Forget everything you know about good vs. evil in storytelling. According to Aeon, the whole concept of good guys and bad guys is a recent invention. In the past, folktales were just about getting what you want, without any moral framing. Take Sleeping Beauty, for example. Does anyone in that story even care about being good? Even tales that seem to be about good vs evil, like Cinderella, don’t actually hinge on a moral dichotomy. In the oral versions of the story, Cinderella just needs to be beautiful for the story to work. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
