smoontjes's recent activity
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Comment on BBC News live streaming on YouTube in the UK and USA in ~news
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Comment on Timasomo 2026: Week 2 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
smoontjes Link ParentSuddenly getting a new apartment soon, safe to say I have different priorities now - you can remove me sadly!Suddenly getting a new apartment soon, safe to say I have different priorities now - you can remove me sadly!
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Since season 4 of The Diplomat is out today, here is one of the best scenes from the show (season 2 episode 6 spoilers!)
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
smoontjes Link ParentNo exact release date yet for season 2, but it's going to be 2027 at least. Can't wait! Season 1 was really good.No exact release date yet for season 2, but it's going to be 2027 at least. Can't wait! Season 1 was really good.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
smoontjes Link ParentNo butchering or even close to it! Silo stays good to great the whole way imoNo butchering or even close to it! Silo stays good to great the whole way imo
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Comment on Those viral claims about plummeting Russian ‘bot’ activity have no basis in fact in ~society
smoontjes Link ParentFor me it has everything to do with the war because of how while Ukraine most likely had no hand in the viral "news" about the bots being gone, they are very much amplifying the narrative that...For me it has everything to do with the war because of how while Ukraine most likely had no hand in the viral "news" about the bots being gone, they are very much amplifying the narrative that it's a real thing (and I don't blame them) and Zelenskyy himself used it for an easy win. So for me the interesting part about it is the exact opposite for you - the information space and propaganda angles. And I also have a compulsion for the truth no matter what.
I totally understand your perspective though. And you have my empathy because that must really be a breath of fresh air to for a moment not have to deal with nonsense in those communities you frequent, it sounds so exhausting.
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Comment on Those viral claims about plummeting Russian ‘bot’ activity have no basis in fact in ~society
smoontjes Link ParentI personally have not experienced or seen any change but maybe that's because I already don't engage with the type of content that I know would attract controversy and hate and ragebait etc. I...I personally have not experienced or seen any change but maybe that's because I already don't engage with the type of content that I know would attract controversy and hate and ragebait etc. I personally hope it's real and I don't want to discount yours and others experiences about it. But especially a war like this that since the very beginning has been full of misleading news, misinformation, and so heavily propagandized.. if some news during such a war sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
At the end of the day if I know anything from my studies of history and especially war history, it is that no matter what side in any war it's about, every warring power throughout modern history has generously used propaganda. And seeing as this is a very real war with more misinformation than ever before, I do think it's healthy to have heavy doses of skepticism before reposting viral news with zero sources (or in this instance one misleading graph and another graph that was fake and there were no other sources).
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Comment on Those viral claims about plummeting Russian ‘bot’ activity have no basis in fact in ~society
smoontjes Link ParentWhich is basically hearsay right. Wouldn't be the first time there's mass hallucination or whatever the word is, on social media. Whether you (and me) like it or not, it's still used by...Personally, I'm staying wary. I've seen folks jump to conclusions a bit too fast, but I'm also hearing a lot of folks tell me they've noticed a change. Hard to say for sure.
Which is basically hearsay right. Wouldn't be the first time there's mass hallucination or whatever the word is, on social media.
All I can say beyond that is that, for all that they appear legitimate, this person would get taken seriously a lot better if they weren't posting on the Nazi website.
Whether you (and me) like it or not, it's still used by politicians and journalists worldwide, that doesn't make them Nazis nor does it mean the content isn't worth your time. And yes the author has good credentials.
Here's another place to read about it, something actually proper that made an article on it: BBC link
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Comment on Those viral claims about plummeting Russian ‘bot’ activity have no basis in fact in ~society
smoontjes LinkSorry for the X link but it can be viewed without an account and it is from a reputable journalist about what was previously discussed in this thread - link - and I found it important enough to...Sorry for the X link but it can be viewed without an account and it is from a reputable journalist about what was previously discussed in this thread - link - and I found it important enough to create a new topic for it.
From the article:
More illuminating, I think, is the lens of social psychology: People like to have their views confirmed, they like to cheer on their team, and they like to collect likes and retweets. And I don’t mean to descend into cynicism. Ukraine has had a particularly tragic few days, stabbed in the back by the Trump administration even as dozens of civilians were murdered by Russian drones and missiles. I understand that people are hurting and want to celebrate a win. That’s just human nature.
But it's hugely important for those of us who support Ukraine to practice good epistemic hygiene. If for no other reason than because Russian influence activity, both on- and offline, is absolutely a real, documented threat to the democratic world. I’ve done a good amount of reporting and editing on this topic: Consider the ‘Dear Compatriots’ project, this story on Russian interference in Moldova’s EU referendum, or this investigation into real Russian “cognitive strikes” against the West.
Now, all of this doesn’t prove that nothing happened. What it shows is that there’s no proof that anything happened. It’s certainly possible that nefarious Russian bot activity really has been reduced. Tracking this kind of thing is very difficult, and I hope someone does a detailed and rigorous study soon. Until then, I think the widely-repeated anecdotal observations — “wow, social media seems so much nicer today!” — can be dismissed as wishful thinking.
