Fog's recent activity
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Comment on Did wokeness leave us worse off? (gifted link) in ~society
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Comment on "Why was I invited to Beast Studios?" - A comprehensive investigative analysis of YouTube's biggest channel in ~tech
Fog LinkI consider this video required reading for any and all Tildes community members who regularly use YouTube. Why? Even if you have never watched Mr. Beast and never plan to engage with his...I consider this video required reading for any and all Tildes community members who regularly use YouTube.
Why?
Even if you have never watched Mr. Beast and never plan to engage with his creations, this videoessay methodically diagnoses then dismantles the hubris of the most influential content creator on the platform. Many of the techniques exposed—the hollow manufactured clickbait thumbnails, limited word count on video titles, the unethical targeting of a youth audience—are being actively copied by other YouTubers following in Mr. Beast's footsteps.
Youtube was a place I had come to know and love as a young netizen. A source of cat videos or videoessays or niche hobby interests. This is not to say I am using nostalgia as a defense, however; the context is worth mentioning since I (like many of Tildes) have watched it evolve over the years. Early YouTube was much less regulated, yes, but it struggled with harassment and content moderation. In comparison to the present day? Well, now it is actively adversarial to its userbase—especially so when it promotes content such as Mr. Beast and those imitating his success. You may have noticed the bitter taste in your mouth, as I have, when coming across recommended videos that would not seem out of place in a predatory 2000s-era advertisement banner. Or perhaps you have noticed a favorite YouTuber altering their video structures to be more exploitative and less informative? One could make an argument that the creator is now incentivized to make content that demands your attention but does not necessarily demand quality.
This also has the unintended consequence of putting more pressure on users to actively curate their media diet lest they be recommended fear-mongering political videos, shock content, or worse. For the less media literate YouTube is of course pleased to serve exploitative content to retain viewership. I was curious and created a new account using an international VPN to check out what a new user might see: the homepage (before I stopped scrolling past two pages, since they added an endless scroll feature circa 2024) counted a total of 7 breaking news clickbait videos (from media organizations so biased they would be considered "deprecated" and unfit to be cited as reliable sources by Wikipedia), 3 Mr. Beast videos, a 24/7 livestream music channel, an advertisement for a local political organization, and an advertisement for OpenAI.
What about the Why was I invited to Beast Studios video itself?
I have really come to love Dan Olson of Folding Ideas, having first come across his work when he called out a lazy trend of fellow YouTubers brazenly retelling movie plots under the false pretense of legitimate cinematic critique. As a self-described documentarian, Dan has an English professor's grasp of rhetoric and persuasion, which he makes expert use of when arguing why you should care about what he cares about. His videos keep a quick pace when balancing an insightful mix of witty commentary, artistic asides, and passionate character teardowns.
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"Why was I invited to Beast Studios?" - A comprehensive investigative analysis of YouTube's biggest channel
89 votes -
Comment on Suggest media in which the antagonist is an idea or an abstract concept rather than a person or intelligent entity in ~talk
Fog (edited )LinkIf you're looking for more of a slow burn—and are content with the abstract idea/concept never reaching full explanation—I can recommend the works of cinema auteur Andrei Tarkovsky. More...If you're looking for more of a slow burn—and are content with the abstract idea/concept never reaching full explanation—I can recommend the works of cinema auteur Andrei Tarkovsky. More specifically, the 1979 film Stalker and the 1972 film Solaris.
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Comment on I made s'mores from cats and dogs in Lucid Blocks, a version of Minecraft held together by dream logic in ~games
Fog LinkFor clarity, dogblocks and catblocks are blocks with dog and cat faces, while S'mores are a kind of marshmallow and chocolate sandwich. You don't eat s'mores in Lucid Blocks. You build with them and, if you have to, beat sheep to death with them. Things you can eat in Lucid Blocks include fuzzy stuffed clownfish, pleasingly rendered from photography of actual soft toys. They're not called clownfish here, mind. As far as I can remember (I forgot to jot the combination down in the notebook, which offers a choice of scratchy pens and inks to scribble with) the "clownfish" are alchemised from druidic stone and chunks of mutton.
You might also dismiss Lucid Blocks as a Weird Minecraft map pack that doesn't need to be a standalone game, because Minecraft already admits of all the weirdness humanity has to offer. But the free-associative element feels transformative in a way that also counters the argument about this being just another "WTF game" for the streamers to boggle at between triple-A releases.
