Fiachra's recent activity
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Comment on Are others finding themselves spending less and less time online? in ~tech
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Comment on Young adults in the US are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobs in ~tech
Fiachra Link ParentI think people are generally too blasé about this idea that jobs will be lost but more will be created down the line. Even if it happens as predicted, in a society without an adequate safety net...I think people are generally too blasé about this idea that jobs will be lost but more will be created down the line. Even if it happens as predicted, in a society without an adequate safety net that interim period will kill people and radicalise countless others.
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Comment on Autistic/Neurodivergent/"just stubborn" members: how did you [happily] learn to do something you couldn't just instantly do? in ~life
Fiachra LinkI take my focus away from the output (in your example, the drawing) and instead find a way to practice and improve that's enjoyable whether or not the output is any good. I've seen people call...I take my focus away from the output (in your example, the drawing) and instead find a way to practice and improve that's enjoyable whether or not the output is any good. I've seen people call this "romanticising your process". This can take many forms. There might be kinds of 'games' that drill fundamental skills that are fun or satisfying. Hobbyist clubs can turn practice sessions into social gatherings if those are a motivator for you. You could set up a workspace with a certain enjoyable atmosphere or work at a certain time in your weekly schedule that your practice becomes an escape or decompressing time. You can use practice to procrastinate from something else.
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Comment on Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO in ~news
Fiachra (edited )Link ParentIf the system denies people a way to meet their needs, not all will sit legally with their needs unmet, some will seek it outside the system. That applies to the need for justice as much as it...If the system denies people a way to meet their needs, not all will sit legally with their needs unmet, some will seek it outside the system. That applies to the need for justice as much as it does hunger. Luigi felt grievously wronged by a corporate entity in a way that millions of people related to. A kind of wrong that is legal but can still kill and ruin lives. As they say, it's cheaper to run a fair system than to enforce an unjust one.
Not an endorsement, but, man I get why people are angry. If I had my body screwed up by some suit with the stroke of a pen and the law told me tough shit, who knows how I would cope with that.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
Fiachra LinkGoodbye stranger. I don't know your story, but I'm sad to see you felt unwelcome and I hope you find better out there.Goodbye stranger. I don't know your story, but I'm sad to see you felt unwelcome and I hope you find better out there.
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Comment on Waving goodbye, carrying my bundle on a stick in ~talk
Fiachra Link ParentI'll give you one of my invite codes if you want to invite someoneI'll give you one of my invite codes if you want to invite someone
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Comment on Why normal people aren’t using AI agents in ~tech
Fiachra Link ParentI think you're reading into my comment something general when I said something specific. When tech craze X comes along, tech people assume "thing Y but with X crammed in" will be automatically...I think you're reading into my comment something general when I said something specific. When tech craze X comes along, tech people assume "thing Y but with X crammed in" will be automatically appealing to the public without actually adding any value to Y. That was true of Blockchain, 3d printing, social media, big data, and it's true of generative AI now. That contains no judgement of the actual usefulness of the technology.
In fact the best analogy to this article might be the "3d print shops" I saw spring up around 2012 that seemed to expect that customers themselves would do the work of thinking up useful things to print, and so did not draw much business and later pivoted.
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Comment on Supersonic trebuchet in ~engineering
Fiachra LinkImagine showing this to a Roman general and then explaining it was engineered essentially as a toy.Imagine showing this to a Roman general and then explaining it was engineered essentially as a toy.
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Comment on Why normal people aren’t using AI agents in ~tech
Fiachra Link ParentReminds me of when everything was being implemented on a Blockchain. Just because your tech can do everything doesn't mean anyone wants it to, and it definitely doesn't mean it's holistically...Reminds me of when everything was being implemented on a Blockchain. Just because your tech can do everything doesn't mean anyone wants it to, and it definitely doesn't mean it's holistically better than existing solutions. That's without even mentioning the barely-concealed intent to price gouge once everyone does switch.
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Comment on New Zealand has a new official language — English in ~society
Fiachra Link ParentThe Irish constitution lists Irish as "first official language" and English as a second official language, similar phrasing might work here.The Irish constitution lists Irish as "first official language" and English as a second official language, similar phrasing might work here.
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Comment on Italy reimposes border controls on Spain after Ceuta migrant surge in ~society
Fiachra Link ParentApparently Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the Moroccan coast, so imagine your scenario took place because a wave of migrants had crossed over not into Florida, but Guantanamo Bay.Apparently Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the Moroccan coast, so imagine your scenario took place because a wave of migrants had crossed over not into Florida, but Guantanamo Bay.
