BeardyHat's recent activity
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Comment on US FBI readies new war on trans people in ~lgbt
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat Link ParentI can't really say I'm competitive, but I do like being good at things, so to see my skills at the level they're at. Well, no wonder I stick to single-player games these days.I can't really say I'm competitive, but I do like being good at things, so to see my skills at the level they're at. Well, no wonder I stick to single-player games these days.
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Comment on California Governor Gavin Newsom praises Charlie Kirk’s outreach to young men, suggests Democrats do more of their own in ~society
BeardyHat Link ParentI get you, but from my experience: I just don't see that from your average rural/Republican voter. I'm not trying to be dismissive or make light of anger. I've already been to six protests this...I get you, but from my experience: I just don't see that from your average rural/Republican voter.
I'm not trying to be dismissive or make light of anger. I've already been to six protests this year alone and have another one on my docket for early October; I'm pissed, I'm frustrated, I'm scared. But having family who votes R, they're...ignorant. They somehow don't see the neo-nazi symbols, the threatening of violence against other peoples. A close family member lives in this rural area and is friends with lots of people of different races and religions, I can't ever imagine them threatening violence against other people.
I know I sound like an apologist and perhaps I am, but...I honestly think these people are just so clueless and ignorant, they have no idea what they voted for. Being in this rural area makes me feel like I'm on a different planet where everything is fine and no one is really paying attention to what's happening outside of their immediate community. Obviously that doesn't save us from the Fascists they voted in to power, but I'm just not sure what to do with all of it.
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Comment on California Governor Gavin Newsom praises Charlie Kirk’s outreach to young men, suggests Democrats do more of their own in ~society
BeardyHat Link ParentBeing tired is fine. I am tired all of the time, have two little children, as well as septuagenarian parents that are in need of assistance a lot of the time; I never want to go to these community...Being tired is fine. I am tired all of the time, have two little children, as well as septuagenarian parents that are in need of assistance a lot of the time; I never want to go to these community functions, but I can make it work. I'm not saying it's a moral failing, but it is upsetting, because I have all the same problems and I can do it.
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Comment on California Governor Gavin Newsom praises Charlie Kirk’s outreach to young men, suggests Democrats do more of their own in ~society
BeardyHat Link ParentSorry, I'm going to lay down some cynicism here, but: The Left refuses to have Community, while the Right actively embraces it. Being out in rural America where I am at the moment--just visiting....Yes. I do agree that above everything else, we need to build community back. Not nationalism, proper small scale groups of people who can properly talk amongst one another. Even if we "drain the swamp", those broken windows will remain, and those are up to the people to fix. We can't brute force the idea of having pride and trust in our fellow man (though the government can still help. Build more third places, better public transportation, better wages, etc.).
Sorry, I'm going to lay down some cynicism here, but:
The Left refuses to have Community, while the Right actively embraces it. Being out in rural America where I am at the moment--just visiting. I normally live in a liberal bastion--you can see it plainly. People go to Bingo (I went last night) and talk. People go to Church (and talk), people see each other on the street and talk. There's tons of spaces where people meet and talk and get to know each other. They have these fairly strong and wide ranging communities and activities.
Meanwhile, in my home state, my home city, no one comes to my neighborhood meetings I've been holding for 4 years now. I talk to younger people in my neighborhood, "Oh yeah, I've gotta do that." no one shows-up. No one shows up to anything outside their little bubble, all claiming introversion (I am also one of those) or being too busy, or whatever. No one wants to actually do the work to have a community, but instead will bitch and moan about a lack of one, but never actually make the effort to build it.
Maybe that's just the difference between a rural, lower population place and a relatively large city, I don't know. But even my small neighborhood of only 400-some houses, no one bothers. I know a decent amount of people in my neighborhood now, but that's due to me reach out and engaging with people and them generally being receptive and I really only know one young family in all those connections, the rest are older folks who remember how it used to be.
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Comment on California Governor Gavin Newsom praises Charlie Kirk’s outreach to young men, suggests Democrats do more of their own in ~society
BeardyHat Link ParentIt's kind of prophesied in the messaging though, isn't it? I am also one of those hetero white dudes and for a short spell in my 20's, I felt like I was being told I was bad and wrong (early...I'm always torn by this. I have very little sympathy for people who would abandon being a good person just for a sense of belonging; I'd far rather be alone than be part of a community that wants to hurt others. But the fact of the matter is that plenty of people clearly do make the opposite choice and that's a problem we need to deal with, whatever it might say about their moral integrity.
