RNG's recent activity

  1. Comment on What is a non-professional situation, area or activity in which you are uniquely experienced or skilled? in ~talk

    RNG
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    Oh I interpreted the second sentence to be all encompassing. In any case, your insight is always valued.

    Oh I interpreted the second sentence to be all encompassing. In any case, your insight is always valued.

  2. Comment on What is a non-professional situation, area or activity in which you are uniquely experienced or skilled? in ~talk

    RNG
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    I'm not sure if this meets the prompt, but this is entirely non-professional. I think I'm quite knowledgeable about the philosophy of religion, specifically philosophical arguments for God/for...

    I'm not sure if this meets the prompt, but this is entirely non-professional.

    I think I'm quite knowledgeable about the philosophy of religion, specifically philosophical arguments for God/for atheism, I'd think far more than many theists and atheists (god that sounds conceited, but this is nearly a full-time hobby for me.)

    It started with falling into New Atheism and knowing the standard atheist responses to the common arguments which I imagine many if not most here can relate to. I figured the apologetic arguments were all trash, and I had the talking points to prove it. It turns out these arguments are far more complex than I gave them credit for. I'm not an expert on most of them, as it turns out you can likely spend a lifetime digging into any particular argument, but I have put in the effort with some arguments such as the fine-tuning argument and the argument from motion, though I have feelings about other arguments.

    Fine-tuning and the hard problem of consciousness led me from atheism to agnosticism, though I'm not nearly as knowledgeable about the philosophy of mind. Mostly consciousness, and this sense that there seems to be meaning in the world pointed to by the existence of value, morals, purpose, and consciousness. I'm still working out what my worldview looks like, but I'm heavily influenced by philosophers such as Thomas Nagel, Philip Goff, and lately David Chalmers, though I'm still early on in the philosophy of mind stuff..

    1 vote

  3. Comment on What is a non-professional situation, area or activity in which you are uniquely experienced or skilled? in ~talk

    RNG
    Link Parent
    This also very apparent in your interactions here on Tildes.

    At least three therapists have told me I'm very insightful and introspective, about myself. That I have a sort of clarity and objectivity that they don't usually find in people in general

    This also very apparent in your interactions here on Tildes.

    1 vote

  4. Comment on What is a non-professional situation, area or activity in which you are uniquely experienced or skilled? in ~talk

    RNG
    Link Parent
    I love cats! But I am quite allergic. Is there any combination of remedies that makes having a cat even remotely possible for me?

    I love cats! But I am quite allergic. Is there any combination of remedies that makes having a cat even remotely possible for me?

  5. Comment on Let's build a playlist! in ~music

    RNG
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    Discovered him about a month ago after listening to an interview with Tosin about who's music inspires him. Will definitely need to see him live. Any recommendations for more like his?

    Discovered him about a month ago after listening to an interview with Tosin about who's music inspires him. Will definitely need to see him live. Any recommendations for more like his?

  6. Comment on What considerations are considered most persuasive in moving moral skeptics to moral objectivism? in ~humanities

    RNG
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    I've left this comment unread in my notifications for two weeks because I wanted to both think about this more, and formulate what I want to say. I want "intellectual permission" to believe in...

    I've left this comment unread in my notifications for two weeks because I wanted to both think about this more, and formulate what I want to say.

    I want "intellectual permission" to believe in morality. I also want to feel that the things I believe are justified. And I've just got this concern about the justification meta-ethically of moral realism that I can't seem to get over. What are morals? What are they made of? Are moral facts just brute facts? Are morals abstract objects? If they are in any way ontologically dependent on the beliefs or preferences of humans, it isn't clear to me how that takes us anywhere other than anti-realism.

    1 vote

  7. Comment on Let's build a playlist! in ~music

    RNG
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    Yes, I'd like to order some djent, but if it was just straight-up Jazz Fusion. Hamasyan's latest single is a banger as well.

    Entertain Me - Tigran Hamasyan

    Yes, I'd like to order some djent, but if it was just straight-up Jazz Fusion.

    Hamasyan's latest single is a banger as well.

    2 votes

  8. Comment on Let's build a playlist! in ~music

    RNG
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    Also recommend OME. Shame Busdriver turned out to be an abuser, loved his stuff.

    Also recommend OME. Shame Busdriver turned out to be an abuser, loved his stuff.

  9. Comment on US President Joe Biden announces that he will not run for re-election in ~news

    RNG
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    This is wild speculation, but I wonder to what degree, if any, his current COVID infection has to do with this decision.

    It's an impressive thing to me to see someone set aside pride and power. I think he sincerely believed in himself, that he was able and worthy. Whether that was realistic on his part, if it was good timing, etc doesn't really matter now, it's done and now folks have to move so we'll just see what happens from here.

    This is wild speculation, but I wonder to what degree, if any, his current COVID infection has to do with this decision.

    15 votes

  10. Comment on How should you prepare for the end of the honeymoon phase? in ~life

    RNG
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    I reject the premise. I've been with my partner for over a decade, and we are both giddy with excitement the moment one of us comes home from work. We plan dates every weekend, and spend time...

    I reject the premise.

    I've been with my partner for over a decade, and we are both giddy with excitement the moment one of us comes home from work. We plan dates every weekend, and spend time together every evening, while simultaneously making plenty of time for our own individual hobbies and projects. There was no honeymoon period; the beginning was more difficult than now with financial, familial, and time constraints that just aren't present anymore. The excitement and joy the relationship brings is far greater than it was a decade ago.

    I don't know that there is any magic formula. If you like talking to each other and both continuously treat each other with love and respect I don't see why you wouldn't like them even more in a few years than you do now.

