Starman2112's recent activity

  1. Comment on What fictional world would you live in, if you could pick any one? in ~talk

    Starman2112
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    Easy, Glie. I value stability, and I'm not one for adventure. A peaceful life in a walled city where everyone has their place would be my natural habitat

    Easy, Glie. I value stability, and I'm not one for adventure. A peaceful life in a walled city where everyone has their place would be my natural habitat

    2 votes
  2. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    Starman2112
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    Way back when I watched Last Exile, I put Blue Submarine No. 6 on my list, and I just watched it the other day. Like Last Exile, the show doesn't waste any time introducing you to the world....

    Way back when I watched Last Exile, I put Blue Submarine No. 6 on my list, and I just watched it the other day.

    Like Last Exile, the show doesn't waste any time introducing you to the world. Everything is flooded, humanity is fighting a war against ocean-dwelling Doctor Moreau animal people, and we're following the crew of Blue 6. Anything we can glean about the world is through dialogue and visuals, and they don't explain a whole lot

    I really like a series that doesnt try to explain itself. Sometimes it's more interesting to speculate than it is to be told what's happening outright. This show leans a little too far in that direction, but there are shows that do it really well—Haibane Renmei, Serial Experiments Lain, Last Exile, to name a few.

    My gut reaction to the CG was that it was bad, but I have an easy time settling in to an animation style. It's hard for me to judge, with the show being almost as old as I am—they couldn't have known how incredibly dated it would look decades after release. Besides, I love Range Murata's art style, so the 2d animation more than makes up for it.

    I watched the dub, and I found the audio mixing made it really hard to understand what people were saying sometimes. Most of the English actors are somewhere between "okay" and "decent," but I loved Zorndyke's english voice. I can't believe he only acted in three shows.

    7/10, and it's on the rewatch pile. It's only 4 episodes, not much of a time commitment.

    2 votes
  3. Comment on If your games library disappeared, which games would you repurchase? in ~games

    Starman2112
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    I don't actually play most of the games I own. The only ones I would repurchase immediately would be Stardew Valley because I want to support my favorite dev, and Titanfall 2 because I want to...

    I don't actually play most of the games I own. The only ones I would repurchase immediately would be Stardew Valley because I want to support my favorite dev, and Titanfall 2 because I want to support my favorite game. After that, I would either buy or pirate anything I have a hankering to play

    FTL, Crypt of the Necrodancer, and KSP would probably be reobtained pretty quickly

    1 vote
  4. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    Starman2112
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    Finished Madlax yesterday. Starring a notably beautiful assassin who, alongside a girl with amnesia (who only remembers the other's codename, which is also the title of the series), works to...

    Finished Madlax yesterday. Starring a notably beautiful assassin who, alongside a girl with amnesia (who only remembers the other's codename, which is also the title of the series), works to uncover their connection both with each other and with a shadowy organization that secretly controls a large portion of society... it definitely shares DNA with Noir. Makes sense, with both of them being part of Bee Train's "girls with guns" "trilogy."

    It didn't quite capture me like Noir did. It felt like the show took too long to get to where it was going. Which I understand is a valid criticism of Noir as well, but that show's more episodic nature managed to keep my interest better than Madlax did. It may be that it was just a bad month, and I had trouble paying attention earlier in the series.

    I liked the music. Like Noir, there are only a few really prominent tracks that play throughout the show, but I like them enough that the repetition didn't bother me.

    I didn't like that near the end, characters started just... Explaining stuff. I like a show that I have to interpret. I would have preferred if the nature of the title character's existence were left a bit more vague, instead of having multiple people explain it multiple times.

    I'm giving it a 7/10. Not bad, not perfect. Noir was a hard act to follow. Maybe on a future rewatch, I'll rate it more favorably.

    I'd like more vague shows. Shows that warrant a lot of contemplation and interpretation. Like Serial Experiments Lain, or Haibane Renmei, or From The New World. Anyone want to talk about shows along those lines, feel free to go on a tangent here

    2 votes
  5. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    Starman2112
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    Finished Revolutionary Girl Utena this week. It's the kind of show that I would have to rewatch a few times to really understand. There's the obvious deconstruction of gender roles, the themes of...

