Promonk's recent activity
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Comment on Good News Everyone! in ~news
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI've thought about that a fair bit over the years. I have to think there's a better way to fund content creation than advertising, particularly because I don't think there's actually much value to...I've thought about that a fair bit over the years. I have to think there's a better way to fund content creation than advertising, particularly because I don't think there's actually much value to advertising. Like, firms pay for ad impressions, but are they actually getting their money's worth? Is the sheer number of eyeballs on your ad actually a valuable metric for anyone but Google? My hunch is that advertising is just what we've landed on because that was kind of how Old Media worked, and because it's the simplest way for big companies to control and exploit funding channels, so that's what they prefer.
I've considered the possibility of something like a subscription index, where a consumer pays for a suite of subs sort of like the old cable packages, but without the monopolistic skullduggery of the cable conglomerates. The trouble is in first establishing a sufficient library of content options that network effects kick in, and secondly, protecting against the index middlemen exploiting their positions to the detriment of creators and consumers. I like the concept of Nebula because that's more or less how they operate, but I don't know enough about it to judge whether it's been designed with sufficient safeguards.
I do know that Internet advertising is reaching the point where something's gotta give, though. I just started a new job that's led me to viewing YouTube videos without adblock, and it's pretty effing dire, man.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI remember thinking those two had a disconcerting chemistry at the time though, so I don't know that it speaks to our current milieu necessarily.I remember thinking those two had a disconcerting chemistry at the time though, so I don't know that it speaks to our current milieu necessarily.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentYeah, New Yorker is kind of similar, but there was an edge to publishing in Playboy that made it more attractive to iconoclasts and counter-culture types. I don't think Hunter Thompson would've...Yeah, New Yorker is kind of similar, but there was an edge to publishing in Playboy that made it more attractive to iconoclasts and counter-culture types. I don't think Hunter Thompson would've been caught dead conducting an interview for the New Yorker, for instance.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentPlayboy actually had good writing, though. They published stuff by people who won awards like Hugos and Pulitzers, even in its waning days when I had my subscription. I only read a couple US...Playboy actually had good writing, though. They published stuff by people who won awards like Hugos and Pulitzers, even in its waning days when I had my subscription. I only read a couple US Maxims, and I can't recall anything about the writing aside from that I wasn't really interested in it.
It's actually kind of sad that we're talking about Playboy in the context of Pornhub, because while Pornhub is a sort of successor to Playboy in a way, it utterly lacks that element of high culture that marked the bunny mag, and I don't really see anyone even attempting to pick up that torch.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI always figured it was just a low-effort way to add narrative tension without having to actually write a scenario.I always figured it was just a low-effort way to add narrative tension without having to actually write a scenario.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI actually did read Playboy for the articles back when I had a subscription as a teenager. Airbrushed paintings of surgically "enhanced" bottle blondes never did it for me.I actually did read Playboy for the articles back when I had a subscription as a teenager. Airbrushed paintings of surgically "enhanced" bottle blondes never did it for me.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI'm not so sure about that. That weird incestuous narrative framing is all over the damn site, even if you aren't seeking it out. I'm not sure why, though I suspect it's some sort of kink of the...I'm not so sure about that. That weird incestuous narrative framing is all over the damn site, even if you aren't seeking it out. I'm not sure why, though I suspect it's some sort of kink of the recommendation algo at this point.
My point is: if a user's search history shows exclusively incest-related queries, that might just mean they're familiar with the meta.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentNone of this shit is put to a secret vote by citizens' initiative, it's all done legislatively, where moral posturing is most effective. I doubt very much that initiative would lead to more...None of this shit is put to a secret vote by citizens' initiative, it's all done legislatively, where moral posturing is most effective. I doubt very much that initiative would lead to more realistic and effective regulation, but I bet you this kind of thing would go down in flames if virtue signaling were taken out of the mix.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentI never said the straw man had sensible opinions.I never said the straw man had sensible opinions.
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Comment on PornHub extorted after hackers steal Premium member activity data in ~tech
Promonk LinkBy all means, let's force websites to collect personally identifying info to "protect children." I'm sure nothing like this will ever happen again. There's a man made of straw in my head who keeps...By all means, let's force websites to collect personally identifying info to "protect children." I'm sure nothing like this will ever happen again.
There's a man made of straw in my head who keeps saying, "so what if some porn addicts have their viewing habits leaked? You have nothing to worry about if you aren't a degenerate." He's really good at finding the exact right arguments to piss me off in any given situation. What really gets my goat about him is that he never seems to suffer consequences for his shitty takes, probably because he doesn't give a shit about edge-cases as long as they don't apply to him. It's infuriating.
