Crocodile's recent activity
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentReally unfortunate it ended for y'all like that. But, we all gotta push through.Really unfortunate it ended for y'all like that. But, we all gotta push through.
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentWell, that's what senior year is for :P I hadn't considered that before, good insight!Well, that's what senior year is for :P
I also can see it just as me not being used to attention, and not really knowing what to do with it.
I hadn't considered that before, good insight!
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Crocodile Link ParentJust curious, which large online communities has that been successful in? I could see how human involvement would work in smaller ones, but not for something as large as Discord.Just curious, which large online communities has that been successful in? I could see how human involvement would work in smaller ones, but not for something as large as Discord.
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Comment on How important is protecting our data from companies like Google? in ~tech
Crocodile Link ParentTo be fair, that was one incident, and when you have so many moving parts and so many users, a mistake might happen. Still no excuse to use Google, use Nextcloud like you said ;)To be fair, that was one incident, and when you have so many moving parts and so many users, a mistake might happen. Still no excuse to use Google, use Nextcloud like you said ;)
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Comment on How important is protecting our data from companies like Google? in ~tech
Crocodile Link ParentMan that first bullet point is so common. Also when people do not change their wifi admin password! I think with Bitwarden, it is just some security paranoia I have, but then again there is the...Man that first bullet point is so common. Also when people do not change their wifi admin password! I think with Bitwarden, it is just some security paranoia I have, but then again there is the paranoia of Bitwarden hosting it. Anyways, those are all important steps!
One question, why did you say for the SSH keys to not replace password authentication? I have usually heard/read to replace it.
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Comment on Turn on multi-factor authentication before crooks do it for you in ~tech
Crocodile LinkWell, if you ever needed more convincing to turn on MFA, this article is it! I had a funny story with a friend recently that is similar to this, luckily the "crook" was his brother, so it was...Well, if you ever needed more convincing to turn on MFA, this article is it!
I had a funny story with a friend recently that is similar to this, luckily the "crook" was his brother, so it was resolved, but it caused difficulties. His brother wanted to play a game that my friend owned, so the friend gave him the account. No big deal. Problem was, when the brother signed in, Microsoft prompted him to add a 2FA and the brother entered his phone. Fast forward and my friend tries signing back in, but it asks to send a text to his brother's phone. Normally, he could have just asked for the code, but the brother recently went camping for a few days, so he was effectively locked out. He remembered me preaching 2FA at some point, so he asked for help, but we were pretty much stuck for a few days. He got his account back luckily.
Moral of the story, enable 2FA, but try not to do it through SMS. Use an authenticator app :)
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentAgreed. Even if that is the primary reason, it does not invalidate any "good" reasons to change. Never thought about that before (so thanks!) but I would say the same. Although, consistency is...The assumption being that if a politician changes their mind, the primary reason they did so was to get more votes. Which is not inherently bad.
Agreed. Even if that is the primary reason, it does not invalidate any "good" reasons to change.
does this make them more resistant to changing their minds even when they think it's right? Just so the can point to their history and say "see? I've always been for/against that thing".
Never thought about that before (so thanks!) but I would say the same. Although, consistency is something humans desire. In Influence by Robert Cialdini, he talks about that extensively and explains it better than I ever could. Highly recommend the book.
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentFelt that. Just curious, as you mentioned you were in that honors award video, are you the type to always push yourself and/or you think you are sometimes not good enough? I'll be open here, and I...Felt that. Just curious, as you mentioned you were in that honors award video, are you the type to always push yourself and/or you think you are sometimes not good enough?
I'll be open here, and I see that^ happening to me, and perhaps that could be part of the difficulty with accepting compliments. Wanted to see if it applied to others as well.
Regardless, congratulations on that award :)
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Comment on How important is protecting our data from companies like Google? in ~tech
Crocodile Link ParentI definitely understand what you mean. I am conflicted inside about it, actually. Self-hosting BitWarden would be an ideal for me, but I cannot trust myself. Sure, I can back it up, that is not...I definitely understand what you mean. I am conflicted inside about it, actually. Self-hosting BitWarden would be an ideal for me, but I cannot trust myself. Sure, I can back it up, that is not too hard, but I could leave the server insecure and I might not even know. Bitwarden has gone through independent security audits and have full-time engineers to make sure everything is up and running and secure. I see the flaws though, anyone can make mistakes, but I simple believe they would be less likely.
