SleventhTower's recent activity
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
SleventhTower Link ParentI would label that phenomenon as regulatory capture.I would label that phenomenon as regulatory capture.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
SleventhTower (edited )LinkMonster Train 2 Deckbuilding roguelike similar to Slay the Spire. I played the first one for about 130 hours. It's been a great side game to play while eating dinner or watching a show. I've only...Monster Train 2
Deckbuilding roguelike similar to Slay the Spire. I played the first one for about 130 hours. It's been a great side game to play while eating dinner or watching a show. I've only got a few runs down in the second game. I have somewhat mixed feelings at this point.
It's nice having new mechanics, new heroes, new cards, etc. But it's not intuitive yet, as I often have to check things like "what does Conduit do again?? And have I unlocked any cards that synergize well with it?" So it requires a bit more mental energy to play.
Also, the changes from the first game feel a bit like "just make the numbers bigger and add more things to keep track of" sometimes. I.e. power creep. And I don't like that the final boss fight has 7 waves, as it drags on IMO. Some of the elegance of the first game seems to be diluted.
But that's an early impression, and I'm sure that will change over time. I've just unlocked the third clan and started my first run with them, so I've only seen a fraction of the game so far.
Sifu
Third-person brawler with tight combat. I realize now that watching this game doesn't really do it justice. It feels fluid and satisfying to play. Like Mirror's Edge but focused on martial arts instead of parkour. Singleplayer action games have not grabbed me recently, but I think I'll stick with this one. It's basically a fighting game, but one that's not weighed down by old tropes (saying that as a casual fighting game fan).
It's the kind of game where the presentation doesn't really matter, because the core mechanic is so good. But the presentation is actually cool too. Revenge story set in China (it feels like Hong Kong specifically, but apparently it's not, and there appears to be some discourse around that and other cultural issues on the web), that provides a fitting atmosphere without bogging down the gameplay.
I played just an hour or two so far, so again these are early impressions.
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Comment on Bun is joining Anthropic in ~tech
SleventhTower Link ParentI had heard good stuff about Bun without understanding what exactly it was till now. It sounds cool technically, but yeah the acquisition makes me pause a bit.I had heard good stuff about Bun without understanding what exactly it was till now. It sounds cool technically, but yeah the acquisition makes me pause a bit.
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Comment on The DoorDash problem: How AI browsers are a huge threat to Amazon in ~tech
SleventhTower Link ParentRight, I don't usually trust the biggest YouTube channels surrounding a particular topic, as they tend to turn into biased/promo-heavy channels over time. So you often have to seek out smaller or...Right, I don't usually trust the biggest YouTube channels surrounding a particular topic, as they tend to turn into biased/promo-heavy channels over time. So you often have to seek out smaller or particularly trustworthy channels. And I don't think the LLMs have the proper judgment mechanisms to filter through mixed-trust information like that yet.
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Comment on The DoorDash problem: How AI browsers are a huge threat to Amazon in ~tech
SleventhTower (edited )Link ParentAt this point it's rare to come across easily digestible product reviews/recommendations with no agenda too. Reddit is filling up with increasingly subtle promotional posts/comments that are...At this point it's rare to come across easily digestible product reviews/recommendations with no agenda too. Reddit is filling up with increasingly subtle promotional posts/comments that are designed to appear organic. The lists and blogs that appear in the top of search results are often only there due to SEO manipulation and/or have affiliate links. I think YouTube is one of the last places remaining to get less biased information. But even that approach usually requires you to seek out specific creators and watch long videos.
I'm not sure I would trust AI's product searches as a result. It gets a lot of information from Reddit's ads-disguised-as-comments I've noticed.
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Comment on I think nobody wants AI in Firefox, Mozilla in ~tech
SleventhTower Link ParentSame here. I know I would have been better served by saving the HTML/text of articles I wanted to read. Thus avoiding link rot. But I didn't do that. And I also should have categorized my...Same here. I know I would have been better served by saving the HTML/text of articles I wanted to read. Thus avoiding link rot. But I didn't do that. And I also should have categorized my bookmarks better. But I'm 1200 bookmarks in, and I would like some help with the mess I have now.
