TMarkos's recent activity
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Comment on Chicago Sun-Times prints summer reading list full of fake books in ~tech
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Comment on Chicago Sun-Times prints summer reading list full of fake books in ~tech
TMarkos Link ParentOne of the better courses that I took in college was a class that charted the change in modes of human cognition based on the primary media of the time. When we were in lectures the professor made...One of the better courses that I took in college was a class that charted the change in modes of human cognition based on the primary media of the time. When we were in lectures the professor made four broad delineations: the verbal era, the literate era, the mass media era, and then finally the internet. The anecdote about Plato that you cited was one of the things we discussed about the transition from the verbal to the literate era, and how being able to store information externally disincentivized training the memory.
Each one of these transitions has come with advantages and drawbacks. In the literate era we were accustomed to reading and processing large amounts of rather dry text, with the caveat that the information was still relatively hard to access. The transition to mass media made the information much more accessible, at the cost of being much less in depth, and optimized for things like appeal over raw informational content. The internet in many ways exacerbated this trend. Yet I don't think I would say that society as a whole is less adept at exchanging information than it was prior to the Internet, quite the contrary.
I don't know that AI will prove to be a lasting trend in its current incarnation. It's very probable that like everything else we've adapted to, the form that it takes in its initial, nascent stages is very different from the one that it adopts once the technology reaches a more mature phase. I do think that the presence of AI in whatever form it takes will inevitably change the way that we interact with the process of looking for information and presenting information to others. It's a little early to despair now though, because what you're seeing isn't the end state, but the turbulence that accompanies the switch between two modes of interaction.
All that said, I do think that each era presents a somewhat unique aspect that can't be readily inferred simply by looking at the past. Even without AI we were at a uniquely dumb moment in mass discourse. It is probably unfortunate that we received the ability to create this discourse much faster and with less of a filter at precisely the point it would do the most harm to us.
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Comment on I don’t care whether you use ChatGPT to write in ~tech
TMarkos Link ParentIt's poorly worded, but I think his use of "preciousness" is intended as a jab at the notion that human-generated text is better in some fundamental way that stands independent of the merits of...It's poorly worded, but I think his use of "preciousness" is intended as a jab at the notion that human-generated text is better in some fundamental way that stands independent of the merits of the actual generated text, as though using AI to write is some sort of sacrilege - which sounds like extreme wording, but I don't think you'd have to go far to find people who more or less agree with the sentiment, especially if you also considered image-generating AIs as part of the conversation.
The last paragraph is just saying that those who care will know without disclaimers, and those who don't care will neither know nor care that AI was used regardless of disclaimers. His entire contention is that disclaimers about AI are performative, a purity test unrelated to the actual functional use of the text, and do not serve a purpose.
I'm not sure I agree. From a plagiarism/attribution standpoint alone, using externally sourced text is problematic without a citation. It also gives information on the sourcing of facts in the document - not that a human is perfect or without malice in that regard, but the errors an AI makes are different than those a human would commit or insert, so it's useful to know that.
I don't think the article is nonsensical or poorly done, but I do think it is useless in the same sense that he's deriding disclaimers for being - it's just performative in the other direction.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentRE: Red door You found the gate, singular? Because there's two of them, and one is more important than the other.RE: Red door
You found the gate, singular? Because there's two of them, and one is more important than the other. -
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentSome hints, sorted by spoilerificness: Mild hints Consider all the places you might find eight doors together. By Moraven, do you mean Mora Jai? There's not a realm called Moraven. A New Clue is...Some hints, sorted by spoilerificness:
Mild hints
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Consider all the places you might find eight doors together.
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By Moraven, do you mean Mora Jai? There's not a realm called Moraven.
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A New Clue is essential to progression. They tell you what to do in the book if you look closely enough. Even if you read it with a magnifying glass, I would recommend going back over once more and looking at every part because I still missed some little hints that would have helped until way afterwards.
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Consider if there are any turns you have not taken. It's so easy to walk past without looking...
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Think about what CASTLE means, in context.
Medium hints
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Have you explored all the interactions with the mail room? Some people have quite a lot to say, if you let them.
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Have you explored all the interactions with the shrine? Some of the blessings have some very out of the box uses.
Extra picante hints
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Have you found a red door that leads you back where you came from, but higher? If not, look carefully left and right when you're walking long distances underground.
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The CASTLE hint is two clues in one - the first, given completely, shows you how to access the second half, for which you must fill in the blanks. Consider other places you've seen letters that fit that mold.
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Comment on A spoiler free but brief critcism of Blue Prince reviews/recommendation to play in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentI had a moment of realization halfway through when I figured out that not only were the vast majority of documents useful in solving some puzzle or another, quite a few of them are necessary to...I had a moment of realization halfway through when I figured out that not only were the vast majority of documents useful in solving some puzzle or another, quite a few of them are necessary to solve multiple additional puzzles that I hadn't even come across yet. The amount of times I had to revisit something that I had previously written off as "complete", or found new meaning/detail in a room element I've walked past a dozen times, has made me paranoid about calling anything truly done.