    Finished Revolutionary Girl Utena this week. It's the kind of show that I would have to rewatch a few times to really understand. There's the obvious deconstruction of gender roles, the themes of coming of age and overcoming trauma, the childish desire to grow up, but I'm hardly capable of any deeper interpretation. I look forward to seeing a great many video essays and reviews, because there's a lot to chew on in this show.

    I really like the architecture in this series, especially in the movie. Buildings are surreal, too big for what they house, with bizarre (if not impossible) geometry. This person wrote an essay about the architecture in the movie fifteen years ago, using fancy words like Constructivism and Deconstructivism.

    Before hearing anyone else's interpretations, I'm giving it a 7/10. It's a bit more abstract than I'm comfortable with, it took a while for me to actually get invested in the show, but I can recognize a good story when I see one (even if I'm not fully equipped to understand it).

    3 votes
  6. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    Starman2112
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    I got into Sekiro a couple weeks ago. It's the only Fromsoft game that I've really enjoyed playing, which makes sense with it being the odd one out. It solves everything I don't like about...

    I got into Sekiro a couple weeks ago. It's the only Fromsoft game that I've really enjoyed playing, which makes sense with it being the odd one out. It solves everything I don't like about soulslikes. Posture is my favorite mechanic—instead of just poking at my opponent for half an hour and praying that I don't run out of stamina while evading attacks, this game rewards staying right in my opponent's face and actively engaging in combat. Both attacking and deflecting build up your opponent's posture bar, so fights are much more energetic than other Fromsoft games.

    Also, you don't pick attributes to upgrade when you level up. Some people don't like the lower level of customization, but I love it. Fights are about mutable equipment loadouts instead of immutable stat increases, and you'll never find yourself stuck because you levelled up Endurance too much.

    Genichiro is one of my favorite bosses I've ever fought. There's no gimmick, there's no cheese strat, it's pure combat. Get in his face, attack, and deflect. Almost a nonstop clanging of swords. It's beautiful. His long combos are extremely satisfying to perfectly parry. Plus, when he kills you (and he will kill you, a lot), you respawn just down the hall. There's no enemies between you and him, you just attack, die, revive, repeat. It probably took me three dozen attempts, and I never got upset about dying at all.

    Right now I'm working on Guardian Ape. He's... A little bit frustrating. Update: I killed the stupid monkey!

    Spoilers for Guardian Ape

    Much like Lady Butterfly, it's a unique sense of "oh God please no" when you get the deathblow, and find out that there's a secret second health bar. His second phase is so weird. This is not how an ape should be moving!

  7. Comment on How to pass the time when you have nothing to do at work and just your phone? in ~talk

    Starman2112
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    I've been spending a lot of time playing Merriam-Webster's daily crosswords. I usually hate crossword puzzles, but these are small and easy enough that I can usually almost finish them before...

    I've been spending a lot of time playing Merriam-Webster's daily crosswords. I usually hate crossword puzzles, but these are small and easy enough that I can usually almost finish them before looking anything up

    There's also Quordle, Octordle, and Victordle

    4 votes
  8. Comment on Oatly loses right to call its drinks ‘milk’ in landmark UK ruling – lexical dispute with trade body Dairy UK argued slogan ‘Post Milk Generation’ was misleading to consumers in ~food

    Starman2112
    Link Parent
    I'm not trying to argue, but I don't like my words being misunderstood. What I said is that these are always clearly labeled, which NextMilk is. I can't account for someone not reading the label....

    However, you claimed that every single dairy alternative was not something you could confuse with dairy milk, and that's just not right.

    I'm not trying to argue, but I don't like my words being misunderstood. What I said is that these are always clearly labeled, which NextMilk is. I can't account for someone not reading the label. The only brand I can understand there being any confusion about is Bored Cow, but I would hope that consumers spending $20 on a gallon of milk know that it isn't ordinary cow's milk.

