JasSmith's recent activity
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Comment on My not so nice thoughts on Battlestar Galactica in ~tv
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Comment on How the US is destroying young people’s future | Scott Galloway in ~life
JasSmith Link ParentThe part which resonated with me most is the theme of disenfranchisement. It’s clear that younger people have it worse than the older generation. The numbers are stark. At least on the big ticket...The part which resonated with me most is the theme of disenfranchisement. It’s clear that younger people have it worse than the older generation. The numbers are stark. At least on the big ticket items like healthcare, education, buying a home, kids, and wages (especially at the lower end and middle of the distribution). What do disenfranchised people do? Bad things, as history has demonstrated. They stop working, stop having children. They start committing more crime. They hate their country and try to undermine it. They hurt innocent people. This is the future we are setting up by treating young people with such disrespect.
The challenge is that this isn’t caused by some evil overlord’s plan. It’s death by a million cuts. Millions of decisions at the margins which add up to structural disenfranchisement. Every local municipal election in which the protectionist candidate is elected to “preserve the local character” of the neighbourhood. It makes sense in terms of game theory. One seeks to protect their investments. The issue is that society has a hard time moving in unison if everyone is competing at all times. I tend to think this is a superpower of collectivist societies like Denmark. They are willing to vote for policies which don’t benefit the individual, but benefit society at large. I think this can only work when the majority shares cultural values and identifies with each other on a human level. I don’t think it can work in high multicultural and low trust societies.
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Comment on How the US is destroying young people’s future | Scott Galloway in ~life
JasSmith Link ParentI think democracy will solve this organically. It is unpopular to admit this for some reason, but at present, most Americans are doing quite well. Most Americans are home owners. Standard of...I think democracy will solve this organically. It is unpopular to admit this for some reason, but at present, most Americans are doing quite well. Most Americans are home owners. Standard of living is very high, especially by international standards. Access to food has never been greater. Should we reach the point that the average voter is doing really badly, leadership will quickly change.
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Comment on Most people think playing chess makes you 'smarter', but the evidence isn't clear on that in ~games.tabletop
JasSmith LinkThere is in fact almost nothing that can be done to improve intelligence, assuming adequate nutrition, access to basic education at a young age, and an absence of abuse and neglect.There is in fact almost nothing that can be done to improve intelligence, assuming adequate nutrition, access to basic education at a young age, and an absence of abuse and neglect.
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Comment on My not so nice thoughts on Battlestar Galactica in ~tv
JasSmith LinkAs a huge fan, none of your criticisms are unfair. However you would also have very similar criticisms of, for example, The Next Generation. That, too, has a cult following. I think there is value...As a huge fan, none of your criticisms are unfair. However you would also have very similar criticisms of, for example, The Next Generation. That, too, has a cult following. I think there is value there which just doesn’t resonate with you for whatever reason, and that’s fine. For many of us we overlook the points above because we love the characters, the story arc, the world, and the gritty and (mostly) hard sci-fi. For 2004, it was a huge step up from most sci-fi, and I would argue permanently changed our expectations. Deep Space Nine (1993) was one of the first shows to employ show-wide story arcs. It was a huge risk at the time, as they didn’t have on-demand viewing options. So missing an episode could permanently lose a viewer. So they had to employ story arc “light.” Mostly typical episodic stories with elements of overarching narrative. BSG came along and went BALLS TO THE WALL on this concept, and fans loved it. It is, I think, inferior to shows like The Expanse, but the fact that it took until 2015 to be dethroned is testament to its quality.
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Comment on Canada bet big on immigration. Now it’s hitting the brakes. in ~misc
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
JasSmith Link ParentThat's probably all true to some degree, but it's true of all engines. The distinction is in the degree.That's probably all true to some degree, but it's true of all engines. The distinction is in the degree.
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Comment on Unity appoints former EA and Zynga executive Matthew Bromberg as its new CEO in ~games
JasSmith Link ParentI hear nothing but good things about developing for UE. Support is solid. Major bugs get squashed fast. The pricing model is reasonable. Which issues are you referring to?I hear nothing but good things about developing for UE. Support is solid. Major bugs get squashed fast. The pricing model is reasonable. Which issues are you referring to?
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Comment on Canada bet big on immigration. Now it’s hitting the brakes. in ~misc
JasSmith Link ParentWhy would you compare Canada's unemployment rate with the U6 U.S. rate? You're comparing completely different metrics. U.S. unemployment is 3.8%. The fact that you even knew to use U6 indicates...Why would you compare Canada's unemployment rate with the U6 U.S. rate? You're comparing completely different metrics. U.S. unemployment is 3.8%. The fact that you even knew to use U6 indicates you know better but were trying to mislead me.
The larger issue isn't actually the total unemployment rate. 6.1% isn't remarkably high for Canada, historically. The issue is the large influx of unskilled immigrants. Canada has historically had a very loose immigration system, giving anyone on the skilled workers list express entry. This list includes occupations like restaurant and hotel managers, customer service managers, "facility and maintenance managers" (cleaners), etc. They also have express entry for chefs and bakers. Their colleges also run "diploma mills," selling useless degrees in exchange for satisfying visa requirements. This is why we see so many people applying for low-skilled positions.
