Thrabalen's recent activity
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Comment on Character.AI faces US lawsuit after teen's suicide in ~tech
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Comment on Controversial opinion: I don't like "cosmetic armor" being an option in games in ~games
Thrabalen LinkI feel that appearance items are a necessary evil. Many games gravitate toward a "best in slot" armor, and if it's a multiplayer game, that means that the majority of people are running around...I feel that appearance items are a necessary evil. Many games gravitate toward a "best in slot" armor, and if it's a multiplayer game, that means that the majority of people are running around with a limited number of armor options. The lack of variety is maddening without cosmetic items, and the vast, vast majority of players aren't going to be 1% less effective just to look better.
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Comment on Historic US ship could soon become the world's largest artificial reef in ~enviro
Thrabalen Link ParentI'm a Philadelphian, and having seen this thing with my own eyes, it's a little painful that I've seen it for the last time, but it least it's going to use.I'm a Philadelphian, and having seen this thing with my own eyes, it's a little painful that I've seen it for the last time, but it least it's going to use.
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Comment on Humble Choice - October 2024 in ~games
Thrabalen Link ParentThe games are random, and not always good. But it's good enough for me to subscribe, so take that with a grain of salt.The games are random, and not always good. But it's good enough for me to subscribe, so take that with a grain of salt.
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Comment on Is my blue your blue? in ~design
Thrabalen Link ParentWhich does lead into another avenue of thought... blue is a soothing color, red is a turbulent color, but really, isn't that due to the things that are colored that way? If blue were the color of...Which does lead into another avenue of thought... blue is a soothing color, red is a turbulent color, but really, isn't that due to the things that are colored that way? If blue were the color of blood, of fire, of the face of someone enraged, would it still be as soothing?
There's no point to this line of thought, by the way, it's just something that's been rambling around in the back of my head for years now, and this seemed a good opportunity to let it out for a little air.
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Comment on Is my blue your blue? in ~design
Thrabalen Link ParentWell, that's kind of my point, is that the color of blood is different from the color of grass and the color of sky, but if someone truly perceived differently (but consistently), I don't think...Well, that's kind of my point, is that the color of blood is different from the color of grass and the color of sky, but if someone truly perceived differently (but consistently), I don't think they or we would ever know. Which is the ultimate question, really: is a difference that no one knows is a difference really a difference?
Put another way... a person completely blind from birth has no concept of the color blue at all, but in the end, is that significant at all?
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Comment on Is my blue your blue? in ~design
Thrabalen Link ParentExcept what works with camouflage isn't the exact wavelength of color, but the patterning and similarities to the desired environment. Purple and teal camouflage would be very obvious... unless...Except what works with camouflage isn't the exact wavelength of color, but the patterning and similarities to the desired environment. Purple and teal camouflage would be very obvious... unless the plant life were also purple and teal.
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Comment on Is my blue your blue? in ~design
Thrabalen LinkMy score was 187 (apparently, 97% "bluer" than general population.) I'm told by this that "for you, turquoise is green." In and of itself, interesting. Where it dovetails into my thought...My score was 187 (apparently, 97% "bluer" than general population.) I'm told by this that "for you, turquoise is green." In and of itself, interesting.
Where it dovetails into my thought processes, though, is the idea of "is my blue your blue," because even with this information, we have no Earthly idea. Let's say that you have a weird vision disorder, where your visual spectrum is shifted... red is green, green is blue, blue is red. Someone says to you that blue is the color of the sky. You see red, but everything people have ever described as blue is also red to you. So to you, yes, the sky is what people have always called blue, but without being able to see it through another person's eyes, you'd have no idea that the color you see is what they see when they accidentally open a blood vessel.
I guess what I'm getting at is, reality is a a lot more shared subjectivity than hard objectivity than we like to admit.
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Comment on Sol eReader headset in ~tech
Thrabalen LinkI don't have anything constructive to offer, admittedly, but the design sure brings new meaning to the term "reading glasses", doesn't it? I'm also going to say, too many people want to read but...I don't have anything constructive to offer, admittedly, but the design sure brings new meaning to the term "reading glasses", doesn't it?
I'm also going to say, too many people want to read but have difficulty, and reading is on the decline. If this helps alleviate that, good. I'm not sure the price means it will, but first generation is always a hard sell.
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Comment on A tool to determine which US city you should live in in ~life
Thrabalen Link ParentIt's bad wording to be sure, but there's really only two classes of restaurants to a number of people... places you go to when you want high quality food, and places you go to because you know the...It's bad wording to be sure, but there's really only two classes of restaurants to a number of people... places you go to when you want high quality food, and places you go to because you know the food will be edible and acceptable. They break down further (drive-through vs sit-down), but those are essentially the tiers.
I do think mediocre is a loaded word, and wish they'd chosen something like "family restaurant."
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Comment on A tool to determine which US city you should live in in ~life
Thrabalen Link ParentHonestly, mediocre food is what you get at fast food, pizzerias, chain restaurants. That's likely what they're referring to... non "fine dining". There's no really good term for it... common food,...Honestly, mediocre food is what you get at fast food, pizzerias, chain restaurants. That's likely what they're referring to... non "fine dining". There's no really good term for it... common food, maybe?