    6 votes
  9. Comment on Oatly loses right to call its drinks ‘milk’ in landmark UK ruling – lexical dispute with trade body Dairy UK argued slogan ‘Post Milk Generation’ was misleading to consumers in ~food

    Starman2112
    Link Parent
    Without a brand name or a picture, or even a sure memory of what plant the milk was made of, or when this happened, how can you expect people to simply believe your comment? I'm not saying you're...

    Without a brand name or a picture, or even a sure memory of what plant the milk was made of, or when this happened, how can you expect people to simply believe your comment? I'm not saying you're lying, but I have no reason to believe that this isn't more on your father than it is on the marketing.

    4 votes
  10. Comment on Oatly loses right to call its drinks ‘milk’ in landmark UK ruling – lexical dispute with trade body Dairy UK argued slogan ‘Post Milk Generation’ was misleading to consumers in ~food

    Starman2112
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    What confusion? Dairy alternatives are always plainly labeled, usually containing pictures of the actual plants they use. I've been more confused about skim vs 1% vs 2% vs whole milk than I've...

    Objecting to that basically means you're in favor of wanting confusion.

    What confusion? Dairy alternatives are always plainly labeled, usually containing pictures of the actual plants they use. I've been more confused about skim vs 1% vs 2% vs whole milk than I've ever been about what plant my drink came from.

    13 votes
  11. Comment on Oatly loses right to call its drinks ‘milk’ in landmark UK ruling – lexical dispute with trade body Dairy UK argued slogan ‘Post Milk Generation’ was misleading to consumers in ~food

    Starman2112
    Link Parent
    I would be willing to give up calling plant-based milks "milk," but only if we simultaneously end subsidies for beef and dairy. Let's see how the market handles $4 gallons of Almond-based Dairy...

    I would be willing to give up calling plant-based milks "milk," but only if we simultaneously end subsidies for beef and dairy. Let's see how the market handles $4 gallons of Almond-based Dairy Alternative vs $12 gallons of Genuine Cow's Milk

    19 votes
  12. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    Starman2112
    (edited )
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    Finished Elfen Lied yesterday. I feel better about it than I did last week. I can see why some people love it as much as they do, but I still didn't really like it. I liked the characters a lot....

    Finished Elfen Lied yesterday. I feel better about it than I did last week. I can see why some people love it as much as they do, but I still didn't really like it. I liked the characters a lot. Lucy especially is interesting, sort of a Paarthurnax or a The Dark Urge—I'm into a story about redeeming the irredeemable. The overall story is interesting, but there was just too much child nudity and torture, often mixed in a really uncomfortable way, for me to give it more than a 4/10.

    I throw no shade at anyone who likes this show. I'm in no position to judge. This just wasn't my cup of tea

    For the next show, I threw some dice, they landed on Slayers, but I don't feel like devoting two entire months to a show I don't really know anything about. So instead I'm watching Revolutionary Girl Utena. If you've seen Slayers, what did you think? Is it worth watching the entire series?

    1 vote
  13. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    Starman2112
    (edited )
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    I tend to rate every show I watch very highly. I like English dubs and I usually overlook flaws that others see, so for a little while I was worried that I simply don't have taste. I started Elfen...

    I tend to rate every show I watch very highly. I like English dubs and I usually overlook flaws that others see, so for a little while I was worried that I simply don't have taste.

    I started Elfen Lied the other day, and I'm happy to say that I do have taste, and this tastes bad. I'm only a few episodes in, so I can't make any real judgements yet, but so far this show just feels gross to watch. This is the first time I've seriously considered breaking my streak and leaving a show unfinished

    If the dog dies on-screen, this show gets a 3 at most

    Edit: I don't want to just complain, so I'm going to talk about another show me and my friends have been watching: Castlevania. Some would say it isn't anime, and I would ignore them. The first season is the weakest, but it still does a good job setting up the characters and the stakes in a way that later seasons are able to build on perfectly. Everyone in the show has a distinct personality that makes their character growth (or lack thereof) believable and meaningful. As I write this, it occurs to me that the vampires don't really grow or change at all throughout the series, which I'm choosing to interpret as a deliberate commentary on their species—long-lived, but stagnant, unable to adapt to the ever-evolving human race.