The flow-on effects of this high immigration have been disastrous. GDP per capita has been falling. In fact it is barely above 2012 levels. The pressure on house prices has created enormous social issues, from unprecedented levels of homelessness to entire generations being priced out of ever being able to own a home.
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Comment on Canada bet big on immigration. Now it’s hitting the brakes. in ~misc
JasSmith LinkIt sounds completely broken in Canada right now. Friends are considering leaving. It's hard to comprehend the scale of the issue from the outside. They sent me a couple of videos. One, a job fair...It sounds completely broken in Canada right now. Friends are considering leaving. It's hard to comprehend the scale of the issue from the outside. They sent me a couple of videos. One, a job fair in Toronto. with a line several blocks long just to get inside. The other, the line to apply for a job at a new restaurant.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
JasSmith LinkStellar Blade. Surprisingly solid fundamentals and the jiggle physics are top notch.Stellar Blade. Surprisingly solid fundamentals and the jiggle physics are top notch.
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Comment on Researcher calls out misuse of research in book on American white rural rage - suggests resentment over rage in ~misc
JasSmith Link ParentWe have a major problem with non-Western immigration from certain countries. Acknowledging the irrefutable facts isn't racist, and characterising those who do so is exactly why voting patterns...The majority of Danish political parties have gone this route, trying to cater to the voters concern about non-white people. And sure, it may win some voters over, but I think that the right are simply better at being racist.
We have a major problem with non-Western immigration from certain countries. Acknowledging the irrefutable facts isn't racist, and characterising those who do so is exactly why voting patterns shifted. Sweden did the same to an even more egregious degree and their left wing party, which enjoyed rule for the greater part of a century, was recently voted out. There is room for reasonable discussion about immigration without castigating each other.
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Comment on I bought a house, now what? in ~life.home_improvement
JasSmith Link ParentWhile I agree with the premise, this needs some asterisks. Unless one routes cables across the floor, it's going to require crawling through the attic and there are a lot of reasons this might not...It costs an afternoon
While I agree with the premise, this needs some asterisks. Unless one routes cables across the floor, it's going to require crawling through the attic and there are a lot of reasons this might not go smoothly. Many homes don't have attic space over all rooms. Even if there is, people don't like holes drilled through the ceiling with cables hanging down, so they'll probably try to send them through the wall space. This is a real crapshoot because so many walls have obstructions like insulation and crossbeams. Those are a bitch to drill through, often requiring cutting out a ceiling height panel of drywall in the room, cutting crossbeams (and checking they're not structurally important), running the cable, plastering the panel back up, and repainting. Even if dropping the cable is easy, they need to line up the exit point on the wall, cut a square hole, and install a patch in every required room.
From experience, this whole process can take several full days, as the plastering and painting require drying in between steps. This is precious time one doesn't have during a move, as there are often much more important tasks to complete. Best to leave big overlap between giving up the previous property and moving into the next. This allows time for renovations like this without stress.
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Comment on The small company at the center of ‘Gamergate 2.0’ in ~games
JasSmith Link ParentIs this “growing movement” in the room with us right now? There’s no conspiracy here. You can look at the curator list yourself. It’s just a list of “not recommended” games. That’s it. There’s no...Is this “growing movement” in the room with us right now? There’s no conspiracy here. You can look at the curator list yourself. It’s just a list of “not recommended” games. That’s it. There’s no justification for attempting to create a targeted harassment campaign and I take particular issue with your defence of it as “obvious.” That’s not a normal thing to do. It wouldn’t be obvious to me or any other normal person.
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Comment on The small company at the center of ‘Gamergate 2.0’ in ~games
JasSmith Link ParentYou can see for yourself. It’s just a list of “not recommended” games. There’s nothing in there deserving of being reported. There’s certainly never justification for a targeted harassment campaign.What went on in that Steam group?
You can see for yourself. It’s just a list of “not recommended” games. There’s nothing in there deserving of being reported. There’s certainly never justification for a targeted harassment campaign.
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Comment on The small company at the center of ‘Gamergate 2.0’ in ~games
JasSmith (edited )Link ParentA normal person would feel sad if someone didn’t like their work. My incredulity is starting a harassment campaign over it. That’s not normal.A normal person would feel sad if someone didn’t like their work. My incredulity is starting a harassment campaign over it. That’s not normal.
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Comment on The small company at the center of ‘Gamergate 2.0’ in ~games
JasSmith LinkIt’s been bizarre seeing this blow up so fast. Some random Brazilian guy made a Steam curator group listing Sweet Baby Inc affiliated games. It had a handful of members when all of a sudden Sweet...It’s been bizarre seeing this blow up so fast. Some random Brazilian guy made a Steam curator group listing Sweet Baby Inc affiliated games. It had a handful of members when all of a sudden Sweet Baby Inc employee Chris Kindred incited a harassment campaign by telling all his Twitter followers to “report the fuck out of this group.” In the most impressive example of the Streisand effect in years, the Steam group exploded in popularity, and the entire internet is now aware of SBI. I don’t even understand why Kindred did it. Is he not proud of the work they’ve done? Why would he care if people knew which games SBI worked on?? It’s all so strange.
I have to be honest, it hurts to hear you rate The Expanse 6/10. I consider it the current example of excellent sci-fi. These shows are considered some of the best in the genre, so it might be that you're just not that into what sci-fi offers. Which is totally fine, of course.