DeciusMoose's recent activity

  1. Comment on Tress and the Emerald Sea - By Brandon Sanderson - Discussion in ~books

    DeciusMoose
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    I assume since you have that beautiful hardcover you read it physically? I listen to audiobooks and Tress worked so well as one. Really nailed the storybook mood.

    I assume since you have that beautiful hardcover you read it physically?

    I listen to audiobooks and Tress worked so well as one. Really nailed the storybook mood.

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Tress and the Emerald Sea - By Brandon Sanderson - Discussion in ~books

    DeciusMoose
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    Not sure if anyone else commenting did, but I listened to the Tress audiobook. I think the narration style lent itself really well to the format, and was a blast to listen to. It was a very fun...

    Not sure if anyone else commenting did, but I listened to the Tress audiobook.

    I think the narration style lent itself really well to the format, and was a blast to listen to. It was a very fun book with a distinct flavor, albeit semi-predictable. However I think that's most a consequence of the Princess Bride inspiration so I don't really fault it.

    I only started in the cosmere last August, but have since read everything except the other secret projects, so I did listen to this after all of Storm light. Maybe the lighter style was a better pace change for me.

    2 votes

  3. Comment on US President Joe Biden can probably forgive student debt even if Supreme Court of the United States rules against him in ~finance

    DeciusMoose
    Link Parent
    Except it's not even generally targeted at the poor, it's actively a massive boon for the rich while barely helping any poor people. I'm not looking for a narrow focus, but not even half would go...

    Except it's not even generally targeted at the poor, it's actively a massive boon for the rich while barely helping any poor people. I'm not looking for a narrow focus, but not even half would go to people who truly need it.

    It literally will increase inequality.

    And shocker most college grads don't instantly recoup the cost, so yeah 90% being under 75k makes sense while still not being good. It's about the advantage they gain over their lifetime from it.

    I do think Bidens plan is OK bc of the bonus for Pell Grant recipients.

    You say the money can't be used otherwise
    Where do you think this money will come from? You are treating it as free money lol. Ultimately it will cost either other programs money or an increase in taxes, and I wouldn't want to cut many programs for a boost to privileged kids, nor raise taxes as a whole

    Why waste the political capital to almost exclusively help some of the most advantaged in society?

  4. Comment on US President Joe Biden can probably forgive student debt even if Supreme Court of the United States rules against him in ~finance

    DeciusMoose
    (edited )
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    It doesn't change the fact that 75-80% of debt is held by the richer part of society (the top 40%), Spending money on debt is a way to improve lives of wealthy kids directly. Just spend that money...

    It doesn't change the fact that 75-80% of debt is held by the richer part of society (the top 40%),

    Spending money on debt is a way to improve lives of wealthy kids directly. Just spend that money on poor people.

    Like literally, don't forgive debt of everyone, just primarily poor people and marginalized groups.

    The average American doesn't have a degree, we are talking about people who already are a step ahead.

    The American people you likely were talking to were upper middle class kids who went to expensive schools by choice.

    Decreasing costs is more important to me, and supporting this who truly need it. My peers do not need much help. I have, through work and my SO, met lots of people who did not come from the privileged background myself and many people complaining about debt came from. You know how much debt they tend to have? Not a lot. They got Pell Grants, they went to cheap schools, they fought tooth and nail to make it through. And they came out with not as much debt, or they didn't go. Upper middle class goes no matter what.

    Matter of the fact is poor people don't/can't GO to college, so most college kids came from the wealthy. I am all for decreasing costs in the future, improving accessibility, but I don't think directly improving the lives of the privileged ( in more way than one) is a worthwhile endeavor.

    Edit: I want to make it clear I would happily support proposals to lower future costs, improve accessibility of higher Ed, and things like free Community College. But even if you made it free many of the disadvantaged in this country can't go because they HAVE to work, or they didn't have to resources to get accepted to college. The result would be a major boon to the wealthier. Forgiveness expressly helps no one else access college, just those who were already lucky enough to get a degree.

  5. Comment on US President Joe Biden can probably forgive student debt even if Supreme Court of the United States rules against him in ~finance

    DeciusMoose
    Link Parent
    I think you wanting to give over a trillion dollars to privileged, upper middle class, primarily white kids is not a good look. Regardless of cost, for the majority of college grads it is a...

    I think you wanting to give over a trillion dollars to privileged, upper middle class, primarily white kids is not a good look.

    Regardless of cost, for the majority of college grads it is a worthwhile investment, they will recoup the losses.

    And it's not primarily cost that stops poor people from being able to access higher Ed. It's that they can't even go in the first place. They don't have access to the same resources in K-12. They don't have as many AP courses, and extra curriculars. They can't afford tutors for the SATs and such. They can't afford the TIME to go to school.

    Like just forgive the debt of people on a sliding scale. Why do we need to forgive the 80% of debt held by the top 40%? I mean sure some of it on the lower end of that group should get some help, but universal forgiveness is expressly regressive.

    I'm all for reducing costs, but why forgiveness when it's mostly the upper middle class and rich who take out loans? We should look to improve the ability to access it in the future, not give free money to people who already started out ahead of their peers and just acquired a degree that puts them further ahead.

    I'm also in favor of free CC, and forgiveness for people who don't obtain degrees (as they got nothing out of it and burdening them doesn't seem worth it).

    I mean I gladly will complain about other programs that increase inequality. It stung to lose them but SALT deductions really helped the wealthy, reducing/removing them is good.

    Like I actively would be ok with distributing 1.8 trillion to poor people. I just don't want to give that money to people already ahead of their peers by leaps and bounds.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on US President Joe Biden can probably forgive student debt even if Supreme Court of the United States rules against him in ~finance

    DeciusMoose
    Link Parent
    Forgiving the debt actively takes money away from the Department of Education It's not just free money. And that would increase inequality so much since it would be such a major benefit for the...