Of course, I still securely backup my Vault to different locations, no excuse for not doing that.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Crocodile Link ParentI know what you mean. Really, the only solution here is to be scanning every message and have some damn good filters. Not all racist content is some people spamming the n-word. Even straight up...I know what you mean. Really, the only solution here is to be scanning every message and have some damn good filters. Not all racist content is some people spamming the n-word. Even straight up racism might not have "racist" terms in it, but rather is racist because of the context or other meanings. Therefore, this method is pretty much impossible to achieve with good accuracy. There would be too many false positives and negatives. That over-censorship, and especially when it starts to become accidental if they created this hypothetical filter, would drive many, many users off the platform. Regardless, it simply is not feasible.
While it is somewhat nice to see from Discord, I do not see what else they can do besides crackdowns on servers that are openly racist (such as being called White Pride), or those that are widely reported. Unfortunately, almost any large platform (especially those which allows users to have their own communities) will have this problem. Those open and self-moderating communities are awesome, but there will be that element of bigoted communities popping up as well.
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Comment on How important is protecting our data from companies like Google? in ~tech
Crocodile Link ParentYou raise important points. I self-host some services, such as Nextcloud (which gives storage, calendar, contacts, and more), Matrix/Synapse (just for fun tbh), and a bunch of media stuff (for...You raise important points. I self-host some services, such as Nextcloud (which gives storage, calendar, contacts, and more), Matrix/Synapse (just for fun tbh), and a bunch of media stuff (for Linux ISOs) but for other services I would rather it be with someone else. Some things, like email (ProtonMail) and my password manager (Bitwarden) I would simply have someone else manage it. For one, I am just a hobbyist and in no way a security expert. Even if I was, I am not working full time to make sure those two things, which are absolutely critical, have constant uptime and are secure.
On the Google note, that is a common misconception. Google has absolutely stellar security imo (and from others), but pretty bad privacy. If I had to use some big-tech "suite" provider, it would be Google. For instance, Google Voice handles the 2FA codes for services that only have SMS as an option. For one, I am not dealing with a SIM phone number. But also I can protect my Google account with a strong password and good 2FA (hardware key).
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Crocodile Link ParentYep, @cfabbro electively looked for those specific discords. Not to say that they should not be banned, but as you said, they are not the main issue. Instead, it is within medium discords with not...Yep, @cfabbro electively looked for those specific discords. Not to say that they should not be banned, but as you said, they are not the main issue. Instead, it is within medium discords with not such an overt name or more importantly, larger somewhat unrelated discords with plenty of hate. I would consider myself a heavy discord user, and frequently I see blatantly racist and ant-Semitic content. Mods usually take care of it, but the issue is indubitably pervasive across the platform.
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentI have to catch myself doing this, unfortunately. Many people make this mistake, I feel it is something about humans in general (if someone has something to actually back that up or against that,...Often we are waiting for our turn to speak, not actually listening to the other person.
I have to catch myself doing this, unfortunately. Many people make this mistake, I feel it is something about humans in general (if someone has something to actually back that up or against that, please show it, I am just speculating haha). Even more-so, people will spend their time waiting thinking of their next "argument," which might have even been addressed!
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentIt is also something I try to be very clear on if I need to critique someone's actions. Let's say someone made a horrible mistake on some project, I would show how the decision is bad, not the...do something stupid -> "I am stupid", or you do something bad -> "you are bad"
It is also something I try to be very clear on if I need to critique someone's actions. Let's say someone made a horrible mistake on some project, I would show how the decision is bad, not the person. Something important for everyone to do :)
people are very quick to take an observation of a single action and extrapolate the value-judgement of that one action into a value-judgement of the totality of that person's existence, as if they are incapable of doing anything 'not bad'.
Yup. As you said, someone doing something wrong doesn't mean they are inherently a bad person. Repeated "bad" actions with purposeful resistance to change, can, though.