It's kind of prophesied in the messaging though, isn't it? I am also one of those hetero white dudes and for a short spell in my 20's, I felt like I was being told I was bad and wrong (early 2000s) because I was white and a man. But I ended-up going the other direction and learning a lot more, taking Women's Studies classes in college (had so many I could have minored in it, actually) and now I get it, but I'm an exception rather than a rule.
When you feel like Leftists and Liberals are talking down to you, telling you you're bad that you have privilege, especially when you don't feel you're seeing the fruits of those "benefits" because you're still struggling, people have a tendency to say, "Fine, fuck it. If I am bad, fuck you and fuck everything you stand for." then go running in the opposite direction.
I've been visiting some family in the rural US for about 10-days now and it's apparent how a young man raised in this culture can see how they're not the beneficiary of all this supposed privilege, when they're still struggling out here, working shit jobs, with shit hours, for shit pay and they still can't afford a house out here for a mere $200k and then their bills are still going up, because corporations are gouging them for groceries, for insurance and then they feel like the (Blue) government is trying to fuck them too by asking for more, more, more in taxes (definitely happening here).
They feel like they're getting fucked every which way and then they have the other side telling them their bad, evil and they have it so good. Of course they're angry and would embrace the fascist right.
And mind you, these people aren't bad people. They still want to help their Mom, be a good Dad, take part in their community, etc. They don't see all the shit that many of us Internet denizens and those of us liberal bastions see, because they're too busy working those shit jobs and still barely scraping by.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat Link ParentI did a LAN party last weekend at VCF Midwest. Played Quake 3. I used to be able to easily top the charts in any multiplayer game I played from my teens into my 30s. Now that I haven't touched...Gaming as an "old person" is getting depressing haha.
I did a LAN party last weekend at VCF Midwest. Played Quake 3.
I used to be able to easily top the charts in any multiplayer game I played from my teens into my 30s. Now that I haven't touched them for a decade, I struggled to just be middle of the pack at best.
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Comment on Children's music suggestions in ~music
BeardyHat Link ParentI'd actually forgotten about it until I had my second child, who often gets frustrated with things and then throws them on the ground. Every time he does that, I can't help but think that...I...I'd actually forgotten about it until I had my second child, who often gets frustrated with things and then throws them on the ground. Every time he does that, I can't help but think that...I threw it on the ground!
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Comment on Children's music suggestions in ~music
BeardyHat Link ParentApplaud my youngest! He's the one that is always asking for it.Applaud my youngest! He's the one that is always asking for it.
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Comment on Kaiser says no limits on COVID vaccine for its patients in ~health
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Comment on Children's music suggestions in ~music
BeardyHat LinkMaybe I'm the bad parent in this mix, but I don't do anything special as far as music goes for my kids. I listen to my regular shuffle whenever I play music, which includes anything from Black...Maybe I'm the bad parent in this mix, but I don't do anything special as far as music goes for my kids. I listen to my regular shuffle whenever I play music, which includes anything from Black Metal, 80's pop to classic Funk/Soul music. Occasionally, I'll get a random song stuck in my head and listen to it and they'll like it and ask for it on repeat; some of it may have swearing, but my wife and I aren't precious about that, though we do tell the kids that swearing is inappropriate in most settings and they're welcome to call Mom & Dad out on it when it happens, which definitely occurs. My kids are (almost) 8 and 5.
Anyway, some stuff my kids are currently enjoying or have enjoyed:
The Lonely Island - Threw It On The Ground
This one sparked a conversation with the older one about what a Comedian is and how some people make silly songs for money and the person in the song isn't real. Also why this is funny, because it's inappropriate behavior for an adult.
Because I sing this to them every time they whine about their dinner. Now they walk around the house singing it all the time
This one was a favorite of the older one for quite awhile.
Bronski Beat - Hit That Perfect Beat
We actually took my oldest to see Sum 41 on their farewell tour last year. He was stoked
Ok, this is just Metallica in Blue Grass, but they're into it
Darkthrone - Lone Pines of the Lost Planet
They don't like a ton of my favorite genre (Metal), but occasionally a song pops-up that one of them really enjoys and asks for repeats
I tried the "kids music" thing relatively briefly, but ultimately, they didn't really care and I had no passion for any of the music, so we kind of stopped. Funnily enough, my wife actually liked it a lot more than me or my kids. That in particular was The Vegetable Plot - Season One, which isn't bad, just wasn't to anyone's taste.
