Captain_Wacky's recent activity
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Comment on The great enslurrification of culture in ~arts
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Comment on Guilt and video games in ~health.mental
Captain_Wacky Link ParentFor me, the fulfillment I derive is simply because literature is relatively unexplored ground, and that's how I'm able to "reach for the book instead of the controller." It does tie back to part...For me, the fulfillment I derive is simply because literature is relatively unexplored ground, and that's how I'm able to "reach for the book instead of the controller."
It does tie back to part of what I was chasing with video games, too. I guess at some point earlier on in my video gaming "career" (for lack of a better term) I conflated the "all-engrossing" nature of video games as "good storytelling," and as a result made the connection that books and movies can't do this, so video games must be better than both.
YouTube personalities also likely helped to extend the lifespan of that fallacy, never explicitly stating but heavily inferring through this tone of 'advocacy' for a fledgling medium, as if they truly believed video games could usurp movies and books. If they believed it, it must be true.
The years go by, the patterns emerge and other fallacies creep in to support my initial fallacy, (great world-building does not make for a great story, but I didn't really know any better at the time) and I see those very same games fall victim to enshittification, the storytelling suffered, and I begin to wonder how these companies and studios couldn't seemingly care about what's supposed to be (in my eyes) the works of modern Homer.
Wait, how I can I be so sure to compare this to something like foundational texts? Even I know that's a hell of a claim.
.....have I even read Homer?....
......and from there, I became more open to the idea of reading driven by pleasure. The more books I read, the more I learned about storytelling in general, the less games I played. Now I know that video games can be good at telling different kinds of stories, I realize now that by mostly excluding books I've been doing myself a disservice. Sure, a game like Antichamber is truly amazing, and can probably serve as a method to describe Borges' experiences within The Aleph, but only Borges' writing within the story The Aleph can serve to provide all the before/after context and give those experiences about said Aleph any meaning.
So, I guess the origins of my problems are vastly different from what you have going on, so I'm not going to have a clear answer. I barely had exposure to reading earlier on in my life, (the accelerated reading program in elementary and middle schools served to produce nothing but ire for me toward reading, probably pushing me further to games as well) but nothing like your experiences. I am no psych, but with your background to books being academic in nature, could it be possible you're seeing burnout with all the academic 'higher thinking' topics? Brains need true downtime too, there's no shame in picking up something 'lower thinking.' If it has to be a book, maybe pick up someone like Wodehouse, or even something campy like RL Stine?
Maybe tie another hobby into the book reading? The Hobbit hits different after a 2 hour hike.
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Comment on Guilt and video games in ~health.mental
Captain_Wacky Link ParentWell, again I'm not a psych, but... ....if that fear is quite a permeating one, to the point you find it inhibiting the enjoyment of any video game, there's no shame in going cold turkey to pursue...Well, again I'm not a psych, but...
...there is always that background fear that if I'm not cautious, I may slip into playing too much again.
....if that fear is quite a permeating one, to the point you find it inhibiting the enjoyment of any video game, there's no shame in going cold turkey to pursue something more fulfilling in it's stead. I don't know what would be more fulfilling for you, but for me I found that through literature.
While I don't sense anything "identity crisis" in what you've said in these posts, it may also be worthwhile to look into "hyperconsumerism" and it's prevalence within "nerd culture," especially the parts about how it ties identity to the brands/things one consumes.
Insidiously, the "features" of nerd culture also work to make quitting the consumption of the "nerd stuff" more difficult, as quitting consumption is now akin to rejecting ones identity. (Ex: "I'm a gamer, so I must game, and stay up to 2am gaming, as that's what true gamers do. With enough time, any suggestions to change this routine becomes a social heresy, like suggesting a teetotaler to drink.")
This may not be a component at all for you, but it may still be worth looking into, for awareness' sake. That may explain the seeming reluctance I think I may be detecting, but again I am no psych.
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Comment on Guilt and video games in ~health.mental
Captain_Wacky LinkI am no psych, but I can say that with my own personal experiences, I felt a similar dissatisfaction and over time I drastically reduced my video game consumption. For me, it was a new job that...I am no psych, but I can say that with my own personal experiences, I felt a similar dissatisfaction and over time I drastically reduced my video game consumption.
