JAG's recent activity

  1. Solo outings

    ~life.men Ask
    So I'm about to attend a Green Day concert on my own. First time in my life doing that, I think in a sense I'm proud of myself for attending something like this solo, it shows that I'm prepared to...

    So I'm about to attend a Green Day concert on my own. First time in my life doing that, I think in a sense I'm proud of myself for attending something like this solo, it shows that I'm prepared to do things I enjoy on my own purely because I enjoy them, but in a way it makes me a little sad to think that I don't have a friend or a group of friends that I couldnl share this with. What do you think about attending things like live music, movie, entertainment solo?

    25 votes

  2. Comment on Five Disney animated canon films will be destroyed and you can choose, which five do you pick? in ~movies

    JAG
    Link
    I would wipe out: Bambi Sleeping Beauty Brother Bear Lady & The Tramp Tarzan Bambi left too many children emotionally scarred Sleeping Beauty was lacklustre and lacked any depth to any of the...

    I would wipe out:

    Bambi
    Sleeping Beauty
    Brother Bear
    Lady & The Tramp
    Tarzan

    Bambi left too many children emotionally scarred
    Sleeping Beauty was lacklustre and lacked any depth to any of the characters.
    Brother Bear - I've never watched it but I can't think of a single thing about the theme or characters that is appealing.
    Lady & The Tramp was horrendously stereotypical and racist/classist.
    Tarzan always felt undercooked and rushed. Collin's music had to do some heavy lifting here, better to put the old boy down and out of it's misery.

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Donald Trump and the Joe Biden White House both say the United States should have a sovereign wealth fund – Norway, home to the world's largest, may offer a few lessons in ~society

    JAG
    Link
    I don't understand why people insist on posting content stuck behind a pay wall. Share a mirror or the archived link instead if you're trying to share information.

    I don't understand why people insist on posting content stuck behind a pay wall. Share a mirror or the archived link instead if you're trying to share information.

    4 votes

  4. Comment on Children under the age of two should not use any digital media, according to new recommendations from Sweden's public health agency in ~life

    JAG
    Link
    As a parent of a now 2 year old, I understand the need to restrict access to digital devices that the child interacts with. The use of phones or tablets to view content, regardless of quality or...

    As a parent of a now 2 year old, I understand the need to restrict access to digital devices that the child interacts with. The use of phones or tablets to view content, regardless of quality or source, can quickly establish into a pattern or routine. Children who rely on device interaction as part of their routine can become extremely unsettled if this is disrupted. The flip-side is that if you don't disrupt the pattern, it becomes ingrained behaviour, which can result in even more extreme responses. It makes sense that they recommend minimising this until the child has a better capacity to self-regulate.
    All that being said, it's very difficult to navigate everyday life with a 2 year old and not expect to encounter situations where screen time exposure will happen.
    In a perfect world, children would self regulate from birth, but that's as much wishful thinking as asking them to change their own nappies.

    6 votes

  5. Comment on MangaLove, a series sharing thread: December 2023 in ~anime

    JAG
    Link
    "Cross Game" by Mitsuru Adachi is a manga that ran between 2004 and 2008, with an anime series in 2009, and it's a wonderful, sad, and hearwarming read. If you can appreciate a slice-of-life...

    "Cross Game" by Mitsuru Adachi is a manga that ran between 2004 and 2008, with an anime series in 2009, and it's a wonderful, sad, and hearwarming read. If you can appreciate a slice-of-life series with a sports theme that captures the essence of innocent love and the bonds shared tragedy can create, you'll be hooked. No fast-paced action or outlandish settings here. What sets it apart is how it keeps things real in its approach to budding love — no exaggerated drama, just genuine connections that feel relatable.
    What made it stand out to me was the raw feelings it could evoke seemingly out of nowhere. Cross Game is at its most basic a story about baseball, but it's not just about the game. It's about growing up with the characters and exploring your own emotions and reactions to sometimes challenging or unimaginable situations as well as facing life's ups and downs, together. For those who appreciate substance in their manga without getting too fancy, this is your next choice. It's a laid-back yet meaningful read, perfect for those who want a story with heart and authenticity. Give it a go. Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy!

    2 votes

  6. Comment on Are there any games that you have enjoyed playing without the HUD or mini-map? If so, which ones and why? in ~games

    JAG
    Link
    It hasn't been mentioned yet but ghost of tsushima uses in game elements to guide you to where you need to go, making the HUD very optional. It's also just a beautiful game.

