OmiGod yes, I’ve had this a few times. Pointing out facts, supported with a bunch of links to studies. Or even just pointing out the patently obvious - if it goes against the groupthink in a particular thread or community, it’ll get downvoted, here and on reddit too

Most downvotes I’ve had here was for pointing out that shoplifting results in increased prices for the paying customers

I would most definitely want to know if my friends were close with people who’d been in prison! My previous experience with people like that were… not great

Especially if the depression/ anxiety has an external cause (job, living situation, money, relationship issues etc etc). Exercie may help manage it a bit but the only cure is to deal with the cause

I started swimming while I was in the depth of depression (induced by external factors) and yes it did help manage the depression, but didnt solve it. What solved it was leaving my alcoholic ex and getting control back over my life.

I have continued swimming and I also do a lot of cycling as well as some hiking/tramping and the ocassional bit of mountain climbing, and they do help with managing stress and mental health but they are no longer the primary reason I do them. The health benefits I get from exercise are mostly physical but those benefits also play into making me feel better about life too.

Not in my experience there. It the only place I have ever been where you can be in a gas station/ convenience store late on a Saturday night in a less than flash area, and see a guy rock up dressed like Liberace and do his shopping and flounce off without anyone even batting an eyelid let alone commenting. You wouldnt try that here. Yes, there is a degree of conformity enforced there around behaviour by social pressure, but in other places it is by violence

It depends on who you work for and what industry you’re in, but it is not as bad as it used to be. Have friends that worked in Japan

I’m from New Zealand, and although it does have much to recommend it, it does have some issues with crime, gangs, meth etc. similar to other Western countries. Nowhere near as bad as South Africa or a number of US cities, but not great either. There are more peaceful places believe it or not

Japan has to be a strong contender, if you are looking for peacefulness in your day to day life