Edit: Looking at my list, I had the realization that they tend to prefer my music over Mom's. Not that Mom has bad taste or anything, in fact, I quite enjoy (most of her music), but for as much as I love and mostly listen to Metal, I think I actually have a more diverse set of music I listen to. This doesn't really pertain to the thread, it's just a random thing I noticed.
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Comment on My guess and opinion on the common blockers to Linux adoption in ~tech
BeardyHat LinkI have too many hobbies already and Linux is a hobby unto itself.I have too many hobbies already and Linux is a hobby unto itself.
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Comment on Kaiser says no limits on COVID vaccine for its patients in ~health
BeardyHat LinkMy wife works for Kaiser, so we have their insurance. I've been generally pretty happy with them, outside of the ability to see specialists. It's always been super easy to go in and get my...My wife works for Kaiser, so we have their insurance. I've been generally pretty happy with them, outside of the ability to see specialists.
It's always been super easy to go in and get my flu/COVID shot, often times I happen to be there for other reasons and they're running a clinic in the lobby, so I just get it done and move on with my life. It's pretty nice.
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Comment on Acts of kindness you've experienced recently? in ~life
BeardyHat LinkCan't say I've had any directed at me lately, but I have been doing my best to be kind. As I was entering Harbor Freight the other day there was a dude on crutches trying to open the swinging door...Can't say I've had any directed at me lately, but I have been doing my best to be kind. As I was entering Harbor Freight the other day there was a dude on crutches trying to open the swinging door and come out with a cart of items.
I held both sets of doors for him and also offered to help him load his stuff into his car. He looked surprised and politely declined.
An older woman at the store asked if I could help her reach something on the top shelf, which I happily obliged.
Sounds maybe like I'm boasting of my own kindness here and perhaps I am, but I just haven't been the recipient of any particular kindnesses lately, so figured I'd share the opposite.
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Comment on Reddit announces new limits on moderating large subreddits and for moderators to remove content sitewide in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentPeople like us have left, but people like my friends have begun using it. Not to disparage my friends, they're just the type of casual user that populates the Internet these days. I started on...People like us have left, but people like my friends have begun using it. Not to disparage my friends, they're just the type of casual user that populates the Internet these days.
I started on Reddit back in 2011 or so, Fark prior to that and various forums for the 90s to the 2000s. None of my friends would have ever touched any of that back then, but they started scrolling Reddit about a year or so ago now, as well as using Instagram and the like. All as myself and many like me have really migrated away from that stuff as it becomes enshittified.
So I left, but two people I know have now begun using it and I'm sure that's not anomalous.
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Comment on Nova Launcher discontinued in ~tech
BeardyHat Link ParentVery much a fan of Niagara. It really keeps things clean and simple. Would love to buy and support, but I can't afford what the Pro version costs at the moment.Very much a fan of Niagara. It really keeps things clean and simple. Would love to buy and support, but I can't afford what the Pro version costs at the moment.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat Link ParentDepends on how you define replayable, but in the strictest sense, no it is not replayable. It's pretty linear and in multiple playthroughs you're always going to be building the same stuff to...Depends on how you define replayable, but in the strictest sense, no it is not replayable. It's pretty linear and in multiple playthroughs you're always going to be building the same stuff to survive and going through the same areas in the same order; that said, you can make difference choices about where you place your base.
I haven't played Co-op at all, so this is all based on my solo experience, but I've played just over 90-hours total between two different games. I started one initially last year and played about 30-hours and then earlier this year started another one and now I'm at the 60-hour mark on that particular game. So I have replayed a bit of the game, but I certainly don't mind; exploring and fighting, trying to figure out what you need and how to get it is a lot of fun.
It seems to me that each area takes me about 10-hours to explore a piece. I just started on the second to last area yesterday, so it looks like I've probably got another 20-hours or so left of the game for a total of 80 in this current playthrough. I could see myself playing it again in the future, maybe in a year or two, because even though I generally know the beats, it's a good time and I find it infinitely more fun than a more open ended, procedural survival game like Valheim. Not that I hate Valheim or anything, but I like having these handcrafted areas to explore, it feels much more interesting and rewarding.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat Link ParentTunic has been on my list for several years now. I played like 3 or 4 hours of it back 2022 on Game pass and then put it down because I got a Steam Deck. Never did pick it up again because I...Tunic has been on my list for several years now. I played like 3 or 4 hours of it back 2022 on Game pass and then put it down because I got a Steam Deck.
