TallUntidyGothGF's recent activity
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Comment on Authors of Tildes: How well do you know your own book when you publish? in ~creative
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Comment on A brief rundown of some of the flaws of the Cass review in ~lgbt
TallUntidyGothGF Link Parentthanks for clarifying, i don't think you bore any ill will. it can be really difficult to discuss these topics in a fair way. i think part of the reaction was probably that your initial framing of...thanks for clarifying, i don't think you bore any ill will. it can be really difficult to discuss these topics in a fair way. i think part of the reaction was probably that your initial framing of the report in your comment, noting its recommendations and justifications as something like 'generally correct' (I don't know, and can't look up, the wording!) came across as naive, both to the general societal context of the report, and more specifically to the previous discussion about it here (though it was linked to, and i remember you noted that most people here were against the ban on puberty blockers). this initial framing led to the discussion basically rehashing points that were discussed in detail in the previous discussion.
to start with, it's stressful to deal with conversations that target you as a subject, that point towards questioning your existence or cast aspersions on a class you are part of. on top of that, it's further stressful to have to repeatedly explain yourself with respect to basic misconceptions or constantly repeated talking points. you feel a duty to have to respond and dispel the misinformation that concerns you, and therefore exhaustion with doing it again and again. although it is not the case here, this kind of thing also forms components of intentional misinformation campaigns; gish gallop, bullshit asymmetry, concern trolling, etc. these are the reasons that even innocent naivety on these subjects can meet with relatively strong reactions from, well, the subjects.
i don't necessarily think that it should have been deleted, but for my part at least, i can just say that a) it didn't feel like a high quality thread, to see the conversation on the topic being restarted from an earlier, less nuanced point of view, and b) it's frankly scary to see (especially people here) taking the report and reporting around it relatively uncritically and at face value
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Comment on A brief rundown of some of the flaws of the Cass review in ~lgbt
TallUntidyGothGF (edited )LinkI have been staying mostly out of these discussions because they are just exhausting. But to provide some context on why yesterday's thread was likely deleted: someone pointed out beforehand that...I have been staying mostly out of these discussions because they are just exhausting. But to provide some context on why yesterday's thread was likely deleted: someone pointed out beforehand that it felt like a painful continuation of the previous discussion, which I agreed with. It felt to me like a 'here, look at this report, your arguments are wrong!,' with a reset to the beginning point of the previous discussion, even though the content of the review did not invalidate the arguments made in the previous thread - we already knew the substance of the review at this time anyway. It is like being hit with the same stick repeatedly while trying to stay calm and explain again and again why they are not justified in hitting you with a stick. I understand that probably wasn't the intent of the poster.
Anyway, I saw this article on The Guardian this morning. I don't agree with the Cass review about choices on puberty blockers and I'm not sure how much charity to give it and Cass over its other failings and implications. It really depends on a very blinkered good-faith reading that discounts the context of what it is being used to conceive. For example the consideration of holistic health, mental health, etc, sounds good, and correct, but in reality it would seem that the plan for the new centres has been to implement some form of 'gender exploration therapy,' developed by groups that strongly disagree with affirmative care, and which is therefore essentially conversion or 'desistance' therapy, of which a big component is to attempt to attribute other issues as the sole cause of the gender incongruence.
In any case, it's worth noting that the bulk of the report does decry failings that the patients and wider community agree strongly with. Quite an indictment of British media (and the NHS I guess) that it's primarily being treated as a vindication of the very worst views.
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Comment on How to succeed in a cramming-based academic system? in ~science
TallUntidyGothGF (edited )LinkI am a university academic who lectures, and this resonated with me because I felt very similar during my undergraduate degree, and continue to be surprised that the multiple hours of lecturing...I am a university academic who lectures, and this resonated with me because I felt very similar during my undergraduate degree, and continue to be surprised that the multiple hours of lecturing seems to work for most people (it does, seemingly). I will preface this by saying that this is just from my perspective as someone who felt similarly and then continued in academia, and was successful in it - it's also totally valid to quit and do something else if that's right for you.
Indeed, what you are describing is more what you would be expected at a Masters (by research) or PhD level - it should be led by curiosity and I believe it's closer to an apprenticeship than anything else. It's kind of cruelly ironic that the qualities and modes of learning that would serve you well (and make you a good addition to the academic profession), can be a filter at the undergraduate stages, where these are decidedly not the focus. They are also totally valid approaches to learning the subject in a general sense, but undergraduate study is not set up this way... Some of my colleagues had these problems too (while some others have very cram-friendly brains).
