Katu's recent activity
-
Comment on People looking to be first time homeowners soon, what's your plan? in ~life
-
Comment on Competitive Overwatch players of Tildes: What's a tip you'd love to share? in ~games
Katu LinkMy advice is slightly different than the other comments in this thread. This is coming from a gold/plat level support main (OW1), so I'm no expert in gameplay. My main tip is to remember that it's...My advice is slightly different than the other comments in this thread. This is coming from a gold/plat level support main (OW1), so I'm no expert in gameplay.
My main tip is to remember that it's a game, it's supposed to be fun. If it stops being fun, stop playing until it feels like it'd be fun again. This will not only help you stop deranking, but it will be a boon to your teammates. Imagine if your tilted teammate had gone to take a rest instead of trying "one more match" when they're infuriated. If they'd returned with a clear head instead of berating your Hanzo with gold elims to switch because "he's a bad hero."
Now imagine that you have the power to make that happen by not being that teammate. That's the lesson I didn't learn. I quit Overwatch because I saw myself becoming toxic. And like, I'm a kittens and rainbows person. I'm very positive and strive to always improve the days of the people around me. But when I played comp, I was different, full of finger-pointing and negativity. I was taking it too seriously and it was beginning to affect how I saw myself. I would review my footage to try to see how I could improve my positioning and target prioritization etc - and I'd hear back all the times I lost my temper with myself, my teammates, the enemy team. I hated it. That's when I quit comp, and soon Overwatch for good. It took a long time for me to forgive myself for being "that bitchy Zenyatta" (a streamer on my team once told me their chat was calling me that, haha).
So that's my tip. Have fun playing your game, and don't let it turn you toxic.
-
Comment on Creatives, how do you feel about the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of art, illustration and design? in ~creative
Katu LinkYes, I have used Midjourney for my digital art hobby, and ChatGPT for both writing and programming. Midjourney is delightful, albeit problematic in its datasets. ChatGPT (3) is an okay way of...Have you used AI before in the creative process? If so, what services have you used/prefer?
Yes, I have used Midjourney for my digital art hobby, and ChatGPT for both writing and programming. Midjourney is delightful, albeit problematic in its datasets. ChatGPT (3) is an okay way of getting a framework, sometimes. It's borderline terrible at creative writing, and barely competent at simple coding tasks. I'm only just learning C# and I'm better at programming sensibly than GPT3 is. I'd be interested to see if something like GitHub Copilot is better, but I'm not willing to pay for it.
What do you think the role of AI is in the creative process?
For me, personally, it's a source of inspiration. I am functional at the act of creation but I often lack motivating ideas of what to create. The AI art I generate rarely gets seen by anyone but me - I use it to create harmonic color palettes, poses to utilize, or like I said, subject ideas. In a way, it feels bittersweet, because the AI images are far beyond my current talent level. It makes me sad that I don't feel comfortable sharing them due to the negative discourse surrounding anything "AI" and art.
Does AI enhance creativity or limit originality?
For me, the former! It doesn't stop me from creating the original ideas for art pieces that I come up with. It's only when I'm uninspired already that I turn to it. And in honesty, it's not as if my original ideas are groundbreaking either. I mostly draw cute girls or animals - hardly original. I believe that the people with strongly original ideas will be driven to create those ideas regardless, and can't be limited by AI in that sense. But maybe overall there will be less strongly original art, because those of us uninspired artists might rely on similar ideas to create art of?
What are the ethical implications of using AI to create art?
This is the big question, of course. I believe that it depends on how the AI is trained and how the art is used. If the AI is trained on art from folks who didn't consent to having their art used, if the prompt deliberately targets one of those artists, and if that result is used for profit without significant effort from the prompter, I believe that's unethical. But if the artists consent, if the prompt isn't targeted at a specific style, or if the result is used as inspiration rather than used as-is, that blurs it quite a bit. I am in the group of people that believe a style cannot be copyrighted, and that apeing styles is an important learning tool. But it sits poorly with me that you can tell Midjourney to make you a Loish-style print and then undercut her by selling it on Redbubble without her consent or permission, or giving her credit/revenue share.
I want AI to be a useful tool for artists. I want it to be an aid for people with aphantasia to picture things. I want folks with hand pain or tremors to be able to create art with it. I think it has the potential to be a powerful leveler of the playing field, but only if capitalistic greed doesn't ruin it first.
-
Comment on Frugal living 101: A huge list of ways to curb your home expenses in ~life
Katu Link ParentI'm also not a huge fan of the assumption that "many" women force men to accept bribes on their behalf? Of course, the corruption of kickbacks is the fault of the womenfolk, not the men actually...I'm also not a huge fan of the assumption that "many" women force men to accept bribes on their behalf? Of course, the corruption of kickbacks is the fault of the womenfolk, not the men actually accepting the bribes. It was definitely for the $50 eyeshadow palette and not the $2k vacation.
