elight's recent activity
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Comment on What is a value or belief you have that is extremely outside the norm? in ~talk
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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 I gave up meat and gained so much more | A tale of one person's life, culture, and growing up in ~life
elight (edited )Link ParentI'll trade you a landmine for a landmine. Leaving aside the other arguments, regarding guilt, I ask this sincerely: How does one not feel guilt at taking life when there was the easily available...I'll trade you a landmine for a landmine.
Leaving aside the other arguments, regarding guilt, I ask this sincerely:
How does one not feel guilt at taking life when there was the easily available choice not to?
How attached are you to your own consciousness?
How much resentment and anguish would you experience at the prospect of losing it all?
Factory farming all too easily hides us from the repercussions of these choices.
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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
elight (edited )LinkVegan for about a decade now. I am unsurprised that this topic has generated so many emotional responses. It is painful to be asked to reflect on the harm we cause by being. I've caused this same...Vegan for about a decade now. I am unsurprised that this topic has generated so many emotional responses. It is painful to be asked to reflect on the harm we cause by being. I've caused this same harm too, for many years.
As a child, I've always had pets. From birth, I was raised with cats. I literally had one next to me in the crib.
I loved going to petting zoos. All of the animals there had their unique behaviors and redeeming qualities.
Yet, as a child, I was raised in a family that eats meat even now. Yet, as a child, I always had this thought slinking in the back of my mind: I don't eat my pets—and what separates my pets from the other animals I see?
This bothered me for a few years. And then I forgot about it.
At about 40, I find my blood pressure is high. I read Joel Fuhrman MD's "Eat to Live": that is an extreme book but eye opening. I thought that, ok, I'll go plant-based. I'll cut out processed foods.
In the US, that's playing on hard mode. Doing it in the backwater I lived in at the time, iron man.
After a year, my then-primary doctor was astonished to see how healthy the blood of this severely overweight me came out in lab results. Even now, many years later, and still quite overweight, my doctor, well over ten years younger than me, looks at my blood test results and tells me, "Even my blood doesn't look this good!"
But I digress.
After a couple of years of being plant-based, I remember how I thought about animals, as a child. That's when I realized that I was now "vegan". I could no longer passively choose harm of other beings, animals or humans.
Why consider not eating animals? At our basest, we are animals ourselves, yes.
However, wasn't it Descartes who said cogito, ergo sum? We think. We, questionably, have free will. We are conscious. We have evolved.
Yet we still eat like other animals—with the sole exceptions that we learned to process food to facilitate digestion. One can argue that we are not so special. We are not even the only tool-using species.
For being so evolved, we still do violence onto one another: there is war and greed. We still mostly fixate on procreation, even in the face of ecological collapse.
But there is another choice available: to attempt to exceed our animal nature. Given the abundance of vegetation in nature, that we have also learned to cultivate, and how we have learned to improve and enhance these qualities demonstrably through our own learnings, it is possible to eat well and do so without taking the lives of other conscious beings.
Is it realistic to do this when we still harm each other? One could also ask: if we stopped harming animals, would we free up enough resource to be able to feed more people of this world?
If we are better than other animals, why must we continue to eat other animals?
If we are no better, how are we civilized? Why then do we deserve civilization?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
elight LinkHomeworld 3. See my review here: Homeworld 3 review from someone who treasures HW as perhaps the best game in 25 years (w/ minor spoilers) In short, wait for total conversion mods to come out. The...In short, wait for total conversion mods to come out. The base game just isn't worth it.
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Homeworld 3 review from someone who treasures HW as perhaps the best game in 25 years (w/ minor spoilers)
Warning: this post may contain spoilers
I almost need a "thumb sideways" button but I can't give this game a thumbs up.
Why should you listen to me?
For background, I beta tested Homeworld for Relic back in '98-99. I've played every single PC Homeworld game. I've sunk hundreds of hours into playing vanilla Homeworld, Complex, and Every. Single. Star Trek mod that anyone has ever made for Homeworld and Homeworld: Remastered.
That's to say: I adore love Homeworld/Homeworld 2. Over 25 years of PC gaming, they may be my all-time favorite games period!
Of course, I bought the "Fleet Command" edition. In truth, I did it to encourage the developers to keep pumping out more Homeworld.
Alas, the only thing I want right now is a complete and amazing mod toolkit so that this game can quickly become the substitute and successor for the original.
A little history: Homeworld (and Remastered) thrived with its mod community. The original game was not designed for modding. Yet so many intrepid individuals out there struggled their way through cracking the binary format(s?) of the game. And, at least, as I understand it, some of the game behavior is scripted in Lua, a less common but publicly available programming language. Just go look at the Workshop for Homeworld: Remastered. The number of different total conversion mods out there is staggering. The love put into so many of those mods is utterly mind-blowing!
