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@theY4Kman
Created January 4, 2012 11:26
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Re: reddit comment on thread -- ELI5: Why am I miserable when the temperatur rises 10º, but I can take a hot shower for 10 minutes and it feels great the entire time?

In response to: http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/o268b/eli5_why_am_i_miserable_when_the_temperatur_rises/c3ds4p6 Thread link: http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/o268b/eli5_why_am_i_miserable_when_the_temperatur_rises/

I don't know whether this is true or not, but it's irrelevant. You're miserable because the group of neurons that fire when you're miserable are also firing when the hot temperature neurons are firing and all the neurons that let you know you're outside are firing. Your brain has developed in exactly that way, and because the same rules apply to matter across the entire universe, your brain has no choice but to follow the laws of physics and effect your idea of miserableness.

Whether or not the things you mentioned actually occur in the world is tangentially related. We developed the idea of being miserable when it's too hot outside, so that we wouldn't overheat and die. And every organism before us didn't die, so here we are, still developing babies that think the same thoughts as their parents. You don't have to feel miserable when it gets hotter outside.

If you understand your brain, you can outsmart it.

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