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Comment on “Hope is a method: If I do something about this situation, I might change it enough so that I can do something else about this situation.” -- Cory Doctorow in ~humanities
Fiachra LinkI have two personal mottos that align well with this essay: "hope is a political choice" and "doomerism is a form of procrastination".I have two personal mottos that align well with this essay: "hope is a political choice" and "doomerism is a form of procrastination".
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Comment on OpenAI and Anthropic endorse call for US government to "pace" AI progress in ~comp
Fiachra Link ParentMy guess is that the arms race is forcing them to spend an unsustainable amount on R&D, and this is an attempt to get that under control without falling behind their competitors.My guess is that the arms race is forcing them to spend an unsustainable amount on R&D, and this is an attempt to get that under control without falling behind their competitors.
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Comment on US schools are adding pepper-spraying drones to help combat active shooters in ~society
Fiachra LinkSome shithead teacher is going to take the first schoolyard fight that breaks out as an excuse to test this.Some shithead teacher is going to take the first schoolyard fight that breaks out as an excuse to test this.
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Comment on Pepsiman Recompiled Webport in ~games
Fiachra Link ParentI was curious about this Shrek game so I went digging: you seem to be referring to Shrek Super Party. Doesnt have good reviews but I might try it anyway based on this story.I was curious about this Shrek game so I went digging: you seem to be referring to Shrek Super Party. Doesnt have good reviews but I might try it anyway based on this story.
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Comment on the power of CHOICE (a short film to motivate you) in ~life
Fiachra Link ParentOn the same note, the fact that both scenarios she ate pizza in bed, the only difference was the one who procrastinated felt guilty about it. The one who exercised and got all her shit done, it...On the same note, the fact that both scenarios she ate pizza in bed, the only difference was the one who procrastinated felt guilty about it. The one who exercised and got all her shit done, it was just a treat.
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Comment on Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after ‘brief and sudden illness’ in ~society
Fiachra Link ParentThe book Catch-22 does something similar in both directions. There's The Dead Man in Yossarian's Tent who is actually killed in war but considered alive on paper due to an admin error, so one bed...The book Catch-22 does something similar in both directions. There's The Dead Man in Yossarian's Tent who is actually killed in war but considered alive on paper due to an admin error, so one bed and locker must be kept vacant for him. Then later there's a soldier who is declared KIA despite being alive, who winds up living on the outskirts of the base like a wild animal because the quartermaster won't issue him rations, and when he succeeds in contacting his wife everyone assures her he's an opportunistic impersonator. Very funny book.
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Comment on US Federal Communications Commission approves test of space mirror to light night sky despite outcry in ~space
Fiachra LinkIt's kind of amazing when they greenlight stuff like this despite the fact that it's kind of obvious it won't work as described. Like, as much as it feels like you should be able to pull some...It's kind of amazing when they greenlight stuff like this despite the fact that it's kind of obvious it won't work as described. Like, as much as it feels like you should be able to pull some magic with angles and placement, you're simply limited by how much light shines on the mirror. To illuminate city streets or power solar panels you would need a completely impossible number of satellites. Maybe you could illuminate some rescue efforts but... torches and spotlights are a superior solution. I assume they're just pulling a kickstarter-style scam on their investors.
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Comment on Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after ‘brief and sudden illness’ in ~society
Fiachra LinkSomewhere out there is a democrat voter with a magic lamp who's saving their last wish for trump.Somewhere out there is a democrat voter with a magic lamp who's saving their last wish for trump.
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Comment on US Federal Communications Commission approves test of space mirror to light night sky despite outcry in ~space
Fiachra Link ParentThey haven't read them. Most of them probably haven't seen the movies in years, with the exception of short form video edits.They haven't read them. Most of them probably haven't seen the movies in years, with the exception of short form video edits.
I'm in a years-long trend of the sites I once used getting enshittified one by one and giving them up. I'm getting better at catching myself in the "I'm only logging on out of habit" stage and just pulling the plug. I'm deliberately not seeking out replacements because I recognise social media is designed to be an addiction. If the addiction naturally ends, why seek out another?
A few weeks ago the game I was using to kill time, almost my last source of brain rot, started crashing every time I played it and something in my brain finally un-broke. I've read two full books in the last 12 days, a habit I've been trying to build for years, mostly sitting out on my porch after my toddler is gone to bed. Stress-wise I'm feeling better than I have in years.