this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2026
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[–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 18 points 2 days ago (6 children)

So it may actually be a mind-altering symbiote?

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 14 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Scientifically it's called mutualism, and it happens all the time in nature, including in humans. The bacteria in your gut require you to live, and for you to live requires having those bacteria in your gut. And the bacteria in your gut effect your mind, including the decisions you make

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutualism_(biology)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_microbiota

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut%E2%80%93brain_axis

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

~~effect~~ affect

Sorry, I appreciate your post.

[–] Beacon@fedia.io -2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Thanks for the info but I purposely only ever use effect. The difference conveys no additional information, and it's already close to an archaic usage

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 6 points 1 day ago

"Affect" is nowhere close to an archaic usage, if that's what you mean. But of course you are welcome to spell it however you like.

[–] totally_human_emdash_user@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh, interesting, I thought that was the definition of symbiosis!

(Also, don't forget to escape the parenthesis in your Wikipedia link.)

[–] Beacon@fedia.io 1 points 2 days ago

You were very close, mutualism is a type of symbiosis.

When i click on my links they all seem to work. Maybe my lemmy instance autocorrects it?

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