Tiraon's recent activity
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Comment on I gave up meat and gained so much more | A tale of one person's life, culture, and growing up in ~life
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Comment on Is Nebula worth it? in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentMaybe it didn't sound that way but if it is both, and the automatic recommendation can be disabled then that is basically ideal. I can also guess a lot better and explore the site at my own pace...Maybe it didn't sound that way but if it is both, and the automatic recommendation can be disabled then that is basically ideal.
I can also guess a lot better and explore the site at my own pace if it gives me tools to do so instead of the mainstream standard atrocious forced fuzzy search hiding any sort of helpful structured data. But I did not really use Nebula so this mainly in general sort of statement.
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Comment on Is Nebula worth it? in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentI agree but I would also additionally add that why does it need to be a site initiated recommendation? I have yet to see a mainstream site with solid granular search based on the data that would...I agree but I would also additionally add that why does it need to be a site initiated recommendation? I have yet to see a mainstream site with solid granular search based on the data that would be used for the recommendations but that is not a question of technical possibility.
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Comment on A skeptic’s take on beaming power to Earth from space - Why we shouldn’t try to stick solar plants where the sun always shines in ~enviro
Tiraon LinkOf course trying to do this with Earth based launches is insane. That is why space exploration is vital. If we instead had even a rudimentary manufacturing base in space it would suddenly look a...Of course trying to do this with Earth based launches is insane. That is why space exploration is vital. If we instead had even a rudimentary manufacturing base in space it would suddenly look a lot different.
The article also talks a lot about how space based beamed solar power is not economical. Yes that is the reality we live in but the reality we live in also has potentially catastrophic alteration of Earth climate on timescale measured in decades.
A science fiction that explores this idea and which I recommend is Delta-v and Critical Mass. It comes with detailed sources at the end and while I cannot tell how actually feasible it would be in practice and what problems would appear in reality it is at least a look at the possibility.
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Comment on EA is looking at putting in-game ads in AAA games — 'We'll be very thoughtful as we move into that,' says CEO in ~games
Tiraon LinkThis is simply a completely predictable progression of current trends, nothing new. I argue and will continue to argue that wilful ignorance of the majority to the means on they live large...This is simply a completely predictable progression of current trends, nothing new.
I argue and will continue to argue that wilful ignorance of the majority to the means on they live large portions of their lives(in this case computing technology) means that moves like this are possible and build upon each other.
In this case it is something than can be easily ignored so nothing to see here really. I struggle to think of mainstream entertainment that does not have ads, effectively ads or is not thinking of putting in ads. Trends to this effect were transparently visible for more than a decade, and not so visibly likely for more.
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Comment on ‘Hopeless and broken’: why the world’s top climate scientists are in despair in ~enviro
Tiraon LinkIn the end it is very simple. We have here a two mutually incompatible goals, minimizing global level changes to the environment and ever increasing growth as the only relevant metric for...In the end it is very simple. We have here a two mutually incompatible goals, minimizing global level changes to the environment and ever increasing growth as the only relevant metric for measuring economic success. There is no way to somehow make these compatible and as a society we have to pick or at least prioritize one.
As far as I can tell we have had information about the dangerous impact on global temperatures for at least five decades, likely more. Literally just in the last decade are we even seriously talking about what to do about it.
I really want to be optimistic but I just can't help but feel that there is going to some kind of crash in the next decades.
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Comment on Heat death of the internet in ~tech
Tiraon LinkA while back I've written a, well rant, here about the utter rejection of even the most basic surface knowledge of technology that is integral to the current way of life of an average person by...A while back I've written a, well rant, here about the utter rejection of even the most basic surface knowledge of technology that is integral to the current way of life of an average person by the society at large and by an average person.
Currently average person is simply not willing, at all, for any reason to acquire the absolute basics of technical proficiency required to be able to use alternatives to proprietary blobs. That are by the way always just not user-hostile enough to prevent mass migration.
And economic situation being what it is, it is basically inevitable that the internet will approach maximum lock-in, minimal user choice, maximum monetization and minimal utility as time goes by.
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Comment on California junk fee ban could upend restaurant industry in ~food
Tiraon LinkI don't live in America and simply that random fees(as well as that mandatory "tips") are a thing is completely bizarre to me. The sane thing is to simply price things in a way that covers your...I don't live in America and simply that random fees(as well as that mandatory "tips") are a thing is completely bizarre to me.
The sane thing is to simply price things in a way that covers your expenses. Anything else is using psychological tricks to force the customer to pay more than they would otherwise and should not be tolerated, with the only exceptions being things like shipping fees.