If you are interested in approaching later postgraduate research in the subject (and this probably applies for any practical purpose you perceive in the future for your degree), then you need to acknowledge the two functions of the degree study: a) the ground-laying construction of breadth and some depth of knowledge to be able to undertake that work and b) the necessary organisational hoops to jump i.e. getting the degree. You have already noticed that for you, the provisions for b do not always serve a, but unfortunately b is a necessity if you want to continue in the field.
Specifics on cramming: I found 1. It took the pressure off a bit to note that I don't need to be reaching top grades (edit: and also being strong in some modules you are very interested in will do a lot to cover for stuff you are less interested in via the overall grade weighting system - I barely got 40% in some modules I just could not find any love for, and these hardly counted), 2. memorisation techniques are helpful, 3. basing the cramming in genuine love for the subject and practical experience i was gaining out of interest alongside the degree, e.g. there are plenty online datasets that you can access and analyse for free. if you use a self-directed approach to learn the subject yourself by doing, the cramming won't be as difficult - like learning some vocabulary on top of what you already know. 4. as a fellow probable adhd brain I find that an interactive approach using an LLM can be good for learning new topics.
If you are interested in research, try to find a good advisor to give you a research project for your degree project in the third year and put your focus into this (I'm assuming you're in the UK because you mentioned secondary school), so long as you get a 2:1, "networking" and some experience is far more important than strong grades. Trying to take what you said is a competitive disadvantage in your current setting, and turning it to an advantage...
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Comment on Fedi Garden to instance admins: “Block Threads to remain listed” in ~tech
TallUntidyGothGF (edited )LinkA bit off topic, but I have been considering returning to some form of microblogging. Are there any recommended servers from Tildes folks? A lot of the tech ones seem fine, like tech.lgbt (which...A bit off topic, but I have been considering returning to some form of microblogging. Are there any recommended servers from Tildes folks? A lot of the tech ones seem fine, like tech.lgbt (which even covers two areas of interest), but I crave subject diversity. Fedi Garden gives me the same sensation as being trapped on a character create screen. Am I overthinking it on account of federation? Last I tried it many many years ago the federation was quite janky so there was still quite a bit of ‘home server advantage’
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Comment on There is no evidence that CBD products reduce chronic pain, and taking them is a waste of money and potentially harmful to health, new research finds in ~health
TallUntidyGothGF LinkMeanwhile the evidence for efficacy of cannabis products containing THC seems strong, and usually show better efficacy with greater ratio of THC to CBD. I think the principle that the medical...Meanwhile the evidence for efficacy of cannabis products containing THC seems strong, and usually show better efficacy with greater ratio of THC to CBD. I think the principle that the medical establishment is working under is that psychoactive = bad, but I suspect it turns out that for many indications the beneficial effects of cannabis are not entirely separable from its psychoactive effects. I think this is also true of opioids.
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
TallUntidyGothGF LinkThis weekend I'm going to climb the '7 peaks of Edinburgh' in one day as part of a birthday celebration. I'm skipping my usual long run this week to keep the extra capacity, though I don't think...This weekend I'm going to climb the '7 peaks of Edinburgh' in one day as part of a birthday celebration. I'm skipping my usual long run this week to keep the extra capacity, though I don't think it should be toooooo bad - Arthur's Seat is the highest hill and that's I think second in the list - actually I climbed that once a while ago with the kind of hangover that gets all over and inside your muscles and cardiac capacity, and it was well do-able if unpleasant (amazing views though). Hardest part is probably going to be waking up early and keeping pace; the hills themselves don't take too long to climb, but we're going to be walking between them, which is the majority of the projected time/distance. Also hoping for good weather but prepared for otherwise 🫠
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Comment on A pill to make exercise obsolete (2017) in ~health
TallUntidyGothGF LinkI can see the public health argument, but similar to considerations regarding the realisation of AGI (or even AI deployed to replace many functions that we enjoy and fulfil us, e.g. art), I start...I can see the public health argument, but similar to considerations regarding the realisation of AGI (or even AI deployed to replace many functions that we enjoy and fulfil us, e.g. art), I start to wonder - what is the point of being alive?
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Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
TallUntidyGothGF LinkMy last post here a few months ago was about how I was recovering from a knee injury and finally able to run again. Well I've been slowly increasing back up the weekly kilometre-age (that just...My last post here a few months ago was about how I was recovering from a knee injury and finally able to run again. Well I've been slowly increasing back up the weekly kilometre-age (that just doesn't roll off the keyboard, does it?), and it's been going well since then. I've been very careful to increase load slowly and do plenty of strengthening exercises so it doesn't happen agai. I'm not too far from where I was, but still at a reduced level of fitness...