Towards the end of my very brief opening run, I spent a pleasant few moments on the shore of a blinding silver sea, trying to turn my s'mores into one of the equipment items mentioned on the Steam page - "grappling hooks, bee gliders, bombs, ball wands, blades, haze hands, and cute accessories". I created mushrooms and grassblocks instead. Then I burrowed into the wall behind and a faceless pink manikin emerged and murdered me. "Despondent vermin," the game told me sympathetically, as I drifted among creampuff clouds. "May your death bring forth new life."
Liminal Blocks is a looker, for sure. My starting map consisted of bare, crenellated monoliths emerging from a pea-soup sky. It felt enchanted but also treacherous and unforgiving, which is how I like my fantasy worlds. Other possible spaces include "cities of plastic" and what look like looping warehouse chasms. The use of physical props (including what I assume are the developer's own hands) for items and animations is an immediate delight. It reminds me of Eclipsium, but it doesn't make me wince quite as hard.
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I made s'mores from cats and dogs in Lucid Blocks, a version of Minecraft held together by dream logic
12 votes -
Comment on Releasing 2026: ZA/UM - Zero Parades: For Dead Spies in ~games
Fog Link ParentI share your reservations. There have now been two documentaries chronicling Disco Elysium's development and we (as fans of the game) still cannot be certain the whole story has been revealed....I share your reservations. There have now been two documentaries chronicling Disco Elysium's development and we (as fans of the game) still cannot be certain the whole story has been revealed. What has come to light has painted a fittingly ironic story of corporate greed, internal politics, and abuses of worker's rights. The original developers of the game, ousted during an ugly power grab by the game's investors, are even now prevented from revealing crucial details regarding ZA/UM's restructuring--the OG devs are currently in a legal battle over the rights of the original IP itself.
This is why Zero Parades For Dead Spies will be so interesting to watch. Are there enough passionate game developers left at ZA/UM who are genuinely invested in making a great RPG? Or will their work be overshadowed by executives interested in capitalizing on the success of lightning-in-a-bottle, as you described it? I will advocate for any reading this to not support ZA/UM, as it is in its current iteration, and instead consider pirating the game if it piques your interest.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Fog Link ParentYes, and invite codes are easy to come by since it's free. Poke around the Deadlock steam community forums there are threads explaining moreYes, and invite codes are easy to come by since it's free. Poke around the Deadlock steam community forums there are threads explaining more
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Fog LinkI have been sinking some decent hours into Valve's Deadlock lately and enjoying it! Fair warning as I've found it has a steep learning curve. It combines the strategy and resource management of...I have been sinking some decent hours into Valve's Deadlock lately and enjoying it! Fair warning as I've found it has a steep learning curve. It combines the strategy and resource management of MOBAs with the breakneck action and gameplay mechanics + pacing swings of arena shooters. I'm playing on a setup that barely squeaks out enough FPS, but still... when the game clicks, it clicks.
The art style is refreshing and fun and stands out amongst it's peers in a landscape of hopeful-futuristic or gritty modern realism. The sound design and music is at once eerie and upbeat, not to mention engrossing. What really keeps me coming back, however, is the sheer breadth of variety in playstyles:
Want to play a healer with damage? There's a flying gargoyle in Ivy who heals with vines and can burst folks down with a rapid fire machine gun. How about a slower methodical angle? There's Venator, a trap-slinging Van Helsing-esque priest who fires off fiery grenades, fends off close-range attacks with a knockback shotgun shot, and finishes off foes with pleasurable thunks of his crossbow bolts. And for those fighting game fans, there's Apollo, my current favorite. He weaves in and out of the action with ease and can parry most any ability, ultimate, magic (yes, even bullets!) in the game with skillful timing.
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Twenty-five years of Wikipedia - an interactive retrospective ~fifteen minute read
38 votes -
Comment on Tildes Game Giveaway: Holiday 2025 in ~games
Fog Link ParentI would like to request The Long Dark, if still available. A holiday story: As a child, I burned my report card in my back yard before visiting my grandparents for Christmas. I found myself...I would like to request The Long Dark, if still available.
