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A comment on There's a ridiculous amount of tech in a disposable vape. Parent comment

Re:There's a ridiculous amount of tech in a disposable vape by triceratops on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @09:46AM (#46616621)
I don't understand the moaning and bellyaching about straws. Are people that bad at drinking from cups? If you aren't a toddler or bed-ridden patient in a hospital (EDIT: or anyone else with physical conditions that necessitate a straw) you should be able to drink without a straw.
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Re:There's a ridiculous amount of tech in a disposable vape by zweih on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @10:16AM (#46616976)
Mouth cancer. I can live a normal life EXCEPT I can't allow liquids to touch my lips. Without straws I have to go through agony just to be minimally hydrated. Paper straws get stuck to my necrotic flesh and tear it off.

There are a variety of conditions that straws are helpful for. A lot of people have health issues that make it difficult to swallow. A lot of people have mouth and lip conditions.

What I don't understand is all the moaning and groaning about the smallest piece of plastic that helps a LOT of disabled people have a semblance of normalcy, when here are much larger plastic fish to fry. We use plastic for basically everything but people have tunnel visioned on a minor piece that actually helps people. It's myopic.

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Re:There's a ridiculous amount of tech in a disposable vape by triceratops on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @11:24AM (#46618009)
I thought "bed-ridden patient" covered everyone who is physically unable to drink without straws due to disabilities or other conditions. I guess that wasn't clear enough though. My apologies. I've edited my comment now.

> What I don't understand is all the moaning and groaning about the smallest piece of plastic that helps a LOT of disabled people have a semblance of normalcy

You have to admit it's been turned into a culture war point by people who mostly don't need straws. They just need boogeymen to rile up people against environmentalism in general.

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Re:There's a ridiculous amount of tech in a disposable vape by pixl97 on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @01:38PM (#46620458)
>Are people that bad at drinking from cups?

You ever had the ice in the bottom of the cup turn into a large chunk then hit you in the face?

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Re:There's a ridiculous amount of tech in a disposable vape by triceratops on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @02:12PM (#46621120)
No
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Re:There's a ridiculous amount of tech in a disposable vape by simgt on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @06:24PM (#46625496)
It's exactly the same as for reducing cars in city centers, suddenly almost everyone driving a car is a crippled old lady with 3 children to drop off. When the reality is roughly 1.2 heathly humans per car on average doing a 4km trip for which a convenient alternative exists.

If a straw is a necessary tool for someone to function, I bet you they carry a metal one in their bag.

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