Also, this is somewhat related but: making one (or even some) bad decisions in the past doesn't mean a person cannot change. Same with someone's opinion. Frequently, I see people point out how politician A used to support Apples but now they support Oranges. If you can show that this was only to attract voters, sure, but people can very well change their opinion. I know I have some pretty much polar opposite ones than even 3 years ago!
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentMildly embarrassing stuff is not even the worse (not to invalidate what a "cringe" picture of you getting shared everywhere can do to someone) of it. People, and especially teenagers make...First of all, it sucks that this mildly embarrassing stuff now gets saved and blown up and shared.
Mildly embarrassing stuff is not even the worse (not to invalidate what a "cringe" picture of you getting shared everywhere can do to someone) of it. People, and especially teenagers make mistakes. Before, one could learn and it would eventually be forgotten. Now there is a permanent record. Here is an article that goes far more in-depth and as this is not the main topic here. I won't discuss it more.
Secondly, I think engaging with what is essentially the public shaming other people for these mild social gaffes really shapes the way you think in a very negative way...When you view a lot of "cringe" content I think you start seeing the world through that lens and it affects you
I have noticed exactly the same. Social norms, and being an "outsider" have always existed, though. What I believe is different here is the constant downplay and criticism of "cringey" content, rather than uplifting and support of non-"cringey" content. I am relatively young, however, so if someone who is older has a greater perspective on this culture in the past, I am obviously glad to hear it!
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentGreat distinction. Internet forums are too, well, messy (for lack of a better term) and someone will mistake what you say, which can then turn into a shitshow. Talented authors and poets...Great distinction. Internet forums are too, well, messy (for lack of a better term) and someone will mistake what you say, which can then turn into a shitshow. Talented authors and poets absolutely can convey sarcasm through poetry and prose.
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Comment on What is something that most people don't realize is harmful? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentCompletely agree. I have a tendency to dismiss, and sometimes even invalidate complements I receive. Usually, not to the person, but I think about it internally. I realized this pattern and that I...Completely agree. I have a tendency to dismiss, and sometimes even invalidate complements I receive. Usually, not to the person, but I think about it internally. I realized this pattern and that I needed to work on it. I still do, but it makes one so much happier when a compliment is fully accepted.
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Comment on What's the weather/climate like where you live? in ~talk
Crocodile Link ParentYep, that is correct! Among others. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_climate#Warm-summer_Mediterranean_climate Also here is a good map of the few locations in the world with...Yep, that is correct! Among others. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_climate#Warm-summer_Mediterranean_climate
Also here is a good map of the few locations in the world with this great climate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_Csb_present.svg
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Crocodile Link ParentExact same thing here! Only one of them responded, with that "go fuck yourself" attitude, and all signed me up for their newsletters I do not care about.Exact same thing here! Only one of them responded, with that "go fuck yourself" attitude, and all signed me up for their newsletters I do not care about.
I'm all for removing racism (duh), and $1 billion of R&D would make significant changes, and I sincerely hope they invest in strategies to spot and remove it. Potentially, it would open up new doors for harmful content spotting+removal we cannot see yet. However, I do not see an outcome where people are content with the moderation.
For instance, this new automatic (and maybe combined with human intervention and spotting) system would be removing too much where non-racist but unfortunately related to a fascist dogwhistle, or content about racism (and its problems, let's say) is removed. Meme example: Pepe the frog. No doubt is it used in many vile communities, but I still see it used as a general meme (and it sucks Nazis started appropriating this, as they do with other symbols). A system could potentially pick up on this being "harmful" and thus removing it in instances where it is not. Two bad outcomes from that. The first is obvious: removal of non-harmful content/wrongful censorship which would make many users angry (and rightfully so). The second bad outcome is racists, trolls, or both (as usual) could play to this system by purposefully appropriating more symbols to mess with this censorship.
The other way this automated/human system could go is the opposite. Sites, like Facebook, understand the risks mentioned previously with wrongful removal, so the system is weakened, which then still allows for content to be present, and perhaps adapts into being stealthier. Users are still mad as it looks like the system did not do anything (even if it greatly reduced it).