    It hasn't been mentioned yet but ghost of tsushima uses in game elements to guide you to where you need to go, making the HUD very optional. It's also just a beautiful game.

    3 votes

  7. Defunct studios discussion - Who remembers Black & White?

    ~games Ask
    I just finished playing through the Fata Deum demo and you can really feel the B&W roots, even if it's minus your pet. While there's lots to be excited about off the back of Fata Deum, it does...

    I just finished playing through the Fata Deum demo and you can really feel the B&W roots, even if it's minus your pet.

    While there's lots to be excited about off the back of Fata Deum, it does kill me that this IP was left for dead considering how innovative the gameplay was at the time and how much potential it had.

    Does anyone have fond memories of other hits from now defunct studios?

    31 votes

  8. Comment on Any popular game genres you just can't get into? in ~games

    JAG
    Link
    Nobody has mentioned the genre yet but Dark Soul games. I have genuinely tried to get into them, I understand the enjoyment people have beating them but to me it just seems like too much. In the...

    Nobody has mentioned the genre yet but Dark Soul games. I have genuinely tried to get into them, I understand the enjoyment people have beating them but to me it just seems like too much. In the other hand, roguelikes are amazing because you can hone your skills or choose a specific path or build yet there's no expectation that the run will be the exact same.a

    33 votes

  9. Comment on <deleted topic> in ~life

    JAG
    (edited )
    Link
    The term is awful, the article reads terribly. The intent is reasonable (promoting awareness that couples can sleep apart and maintain a healthy relationship). Yet, it's just not for me. I believe...

    The term is awful, the article reads terribly. The intent is reasonable (promoting awareness that couples can sleep apart and maintain a healthy relationship).
    Yet, it's just not for me.
    I believe that sharing a bed, making a conscious decision to go to sleep at the same time and maintaining slight physical contact are all actions which reinforce intimacy in the relationship.

    13 votes

  10. Comment on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency (US House of Congress hearings) in ~society

    JAG
    Link Parent
    American politics are such a tired subject. Nobody cares, honestly. The constant back and forth between two insanely polarised sides claiming it's the other's fault the country is fucked is a...

    American politics are such a tired subject.
    Nobody cares, honestly.
    The constant back and forth between two insanely polarised sides claiming it's the other's fault the country is fucked is a horse that was beat to death 20 years ago.
    Can we move on.

  11. Comment on Computer chip with built-in human brain tissue gets military funding in ~tech

    JAG
    Link Parent
    All I can think as I read this was the beginning of true androids!! Of course, that's definitely not it and the brain-comouter interface stuff is the most exciting in that it could have wondrous...

    All I can think as I read this was the beginning of true androids!!
    Of course, that's definitely not it and the brain-comouter interface stuff is the most exciting in that it could have wondrous medical uses!

    2 votes

  12. Comment on Which Kindle/e-reader are you using? in ~books

    JAG
    Link Parent
    I'm also on a Paperwhite, it might be gen 2 but honestly I can't fault the thing, even after all these years. The backlight is a godsend for late night reading but I agree that new iterations...

    I'm also on a Paperwhite, it might be gen 2 but honestly I can't fault the thing, even after all these years. The backlight is a godsend for late night reading but I agree that new iterations couldn't really do much beyond incremental processing power and perhaps overall battery life.

    4 votes

  13. Comment on How bisexuality changed video games in ~games

    JAG
    Link Parent
    So to clarify, I've originally mentioned that: I've also said: I want my approach to gaming to remain unimpeded by external voices which lobby for or against wider societal issues or who attempt...

    So to clarify, I've originally mentioned that:

    I should be able to make choices about my in-game sexuality without any bounds or restrictions.

    I've also said:

    I don't particularly play games to have my values challenged and I believe there are far more fruitful avenues for personal growth.

    I want my approach to gaming to remain unimpeded by external voices which lobby for or against wider societal issues or who attempt to dictate how I as a player should feel about added game features or omissions.

    A good way to relate this to another dimension of gaming is the pre-order phenomenon, where "hype" influences how users feel about a game before they have been able to experience it first-hand and the expectation placed on the final product ultimately colours the interaction with the material.
    I would much rather approach the content on my own terms and enjoy it for what it is.

    The article I linked has some very overt tones of derision to the experience for everyone i.e.

    How dull is it to play the same cardboard cut-out again and again and again?

    Does that not strike you as dismissive of the game and it's content?

    As for making it more accessible/relatable for LGBT communities, developers who do this should be commended.