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Comment on Steam Replay 2025 in ~games
Promonk Link44 games (-27 from last year [‽]) 273 achievements (-251 from last year [double ‽]) Top 3: -Satisfactory (25% of playtime) -Fallout 4 (16%) -Forza Horizon 5 (14%) Honorable mentions: -Baldur's...44 games (-27 from last year [‽])
273 achievements (-251 from last year [double ‽])Top 3:
-Satisfactory (25% of playtime)
-Fallout 4 (16%)
-Forza Horizon 5 (14%)Honorable mentions:
-Baldur's Gate 3, played online with a friend, just barely got edged out of top three
-Skyrim Special Edition, only started this playthrough a couple of weeks ago, so I'm sure it'll top Fallout 4 by year's endLongest streak: 53 days (hurrah for unemployment!)
Platform playtime: 2% Steam Deck, 98% Desktop
Platform titles: 18 Steam Deck, 38 Desktop
(For some reason, I don't often play games on Deck, but I sure like installing and uninstalling games on it)56% played with controller, which I assume includes Deck. Baldur's Gate 3 and Satisfactory probably make up the huge majority of KB+M playtime, as I have never strayed far from my console pleb roots and prefer a controller where possible.
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Comment on EU drops 2035 combustion engine ban as global electric vehicle shift faces reset in ~transport
Promonk Link ParentOK, but this piece is about the EU climbing down from emissions targets, not the US. I don't think many people sincerely expected the US to lead on this issue, what with our dysfunctional...OK, but this piece is about the EU climbing down from emissions targets, not the US. I don't think many people sincerely expected the US to lead on this issue, what with our dysfunctional dependency on fossil fuels.
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Comment on Statement from Mozilla's new CEO in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentYou're correct. The "can't" was intended to be "can." Edited to correct.You're correct. The "can't" was intended to be "can." Edited to correct.
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Comment on Statement from Mozilla's new CEO in ~tech
Promonk (edited )Link ParentThere's a difference between implementing AI features that users can easily opt in or out of and shoving AI down their throats. Given Mozilla's track record, I'll wager they stand a better chance...There's a difference between implementing AI features that users can easily opt in or out of and shoving AI down their throats. Given Mozilla's track record, I'll wager they stand a better chance than most to toe that line acceptably.
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Comment on Statement from Mozilla's new CEO in ~tech
Promonk Link ParentIf I could name a CEO, I'd name him "Huggles." Maybe it would be humbling.If I could name a CEO, I'd name him "Huggles." Maybe it would be humbling.
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Comment on The latrine disaster in Erfurt in ~humanities.history
Promonk Link ParentA bunch of rich assholes drowned in raw sewage. What don't you find inspirational about that?A bunch of rich assholes drowned in raw sewage. What don't you find inspirational about that?
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Comment on Good News Everyone! in ~news
Promonk Link ParentI'm not really the type to consciously define myself in terms of my career, but I'm also prone to depressive episodes and have heavy-duty childhood trauma associated with financial insecurity, so...I'm not really the type to consciously define myself in terms of my career, but I'm also prone to depressive episodes and have heavy-duty childhood trauma associated with financial insecurity, so I can easily spiral without gainful employment. Together with losing medical insurance (which was the main reason I chose to accept lay-off rather than reduction) and thus my anti-depressant meds, I was seriously getting to wonder how bad the wallowing could get.
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Comment on Good News Everyone! in ~news
Promonk LinkPersonal good news: after 1.5+ years laid off, I'm finally employed again! The pay is worse than before (by just a smidge), but I'm working with computer hardware (which is where my interests and...Personal good news: after 1.5+ years laid off, I'm finally employed again! The pay is worse than before (by just a smidge), but I'm working with computer hardware (which is where my interests and experience lie) instead of user support, so that's something of a win.
I have a few reservations about the way the shop is run, but for the time being, I'm just looking forward to getting caught up on bills and maybe building my savings back up. I was mere days away from really hurting on the bills front, so the knowledge I'll have a paycheck coming in again is a balm on my soul.
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Comment on I don't care much for symbolism in ~creative
Promonk Link ParentPsst: I think you meant George Orwell, not Orson Wells.Psst: I think you meant George Orwell, not Orson Wells.
It can be frustrating as well, especially since the majority of my work has been in repair and diagnostics. But I find immense satisfaction in making broken things work again, so I find it fulfilling.