    You could write a whole essay about the differences between Hector and Isaac, how one betrays his principles and the other remains loyal, how the narrative punishes one and rewards the other, and how their experiences cause both of them to grow. I'm not an essayist, so the most I can do is gesture broadly at it and say "look at that! Isn't that neat?"

    2 votes
  14. Comment on DebunkBot in ~science

    Starman2112
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    Honestly, I think this had the opposite effect than was intended for me. Being made to restate and refine my position on the topic I picked only served to strengthen my (admittedly lightly held)...

    Honestly, I think this had the opposite effect than was intended for me. Being made to restate and refine my position on the topic I picked only served to strengthen my (admittedly lightly held) belief in it

    4 votes
  15. Comment on DebunkBot in ~science

    Starman2112
    (edited )
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    I tried discussing a relatively serious conspiracy theory with this bot, and it quickly became rather unfun when I realized it seems to be programmed to offer any alternative explanation for the...

    I tried discussing a relatively serious conspiracy theory with this bot, and it quickly became rather unfun when I realized it seems to be programmed to offer any alternative explanation for the theory you explained at the beginning. I wish I could go back and discuss something more fun with it. I'm going to try again with something less serious. Next time I try this, I'm going to discuss the secret life of the Thane of Whiterun with this bot. I'm pretty sure that guy works for the Dark Brotherhood and the Riften Thieves Guild...

    To assume that all these incidents point to the Thane being a member of the Dark Brotherhood or the Riften Thieves Guild requires a certain degree of speculation that goes beyond the evidence at hand.

    Talking to this machine about my suspicions of the Thane has really illuminated how it's programmed to cast doubt on literally anything you talk about with it. I'm going to have to think of something with harder evidence than "this guy walks around in Dark Brotherhood attire talking to the guards about Sithis all the time"

    Another neat interaction

    In one of my replies, I said that I get an uncanny feeling from the Thane—sometimes, when he looks at me, I see murder in his eyes. It's like in another life, he decided to kill me.

    The bot responded with

    And intriguingly, your reference to another life suggests an awareness of multiple potential realities or paths one could take. In the context of Skyrim, it's fitting—you might be aware of the 'Dragonborn's' ability to make different choices leading to vastly different outcomes. We could even think of it as a metaphor for how we perceive others: the momentary 'murderous look' could be an errant thought, a trick of the light, or a reflection of how we imagine they could be, as opposed to their true nature.

    This is an interesting bot. As obvious as its programming is, it really feels like a human is trying to gaslight me.

    6 votes
  16. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    Starman2112
    (edited )
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    R.O.D: Read Or Die was pretty fun. It made its way onto my list when I saw this fight somewhere a couple years ago, and only just got around to actually finding and watching it. It follows Yomiko...

    R.O.D: Read Or Die was pretty fun. It made its way onto my list when I saw this fight somewhere a couple years ago, and only just got around to actually finding and watching it. It follows Yomiko Readman, a substitute teacher who also works for the British government fighting supervillains. They have some evil plan or another, but more importantly, they stole her book.

    I love everything about this OVA. I love everything about almost every OVA, but this is my favorite one I've seen so far. 9/10, highly recommend if you're as into turn-of-the-century anime as I am.

    Also started R.O.D: The TV last week. It takes place a while after the OVA, with Yomiko Readman having been missing for four years. Explaining what the show is about would be hard, so I'm just gonna say it's a ton of fun to watch. Unless the last four episodes turn out awful, this one's getting a 9/10 as well.

    Edit: the last four episodes did not turn out awful! 10/10. I feel a unique adoration for this series. I have a hard time putting words to feelings, but it's an affection I haven't felt for a cast of characters to this degree before. I'm sad that this show is over.

    I feel like my ratings are too high. I enjoy what I watch too much. Can someone recommend an absolutely awful single season anime? I don't want anything offensive, I just want to remind myself that there are bad shows out there. The last time I saw an anime that I don't think fondly of was Banana Fish, over a year ago.

    2 votes
  17. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

  18. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    Starman2112
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    I've only seen around 60 shows, but I'm gonna try and think of what I consider "the good stuff." No spoilers, just compressing text to save space: Mushishi For Ghibli vibes, I'm gonna recommend...