Anyway, last Sunday my partner was away, so I decided to go for a long trail run to do my first half marathon distance run since The Injury. I picked a nice hiking route that goes out of my city across some right-of-way paths and then across a local RSPB reserve (bird sanctuary) - the weather had not been too bad though there had been a little rain in the last few days, so I thought, maybe there will be a little mud in places, but it will be fine. It was not fine. It was unexpectedly raining the entire time, and the whole trail starting from about 4km was basically SWAMP (perfect distance to start after getting my buy-in), and I ended up covered in mud up to my calves. I wasn't even wearing trail-running shoes, just my usual trainers! Some of it was next to unpassable. I'm honestly surprised I finished it. It was simultaneously terrible, comical, and great fun.
Since that day I've seen a lot about how the last 12 months in the UK have been especially rainy, and there are now a lot of problems with the ground being completely waterlogged in various areas.
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Comment on Children to no longer be prescribed puberty blockers, NHS England confirms in ~lgbt
TallUntidyGothGF Link ParentThanks for the offer, I would be happy to hear any thoughts you have on it, or on the subject in general. I work in the healthcare system in the UK and have quite some experience with the relevant...Thanks for the offer, I would be happy to hear any thoughts you have on it, or on the subject in general. I work in the healthcare system in the UK and have quite some experience with the relevant ethics processes - I don’t doubt it is legal and within what is made possible by current policy, and I don’t exclude the possibility that such a movement can ever be morally justified, I just think it is fundamentally morally wrong in this case.
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Comment on Children to no longer be prescribed puberty blockers, NHS England confirms in ~lgbt
TallUntidyGothGF (edited )LinkAs I mentioned in my response to the public consultation, I just don't see how forcing a vulnerable demographic to participate in research to access a standard treatment using a drug that is known...As I mentioned in my response to the public consultation, I just don't see how forcing a vulnerable demographic to participate in research to access a standard treatment using a drug that is known to be safe, is not a fundamental transgression of medical research ethics. For the love of God, it's right there in the Helsinki Declaration.
I also noted that the Cass review does not actually support or suggest repealing access to the drugs, only notes that more, and higher quality, evidence, must be collected, especially on long-term outcomes. This fact seems to be missing in many popular discussions of the matter. I agree that more evidence should be collected, however this can be approached without revoking the existing access to treatment, and indeed should be, considering the stakes, existing evidence in support of its use, and the lack of evidence indicating harm.
A deeply foolish and shameful intervention that makes even worse a system that is already comprehensively failing vulnerable children and adults alike.
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Comment on What makes you chew fire? in ~talk
TallUntidyGothGF (edited )Link Parentmy fun pet theory (that probably isn't totally true, but maybe has at least a grain of truth, and is fun to think about) is that he initially wrote Kvothe as a "mary sue" completely unironically,...my fun pet theory (that probably isn't totally true, but maybe has at least a grain of truth, and is fun to think about) is that he initially wrote Kvothe as a "mary sue" completely unironically, and ran with it when people read all this complexity, pastiche, and unreliable narrator stuff into it. now he doesn't know how to bring it together in a satisfying way, unfurling the inconsistencies and incongruencies in Kvothe's regaling, simply because they were never intended in that way - the inconsistencies were just genuinely bad writing and the character is genuinely intended the way he is presented. I flip-flop about it, some of it really seems like it's setting something up; some of it just seems like genuine cringe - e.g. the way women are perceived and written about. it's been a good while since I read the series so far.
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Comment on Varist - A Disco Descent into Darkness (2024) in ~music
TallUntidyGothGF LinkA really neat mix that I found. It starts as a disco mix and slowly descends into techno, with plenty of groovy and horror-themed Easter eggs on the way. It's really skilfully done. I have been...A really neat mix that I found. It starts as a disco mix and slowly descends into techno, with plenty of groovy and horror-themed Easter eggs on the way. It's really skilfully done. I have been enjoying quite a few Book Club live mixes recently, from this channel. They're also relatively chill to watch, especially compared to e.g. boiler room mixes, which often seem very claustrophobic and stressful - everyone getting up in the DJ's personal space.
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Varist - A Disco Descent into Darkness (2024)
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Comment on Research paper compares LLM responses based on politeness of requests and finds quality difference in ~tech
TallUntidyGothGF Link Parenthttps://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2402/2402.14531.pdf -
Comment on Shaun on Palestine in ~misc
TallUntidyGothGF Link ParentI think it’s v. fair to discuss in more depth what the sources referred to are saying. I guess it’s mainly that the whole thing seems to be predicated on intentionally not understanding that Shaun...I think it’s v. fair to discuss in more depth what the sources referred to are saying. I guess it’s mainly that the whole thing seems to be predicated on intentionally not understanding that Shaun is saying his opinion, how the evidence he referred to seems to him (and like I said, it still ‘seems’ that way to me too even after reading the BH article. Edit: which is presumably the process Shaun went through too).