In a nutshell, HW:3 plays a lot like Homeworld (the original) but, if anything, dumbed-down
significantly from the original but with 2024 visuals--except for the cut-scenes that oddly look rendered using vintage 2000 technology. The game mechanics lack the depth of any of the HW sequels. The campaign is linear and, at times, glitchy (I'm looking at you, asteroid mission and you, the one cut-scene where some of the lines repeat causing me to wonder if I'm suffering auditory hallucinations or if their QA missed something like that).The gameplay is not particularly innovative or deep. The default pace of combat itself tends to be faster than previous Homeworlds. Though, in single player, you can change the game speed. However, the default speed can be overwhelming compared to previous Homeworld games, which can make multiplayer frustrating.
For fans, while it should not be surprising It's not Homeworld: Complex (or EVO), I expected to see more of the depth, introduced by HW:C and HW:2, For instance, there are no subsystems on ships; you can't target engines or weapons. Ships either blow up or they don't. There's no defense field frigates and no cloak generators.
My hope is that the mods (Star Trek or The Expanse, anyone?) will make this game shine. But right now? Unless you're a true super-hardcore Homeworld fan, who needs their Homeworld story fix, you should hold off.
On the plus side: it doesn't crash as often as a NASCAR driver like Helldivers 2 or the original Homeworld, for that matter.
Ultimately, I'm disappointed that Homeworld 3 plays like a dumbed-down version of Homeworld 1. I suppose this shouldn't be surprising, what with game studios increasingly desperate to get that larger market share which means appealing to a broader audience. But that means that if you long for the depth of Homeworld 2 or Complex, you're waiting for mods.
The modding tools aren't out yet.
And, so, thumbs down.
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Comment on Florida man worries about his ruined reputation after pulling gun on Uber driver dropping the man's daughter off at their house in ~transport
elight LinkCan we just take a moment to recognize the amazing, unfortunate, yet always mind-boggling hijinks of Florida Man? He's the world's worst super hero (?) who is always in the news!Can we just take a moment to recognize the amazing, unfortunate, yet always mind-boggling hijinks of Florida Man? He's the world's worst super hero (?) who is always in the news!
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Comment on Why VO2 max is the greatest predictor of lifespan | Dan's journey back to health and fitness (Pt. 2) in ~health
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Comment on I understand climate scientists’ despair – but stubborn optimism may be our only hope in ~enviro
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Comment on A big new facility built to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere opened up in Iceland. It's a stepping stone to bigger plans in the US. in ~enviro
elight Link ParentProof is in the pudding. Let's see what happens to pollution in the US. The increase in data centers doesn't bode well for this. Generative AI eats unfortunate amounts of power. As for China,...Proof is in the pudding. Let's see what happens to pollution in the US. The increase in data centers doesn't bode well for this. Generative AI eats unfortunate amounts of power.
As for China, good. But they're still the net worst polluter on the planet, IIRC. The US is worse per capita.
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Comment on A big new facility built to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere opened up in Iceland. It's a stepping stone to bigger plans in the US. in ~enviro
elight Link ParentRadical does not necessarily mean violent. But we do need the billionaire class to feel the pain they're causing somehow. If they're all living in bunkers, they already know the score. They're...Radical does not necessarily mean violent. But we do need the billionaire class to feel the pain they're causing somehow.
If they're all living in bunkers, they already know the score. They're not—yet. Though there's that particularly famous one in Hawaii...
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Comment on A big new facility built to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere opened up in Iceland. It's a stepping stone to bigger plans in the US. in ~enviro
elight Link ParentWe need China, the USA, and India if we're going to make more than a dent.We need China, the USA, and India if we're going to make more than a dent.
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Comment on A big new facility built to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere opened up in Iceland. It's a stepping stone to bigger plans in the US. in ~enviro
elight Link ParentI liked where you were going until you got to "Pass a law". With governments largely captured/run by the rich, how do we reliably pass these laws and then raise these limits? It's easy to say that...I liked where you were going until you got to "Pass a law".
With governments largely captured/run by the rich, how do we reliably pass these laws and then raise these limits? It's easy to say that we should elect better governments but hard to do when most of our choices are in the pocket of moneyed interests.
Civil protests used to mean something. At least in the United States, I'm not sure that they've had any meaningful impact in 50+ years.
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Comment on I understand climate scientists’ despair – but stubborn optimism may be our only hope in ~enviro
elight Link ParentBut the world isn't dying! The fauna of the world is dying. And humankind will wither. We're currently growing faster than we're dying but that is unlikely to be sustainable unless: We stop...But the world isn't dying! The fauna of the world is dying. And humankind will wither. We're currently growing faster than we're dying but that is unlikely to be sustainable unless:
- We stop deterraforming Earth.