Now if businesses released actual breakdowns of their price structure that would be amazing but the advertised price should be the one paid with only very specific a very minimal exceptions.
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Comment on Let’s go whaling: Tricks for monetising mobile game players with free-to-play in ~games
Tiraon LinkI really like the line of "Let's keep the morality out of it. We can discuss it later if we have time." That seem to be the prevalent philosophy in today major economic systems, not just f2p...I really like the line of "Let's keep the morality out of it. We can discuss it later if we have time." That seem to be the prevalent philosophy in today major economic systems, not just f2p mobile games. This is also 7 years old.
There is no winning when engaging with systems designed like this. They are based on common psychological flaws that you have to constantly guard against even if you know about them. The only thing is to just keep away and this is still a massive industry.
I really think the smartphone in the current iteration is basically one of the worst things to have happened in technological space. Making something like this work on desktop platforms is harder and it is simply one of the things they make easier.
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Comment on Reddit, AI spam bots explore new ways to show ads in your feed in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentMy guess is that it has a lot to do with monetization offered. Subscriptions are a commitment as they almost almost auto-renew and are vastly overpriced for casual use. For me personally when...vast majority of people are not at all willing to directly pay for content of any kind on the internet
My guess is that it has a lot to do with monetization offered. Subscriptions are a commitment as they almost almost auto-renew and are vastly overpriced for casual use.
For me personally when usually simply use a site like this usually once or twice a month subscribing for a month for something like 10$ and with the added risk that I forget to cancel is not something I am willing to do. If on other hand I could give them even an order more than what they would get from the ad impression, I would. I have no idea of course about broader trends but that is my take.
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Comment on Reddit, AI spam bots explore new ways to show ads in your feed in ~tech
Tiraon LinkI think it may actually be possible to trace all of the decline of basic internet usability, accuracy, verifiability and discovery to ad business model and by extension to data business model....I think it may actually be possible to trace all of the decline of basic internet usability, accuracy, verifiability and discovery to ad business model and by extension to data business model.
There are some truly smart people whose main job is to get as many people as possible to buy things that they do not need or actually want since the amount of money involved is tremendous.
It is a shame that a rival business model with comparable reach never developed. Personally I would take borrowing cpu time.
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Comment on Instagram's Nudify [non-consensual fake nude photo generator] ads in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentMy own theory is different and perhaps a bit more cynical, or perhaps in a different way. Person who is guilty(actual guilt in any kind of sane moral framework is irrelevant) is easier to control....My hunch is that the reason for the taboo is humanity's fervent desire to separate ourselves from other animals, to see ourselves above beasts. Just because we can build some huts and a wall to keep nature away from us, doesn't remove the fact that we're animals too.
My own theory is different and perhaps a bit more cynical, or perhaps in a different way. Person who is guilty(actual guilt in any kind of sane moral framework is irrelevant) is easier to control. Criminalizing(or making it a thing for perverts and weirdos) a subset of sexuality makes a lot of people guilty(or all as makes no difference, depending on the subset).
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Comment on Two years to save the planet, says UN climate chief in ~enviro
Tiraon LinkIn my opinion the current problems we are facing are entirely due to misalignment of localized(both spatially and temporally) incentives and global needs. In our current cultural, economical...In my opinion the current problems we are facing are entirely due to misalignment of localized(both spatially and temporally) incentives and global needs.
In our current cultural, economical environment it simply makes sense to make decisions that will have disproportionate negative effects down the line, even on the maker.
On low impact decision level most people simply will not consider their broader impact and will conform to current trends no matter the trends. Only people with the mindset compatible with current atmosphere will even get to high impact decision level.
On individual level the impact either way will always be small in absolutes and most people simply will not make even the minimal possible effort to reduce it and they should. Cultural shift could have been accomplished that way and that shift could have impacted high level decisions.
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Comment on I have an issue with the 3 Body Problem in ~tv
Tiraon Link ParentI admit I only saw the show so it is entirely possible the books have plausible explanations for these questions. From your descriptions it seems likely I will not personally agree with the...I admit I only saw the show so it is entirely possible the books have plausible explanations for these questions.
From your descriptions it seems likely I will not personally agree with the philosophy present in the books but that does not mean they are not worth reading.
I can't recall the name right now but despite my griping I agree with the principle that the founding pillars of the premise of a story can be incredibly unlikely to enable an interesting story to be told. I just think they should still be plausible.