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Comment on A spoiler free but brief critcism of Blue Prince reviews/recommendation to play in ~games
TMarkos LinkI do feel like they did themselves a disservice by pitching the game as "reach room 46" to an extent - I get why they wanted to pick a specific, achievable goal as the early focus but the more...I do feel like they did themselves a disservice by pitching the game as "reach room 46" to an extent - I get why they wanted to pick a specific, achievable goal as the early focus but the more I've played it the more I've come to view that piece as effectively an extended tutorial to introduce you to the broader game. People who weren't looking for the rest of the content may end up never finding it, assuming they just missed out on a few side achievements rather than the majority of the game which occurs after that point.
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Comment on A spoiler free but brief critcism of Blue Prince reviews/recommendation to play in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentRE: frustrating puzzles All of the puzzles have diegetic clues rather than being outside the narrative, usually with multiple layers of specificity. The hammer clue from the letter is an exact...RE: frustrating puzzles
All of the puzzles have diegetic clues rather than being outside the narrative, usually with multiple layers of specificity. The hammer clue from the letter is an exact reproduction of the drawing of the hammer and the vase in question in the pages of A New Clue, which is also given as a hint in the letter, and if you search out the first draft of ANC it specifically adds another note about the clue relating to the entrance hall.The sacred hour is in multiple places - one of the clocks in the tower is stopped on the correct time, and two clocks in Room 46 are likewise stuck at that time.
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Comment on Everyone is cheating their way through college in ~tech
TMarkos Link ParentProbably just unwilling to make a massively unpopular decision, both with students (who don't want to write those papers by hand) and professors (who don't want to read the handwriting of a...Probably just unwilling to make a massively unpopular decision, both with students (who don't want to write those papers by hand) and professors (who don't want to read the handwriting of a generation that largely isn't used to operating that way).
I had one professor in college that was all about handwritten essays, we did finals and midterms that way and ended up with massive hand cramps by the end; she was considered to be a hardass even by the standards of late-00s academia. Nowadays I imagine you'd have something closer to outright rebellion from the students, and milquetoast compromise from the administration leavened with nods to accessibility and their image as a modern institution.
I can see it working at small scales but so much of modern academic infrastructure is set up to operate digitally that it would be rough at any larger scale.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentAlso been having a lot of fun with this one. I did Room 46 fairly quickly, but am still dealing with all the other larger puzzles. Really does feel like there's a ton of things to investigate that...Also been having a lot of fun with this one. I did Room 46 fairly quickly, but am still dealing with all the other larger puzzles. Really does feel like there's a ton of things to investigate that I've barely scratched the surface of, and while the RNG can be painful there are strategies to mitigate it - hell, they give you a whole in-game book series on it. It's fun stuff.
Also +1 on Alzara, I love his hammy prognosticating.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentThere is an Industry skill (yellow) you can take that drops your fuel consumption by 25%, called Containment Procedures. The first skill, Bulk Transport, also ups your fuel capacity by 50%. You...There is an Industry skill (yellow) you can take that drops your fuel consumption by 25%, called Containment Procedures. The first skill, Bulk Transport, also ups your fuel capacity by 50%. You can also slap Efficiency Overhaul hullmods on the worst offenders to reduce their individual maintenance and fuel by 20%.
I feel your pain, though. I'm just transitioning to a primarily-capital fleet and I seriously need to improve my own tanker situation.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentI recommend getting familiar with the strategic commands. If you open map view in battle (tab) you can set targets to engage, points to rally or defend, etc. The Engage command basically sets a...I recommend getting familiar with the strategic commands. If you open map view in battle (tab) you can set targets to engage, points to rally or defend, etc.
- The Engage command basically sets a priority target for ships, and a good chunk of your fleet will be sure to engage it.
- The Eliminate command says "get this ship dead now." It's a good way to make your ships ignore their better judgment and bum rush the cornerstone of the enemy fleet, although they will take more damage like this. Useful if you're confident in superior firepower. It is the default action given when you highlight one of your ships and right click an enemy.
- The Escort command is useful to keep your big, slow ships out of trouble. Click on a frigate or destroyer and then right click on one of your cruisers/battleships to tell the first ship to stick by the big boy and support them against more nimble opponents.
I would recommend that you try piloting a range of ships. I tend to prefer something nimble with a strong alpha strike capability so that I can maneuver around the battle line and apply pressure where my ships are already making headway. Remember that each ship has a special ability (F) that is usually pretty useful!