For me, it was a new job that had drastically swinging hours. Could be done at 8 hours, could be done as late as 12. The less free time meant I started prioritizing activities where I didn't just "turn my brain off," like I would with video games, so I picked up different hobbies. It felt like I was missing out when I turned my brain off, the time was precious again, hence the guilt.
It also heavily suspect that the job fills a lot of the needs I was getting through games, too: lots of micromanaging in a vehicle, a lot of driving around and exploring new places and nooks and crannies, lots of views of the city one would normally not get to see, physical exercise, etc.
Lastly, it's been 20 years with me and games. While innovations still occur, they're noticably fewer and farther in between, and the recurring cycles and patterns are obvious to me now. I haven't "seen it all," but I've seen enough to know that it was merely time for me to move on to something different, and there's no shame in that at all.
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Comment on AOL will end dial-up internet service in September, 34 years after it's debut — AOL Shield Browser and AOL Dialer software will be shuttered on the same day in ~tech
Captain_Wacky Link ParentLikely deliberate in the contractual sense, if it was deliberate in the "sending a message" sense they would have tried to keep things afloat till the 35th year, or some other "aesthetically...Likely deliberate in the contractual sense, if it was deliberate in the "sending a message" sense they would have tried to keep things afloat till the 35th year, or some other "aesthetically pleasing/round" number.
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Comment on The viral 'Tea' app just had a second data breach, and it's even worse in ~tech
Captain_Wacky LinkI'm not a paranoid schizophrenic, but imagine if you were. You finally got yourself together, found medication that works, gone through the process of discovery to understand what "baseline" feels...I'm not a paranoid schizophrenic, but imagine if you were. You finally got yourself together, found medication that works, gone through the process of discovery to understand what "baseline" feels like, built up the incredible levels of self-awareness needed to function, etc. Enough progress to feel like giving a relationship a try/a try again.
As if dating and relationship-building wasn't hard enough for the neuroatypical, before all of these "shadow socials."
Anybody with a vulnerability towards paranoid thinking is cooked.
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Comment on Break your bubble: find book titles that you are unlikely to read in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkWith Borges, Vonnegut and Homer as inputs and my first output is drum roll .....Paddington. Which, you're right, I don't read kids books, but I could never say no to Paddington. Second hit was...With Borges, Vonnegut and Homer as inputs and my first output is drum roll .....Paddington.
Which, you're right, I don't read kids books, but I could never say no to Paddington.
Second hit was Arthur Conan Doyle. In that case, yeah maybe some English (British?) serials are due for me to read. I have bought a good number of antique/almost-pulp copies of P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves series.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Captain_Wacky LinkReading both The Iliad and The Odyssey, the Samuel Butler and the Fagles translations, chapter by chapter. First the Butler translation then Fagles to pick up what I may have missed the first...Reading both The Iliad and The Odyssey, the Samuel Butler and the Fagles translations, chapter by chapter. First the Butler translation then Fagles to pick up what I may have missed the first time.
Already finished The Iliad this way, was very helpful. It's convinced me to find the Pope translations.
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Comment on Disney reportedly planning full reboot of the Indiana Jones franchise in ~movies
Captain_Wacky Link ParentIn today's sociopolitical hellscape, I can't help but think even Disney would be hesitant, for "reasons." That being said, I wholly agree, it wouldn't be an Indiana Jones movie if he wasn't...Make Indiana Jones fight Nazis:
In today's sociopolitical hellscape, I can't help but think even Disney would be hesitant, for "reasons."
That being said, I wholly agree, it wouldn't be an Indiana Jones movie if he wasn't whaling on occultist Nazis.
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Comment on The Cat in the Hat | Official trailer in ~movies
Captain_Wacky LinkThe only thing I liked about that was the Looney Tunes gag in the intro. That and the general art style. That makes sense, given the era Dr. Seuss's works began in. The color palette also makes...The only thing I liked about that was the Looney Tunes gag in the intro. That and the general art style.
That makes sense, given the era Dr. Seuss's works began in. The color palette also makes sense, visually the whimsy matches Dr. Seuss's art style. The animations also fit the whimsy.
Hader's voice absolutely does not fit the visual whimsy, however. Neither does that simulated "cameraman being knocked around by a mob" camera effect. Neither does mace and cell phones and "stranger danger" and, frankly, anything introduced after the 1970s.
Wild to think that the Jim Carrey Grinch can't be topped by anything else from the Seuss Pantheon in the course of 25 years.