I've always thought the interface for bookmarks was oddly antiquated. Like it basically hasn't changed in 20 years.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
SleventhTower Link ParentI thought you were describing a conversation with an NPC in-game lol. But that is a cool parallel!I thought you were describing a conversation with an NPC in-game lol. But that is a cool parallel!
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Comment on 10M people watched a YouTuber shim a lock; the lock company sued him. Bad idea. in ~tech
SleventhTower Link ParentAfter reading the headline, I immediately started laughing at the thought of the Lockpicking Lawyer getting sued. I was a bit disappointed it wasn't him, just for the abstract humor of it....After reading the headline, I immediately started laughing at the thought of the Lockpicking Lawyer getting sued. I was a bit disappointed it wasn't him, just for the abstract humor of it. Although of course I don't wish frivolous lawsuits on people.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
SleventhTower Link ParentHow much of the gameplay is set by the Breakout-style mechanics? I'm into roguelites, but I don't really particularly like Breakout-style games.How much of the gameplay is set by the Breakout-style mechanics? I'm into roguelites, but I don't really particularly like Breakout-style games.
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Comment on 'This is definitely my last TwitchCon': High-profile streamer Emiru was assaulted at the event, even as streamers have been sounding the alarm about stalkers and harassment in ~games
SleventhTower Link ParentUnfortunately, I think there's significant overlap between "things that lead to and/or enable parasociality" and "things that cause a streamer to grow and/or maintain their popularity". Regarding...Unfortunately, I think there's significant overlap between "things that lead to and/or enable parasociality" and "things that cause a streamer to grow and/or maintain their popularity".
Regarding your example streamer - did they start streaming that game earlier than most other people? Do they produce good educational content? Are they exceptionally skilled at the game? If any of those things are true, then those are probably big factors as to why they are popular without engaging in things that enable parasociality. In other words, they seem like an anomaly to me.
But a lot of streamers without those factors will be incentivized to engage with their audience on a personal level. Use a camera. Get to know the regulars. Expose parts of their personal life. Because these are all things that generally make viewers more interested and invested in the stream. Which helps the streamer become more popular.
So I'm not saying this was your message, but I don't think we can just tell streamers "don't engage personally with your audience" when that runs counter to a lot of incentives.
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Comment on “No one asked for this reboot”: ‘Tron’ may mark end of Jared Leto’s franchise-leading days in ~movies
SleventhTower Link ParentThis seemed obvious as soon as I heard about his not-a-cult-but-seems-kinda-similar-to-a-cult thing. Comes with the territory.This seemed obvious as soon as I heard about his not-a-cult-but-seems-kinda-similar-to-a-cult thing. Comes with the territory.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
SleventhTower Link ParentIt is a really great drop-in game. I don't feel particularly good at it, and in fact, I don't know if I've gotten better even after understanding more mechanics (I just learned what the Boss Curse...It is a really great drop-in game. I don't feel particularly good at it, and in fact, I don't know if I've gotten better even after understanding more mechanics (I just learned what the Boss Curse does after being confused by its effects multiple times) and unlocking a lot of stuff. But it's enjoyable nonetheless.
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Comment on A better way to watch YouTube in ~tech
SleventhTower Link ParentThat's good to know. Although I kind of doubt that Watch History is the only factor going into your recommendations. Wouldn't there be other data too?That's good to know. Although I kind of doubt that Watch History is the only factor going into your recommendations. Wouldn't there be other data too?
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Comment on A better way to watch YouTube in ~tech
SleventhTower LinkI'll try not to totally rehash what other people are saying. But I actually really like YouTube. I use adblock and Sponsorblock, and I consistently give feed back through liking, adding to...I'll try not to totally rehash what other people are saying. But I actually really like YouTube. I use adblock and Sponsorblock, and I consistently give feed back through liking, adding to favorites/watch later, and clicking "Do not recommend this channel again". I have hundreds of subscriptions at this point. YouTube feels like one of the few platforms that has not completely changed and lost its charm, despite the real issues and controversies that have happened over the years.
In the past, when I tried using the Subscriptions page as a sort of homebase, (out of curiosity), it felt quite boring and flat. There are a lot of channels I subscribed to because they put out one or two videos I really liked. But then they've pumped out a bunch of uninteresting vlog or exhaustive list-style videos since then. If I stick to YouTube's recommendations, I'm not even aware of that. The exhaustive videos are not shown to me, because they're not popular in general.