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Those viral claims about plummeting Russian ‘bot’ activity have no basis in fact
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Comment on Ukraine struck Yandex data centers, Russian bots went silent—now questions are mounting in ~society
smoontjes (edited )Link ParentIt might be true but this article uses some of the same tweets with graphs that The Verge article I linked pointed out were questionable sources. It also points to the 0.4% number which isn't...It might be true but this article uses some of the same tweets with graphs that The Verge article I linked pointed out were questionable sources. It also points to the 0.4% number which isn't necessarily that type of bot, but could as well be scrapers and such. And then it points to some tweets with less engagement than others, but is it really surprising that hours-old stuff has less views than stuff that's been there for days? I don't know, but I am still not convinced of the allegedly huge effect the attacks had until I see proper, sizable, data analysis.
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Deafheaven - Hunter (2026)
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Comment on Ukraine struck Yandex data centers, Russian bots went silent—now questions are mounting in ~society
smoontjes Link ParentIt just sounds too good to be true too. Not that the datacenter attacks weren't damaging to Russian infrastructure, but I also became skeptical of the news since no established major medias have...It just sounds too good to be true too. Not that the datacenter attacks weren't damaging to Russian infrastructure, but I also became skeptical of the news since no established major medias have covered the part about the bots.
The best I could find is a Verge article on it: The Yandex outage probably didn’t blitz Russian bots / At least, not the troll traffic that blights social media.
[...] The data’s source isn’t established [...]
“Could we (and especially politicians, journalists and scientists who should know better) please stop sharing unverified images?” Wimmer said.
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Comment on Denmark government hack leaked 8.7 million citizen's ID's: the password was "123456" in ~tech
smoontjes LinkArticle in Danish, some translated snippets: The company also didn't use 2FA, and login page for their access was publicly available: article link. The many troubling things a Danish CPR number...Article in Danish, some translated snippets:
A small Danish software company on Funen, which markets itself as "top-notch data protection", is at the center of the largest leak of Danes' CPR numbers and addresses in Danish history.
The company had legal access to the CPR register, which is what has been compromised.
DR's research shows that one of the passwords used by the company was part of another leak [...] it was simple and easy to decipher: "123456".
Ultimately, it is the authorities who are responsible for ensuring that companies with access to the CPR register meet a sufficient level of security. The National Unit for Serious Crime is investigating the case. They had no comment. There are currently no charges in the case.
The company also didn't use 2FA, and login page for their access was publicly available: article link.
The many troubling things a Danish CPR number (ID) can be used for include counterfeit, phising, scamming, obtaining even more personal information on you, even taking out loans: article link
Previous thread: link
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Denmark government hack leaked 8.7 million citizen's ID's: the password was "123456"
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Comment on US Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed in ~society
smoontjes LinkI guess it's forever more of this, ever more outrageous: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_the_zone It reads like a scene from The Running Man or something, what the hell is the US coming to.....I guess it's forever more of this, ever more outrageous: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_the_zone
It reads like a scene from The Running Man or something, what the hell is the US coming to.. the last 10 years there, and especially the last 2 years, is just unfathomable to think about, like where do you even begin..
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Comment on German search engine ditches Mistral, bets on Chinese open-source AI in ~tech
smoontjes LinkAll I've previously heard about Ecosia is that it was supposed to be a trustworthy EU alternative. I'm struggling to keep my language clean here because holy fucking shit this sounds like the...All I've previously heard about Ecosia is that it was supposed to be a trustworthy EU alternative. I'm struggling to keep my language clean here because holy fucking shit this sounds like the absolute worst move they could have possibly made. This sounds so, so, so dumb.
Western research organizations have also raised concerns about the models’ effectiveness given their censorship on politically sensitive topics. A recent NewsGuard investigation found the five leading Chinese-backed AI models repeatedly failed to correct pro-China falsehoods.
But Kroll said such biases are not a dealbreaker, arguing that geopolitical distortions can be addressed through technical measures — unlike shortcomings in model quality.
I also read elsewhere that part of the reason is that they are against the French use of nuclear energy. Classic Germany...
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Comment on Protests spread across France, growing from school demonstrations (gifted link) in ~society
smoontjes Link ParentDespite being a gifted link I still got a paywall so thanks for this summary!Despite being a gifted link I still got a paywall so thanks for this summary!
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Comment on What single episode of a show would you recommend as a standalone? in ~tv
smoontjes Link ParentThanks. I put links and not names because I almost never have a single clue what TV episodes are named. Don't know how anyone knows it actually haha, to the point I don't actually quite understand...Thanks.
I put links and not names because I almost never have a single clue what TV episodes are named. Don't know how anyone knows it actually haha, to the point I don't actually quite understand why single-episode discussions and reviews are even a thing (except a topic like this).
I don't know why TV reviews can ever be based on that and not either the entire thing, or at least a full season. A single episode out of dozens or hundreds is like reviewing a single chapter of a book?
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Comment on What single episode of a show would you recommend as a standalone? in ~tv
smoontjes LinkThis one from Euphoria. Best trans representation I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. It's also nothing like the rest of the show. There might be some context missing but I think it will pass...This one from Euphoria. Best trans representation I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. It's also nothing like the rest of the show. There might be some context missing but I think it will pass alright.
And then there's this one from Black Mirror. Also not much like the rest of the show. Just an incredible stand-alone.
Seems like they are making it unnecessarily complicated? In Denmark it's just built into tax.