Also, I am 1000% sure Warner Bros is wanting to position the "Things" to be the next minion craze, so.... Brace yourselves, I guess.
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Comment on Denis Villeneuve to direct next James Bond film in ~movies
Captain_Wacky Link ParentGives him more time to cook, to get it done right.Gives him more time to cook, to get it done right.
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Comment on Most US exhibition execs think traditional moviegoing has less than twenty years as ‘viable business model,’ according to new survey in ~movies
Captain_Wacky LinkI can see the historic, small theaters soldiering on. They're not really beholden to market trends and the demands of Hollywood. As a result, the little guys can be selective and they won't waste...I can see the historic, small theaters soldiering on. They're not really beholden to market trends and the demands of Hollywood.
As a result, the little guys can be selective and they won't waste their schedule time running a bomb like 2019 cats or Morbius because they're contractually obligated, or something to that affect, but can make money on 2019 cats (or Morbius) later down the line when the thursday night specials for the month are "cult-following flops."
Also, from a purely anecdotal standpoint: the last movie I've seen in an AMC was 2019 cats, and that was for the spectacle. Hollywood trends don't really work for me. I've seen both Dunes and the Phoenician scheme, but those three were at the local theater I discovered when I moved in 2021. I can't provide an accurate count of the movies I've seen since my move, but I can certainly say it's been over 10 and they were the specials. The Oscar nominated shorts/animated, Young Frankenstein/Ghostbusters in October, 5th Element during sci-fi month, 7 Samurai, etc. My movietheater-going has increased, and it's partly because the theater is less than five minutes away, sure, but the other big reason is that they'll run appealing films I'd be hard pressed to have the chance to see in theater again.
I still can't believe I missed Jaws.
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Comment on Reddit in talks to embrace Sam Altman's iris-scanning Orb to verify users in ~tech
Captain_Wacky Link ParentIt's not just that, but what would happen to that third party over time? What if it enshittifies, has to be bought out, and someone like Palantir drops an impossible-to-refuse offer?It's not just that, but what would happen to that third party over time?
What if it enshittifies, has to be bought out, and someone like Palantir drops an impossible-to-refuse offer?
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Comment on Offbeat Fridays – The thread where offbeat headlines become front page news in ~news
Captain_Wacky LinkHere's a local Cincinnati article about cicada season and the local theme park. -
Comment on McDonald's is bringing back its discontinued Snack Wrap in the US in ~food
Captain_Wacky Link ParentAs him being a mental health counselor....As him being a mental health counselor....
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Comment on Measles exposure alert issued for Shakira concert at MetLife Stadium by New Jersey health officials in ~health
Captain_Wacky LinkMan, New Jersey can not catch a break this year.Man, New Jersey can not catch a break this year.
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Comment on This 200-year-old lighter ignites without a spark in ~science
Captain_Wacky LinkNever knew that material was platinum wool of all things. Very curious material.Never knew that material was platinum wool of all things. Very curious material.
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Comment on Which unanswered questions do you want to see an answer for in your lifetime? in ~science
Captain_Wacky Link ParentFor myself, the distance really hampers my excitement, especially when we have some promising candidates here in our cosmic backyard. I really can't wait for the day to come when someone gets a...For myself, the distance really hampers my excitement, especially when we have some promising candidates here in our cosmic backyard.
I really can't wait for the day to come when someone gets a probe under Europa's surface.
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Comment on If you could travel back in time and bring one thing back to the modern day, what would it be? in ~talk
Captain_Wacky Link ParentGive me ten years and a time machine and I'll check to see if there's any dodos at the docks... Edit: that would make for a good objective: within the dock inventories, what are animals and what...Give me ten years and a time machine and I'll check to see if there's any dodos at the docks...
Edit: that would make for a good objective: within the dock inventories, what are animals and what may be extinct? Prioritize for photos.
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Comment on If you could travel back in time and bring one thing back to the modern day, what would it be? in ~talk
Captain_Wacky Link ParentIn a place like ancient Athens, I'm sure I could find plenty of samples on the floor like gum on a sidewalk in the present.In a place like ancient Athens, I'm sure I could find plenty of samples on the floor like gum on a sidewalk in the present.
I've seen this "slurry" being referred to in conversation as "pink-slime," in reference to Chicken McNuggets.
Ex: The Emoji Movie is the pink-slime of American Cinema.