I admit I am not knowledgeable about this aspect of Indian life, but I am intimately familiar with being on the receiving end of the enculturated Indian sexism, so that is my bias. I am open to correction if I'm off base.
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Katu Link ParentDo you mostly use on desktop or mobile? On mobile (Android) I use an app called "Journal It!" which does all of what you mentioned wanting, iirc. Not positive about the sharing function. It does...Do you mostly use on desktop or mobile?
On mobile (Android) I use an app called "Journal It!" which does all of what you mentioned wanting, iirc. Not positive about the sharing function.
It does also have a web version, which is available for paid users. However, there's a fun caveat which is that you can get the paid version for free if you use the app daily for 19 or so days, and then contact the dev with your feedback. That's a genius system, in my book. I fully intended to do that, but ended up buying the full version before then because I knew I wanted it and I wanted to support the developer.
It's a really robust app and I find the tagging system very helpful. There are some features I don't use much (the Journeys are a cool idea but I don't seem to use them), but overall I'd definitely recommend it.
-
Comment on Creatures that don't conform: Slime molds and their fascinating existence in ~science
Katu LinkThis is a somewhat long read, but I enjoyed it! At one point it mentions that certain slime molds "blossom" simultaneously in both Northern and Southern hemispheres, and no one knows why. I can't...This is a somewhat long read, but I enjoyed it! At one point it mentions that certain slime molds "blossom" simultaneously in both Northern and Southern hemispheres, and no one knows why. I can't help but wonder if, in an organism which defies categorization as plant or animal, which has over 700 sexes, is there a thing or two about consciousness that we are simply clueless to?
Really fascinating to think about.
-
Creatures that don't conform: Slime molds and their fascinating existence
28 votes -
Comment on What non-lullaby songs were you sung as a child? in ~life
Katu Link ParentYou have done me a serious favor with this recommendation, thank you!You have done me a serious favor with this recommendation, thank you!
-
Comment on What non-lullaby songs were you sung as a child? in ~life
Katu Link ParentThis is close to how I now feel about Edelweiss. I first heard "Close to You" as a cover in the movie Mirrormask. I'll be honest, I'm not sure if you'd enjoy it since you have a relationship with...This is close to how I now feel about Edelweiss.
I first heard "Close to You" as a cover in the movie Mirrormask. I'll be honest, I'm not sure if you'd enjoy it since you have a relationship with the song already, but I found its minor-key haunting nature incredibly touching and beautiful. The original is also lovely, but the clockwork cover will always be my favorite.
-
Comment on What non-lullaby songs were you sung as a child? in ~life
Katu Link ParentIt's interesting to think about how your lullaby choices reflect on you as a person. In retrospect, I think my mom's lullabies mostly betrayed that she took many years of French. And my dad's...It's interesting to think about how your lullaby choices reflect on you as a person. In retrospect, I think my mom's lullabies mostly betrayed that she took many years of French. And my dad's definitely suggest that he didn't get many lullabies and didn't put a ton of thought into finding his own, since I think he only ever sang the one song!
-
Comment on What non-lullaby songs were you sung as a child? in ~life
Katu Link ParentOof, you make a good point, I definitely showed my bias in that question. I apologize for the assumption. This is adorable! I feel like I would struggle to remember a self-written melody, but I...Oof, you make a good point, I definitely showed my bias in that question. I apologize for the assumption.
made up melodies that incorporates the child's name
This is adorable! I feel like I would struggle to remember a self-written melody, but I actually do this all the time with my cat, using existing melodies.
My sister and I are definitely doing some coordinating! She is bringing the Disney side of things and I'm doing my best, haha. Thank you for the response, and the recommendation!
-
What non-lullaby songs were you sung as a child?
I have a new niece and I'm making a list of songs which we can play for her naptime when we babysit. I have some Raffi songs and my childhood lullabies (Edelweiss from my mom and Moonshadow from...
I have a new niece and I'm making a list of songs which we can play for her naptime when we babysit. I have some Raffi songs and my childhood lullabies (Edelweiss from my mom and Moonshadow from my dad), as well as some calm songs from my Spotify playlist.
But it made me wonder, what songs did your parents sing when you were young? Children's songs? Disney? Pop? Metallica?
I'm also interested in whether you think it's best to keep a small list and rotate through, for comfort's sake, or if it's also okay to have a wider variety of songs as lullabies.