- We spread significantly beyond Earth, in a survivable way, before Earth can no longer sustain us.
(1) is low probability. Governments are largely captured by capital. Capital only cares about creating more capital. The welfare of the planet is only of interest insofar as it generates more capital. By this reasoning, (1) only occurs if it somehow becomes profitable to stop deterraforming Earth.
(2) is of questionable probability. We are slowly cultivating the means to leave the planet and set up small outposts off-Earth. However, we still lack proof that we are capable of long term thriving beyond Earth. Until and without that, this is also likely low probability.
Radical solutions seem necessary. But without unity, there can only be unilateral or ineffective impact. Unilateral impacts invite war. Ineffective impact speaks for itself.
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Comment on I understand climate scientists’ despair – but stubborn optimism may be our only hope in ~enviro
elight Link ParentAnd yet optimism is not often realistic.And yet optimism is not often realistic.
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Comment on I understand climate scientists’ despair – but stubborn optimism may be our only hope in ~enviro
elight (edited )Link ParentAgreed that the optimism is absurd. But preparing? The impact of these changes are going to be catastrophic. How do we prepare? Relocating whole countries of people to somewhat safer places? If...Agreed that the optimism is absurd.
But preparing? The impact of these changes are going to be catastrophic.
How do we prepare? Relocating whole countries of people to somewhat safer places? If it's every country for itself, as it has been, we're going to see more war, more pollution, more disease, more famine.
Realistically, I don't see technology saving us unless it's profitable.
I've quoted this before but “We’ll go down in history as the first society that wouldn't save itself because it wasn't cost effective.” – Kurt Vonnegut
How doesn't this become a slow apocalypse? That seems realistic.
Seems as though we should be preparing for another Dark Age to occur within the next 100-200 years. Except we won't because it's not cost effective and won't seem necessary until imminent.
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Comment on Faulty valve scuttles Starliner’s first crew launch in ~space
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Comment on Faulty valve scuttles Starliner’s first crew launch in ~space
elight Link ParentIs this splitting hairs? My preferred veterinary specialist is a "partner" in a larger "group" that is owned by private equity. Enshittification tends to roll down hill; I'm seeing costs go up...Is this splitting hairs? My preferred veterinary specialist is a "partner" in a larger "group" that is owned by private equity. Enshittification tends to roll down hill; I'm seeing costs go up consistently. 🤞 that quality isn't going down but how can I tell?
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Comment on Excelsior: new stories in a unique Marvel universe in ~games
elight (edited )LinkI can already thank my Star Trek addiction and TrekMUSE habit for having supported my undergrad anxiety and study procrastination habit. If I were back in undergrad, this would be another way for...I can already thank my Star Trek addiction and TrekMUSE habit for having supported my undergrad anxiety and study procrastination habit. If I were back in undergrad, this would be another way for me to flunk my classes. This sounds like that but greatly matured: a true RPG complete with gamemasters and scenarios.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
elight (edited )Link ParentEven the base primary weapon isn't bad. Fairly quickly, you get the SG-225 "Breaker". That weapon can pretty much stay with you the entire game and you'll do just fine and have a good time. My...Even the base primary weapon isn't bad. Fairly quickly, you get the SG-225 "Breaker". That weapon can pretty much stay with you the entire game and you'll do just fine and have a good time.
My favorite way to play the game now is to deliberately look out for my teammates as much as they let me. Since I "no-life" the game right now ("funemployed", struggling with depression, enjoy HD2), I tend to play nightly. Yet I still find the occasional newbie who is happy to have someone willing to act as a sheep dog through their experience.
It's best to play it with friends. When you get randos, you never know if you'll have people who are delightful to play with and strive to be a team or a bunch of loose cannons who are all playing their own game. Those occasions, when you get a group of people who want to work together and communicate too? Absolutely sublime. Going back to my band-geek days, it's almost like playing in a symphonic band of people who have rehearsed hard. You play your role. You support your fellow HellDivers. You distributed "Managed Democracy" (aka "Fascism"); remember, this is essentially the true Starship Troopers, The Game complete with all of the sardonic pomp.
ProTip: This game is still buggy AF. It crashes and at the worst possible times.
TIP: to try to keep your game from crashing frequently, delete the %APPDATA%/Arrowhead/Helldivers2/ after every game patch. It seems to help a little.If you get the game, send me your in-game ID as a message here. I can try to figure out how to send you a friend request. I go by "eight" in HD2.
Unapologetically vegan. I'd argue that 4% of US population qualifies as "extreme".