    I've only seen around 60 shows, but I'm gonna try and think of what I consider "the good stuff." No spoilers, just compressing text to save space:

    Mushishi

    For Ghibli vibes, I'm gonna recommend Mushishi. One of a few shows I'll call a masterpiece. The pacing is slow and deliberate, and unlike a lot of slower shows, not a single frame is wasted. There isn't a single action sequence in it, so if you're looking for something exciting, it might not be the best fit.

    Ghost in the Shell

    For something more exciting and just as much a masterpiece, Ghost in the Shell. It changed the way I rate shows, because I can't rate something 10/10 if it doesn't stand up to GITS. The watch order might be intimidating because there are movies and TV shows that are unrelated to each other, but I recommend putting Standalone Complex as high on your watch list as possible.

    Steins;Gate

    Steins;Gate is a bit less heavy on the talking, though the show doesn't really "start" until you're 13 episodes in. Not that the first half of the show is bad, but it feels like it isn't really going anywhere until suddenly it's very clear that it's going somewhere.

    Cowboy Bebop

    Cowboy Bebop is your dad's favorite anime. Action, hot chicks, sci-fi, jazz. If you're into anything in this show, it's easy to tune out whatever you're not there for.

    Fullmetal Alchemist

    As far as shounen goes, Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most famous anime for a reason. The 2003 anime was an attempt at adapting the manga, but when they caught up to the manga, they decided to continue the show in its own direction. I really like where the 2003 anime went with the story, but the 2009 adaptation is much more faithful to the source material. Either way, both shows are good, highly recommend either or both.

    Gurren Lagann

    By all rights, I should hate Gurren Lagann; I don't often like shounen, I don't like excessive sexualization, I don't like shows where things just happen without explanation, but there's something about this show that brings out the kid in me. The only show where a character can scream the name of the super move they're doing and I'm shouting along with them. I'm a complete sucker for stories about the indomitable human spirit.

    From the New World

    Last recommendation, a show that merits much discussion: From the New World. It's the show that I've spent the most time thinking and talking about. What is a human? What makes someone human? Is it in their DNA? Their culture? Their appearance? I was still realizing more about the show and revising my opinions months after finishing it.

    4 votes
  19. Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime

    Starman2112
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    Ergo Proxy has been on my list since before I had a list. Another one whose name has existed in my mind since I was a kid, but I never got around to watching until now. It's a little bit of Ghost...

    Ergo Proxy has been on my list since before I had a list. Another one whose name has existed in my mind since I was a kid, but I never got around to watching until now. It's a little bit of Ghost in the Shell, mixed with a dash of Witch Hunter Robin, and a heaping helping of Wolf's Rain.

    I love a show that makes me think while I'm watching it. I really love a show that makes me think even when I'm not watching it. I like series that question the concept of personhood, and I love ones that assert that machines can have souls.

    The antitheist themes are interesting. A portrayal of "gods" that are cruel and vindictive, even more distressed by the things humans fear like mortality or lack of purpose, is fascinating.

    The show is very heavy on the discussion of raison d'etre, and the effects of a lack thereof. Humans, machines, and gods alike need a reason to exist, and being forced to exist without reason drives them mad. Only those who can provide a raison d'etre to themselves can survive without some external force bestowing meaning upon them.

    The end is confusing, I'm still not sure I understand the timeline of events, but I'm giving it a 9/10. It's no Ghost in the Shell, but it's up there.

    3 votes
  20. Comment on What we don't talk about in "Spec Ops The Line" in ~games

    Starman2112
    Link Parent
    The fact that it's forced on the player undercuts the common interpretation that the game is a criticism of players thoughtlessly pulling the trigger in video games, but I think it still supports...

    The fact that it's forced on the player undercuts the common interpretation that the game is a criticism of players thoughtlessly pulling the trigger in video games, but I think it still supports Geller's interpretation that it isn't so much a critique of war games, or the player, but of the real actions taking place in real life. In his words, the use of white phosphorus specifically (as opposed to regular bombs or nuclear weapons or napalm) in a game about killing civilians is a "very fucking deliberate choice."

    3 votes