311d
Fair point, but this is presumably about the 99.9998% other straw users.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 6 pts · 311d
Many fast food cups lack the structural integrity to hold the quantity of liquid that they're supposed to without a lid, and using a lid necessitates using a straw
lazycouchpotato@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 311d
When your drink cup has a bunch of ice, it's easier to drink from with a straw.
One extremely far-fetched reason for using straws I've heard is that it's somehow more hygienic than putting your mouth on restaurant cups.
huppakee@piefed.social · 2 pts · 311d
That is why i only get food in places with disposable plates and cutlery ;)
iloveDigit@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 311d
Everyone replying to you so far seems to be forgetting how you can just put a tiny hole on one edge of the lid to drink through without big ice chunks coming through
RedFrank24@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 311d
Some people can't hold objects with any dexterity due to disabilities etc. So they use straws.
Furbag@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 311d
Sure, you could, absolutely. There are times when it is convenient to have one. For example, most fast food establishments will provide you a drink cup with a lid and straw. You could just rip the lid off and drink it normally, but if you are driving (which you probably are if you are getting fast food) and want a sip of your drink, it's a lot easier to just grab the cup and take a sip through a straw than it is to grab the open container and tilt it. Not to mention the chance you might hit a bump or brake hard and have it spill, either while you are trying to drink from it or even just when it's sitting in the cupholder if partially full.
lobut@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 311d
TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 311d
But how do you snort cocain with a glass? I have metal straws.
general_kitten@sopuli.xyz · 5 pts · 311d
glass straws
explodicle@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 311d
This guy snorts
Bane_Killgrind@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 311d
I got some nice ones from the local glassblower shop. They stay in the bartender kit with the ice shaker.
TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 311d
Had them but they fell and broke while being in a k-hole. So metal ones are the better option. Also, they are bent so they don't roll off the mirror. Glass ones (afaik) are always straight (never gay) and roll.
general_kitten@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 310d
if you own a blowtorch/bunsen burner and a file you can just get tons of lab glass tubing for really cheap and just bend your strawsexuality of dreams
TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 310d
That's a possibility, but a lot of work. I'm happy with my metal straws. They work, don't break, can go into a dishwasher and don't roll because they're bent. I don't need anything else, except for some ketamine :)
webghost0101@sopuli.xyz · 6 pts · 311d
I get it but its rather ableist.
Also you never tried drinking from a fast food drink cup full of ice. Freezes your damn lips.
lmuel@sopuli.xyz · 17 pts · 311d
i don't think most people use straws because they have no other way of drinking lol
Some do, sure…
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 311d
That's the whole problem. You're considering what most people do, but not a minority who already have extra burdens in their life.
MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io · 1 pts · 311d
Don’t get me wrong. I love me a nuanced conversation about the intersections of sustainability and accessibility. If you want to, we can have that.
But this is a shitpost community. Posts here aren’t really expected to conform to reality, let alone provide exhaustive coverage of all cases. This stupid shitpost also neglects to consider folks who need to have fluids introduced intravenously and the plastic waste created by single use saline bags, or the material/lifetime of the cup in which a straw is used. This is a dumb meme about the choices that some people make with the options that they have. It is not an indictment against the people to which those options may not be available.
frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 311d
You could have posted this exact message to other replies in this thread, but you choose this one. That's rather telling.
lmuel@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 311d
I reckon that’s alright when making a meme about straws
MTZ@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 311d
How's it ableist? Genuinely asking.
(I have moderate cerebral palsy/spastic hemiplegia)
webghost0101@sopuli.xyz · 5 pts · 311d
I don't need one but i know plenty of old/disabled people for who a straw is a necessity.
I am happy we moved away from plastic straws being mainstream but i also feel like there should have been possible exceptions for medical use. The paper and aluminium alternatives are really not that good.
MTZ@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 311d
Oh, yeah. That is a good point. This post was certainly not meant to discriminate or disparage any group of people.
webghost0101@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 311d
Don’t worry, i still get trapped in the same biases at times.
I used to make fun of bottled egg liquids till someone accurately pointed out that for some cracking an egg is a real obstacle.
HeyJoe@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 311d
Or a milkshake.
Duamerthrax@lemmy.world · -2 pts · 311d
Drink slower.
sirico@feddit.uk · 5 pts · 311d
Just use trough food and drink in one easy to clean vessle
CubitOom@infosec.pub · 5 pts · 311d
Basically, there is very little study / regulation on PFAS and other harmful chemicals on really everything. However most food contact materials (FCM) are full of the stuff. It's almost always better to bypass and not use single use FMCs. The more of them you remove from your use, the less you pollute and the less you expose yourself to harmful chemicals.
Assessment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in commercially available drinking straws using targeted and suspect screening approaches
BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 311d
Kinda late now for most adults but didn't hurt to minimize exposure
olafurp@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 311d
Don't you need to use the metal straws some ridiculous amount of times before it saves more carbon than the plastic single use?
Also, plastic multi use is probably better.
arschflugkoerper@feddit.org · 26 pts · 311d
That depends on the goal here. I don’t think the main benefit of removing plastic straws is a lesser co2 impact. Its less plastic garbage and environmental pollition.
ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 311d
I rarely use straws, only in cases where it's more convenient enough, like when I got a liter of cola at the cinema.
Bosht@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 311d
'Can I get uuuuuhhhh burger and ah literah cola?' 'Burger and liter of cola, it's for a cop'
CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 311d
Reusable straws are gross. Unless you are taking a brush to the inside every time you're kidding yourself.
Ioughttamow@fedia.io · 8 pts · 311d
Pssh, my straw is reusable AND probiotic
groet@feddit.org · 4 pts · 311d
Yes that is what I do. I treat them like any other dish I use for eating. The side that touches the food gets scrubbed (also the other side im not gross). And every time I bought metal straws they came with a brush.
I also just love the feeling of metal straws when drinking cold drinks because they also get cold. The drink just feels colder if the straw is also cold
DarkAri@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 311d
The only bad thing about a metal straw is the stray ceiling tile that falls on your head. Well there is probably several bad things about a metal straw, not something a skateboarder can carry in their pocket.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 311d
I'm sorry, what? Did you have a stroke?
Or maybe I'm having a stroke while reading this?
DarkAri@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 311d
Not a stroke, autocorrect, yellow submarine 6 7.
Flames5123@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 311d
Seattle has commercially compostable plastic straws. They feel pretty much like plastic but are kind of matte. Even the single use forks/knives/spoons from restaurants are like that. But then again we do large scale compost across the city.
cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 310d
Good lord the capitalization choices in this make my head hurt.
aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 310d
MTZ@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 310d
Haha I never paid attention to it until now but yes that is atrocious.
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 310d
This my friend, is a pint.
communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz · 3 pts · 311d
Boba is the only reason i use straws.
hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 311d
You can also use a chive leaf as a straw. It'll affect the taste, but it's fun to eat it afterwards
Flames5123@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 311d
Seattle has commercially compostable plastic straws. They feel pretty much like plastic but are kind of matte. Even the single use forks/knives/spoons from restaurants are like that. But then again we do large scale compost across the city.
Pat@feddit.nu · 1 pts · 307d
I actually like paper straws. No texture concerns, and once you're done? Crinkle up into a ball and chew. Like edible, paper-flavoured gum.