As others have said, it might be a function of how I've already used YouTube. My account is from like 2006, and I've used it actively since then. So the recommendation algorithm really seems to get me. Maybe the advice in the article only applies to new or relatively new (<5 years old?) accounts?
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Comment on Will an AI actress really become ‘the next Scarlett Johansson’? in ~movies
SleventhTower Link ParentThere used to be AMVs (Anime Music Video) and FMVs (Fan Music Video) on early YouTube, which seem similar. Plus compilations and tributes. The term "edit" has replaced all those older terms it seems?There used to be AMVs (Anime Music Video) and FMVs (Fan Music Video) on early YouTube, which seem similar. Plus compilations and tributes. The term "edit" has replaced all those older terms it seems?
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Comment on EA is reportedly about to be sold in a record-setting $50 billion buyout to an investor group that includes private equity and Saudi Arabia in ~games
SleventhTower Link ParentIt's like there's a local restaurant that's existed for the last 30 years. I've only gone a few times when friends and family wanted to go, because they serve a style of pizza that I don't really...It's like there's a local restaurant that's existed for the last 30 years. I've only gone a few times when friends and family wanted to go, because they serve a style of pizza that I don't really like. One time I got mild food poisoning from it. Now the restaurant has been bought by a certified shitbird. While previous owners had multiple scandals tarnish their reputation too.
It's good to know there's another reason not to eat at the restaurant again. But it won't change that much for me personally.
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Comment on Grape glut: Too much wine across the world leaves tons of US grapes rotting this crush season in ~food
SleventhTower Link ParentAnecdotally, I just visited a vineyard and ate some wine grapes off the vine. And they were surprisingly not bad. I thought they would be too tart, but they were actually a pleasant balance of...Anecdotally, I just visited a vineyard and ate some wine grapes off the vine. And they were surprisingly not bad. I thought they would be too tart, but they were actually a pleasant balance of sweet vs tart. The main issues were the thicker skin and larger seeds. If wine grapes were available to me, I would probably eat them. But I can see how they're not very marketable compared to snacking grapes.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
SleventhTower Link ParentI also downloaded and played a bit of 2XKO, a new fighting game set in the League of Legends universe currently in closed beta (easy to get in). I've been excited at the prospect of getting into a...I also downloaded and played a bit of 2XKO, a new fighting game set in the League of Legends universe currently in closed beta (easy to get in). I've been excited at the prospect of getting into a new fighting game. And it is a really well-polished game whose controls feel great.
But it didn't quite grab me. I've never played a tag team fighter (where you can swap between two (or more in other games) characters in a single match), so maybe that was a hang up. I was also fairly tired at the time, and learning a new fighting game requires some focus. But I have a vague memory of feeling this way with other fighting games. And I suspect that if I push through the initial ambivalence, I'll enjoy the result. So I am determined to have another session at least.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
SleventhTower LinkI think my most played game over the past month or two has been Monster Train. Not usually through marathon sessions, but just by putting in an hour or two while eating dinner and/or watching...I think my most played game over the past month or two has been Monster Train. Not usually through marathon sessions, but just by putting in an hour or two while eating dinner and/or watching something. I'm late to the game, but that's typical for me. It's a roguelite deckbuilder pretty similar in format to Slay the Spire, but different enough to feel fresh.
I've almost unlocked everything in the base game. And a few times I've felt burnt out and thought "I don't think I'll play that again for a while" but within 1-3 days I'm playing it again. The gameplay is hard to match. It's playable in 20 minute bursts. It rarely requires full attention, (although I do regularly come back to the game mid-run and make significant errors due to forgetting a key part of my particular deck in this run). And yet there are so many moments when I feel like a genius, like I won the lottery, or I'm just surprised at a new interaction I hadn't considered.
Anyway, even as I'm ostensibly reaching the end of the base game's rope, there is still a DLC I haven't bought. And a recent sequel. Feels good to have all that lined up.
There's a big loophole in regulation that helps manufacturers avoid the true point of the regulation (reducing emissions). Yeah, the manufacturers would rather that all of CAFE be rolled back, but the current situation was pretty friendly to manufacturers in the first place.