    Forgiving the debt actively takes money away from the Department of Education

    It's not just free money.

    And that would increase inequality so much since it would be such a major benefit for the wealthy, and even among other social classes those with college degrees average better.

    I don't think exasperating inequality is worth it

  7. Comment on US President Joe Biden can probably forgive student debt even if Supreme Court of the United States rules against him in ~finance

    DeciusMoose
    Link Parent
    Yes, exactly. I am actually a fan of Bidens plan, giving more to Pell Grant recipients is what makes it worth while to me, as those are some of the best among us. Although, what do you mean people...

    Yes, exactly. I am actually a fan of Bidens plan, giving more to Pell Grant recipients is what makes it worth while to me, as those are some of the best among us.

    Although, what do you mean people on the internet are poorer than their peers? Is that like the your friends have more friends than you situation?

  8. Comment on US President Joe Biden can probably forgive student debt even if Supreme Court of the United States rules against him in ~finance

    DeciusMoose
    Link Parent
    The big thing is most debt is held by people in/from the wealthier portions of society. Forgiving debt is a wealth transfer from the poor to the rich. Average debt is around 25k, maybe a bit...

    The big thing is most debt is held by people in/from the wealthier portions of society. Forgiving debt is a wealth transfer from the poor to the rich.

    Average debt is around 25k, maybe a bit higher now. So it's not really that much.

    The thing is that the distribution of the debt is heavily skewed to the wealthy. 75-80% of debt is held by the top 40% of households.

    People with grad degrees hold half of all debt. People with grad degrees tend to be from wealthier families and make more money.

    I'd rather spend the 1.8 Trillion, or at least the 75% of it going to the upper middle class and rich, on K-12 education in struggling areas that would help social mobility more.

    5 votes

  9. Comment on US President Joe Biden can probably forgive student debt even if Supreme Court of the United States rules against him in ~finance

    DeciusMoose
    Link Parent
    I mean, not trying to attack you, but that's crazy. Idk how you end up in that position assuming you get an ok job. I went to a state school, dropped out (with ~10k in debt), then went to CC, then...

    I mean, not trying to attack you, but that's crazy. Idk how you end up in that position assuming you get an ok job.

    I went to a state school, dropped out (with ~10k in debt), then went to CC, then a state school (one of the most expensive in state tuitions relative to other state universities), and graduated with 14k in debt from there.

    I planned on commuting but COVID screwed things up, but even if I did live there it's another ~10k debt.

    So in total I have 25k, and could've had 35k. How on earth did you get 60k? Like I went to expensive (relatively speaking) state schools, and have half as much debt at 25.

    And I think I got a good job with my STEM degree, but even lower offers I would've been pretty comfortable.

    Did you take even longer than me (6 years) at school? Like, how did you acquire that much debt and/or not pay it down?

    Unless you ended up not being able to get a job and stuck in that cycle, then yeah I get it and I feel for you.

    Edit: COVID relief also helped a little, probably like 3k. Also if you had other responsibilities and couldn't focus any income on school or savings, for me that'd add like...ill say 15k. So all in all, most debt I would've walked out would be 53k. Which is closer, but then realistically I would've commuted both years at state school saving ~20k.

    4 votes

  10. Comment on Why Nintendo games never go down in price, according to Satoru Iwata in ~games

    DeciusMoose
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    Except most games get like ~90% of their sales in the first month or so. (I don't have an actual source rn, so I'd have to look it up, but I've seen it stated by different devs and such. 90% may...

    Except most games get like ~90% of their sales in the first month or so.

    (I don't have an actual source rn, so I'd have to look it up, but I've seen it stated by different devs and such. 90% may not be wholely accurate)

    So most people won't wait for a sale. And while I agree an 80% sale might incur unfavorable opinions from potential customers, the fact they don't even have 10%, 25%, or 33% sales is absurd.

    I literally won't buy a switch bc I am not going to pay full price for all those games. Especially when they've released dog water games like super Mario party, that felt half complete for full price, and still don't discount them.

    Hell itd be nice if they even did like a bundle with TotK where you got BotW for 30% off or so. Having to spend $120 on top of a switch to play the series? That's crazy.

    5 votes

  11. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~talk

    DeciusMoose
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    Oh man watching a laser cutter go to work on wood and plexiglass was awesome. Definitely a fantastic tool

    Oh man watching a laser cutter go to work on wood and plexiglass was awesome. Definitely a fantastic tool

    2 votes

  12. Comment on How do you discuss open minded topics with close minded people? in ~talk

    DeciusMoose
    Link Parent
    Yeah I've found with others (and myself) that arguing/debating/discussing things doesn't result in much immediate change, but later on in a quiet moment the brain drifts back and thinks about what...

    Yeah I've found with others (and myself) that arguing/debating/discussing things doesn't result in much immediate change, but later on in a quiet moment the brain drifts back and thinks about what was said, and can change then.

    My opinions have flipped on stuff a few days after. You just have to be patient and reasonable and hopefully they will seriously consider it later

    13 votes

  13. Comment on Grandson of former Virginia governor avoids jail time for alleged rape in ~news

    DeciusMoose
    Link Parent
    Yeah, though the victim apparently said she took the plea deal just to move on with her life. Poor woman, this was probably dragged out to dissuade her despite the seemingly overwhelming evidence

    Yeah, though the victim apparently said she took the plea deal just to move on with her life. Poor woman, this was probably dragged out to dissuade her despite the seemingly overwhelming evidence

    5 votes