Chiasmic's recent activity

  1. Comment on The startup offering free toilets and coffee for delivery workers — in exchange for their data in ~tech

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    I think there are two issues with this: it drives businesses to move to cost savings in the toilet and drives down the quality across the board over time if there are no pressures to improve...

    I think there are two issues with this:

    1. it drives businesses to move to cost savings in the toilet and drives down the quality across the board over time if there are no pressures to improve quality. Bear in mind nice toilets will get chosen preferentially so ‘punished’ by increased costs for being nice.
    2. in public toilets there can be an issue with IV drug users, people having sex in the toilet, or people trying to sleep/stay in them.
    3. toilets are often in the back of a building rather than right by the entrance. I can think of lots of businesses which would be disrupted by a stream of people going past. Remember not all businesses will be equally impacted due to busy walking routes etc.

    I think such a policy (at least in isolation) will really make toilets rather unpleasant.

    5 votes

  2. Comment on Song lyrics are getting more repetitive, angrier in ~music

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    Very good points. Methodology is so important, and can often mislead when not considered.

    Very good points. Methodology is so important, and can often mislead when not considered.

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Saudi Arabia’s 105-mile long Line city has been cut a little short – by 103.5 miles in ~design

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    Thank you, that’s useful to read for further details

    Thank you, that’s useful to read for further details

    4 votes

  5. Comment on Ukrainians contemplate the once unthinkable: Losing the war with Russia in ~misc

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    If you don’t want to use per capital then just compare Europe to USA, or individuals states of the USA to countries in Europe. Per capita is useful because choosing how granular to measure changes...

    If you don’t want to use per capital then just compare Europe to USA, or individuals states of the USA to countries in Europe.
    Per capita is useful because choosing how granular to measure changes the outcome of your analysis.

    I guess what’s the question here? Who should up their game and contribute more? Well then it absolutely matters in per capita or per GDP or some other proportional comparator.
    Another conclusion is: as Estonia I can’t hope to compare to the USA, so why bother trying at all? same for Portugal, Sweden, Poland, spain, France, Germany etc. Or… measure then as a group and suddenly each tiny contribution matters in combination.

    From your original comment of:
    “ Western Europe, in my eyes at least, both wants the US to foot the war bill but also look like they're the ones doing the most (without actually doing the most).”

    looking here for a source (but happy to use others it seems Europe is neck and neck with USA for contributions.
    Compare like for like is all I’m saying.

    4 votes

  6. Comment on Ukrainians contemplate the once unthinkable: Losing the war with Russia in ~misc

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    But measuring it on a per capita basis is the only thing that does make sense when comparing small and large counties. Estonia can really care, but can only contribute small amounts in absolute...

    But measuring it on a per capita basis is the only thing that does make sense when comparing small and large counties. Estonia can really care, but can only contribute small amounts in absolute terms.
    I’m not saying that Europe are doing enough me shouldn’t do more, but dont knock per capita comparisons.
    It would however be completely fair to compare Europe as a whole versus USA- GDPs are very similar, populations more so (Europe has an advantage here).

    20 votes

  7. Comment on Song lyrics are getting more repetitive, angrier in ~music

    Chiasmic
    Link
    The paper has some interesting graphs showing the change more visually too which I recommend having a look at.

    The paper has some interesting graphs showing the change more visually too which I recommend having a look at.

    6 votes

  9. Comment on Children predict the year 2000 (1966, video) in ~life

    Chiasmic
    Link
    This is an interesting video of children predicting what life will be like in the year 2000. It’s interesting to see what even now we haven’t yet got, and what things are routine! I think there...

    This is an interesting video of children predicting what life will be like in the year 2000. It’s interesting to see what even now we haven’t yet got, and what things are routine!

    I think there also some interesting parallels to some of the thoughts we have about the advance of AI now, and how things may be slower than we expect.

