LetterCounter's recent activity
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Comment on Pride Month at Tildes: #5 - Ask almost anything in ~lgbt
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Comment on ‘Story Of Your Life’ is not a time-travel story (2018) in ~books
LetterCounter Link ParentI'll be the outlier then! I really enjoyed both, but view them as two separate works that express similar themes. I could not choose which I like better.I'll be the outlier then! I really enjoyed both, but view them as two separate works that express similar themes.
I could not choose which I like better.
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Comment on Pride Month at Tildes: #5 - Ask almost anything in ~lgbt
LetterCounter LinkThis is probably way too personal here, but I'm a seemingly straight man in a heterosexual relationship. In the past decade, I've left religion and been in the process of deconstructing my...This is probably way too personal here, but I'm a seemingly straight man in a heterosexual relationship.
In the past decade, I've left religion and been in the process of deconstructing my previous faith, but I find myself continuing to hold biases and "instinctual" reactions when it comes to analyzing my own sexuality.
In short, even from childhood, I've felt that I don't conform to male stereotypes. Though I'm a very masculine presenting adult in my mid-30s, I have noticed less resistance to the idea that I might not be fully straight.
What resources would help as I look to explore the possibility that my straightness and gender expression are perhaps more conditioned than core to who I am?
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Comment on Louisiana lawmakers approve surgical castration option for those guilty of sex crimes against kids in ~news
LetterCounter LinkI do not have any sympathy for sex offenders. However, violating one person's body because they violated someone else's feels like revenge, not justice. Can we as a society please step back and...I do not have any sympathy for sex offenders. However, violating one person's body because they violated someone else's feels like revenge, not justice.
Can we as a society please step back and think about what the point of the justice system actually is? Violating someone's body can only be done once you sufficiently dehumanized them.
I don't claim to have the right answer, but given the rate of false convictions, the death penalty and other permanent punishments like castration, seem to punish a large number of innocent people just to punish the actually guilty.
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Comment on Games where the campaign serves as the tutorial? in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentTitanfall 2 is also a great example of one game that is a tutorial of another (Apex Legends). For me I tried Apex when it was first released and was terrible. Only after playing Titanfall 2 did...Titanfall 2 is also a great example of one game that is a tutorial of another (Apex Legends). For me I tried Apex when it was first released and was terrible.
Only after playing Titanfall 2 did something click for me and I was able to return to Apex and start getting better.
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Comment on Why the pandemic probably started in a lab, in five key points (gifted link) in ~science
LetterCounter Link ParentI appreciate your feedback on what I said, and I too understand where you're coming from. I agree that assertions can be the starting point for the beginning of inquiry. However, that's not the...I appreciate your feedback on what I said, and I too understand where you're coming from.
I agree that assertions can be the starting point for the beginning of inquiry. However, that's not the kind I'm talking about and I should have clarified. Many people, especially conspiracy theorists, do not care about the scientific method, nor are they willing to reject their assertions when presented with evidence that contradicts it. Instead they twist what they can, ignore what they can't explain, and turn to personal attacks and accusations of collusion when they are backed into a corner.
My point is that even if something that started as an assertion without evidence is later discovered to be true, the people claiming it to be true had no evidence at the time, and we're therefore lying if they told people that it was true.
There is a huge difference between saying "I think something could be true, so I will look for evidence to confirm or reject that assertion" and saying "this thing is true, and any doubters are in a league against me just because they ask for evidence I can't provide".
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Comment on Why the pandemic probably started in a lab, in five key points (gifted link) in ~science
LetterCounter LinkAssertion without evidence is a lie, even if it turns out to be true in the end. This is how conspiracy theories have always started. Assertion without evidence where someone comes after the...Assertion without evidence is a lie, even if it turns out to be true in the end.
This is how conspiracy theories have always started. Assertion without evidence where someone comes after the assertion to string together various points of data that fit.
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Comment on Star Citizen crowdfunding passes $700 million in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentFYI, the following is inflammatory but also just my personal opinion. If the game is never released, then it's not a product, it's a service. And for what people pay for ships, it's a service...FYI, the following is inflammatory but also just my personal opinion.
If the game is never released, then it's not a product, it's a service. And for what people pay for ships, it's a service designed to suck money out of whales' pockets.
They have no incentive to finish core development and have a general release to the public.
They spend so much time on each feature without a payoff. Star citizen is a promise that can never be fulfilled and diehard fans are essentially in a cult-like mindset. They give and give and give with the promise of something that is patently undeliverable. Bigger studios have done more with less and Star citizen continues to be a leach on gullible people.
I won't deny that what they actually have delivered seems impressive, but I would expect soooo much more for 700 million and the length of time this project has existed.
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Comment on US President Joe Biden raises tariffs on $18 billion of Chinese imports: EVs, solar panels, batteries and more in ~finance
LetterCounter LinkSo, when trump started tariffs with China, I was opposed to this. Now that Biden is doing the same, it gets me wondering. Do tariffs actually work to increase a country's production in a certain...So, when trump started tariffs with China, I was opposed to this. Now that Biden is doing the same, it gets me wondering. Do tariffs actually work to increase a country's production in a certain sector? Or does the consumer always suffer higher prices with no end in sight?
Is there any way the consumer can actually benefit from this?
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Comment on What is a value or belief you have that is extremely outside the norm? in ~talk
LetterCounter Link ParentSo, I also grew up in the church. Submission to husbands is what the Bible has to say about marriage. Most of what you describe is perfectly reasonable in secular frameworks, and has less baggage...So, I also grew up in the church. Submission to husbands is what the Bible has to say about marriage. Most of what you describe is perfectly reasonable in secular frameworks, and has less baggage than religion.