13 votes -
Comment on Deimos, how is it going? in ~tildes
Katu LinkI have a lot of sympathy for Deimos. I'm a community organizer (not like as a job, I just always end up making communities for my interests), and it's both lovely and frightening to have your...I have a lot of sympathy for Deimos. I'm a community organizer (not like as a job, I just always end up making communities for my interests), and it's both lovely and frightening to have your space suddenly blow up. New faces are both welcome and necessary, but it often means adaptation to a new vibe and can end up feeling like you've been "taken over."
So far I think he's done a great job of attempting to maintain his vision for this community and I hope he stays strong in the face of the redditor feedback. No hate, by the way, I'm an expat too. I think it's great the amount of people who are seeking out a more thoughtful and tight knit community, and I'm grateful to have a place other than Reddit to spend my time, now. Especially one that doesn't produce as much doomscrolling.
-
Comment on Women of Tildes, do we want or need a designated women's space? in ~tildes
Katu LinkI would like a women-oriented space on Tildes, but with the major caveat that it accepts all women, regardless of birth gender. Unfortunately the women-centric reddit alternatives have proven to...- Exemplary
I would like a women-oriented space on Tildes, but with the major caveat that it accepts all women, regardless of birth gender. Unfortunately the women-centric reddit alternatives have proven to be pretty trans-exclusionary and that's not a space I want anything to do with.
-
Comment on Writing prompt repository in ~creative
Katu Link ParentWell that sounds like a book I need to check out! Thank you for the recommendation!Well that sounds like a book I need to check out! Thank you for the recommendation!
-
Comment on Where do you share your art with the world? in ~creative
Katu Link ParentI thoroughly enjoy your colorful style and choice of subjects!I thoroughly enjoy your colorful style and choice of subjects!
-
Comment on Where do you share your art with the world? in ~creative
Katu Link ParentI can't agree more about screaming into the void, and your reasoning behind it. It feels like Sisyphus' hill trying to succeed at anything on social media, but especially in a saturated field like...I can't agree more about screaming into the void, and your reasoning behind it. It feels like Sisyphus' hill trying to succeed at anything on social media, but especially in a saturated field like art.
Can you tell me a little about Artfol?
-
Comment on Where do you share your art with the world? in ~creative
Katu LinkI used to use DeviantArt and have thought about going back to it. I don't think I'm Artstation quality, if I'm honest, so idk if I'll ever go that route. Sometimes I'll share on Reddit or...I used to use DeviantArt and have thought about going back to it. I don't think I'm Artstation quality, if I'm honest, so idk if I'll ever go that route.
Sometimes I'll share on Reddit or Instagram or Twitter, but I don't really keep any consistency. I would like to be better at social media, but honestly I just don't like it that much.
The only place I have most of my current art posted (other than Discord), is my redbubble. I feel a bit weird linking to a shop, but the incessant need to capitalize on my hobbies has led to this being the only place that I regularly upload to. :(
I'm hoping to get some decent places from this thread to upload my work to!
-
Comment on Google is getting a lot worse because of the Reddit blackouts in ~tech
Katu Link ParentThis has the right of it, in my opinion. I used to run tiny independent guide websites for whatever games I was into at the time, and it became harder and harder for me to compete. Eventually it...This has the right of it, in my opinion. I used to run tiny independent guide websites for whatever games I was into at the time, and it became harder and harder for me to compete. Eventually it got to the point where I just posted them directly to Reddit, because they'd actually get used, there.
I can't speak to everyone's experience, but the tactics for rigging SEO absolutely crushed my ability to get seen, even if I googled my specific website's name. I admit SEO has always been a weak spot of mine, but what I did used to be enough, once upon a time. Not anymore, not for years.
-
Comment on Writing prompt repository in ~creative
Katu LinkThis was a quest hook from my possibly-dead D&D campaign, maybe it'll get better use here: A mushroom colony releases hallucinogenic spores to live a shared dream where they are mobile and can see...This was a quest hook from my possibly-dead D&D campaign, maybe it'll get better use here:
A mushroom colony releases hallucinogenic spores to live a shared dream where they are mobile and can see the world. Later, it turns out that other creatures can join the dream.
My boyfriend and I have been looking at houses for a few months now, and it's exhausting. But we're keeping at it! We're in the uniquely privileged situation to be living with family rent-free, so our plan is to keep our ears to the ground and bite when the right house shows up. So far we haven't had any offers accepted, and it's largely because our low budget means we're competing with other poor folk, wealthier folk looking for bargains, and landlords. The latter two are usually able to make cash offers with no contingencies, so they tend to get preference.
But we're holding out hope. We've had several friends get houses in the past year and we know it's possible.
If it helps, Associated bank offers loans with no PMI. We're also getting a $5k grant through them (we're at poverty level so ymmv). Normally I don't recommend dealing with banks, but not paying PMI seems like a worthy trade-off.