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Comment on I have an issue with the 3 Body Problem in ~tv
Tiraon Link ParentI mostly meant why fixate on planets at all? Finding one that is habitable for them, no matter their requirements is a long shot. Finding one that is terraformable with their technology is...I mostly meant why fixate on planets at all? Finding one that is habitable for them, no matter their requirements is a long shot. Finding one that is terraformable with their technology is probably possible in near space but why not simply have a series of space stations in a stable star system with decent amount of mass, that is resources?
Or going step further, why leave their current system at all? They are clearly capable of having space based industry and population. Make the stations able to move and the probability of any one of them getting destroyed is low and if it does, it is a tragedy, not an extinction event.
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Comment on It annoys me that so many PC games feel like they're intended for consoles in ~games
Tiraon Link ParentI'd just caution that the main branch is explicitly a simulation and getting more so. Also the darkness level seems to go to similar absurdity such as WH40k. Minimal priority is given to...I'd just caution that the main branch is explicitly a simulation and getting more so. Also the darkness level seems to go to similar absurdity such as WH40k. Minimal priority is given to game-specific considerations such as keeping the gameplay enjoyable.
That said the sandbox is impressive. It is the single most complex game world I have personally seen. Personally I would also recommend Bright Nights fork for less features but more gameplay centric approach.
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Comment on I have an issue with the 3 Body Problem in ~tv
Tiraon LinkPersonally the biggest problem I had was why the aliens even bothered to come here in the first place. It is not shown in what environment they evolved in but it good bet is it is significantly...Personally the biggest problem I had was why the aliens even bothered to come here in the first place. It is not shown in what environment they evolved in but it good bet is it is significantly different from Earth.
Then even if we just completely ignore ethical ramifications(personally I find the bug metaphor flawed as hell), we have potential problems stemming from dedicated and advanced opposition that has four centuries to think of something. Seems like too much risk.
They are clearly highly advanced. Why don't they just pick suitable uninhabited star system in vicinity and colonize space which is better long term strategy anyways?
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Comment on An opinion on current technological trends in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentA cannot disagree with the main point but I do argue that more people should take an interest because the trajectory we are on right now with market-insignificant minority having any interest is...A cannot disagree with the main point but I do argue that more people should take an interest because the trajectory we are on right now with market-insignificant minority having any interest is what it is.
Having any technological barrier to entry, even a minor one, places drastic limits on the spread and scope of any development.
Personally I would consider a limit on rate of spread of example smartphones say a decade and half ago a blessing, they are absolutely amazing technology used in appalling ways, having bad effects on too large a segment of their users and pushing standards downright terrible for end users.
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Comment on An opinion on current technological trends in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentI simply think that the simpler and more reliable is possible with user respecting design. As for the security, I agree that there the updates are important and should be installed. It is also one...I simply think that the simpler and more reliable is possible with user respecting design.
As for the security, I agree that there the updates are important and should be installed. It is also one the subjects where I would personally consider opt-out acceptable, but that opt-out should be there because otherwise adversarial functionality is easier to push.
I do not think it is coincidence that downright user hostile patterns in desktop space appeared en masse after normalization of forced updates on the dominant platform. In Windows 7 it was just about perfect, updates by default, scary warning to check manually or opt-out.
As for the last point - I simply think that a minimal level of general tech aptitude would actually reduce need for support. Having a simple reliable sw is good, but I simply think that right now there is only exchanging technical difficulty for artificial barriers.
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Comment on An opinion on current technological trends in ~tech
Tiraon Link ParentI understand not having a deep knowledge about computing technology. I work in IT and I do not have what I would call deep understanding outside my narrow field of work, computing technology is...I understand not having a deep knowledge about computing technology. I work in IT and I do not have what I would call deep understanding outside my narrow field of work, computing technology is immensely complex and complicated.
I am simply advocating for a shallow understanding, being able to diagnose simple issues, being able to orient yourself in a well designed unknown program, being able and willing to launch and adjust settings, being able and willing to follow troubleshooting advice, having the basics of knowledge of the os the user uses for some examples.
I do not think think this is unreasonable and I think it would lead to generally better society by making adversarial changes harder to push through.
On one hand I agree with large parts of the essay but on the other I think that(among guilt-tripping) it advocates for a thing that is far harder to achieve than most people can achieve for any single one thing that is not their sole focus and that makes it easier to just dismiss and move on.
I find that a lot of things in that that would be net positive to do(or avoid) in a life of a person are order(s) of magnitude harder to eliminate entirely than just minimize as much as possible(and that much as possible can be once a month I ...) due to pressure of society and practical concerns. There are so many things that one should care about that it is simply too much.
A better world would steer our decisions the other direction, but in the meantime only asking people to do as much as they can and elaborating on the reasons why it is important is likely to be more widely accepted and consequently have bigger impact.