Never did pick it up again because I canceled Game pass and just haven't gotten around to buying it on Steam. Such a cool game.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BeardyHat LinkI've been bouncing around quite a bit before settling on something to play, which initially was HROT a Boom Shoot I started quite awhile ago, played apparently up until the last two levels of the...I've been bouncing around quite a bit before settling on something to play, which initially was HROT a Boom Shoot I started quite awhile ago, played apparently up until the last two levels of the last episode and then just dropped.
So I started playing again, not realizing how close I was to the end and ended-up finishing it. Now, it's been months, possibly longer since I last played it, but I really loved it and it reminded of a game I never actually played, though have strong memories of seeing screenshots of in PC Gamer: Chasm: The Rift from 1997. HROT has strong similarities in the graphical style and also takes place in Eastern Europe (Czechoslovakia, I believe) in the...I think late 80's?
Anyway, I did enjoy it, but the last two levels were an absolute slog. The penultimate level is basically three monster arenas strung together by hallways and ends-up being pretty tedious and feels pretty thoughtless, even if one of the arenas is kind of cool (a trainyard, with passing trains to watch out for). The last level is just a simple boss fight against a shirtless Putin on a Bear that has 3 pretty obnoxious phases. I eventually decided to just cheat in some ammunition because I kept losing this fight, as Putin is a damage sponge and by the middle of the third phase, I was completely out of ammo. I could have probably thought of a new strategy, which is to cool the enemies he spawns in during the third phase to recover ammo, but the fight itself felt so uninspired and boring, I really just wanted to be done with it.
Still worth a play, I think, but those last two levels could just be God moded through and you wouldn't really be missing much.
After that I decided to start playing Robocop: Rogue City which seems pretty cool so far. I made it through the Prologue and the opening mission where you have a small city block to roam and do little missions in, as well as issue tickets for various violations; it's definitely neat and I certainly feel like Robocop, to the point that I refuse to use any of the other weapon pick-ups and prefer to just stick with Robocop's gun for the authenticity. The game also really encourages me to roleplay as Robocop through the dialogue, which is just fun. I'm looking forward to playing some more of this one, though I don't know if it's a game I'll end-up seeing through to the end. It's fun enough, but it has a lot of stuff that I don't know is necessarily additive, such as all the RPG stuff with it.
Lastly, I picked-up my Abiotic Factor save again. I have about 60-hours on this save and ended-up putting it down about two months ago, right before the big final update to the game. I had simultaneously gotten frustrated with a portal world I was in, as it was very difficult and I was ready to not reach the end of the current content; but then after that, I kind of lost interest and thus the long break. But I'm happy to be back; I was a little worried I wouldn't remember what the hell I was doing, but it was pretty quick to pick back up and start sorting my stuff out. I did manage to finish the difficult portal world I was going into, so I'm happy to be done with that and am now ready to make some progress through the Reactors area, after I get a few more ingredients to update my armor...
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Comment on The family computer in ~tech
BeardyHat LinkWe kind of have the family computers in my own house. My kids play games or watch Netflix in the den after school while I clean the kitchen and prepare dinner. They have access to my htpc there...We kind of have the family computers in my own house.
My kids play games or watch Netflix in the den after school while I clean the kitchen and prepare dinner. They have access to my htpc there for games and TV and have to use a keyboard/touchpad combo to navigate and select what program they want to use or what they want to watch on Netflix.
Next to it is an older gaming laptop that serves the exact same function. They use controllers for their games, but I appreciate the fact that they have to interact with an actual PC to do what they want to do. Once Windows 10 goes Bye-Bye they'll also be using Linux, since neither machine supports Windows 11.
Hi people, I'm not sure what else to do, but I've been doing my best just to be nice and make you feel seen as a Trans person. I'm not sure if I'm doing it right, but I'm just trying to treat Trans people I see and meet as regular people; I can see the reticence and caution in your eyes, as a white dude like me approaches you, but I do my best just to be nice and treat you as a normal human being.
I'm sorry you're dealing with this right now, I don't know what else to do.
My Nephew is possibly trans and I fear for him. I'm using his born pronouns, because he hasn't identified himself any other way yet, but I'm scared for that boy every day.