    5 votes

  11. Comment on Larian Studios won't make Baldur's Gate 3 DLC, expansions, or Baldur's Gate 4 in ~games

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    Out of interest why did you not particularly like BG3?

    Out of interest why did you not particularly like BG3?

    1 vote

  12. Comment on Best foreign films and TV shows? in ~tv

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    I just find peep show so depressing. It takes the awkward uncomfortable parts of humanity and puts them centre stage. Which is fine if there is a redemption arc… but there isn’t. Just not my cup...

    I just find peep show so depressing. It takes the awkward uncomfortable parts of humanity and puts them centre stage. Which is fine if there is a redemption arc… but there isn’t. Just not my cup of tea, but clearly it’s great for some!

    3 votes

  13. Comment on Hidden giants: how the UK’s 500,000 redwoods put California in the shade in ~enviro

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    I would love to see the huge ones. It feels like it would feel similar to going to the avatar film planet.

    I would love to see the huge ones. It feels like it would feel similar to going to the avatar film planet.

    4 votes

  14. Comment on Hidden giants: how the UK’s 500,000 redwoods put California in the shade in ~enviro

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    I’m in the uk, I’ve never seen them for sale, only old(Victorian) ones described in the article. Maybe there are more I have missed!

    I’m in the uk, I’ve never seen them for sale, only old(Victorian) ones described in the article. Maybe there are more I have missed!

    3 votes

  16. Comment on Do you have any game sub-genres that you have a name for, but aren't big enough to be "official" sub-genres? in ~games

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    In a way factorio has a component of this as part of a bigger factory mechanic. Does that count?

    In a way factorio has a component of this as part of a bigger factory mechanic. Does that count?

    1 vote

  17. Comment on British pubs keep getting demolished and rebuilt in ~design

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    Definitely not, and I think self balancing loops in regulation are sorely lacking. I think the problem is no one trusts the other side to act with any decency. Developers are just there to make...

    Definitely not, and I think self balancing loops in regulation are sorely lacking. I think the problem is no one trusts the other side to act with any decency. Developers are just there to make money, and the NIMBYs are there to block everything. Or that’s how it’s perceived, and it is probably the behaviour that is rewarded with success.
    I think at a population level this trust problem is very difficult to solve, and there is no political will to do so in any case.

    6 votes

  18. Comment on What makes you chew fire? in ~talk

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    I refuse to read the novellas. He’s a perfectionist, and procrastinating and needs to just finish the book. No book is perfect and an unreleased book is worse than the flawed work of fiction that...

    I refuse to read the novellas. He’s a perfectionist, and procrastinating and needs to just finish the book. No book is perfect and an unreleased book is worse than the flawed work of fiction that is possible in the real world.
    I love his fiction and world building but the wait is so unprofessional.

    7 votes

  19. Comment on Study finds emojis are differently interpreted depending on gender, culture, and age of viewer in ~tech

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    Thank you for sharing, that gives a lot of useful context and nuance.

    Thank you for sharing, that gives a lot of useful context and nuance.

    1 vote

  20. Comment on Study finds emojis are differently interpreted depending on gender, culture, and age of viewer in ~tech

    Chiasmic
    Link Parent
    Could you give an example of assumptions that might be made? I can’t think of any off the top of my head that would be relevant in the context of not knowing who you are that would be reasonably...

    Could you give an example of assumptions that might be made? I can’t think of any off the top of my head that would be relevant in the context of not knowing who you are that would be reasonably helped my an emoji showing skin tone (other than perhaps requirements for sunscreen).
    And my point was less about nationality and more the disconnect between ethnicity and skin tone. Being brown is not an ethnicity, but brown is the only emoji you can choose to represent many ethnicities. Conversely you can be anywhere from white skinned to very dark skinned and still be Indian ethnicity.

    For these reasons I see changing the emoji color as only really signalling skin tone not ethnicity, and we have problems with people discriminating based on skin tone historically and now.

    2 votes