    8 votes

  11. Comment on "The Last Idealist" - a philosophical newsletter sort of thing in ~humanities

    RNG
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    I'm not going to lie, it took me longer than it should've to understand the kind of idealism the newsletter was referring to. Though, it would be very strange to write regularly to a general...

    I'm not going to lie, it took me longer than it should've to understand the kind of idealism the newsletter was referring to. Though, it would be very strange to write regularly to a general audience about metaphysical idealism lol

    1 vote

  12. Comment on Microsoft laid off a DEI team, and its lead wrote an internal email blasting how DEI is 'no longer business critical' in ~tech

    RNG
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    archive link This should be a reminder that there is no reason why progress must continue to move in one direction. Many liberals talk about how "history is on our side", but why? It may be that...

    archive link

    "True systems-change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020," a leader of the team wrote in an email sent to thousands of employees, which was viewed by Business Insider.

    The email states the team was eliminated due to "changing business needs" as of July 1. It's unclear how many employees were affected.

    This should be a reminder that there is no reason why progress must continue to move in one direction. Many liberals talk about how "history is on our side", but why? It may be that future generations are far more rightist than we are today. There's no reason to believe things couldn't move in that direction for decades or centuries to come. Nothing is granted.

    Also, remember that corporations are only your friend as long as that friendship is profitable to them. If rightist or bigoted viewpoints become profitable long-term, don't think for a second that your favorite brand won't trip over themselves to embody those values.

    52 votes

  14. Comment on Tracking cryptocurrency industry spending to influence 2024 US elections in ~finance

    RNG
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    Thanks for posting this skybrian. Whenever I get these insights into how the sausage is made politically, I can't help but be reminded of this paper. From the abstract:

    Thanks for posting this skybrian.

    Whenever I get these insights into how the sausage is made politically, I can't help but be reminded of this paper. From the abstract:

    The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence.

    8 votes

  15. Comment on LGBT and marginalized voices are not welcome on Threads in ~lgbt

    RNG
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    I understand sensitivity to something many call "concern trolling" where one enters a community they don't belong in and pose objections while insincerely feigning concern as a justification for...

    I understand sensitivity to something many call "concern trolling" where one enters a community they don't belong in and pose objections while insincerely feigning concern as a justification for why they are making the objections. This feigned concern allows the troll to blend in.

    I am a queer man, and issues regarding inclusivity and safety on social media platforms matter greatly to me, and is a substantial portion of the reason I prefer putting my efforts here at Tildes rather than another platform. It also motivated the comment I left.

    My comment makes two points and doesn't seek to discredit the article. To start, I think the article works as-is, I don't intend to ramp up the standard of evidence for the main thesis of the article. The fact that political content is turned-off by default and that some people's existence is inherently political is cause for alarm.

    For my first point, I think it is a worthwhile endeavor to measure the impacts to LGBTQ creators that Meta's algorithm change caused. My point isn't that the critique doesn't work without this evidence, but that it is more forceful with this evidence.

    My second point is less about data the article could use and makes a broader point about the kind of data that could make communities more welcoming and safe. For instance, if we had a good measure of the relative inclusivity of platforms, this would both help in both finding safe communities and, more crucially, measure the impacts of platform actions on inclusivity. Such as whether this politics toggle has an impact on safety or the degree to which Twitter's change in ownership affected inclusivity.

    13 votes

  16. Comment on LGBT and marginalized voices are not welcome on Threads in ~lgbt

    RNG
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    If LGBTQ content was filtered as "political", then when this filter was turned on, we should expect engagement for major LGBTQ creators to fall off of a cliff. This data would make the critiques...

    If LGBTQ content was filtered as "political", then when this filter was turned on, we should expect engagement for major LGBTQ creators to fall off of a cliff. This data would make the critiques mentioned in the article all the more forceful. Do we know any examples where this has happened?

    Another piece of data I'd like to see is a regular survey of how safe different vulnerable groups feel on various platforms. This would be a nice gauge for platforms seeking to build inclusive spaces.

    5 votes

  17. Comment on Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd in ~news

    RNG
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    I'm not assuming that at all. It'd be rather strange to believe this guy supported Trump, given that he died trying to assassinate him.

    You are assuming all conservatives support trump.

    I'm not assuming that at all. It'd be rather strange to believe this guy supported Trump, given that he died trying to assassinate him.

  18. Comment on Tildes Minecraft Survival - Countdown and launch day in ~games

    RNG
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    Dang that sucks. Guess I'm stuck buying it again if I want it.

    Dang that sucks. Guess I'm stuck buying it again if I want it.

  19. Comment on Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd in ~news

    RNG
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    Mmm that's a good point. And a concerning one as well, since Reagan got a lot of sympathy despite the attempt not being perpetrated by the left.

    Mmm that's a good point. And a concerning one as well, since Reagan got a lot of sympathy despite the attempt not being perpetrated by the left.

    10 votes

  20. Comment on Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd in ~news

    RNG
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    I guess I assign a much higher prior to these two beliefs because someone who dies attempting to carry out the assassination of a polarizing political figure seems like the kind of person who's...

    What makes you believe this is this less compelling than your top two hypotheses?

    I guess I assign a much higher prior to these two beliefs because someone who dies attempting to carry out the assassination of a polarizing political figure seems like the kind of person who's more likely to have strong political beliefs. Considering that most people have a strong feelings about Trump, it'd be surprising to find that the guy who tried to assassinate Trump doesn't have strong feelings about him one way or the other.

    It's possible that it's some other motivation. Merely wanting to be famous, or another ideology that doesn't fit cleanly in the US left-right spectrum such as Islamic extremism, but I find him being politically motivated more likely.

    I don't have strong convictions on this; we don't have much evidence yet, and I may be disproven within the hour lol

    3 votes