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Comment on An important update on Concord - "At this time, we have decided to take the game offline beginning September 6, 2024" in ~games
Thrabalen Link ParentNo one could seriously expect to outshoot Fortnite (someone will, but no one should expect to.) But you don't have to be the bigger planet to orbit, you simply have to have enough mass that you...No one could seriously expect to outshoot Fortnite (someone will, but no one should expect to.) But you don't have to be the bigger planet to orbit, you simply have to have enough mass that you don't slingshot away.
Simple truth is this: even when a giant dominates a field, you can still succeed without truly competing, you just have to have a strong enough design to be reminiscent. Concord... didn't.
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Comment on Columbus Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau killed in NJ crash involving suspected drunk driver in ~sports.hockey
Thrabalen Link ParentThis is very true, but in many cities, the horse has already left the barn and is well along the countryside. We have a public transportation system in the city I live in, but corruption,...This is very true, but in many cities, the horse has already left the barn and is well along the countryside.
We have a public transportation system in the city I live in, but corruption, ineptitude, and a general disdain for improving the service, along with the cost of the system due to the size and density of the service area, doesn't make a compelling case. Which is a shame, but also not unexpected.
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Comment on Columbus Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau killed in NJ crash involving suspected drunk driver in ~sports.hockey
Thrabalen Link ParentThe biggest problem is its ubiquity. A car is an entirely common sight to anyone living in the U.S. Despite it being a behemoth of a couple of tons of metal propelled at surface street speeds...The biggest problem is its ubiquity. A car is an entirely common sight to anyone living in the U.S. Despite it being a behemoth of a couple of tons of metal propelled at surface street speeds faster than we'll ever manage on foot, we treat cars as if they're toys.
They shouldn't be restricted, but they should be respected.
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Comment on Batman: Caped Crusader gender-flipped The Penguin as Batman had "a lack of good villains" in ~tv
Thrabalen Link ParentI wouldn't mind simply "Freeze," for either version. It's not as important to the overall flow of his name as, say, Mister Fantastic, or Mister Sinister (both Marvel examples, admittedly.)I wouldn't mind simply "Freeze," for either version. It's not as important to the overall flow of his name as, say, Mister Fantastic, or Mister Sinister (both Marvel examples, admittedly.)
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Comment on Batman: Caped Crusader gender-flipped The Penguin as Batman had "a lack of good villains" in ~tv
Thrabalen Link ParentIf you're going to gender swap a Batman villain, I would rather a Riddler or Freeze. Especially Freeze... instead of pining after a woman, Freeze is the woman so affected.If you're going to gender swap a Batman villain, I would rather a Riddler or Freeze. Especially Freeze... instead of pining after a woman, Freeze is the woman so affected.
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Comment on Everything announced at the Disney D23 entertainment showcase in ~movies
Thrabalen Link ParentI'd also add Andor season 2 and Ironheart.I'd also add Andor season 2 and Ironheart.
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Comment on US athletes are taking full advantage of free healthcare in Olympic village in ~sports
Thrabalen (edited )Link ParentThey're not accepted, they're handed down by decree. Health insurance is one of the biggest weapons in a company's arsenal against employees. If Americans had a choice (and moving out of country...They're not accepted, they're handed down by decree. Health insurance is one of the biggest weapons in a company's arsenal against employees. If Americans had a choice (and moving out of country is, for most, not an option) the majority would want universal healthcare.
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Comment on Los Angeles police department warns residents after spike in burglaries using Wi-Fi jammers that disable security cameras, smart doorbells in ~tech
Thrabalen Link ParentTo expand on this, we have a four camera setup in our home. Two of these cameras watch the front of the house (one looking up the street one way, one the other), on watches the cooking area (it's...To expand on this, we have a four camera setup in our home. Two of these cameras watch the front of the house (one looking up the street one way, one the other), on watches the cooking area (it's useful when using appliances with a non-determined cooking timer, such as pressure cookers), and one watches the laundry and dishwashing.
The two outward facing cameras in the front could be considered security, but they're, in my mind, an extension of the front windows... they give me (a homebody) a view of and connection to the neighborhood. When expecting deliveries (I get my groceries delivered in addition to any internet shopping), they're especially useful.
Three of these cameras are wired to a router, one is wifi. Guess which one has to be reset periodically?
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~games
Thrabalen Link ParentSomeone with less dexterity than they had previously (such as some stroke victims) might not be as quick to release while typing, yet their brain will behave as if they had the same dexterity that...Someone with less dexterity than they had previously (such as some stroke victims) might not be as quick to release while typing, yet their brain will behave as if they had the same dexterity that they had for years. This might be at least a minimal help for people who aren't as nimble fingered as they once were, particularly if their fingers "loiter."
AI chatbots are going to be an immensely interesting tool in our future, as soon as Artificial Intelligence is buoyed by Artificial Maturity and Artificial Responsibility.
I'd love it if we also worked on the natural versions of those eventually as well.
(It goes without saying that we've also got to remove the corruption and thievery elements from AI alongside those previously mentioned fixes.)