A holiday story: As a child, I burned my report card in my back yard before visiting my grandparents for Christmas. I found myself struggling with undiagnosed mental health disorders during the school year, but now I see I was practicing a form of dishonesty that damaged my trust in my family and in myself. Since that moment I had allowed my fear of sharing the truth to taint the Christmas season, since it was likely I would be sharing (or hiding, as was more often the case) bad news about school performance around the holidays.
It has taken years of therapy, difficult conversations, and self-accountability since then but I'm happy to share with the Tildes community I've worked to rebuild trust! and I no longer view the holiday season as one to be dreaded!
Happy Holidays to all.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Fog LinkOne game I want to recommend to my fellow Tilde gamers is Blippo. It's a lovingly crafted homage to late-night channel surfing with funny, quirky, and thought-provoking skits about what our human...One game I want to recommend to my fellow Tilde gamers is Blippo. It's a lovingly crafted homage to late-night channel surfing with funny, quirky, and thought-provoking skits about what our human culture would look like from a parallel world. If any of this interests you, give it a try! I plan on writing a more detailed post about it later for the community.
Another game I can recommend for fans of The Binding of Isaac, Nuclear Throne, Enter the Gungeon etc. is Morsels. The presentation, music, and game feel has me coming back for more and more and more.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Fog Link ParentI'm on my way to completing Hades 2 as well! There was a distinct week in October where the soundtrack to fighting Hecate seemed to be playing on repeat in my head. Not to mention every time I...I'm on my way to completing Hades 2 as well! There was a distinct week in October where the soundtrack to fighting Hecate seemed to be playing on repeat in my head. Not to mention every time I
it feels like I've overcome an insurmountable obstacle!
defeat TyphonQuestion for you—Ive yet to unlock three keepsakes on the bottom row and the
— when should I expect to start seeing progress there? Is it later in the story?
remaining hidden weapon aspects of the axe, twin flames, night cloak, and skull -
Comment on Disasterpeace - The Flameling Exodus (2014) in ~music
Fog (edited )LinkI enjoyed the Hyper Light Drifter album from Disasterpeace. I can recommend the artist oneohtrix point never, notable for being an early progenitor of vaporwave and experimental electronica...I enjoyed the Hyper Light Drifter album from Disasterpeace. I can recommend the artist oneohtrix point never, notable for being an early progenitor of vaporwave and experimental electronica boundary-pusher, for anyone looking for another itch to scratch
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
Fog Link ParentYour positive attitude and joy in inspiring others made for a wonderful read. Kudos, and best of luck to you on your fitness journey -‿-Your positive attitude and joy in inspiring others made for a wonderful read. Kudos, and best of luck to you on your fitness journey -‿-
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Fog Link ParentGood comparison! Be Right Back was the name of the episode. Excellent acting by Domhall Gleeson. I can recommend anyone interested to give it a try; the themes are spookily prescient.Good comparison! Be Right Back was the name of the episode.
Excellent acting by Domhall Gleeson. I can recommend anyone interested to give it a try; the themes are spookily prescient.
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Comment on Locke & Key | WEBTOON in ~comics
Fog Link ParentIf the format bothers you, I can recommend trying a copy from your local library. I enjoyed reading a physical copy of the series quite a bit. The characters are for the most part well written,...If the format bothers you, I can recommend trying a copy from your local library. I enjoyed reading a physical copy of the series quite a bit. The characters are for the most part well written, the spooky scenes well drawn, and the magical keys brought me back to a fun time of childhood where I imagined special powers or abilities.
As the series progressed, I realized the ethical implications of these power-granting keys would cause serious harm to people in the real world. A fun subversion of the typical power fantasy.
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Comment on A fun animation the creator made "so that when people watch the show twenty years later, it feels exactly like 1999 in New York" in ~creative
Fog LinkFlashing lights warning for those who are sensitive. I found it to be less of a documentary and more of an exercise in creativity, symbolism, and finding joy in animating natural dialogue.Flashing lights warning for those who are sensitive. I found it to be less of a documentary and more of an exercise in creativity, symbolism, and finding joy in animating natural dialogue.
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A fun animation the creator made "so that when people watch the show twenty years later, it feels exactly like 1999 in New York"
10 votes -
Comment on <5 minute watch | well-worth it for the terminally online | nostalgia_bongrip.exe in ~arts
Thank you for sharing this. I have been hearing from those close to me that the NYT is not to be trusted, and this video reaffirms that with facts and evidence. Especially appreciative of the push towards the end towards independent media.