For what it's worth, my partner and I have been together for 8 years, so we've already seen the ups and downs. Regardless of anything else, I can say I already have the benefits of companionship you mention.
And that's without monogamy. Yes, it has its own challenges, but it isn't many less meaningful, sincere, and loving. In fact, I find it more loving than I did in monogamous relationships I've been in before.
I can truly say I'll be marrying the love of my life and my truest and strongest partner. Religion has no place to say how we should live our lives because it is unnecessary and offers nothing we couldn't and haven't been able to get elsewhere.
Regardless, I appreciate the well wishes!
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Comment on What is a value or belief you have that is extremely outside the norm? in ~talk
LetterCounter Link ParentRelated to this, my partner and I are getting married this summer, and a big theme we want in the ceremony is that while we are choosing to demonstrate our commitment to each other through...Related to this, my partner and I are getting married this summer, and a big theme we want in the ceremony is that while we are choosing to demonstrate our commitment to each other through marriage, we do not "belong" to each other, we're not "becoming one".
We will continue to be individuals in our marriage with our own unique desires, experiences, and bodily autonomy. Exclusivity is a trap and ownership of another's body, even in the context of marriage, is a crime against their humanity.
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Comment on What was it like choosing your own name? in ~lgbt
LetterCounter Link ParentAny chance that code is publicy available?Any chance that code is publicy available?
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Comment on Is Nebula worth it? in ~tech
LetterCounter LinkI love nebula as a concept, and from what I've seen in general, the quality of videos seems to be higher. More akin to the brand image vimeo gives me. It's a no-nonsense platform, providing top...I love nebula as a concept, and from what I've seen in general, the quality of videos seems to be higher. More akin to the brand image vimeo gives me. It's a no-nonsense platform, providing top tier content, without all of the noise of most video platforms.
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Comment on What was it like choosing your own name? in ~lgbt
LetterCounter Link ParentLots of options here, some better than others: https://www.thebump.com/b/baby-unisex-names-that-start-with-b As for "Sparky", while a bit unusual, it's not in a way that would be unmanageable. The...Lots of options here, some better than others:
https://www.thebump.com/b/baby-unisex-names-that-start-with-bAs for "Sparky", while a bit unusual, it's not in a way that would be unmanageable.
The person makes the name, not the other way around, at least in my book.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentI don't recall saying I'm boycotting anything. I'm saying that switching game engines as a reaction to what Unity has done is fine, but jumping to Unreal without research on Epic games and how...I don't recall saying I'm boycotting anything.
I'm saying that switching game engines as a reaction to what Unity has done is fine, but jumping to Unreal without research on Epic games and how they operate isn't doing anyone favors.
Neither company should be trusted to benefit the developer and both stand to gain if you do well. So the question comes down to whether a migration of game devs to Unreal benefits us in the end if we give Epic more control of the game developer market.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentI feel similar to you. But trusting corps blindly isn't a good thing to do. And that includes alternatives to Unity.I feel similar to you. But trusting corps blindly isn't a good thing to do. And that includes alternatives to Unity.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentTo be clear, I don't care that Tencent is Chinese owned, I care about the influence of the CCP on them. What I care about is that they own a large stake in many game companies. I do not want my...To be clear, I don't care that Tencent is Chinese owned, I care about the influence of the CCP on them. What I care about is that they own a large stake in many game companies.
I do not want my games making money for them, and of course, to be balanced, I don't want want my games making money for (former) EA execs either.
So many of the replies to what I said so far are accusing me of having some sort of hidden motives or unfounded bias. But it really is simple. I don't want to be controlled by a massive corporation.
And while I understood I haven't given very many reasons besides that why others should stay away, my point is the same:
If you don't like the business practices of Unity, you shouldn't be jumping ship to Unreal just because it's a major competitor. You should research the company first. Figure out if it's really the ecosystem you want to be a part of.
If the benefits of switching outweigh the costs/risks, then fine, switch. But don't get blindly tossed from one out of touch corporation to another thinking things will improve.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentPartially, although my reaction against using Unreal comes from the fact that Tencent has a 40% stake in Epic, and I dont want a portion of my games' income going to them specifically for many...Partially, although my reaction against using Unreal comes from the fact that Tencent has a 40% stake in Epic, and I dont want a portion of my games' income going to them specifically for many reasons.
As a company, Tencent is worse than Unity, by far. I don't get why people jump ship to Unreal if their reason is they don't like the way the company is run.
Now, before you get the wrong idea, I'm not a Unity defender, I just think shady corps are on both sides.
Use the right tool for the job, and if you have objections to the way a company does business, research the way its competitor does business and who benefits financially if you find success with them instead.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
LetterCounter Link ParentI find Epic to be infinitely worse than Unity as a company and how predatory they are. I'm not sure if you are doing yourserlf a favor if you don't like Unity's business modelI find Epic to be infinitely worse than Unity as a company and how predatory they are. I'm not sure if you are doing yourserlf a favor if you don't like Unity's business model
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Comment on Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold in ~transport
LetterCounter Link ParentOne could also assume that the company knew this was a possibility while they were ramping up production and sales. If people aren't buying, then that division wouldn't be profitable. The whole...One could also assume that the company knew this was a possibility while they were ramping up production and sales. If people aren't buying, then that division wouldn't be profitable. The whole point is that until they sell more, in won't offset the investment.
Lowering prices is one way to incentivize sales, but I don't think most people really understand the benefit of EVs yet. It's changing, but slowly and in an economy where loans are harder for people to afford.
I'll check it out, thanks!
Your last sentence seems to resonate a lot with me, and it puts into words a feeling I've had for a while. I'm not certain what that outcome may be yet, but I feel like I'm increasingly curious about it.