Also remember that you can (and should) hire officers via the comms menu at ports. They will have personalities and skills that impact how they fly ships, and the good officers can double/triple the combat effectiveness of the ship you stick them in.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentLuka has the right idea with tankers - just getting a Dram or two is enough to keep a small fleet supplied pretty well, especially with the extra fuel tanks hullmod. Fill up around Sindrian Diktat...Luka has the right idea with tankers - just getting a Dram or two is enough to keep a small fleet supplied pretty well, especially with the extra fuel tanks hullmod. Fill up around Sindrian Diktat space, since they have a monopoly on fuel production. Later on, you can make it yourself (save any synchotron cores you find!) but that will break the monopoly and the Diktat will be commensurately annoyed.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TMarkos LinkPicked Starsector back up. It's an old game and far from my first playthrough, but there have been recent patches and the mod landscape always changes. Having a ton of fun with it thus far, the...Picked Starsector back up. It's an old game and far from my first playthrough, but there have been recent patches and the mod landscape always changes. Having a ton of fun with it thus far, the new content is pretty extensive.
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Comment on Should I stay with Kingdom Come: Deliverance? in ~games
TMarkos LinkSounds like you stumbled into the DLC quest from A Woman's Lot? That one is famously kind of long and not representative of normal gameplay. My advice is to play through the main quest until you...Sounds like you stumbled into the DLC quest from A Woman's Lot? That one is famously kind of long and not representative of normal gameplay. My advice is to play through the main quest until you unlock combat with Bernard, fight Bernard until he teaches you master strokes, and then go gallivanting around doing stuff.
Early combat is rough. Even at higher levels, combat against multiple enemies is not easy. My advice for evening the odds:
- Bows. Bows also suck early on but you can grab potions to temporarily loft your skill up until you get enough points in that you're not shooting like a palsied crackhead. Bows can help you take out enemies before they close into problematic range, and are an excellent vehicle for poisons.
- Head strikes. People say use a mace but honestly you can use whatever as long as you bop them in the head. There's a perk that gives you a 10% chance for head strikes to knock an enemy out and it procs more often than you'd think it should. Extremely useful.
- Poisons. I mentioned these before but they're an amazing force multiplier. It's not just damage - Dollmaker will lock your enemies into a walking pace and cripple their combat ability. You can dip arrows into them or slip them into a sleeping camp's wine/food.
- Tangent to all this, learn to read. Early levels go by faster with skillbooks, it's helpful for quest options, and it's a prerequisite for alchemy. You can find out where to go by asking around in Rattay.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TMarkos LinkI've been playing through Dark Deity II. It's a tactical battler in the vein of FF Tactics or Fire Emblem, with chunky pixel graphics supplemented by higher-quality artwork sprinkled in dialog and...I've been playing through Dark Deity II. It's a tactical battler in the vein of FF Tactics or Fire Emblem, with chunky pixel graphics supplemented by higher-quality artwork sprinkled in dialog and story scenes - and make no mistake, this is a game that really wants to tell you a story, with a surprisingly heavy serving of fully voice-acted dialog. The actual combat is fun and offers a lot of build options, with customizable classes, ability tweaks, weapons, weapon tweaks, stat rings, etc.
I'm 24 hours in currently and I think I'm midway? The story bit really does help to make the characters not feel like interchangeable stat blocks. Good clean fun.
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Comment on ‘The terror is real’: an appalled US tech industry is scared to criticize Elon Musk in ~tech
TMarkos LinkFrom the oft-quoted On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder:From the oft-quoted On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder:
Do not obey in advance.
Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.
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Comment on Starsector 0.98a released in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentStarsector is worth doing at least one vanilla playthrough, imo, just to get a baseline. The major mod that is in most installs is Nexerelin, which massively enhances faction AI and strategy. It's...Starsector is worth doing at least one vanilla playthrough, imo, just to get a baseline. The major mod that is in most installs is Nexerelin, which massively enhances faction AI and strategy. It's one of those mods that is basically vanilla for most people. Most of my playthroughs are just Nex plus various faction and ship mods to suit my fancy.
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Comment on Steam Spring Sale suggestions in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentWhoops, I got confused - probably due to the similarity in mechanics! This explains why MoM has grabbed me so thoroughly when I'm not actually super into most Klei games.Whoops, I got confused - probably due to the similarity in mechanics! This explains why MoM has grabbed me so thoroughly when I'm not actually super into most Klei games.
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Comment on Steam Spring Sale suggestions in ~games
TMarkos Link ParentI've been playing it the last couple of days and it gets a strong recommend from me, at least on early-mid gameplay. Very reminiscent of Oxygen Not Included from the same dev. Engaging mechanics,...I've been playing it the last couple of days and it gets a strong recommend from me, at least on early-mid gameplay. Very reminiscent of Oxygen Not Included from the same dev. Engaging mechanics, neat stuff to mess with, I'm very entertained.
Unfortunately that was more than fifteen years ago so I don't think I've got anything handy from the reading list, haha. I would recommend reading some Marshall McLuhan as an intro, though, he's foundational to the field and is rather famous for his assertion that "the medium is the message" - i.e. the mode of consumption is as important as the content. He writes a lot about the societal impacts of media and how the structure of our consumption influences our view of reality.