    3 votes

  14. Comment on How bisexuality changed video games in ~games

    JAG
    Link Parent
    I wouldn't really say that games do this, given they are a medium built to tell interactive stories. People do this, by leveraging game content and using it as a platform they can lean on to...

    I wouldn't really say that games do this, given they are a medium built to tell interactive stories.

    People do this, by leveraging game content and using it as a platform they can lean on to promote their viewpoint.

    Here's an oldie but a goodie

    I use this as an example because the intent is a very good one, to promote the inclusion of LGBTQ characters in games, however the way they approach this is by telling me, as a player that I am not able to immerse myself into a story as much, or I am not getting the complete experience because it might not include for example, same-sex romancing. This takes away from the main message which is, let's expand the experience to all, so that everyone can have something they enjoy - which is the main benefit to introducing sexuality mechanics to a game.

    2 votes

  15. Comment on How bisexuality changed video games in ~games

    JAG
    Link Parent
    In the simplest terms, I don't want people telling me how I should play a game or telling me how I should feel about the sexuality mechanics in a game - whether I should be able to make choices...

    In the simplest terms, I don't want people telling me how I should play a game or telling me how I should feel about the sexuality mechanics in a game - whether I should be able to make choices around who I romance or whether to be outraged or pleased with the inclusions or exclusions a game may carry.
    All I'm looking for is as much freedom as possible to choose varied playthroughs and not limit the experiences I can be open to while playing games.

    2 votes

  16. What's the most enjoyable part of your work?

    ~talk Ask (survey)
    Whether you work indoors or out on the field, with your hands or with your mind. Whether you create things, fix them, sell them. Or whether you work with people or look after them. What gets you...

    Whether you work indoors or out on the field, with your hands or with your mind.
    Whether you create things, fix them, sell them. Or whether you work with people or look after them. What gets you up in the morning, keeps you going through the day (or night) and makes it enjoyable? (or bearable!)

    60 votes

  17. Comment on Women, what kind of emotional sensitivity do you generally like in your partner? in ~life.women

    JAG
    Link Parent
    This is a really well thought out explanation and I appreciate how it reinforces the importance of real emotional intimacy, mutual respect and the need to acknowledge the other person as an...

    This is a really well thought out explanation and I appreciate how it reinforces the importance of real emotional intimacy, mutual respect and the need to acknowledge the other person as an individual as the basis for any relationship.
    The sad thing is that in forming the original question, the poster has demonstrated thinly veiled misconceptions and prejudices.
    It's definitely a challenging thing for some men, specially those hailing from strongly patriarchal societies to perceive women as equally capable, complete human beings and to stop relegating them the role of a possession. It's discourse like this that the world needs more of.

    10 votes

  18. Comment on How bisexuality changed video games in ~games

    JAG
    Link
    Upon reflection, it's a weird mechanic to have to define and discuss. It seems like the natural progression of things that I should be able to make choices about my in-game sexuality without any...

    Upon reflection, it's a weird mechanic to have to define and discuss.
    It seems like the natural progression of things that I should be able to make choices about my in-game sexuality without any bounds or restrictions. The weight of cultural or religious expections should not come into play and developers and writers should be free to tell the story they wish.
    The one thing I will say is, I don't want to be pandered to by people trying to push their own agenda, regardless of what it may be - it's a game and the choices I make don't have a deeper meaning beyond - this is what I want to experience this playthrough.
    However, I don't particularly play games to have my values challenged and I believe there are far more fruitful avenues for personal growth.

    17 votes

  19. Comment on If you went to a game-type fantasy world and could take one skill back to Earth, what would you choose? in ~talk

    JAG
    Link Parent
    If we go based on say FFVII'S cinematics summoning time, I'd say you'd be well and truly stabbed before the summon gets to do anything haha.

    If we go based on say FFVII'S cinematics summoning time, I'd say you'd be well and truly stabbed before the summon gets to do anything haha.

  20. Comment on Suggestions for fantasy that feels truly different in ~books

    JAG
    Link
    Going through some of these comments, I feel like this may not hit the mark as there's still lots of tropes but for interesting world-building that isn't the same tired Tolkien take on high...

    Going through some of these comments, I feel like this may not hit the mark as there's still lots of tropes but for interesting world-building that isn't the same tired Tolkien take on high fantasy, the Realm of Elderlings series by Robin Hobb definitely helped create a cool world where whie royalty still exists, the magic and lore is a different and engaging.

    3 votes