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Comment on Shaun on Palestine in ~misc
TallUntidyGothGF (edited )Link ParentBy my reading, the crux of this is that Shaun was a little over eager in calling something (that does have a lot of supporting evidence) ‘obvious’ (edit: I think undoubtedly was the exact word)...By my reading, the crux of this is that Shaun was a little over eager in calling something (that does have a lot of supporting evidence) ‘obvious’ (edit: I think undoubtedly was the exact word) when in fact there is a lot of dispute (doubt) about it. Shaun’s ‘crime’ here, to me, is that he apparently did not make it clear enough that he was stating his opinion, how it seems to him, rather than necessarily stating a complete synthesis of the academic debate on the matter. He probably could have acknowledged that there was more diversity of thought on the matter and I do think in terms of argumentation forms like ‘obviously‘ or ‘undoubtedly’ are lazy shortcuts and can be used as argument by abuse rhetorical devices.
(Also: Given the evidence in the BH article I must say it ‘feels’ pretty obvious to me that it was a major influence, especially with respect the public support. I am by no means any kind of expert in this area though)
Further, the extent to which he even blurred that line depends on how the person receiving the video is interpreting it. YouTube essayists fall on some spectrum between entertainment and journalism, and I think in most cases taking it as a piece of academic literature is v. silly - whether that means swallowing it whole or applying the rigours of academic scholarship to it. I get that this kind of interpretation is most of badhistory and friends’ shtick. It can be interesting at times, but it often just comes across as pedantic inversion of charity principle played for haughty elitist laughs to me…
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Comment on Kagi Smallweb [a website where each visit shows a random indie/small website, e.g. personal blogs] in ~tech
TallUntidyGothGF (edited )LinkSmall web is great. I do wish there was a bit less of a focus on tech devops/management/investments stuff on there though. Like it’s not even that it’s tech stuff, it’s that it seems to be that...Small web is great. I do wish there was a bit less of a focus on tech devops/management/investments stuff on there though. Like it’s not even that it’s tech stuff, it’s that it seems to be that particular flavour of professional business (and maybe startup?) tech over represented. Maybe this is just my bias against finding that interesting though. For me it’s at its best for me when it recovers a travelogue, or some random thoughts on a subject I’m not super familiar with, new perspective on something I am interested in, a hobby or a special interest type site.
edit: it occurs to me that this is also part of why i much prefer tildes to HN
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Comment on A peer reviewed journal with nonsense AI images was just published in ~science
TallUntidyGothGF Link Parentyes, for sure, I was kind of going off on one - we should definitely be able to filter out alien script nonsense 😂yes, for sure, I was kind of going off on one - we should definitely be able to filter out alien script nonsense 😂
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Comment on A peer reviewed journal with nonsense AI images was just published in ~science
TallUntidyGothGF (edited )LinkNonsense papers and the like have been an issue in science for quite some time. See, for example, the Sokal Affair. Like with many threats from generative AI, it's not so much that it enables a...Nonsense papers and the like have been an issue in science for quite some time. See, for example, the Sokal Affair. Like with many threats from generative AI, it's not so much that it enables a harm, but that it vastly scales up the throughput and lowers the bar of access to it. In this way it is like some of the other issues surrounding potential harms discussed here recently, e.g. generation of election-related fraudulent content.
Particular to this setting, though, is peer review, and I think in this lies the particular harm potential of this use of generative AI - that the bullshit asymmetry ratio is much greater. To illustrate: I once had a paper to review - actually back in 2015 or so when I was a PhD student, so before the current round of generative models - that I (as well as my supervisor) was pretty sure was generated. It was a good fake, though, with the usual kind of veneer of making sense without really saying anything. It took quite a long time to 'review,' because I wanted to be absolutely sure it was generated, and it wasn't just that I didn't understand it. Part of this was down to my inexperience at the time, but there are very many really obliquely written 'honest,' papers out there. Imagine mistakenly suggesting to an editor that a paper you're reviewing was generated.
I think this is also exacerbated by research being increasingly specific and/or intersectional. A single peer reviewer is usually only able to critically evaluate one aspect of a paper (and maybe then perhaps not even being an exact match), and the rest is down to evaluating internal consistency etc. Finding a spread of reviewers that can cover every aspect of expertise in a paper can be very difficult. In discussions of these issues, people often seem to want to jump to blame the editors and peer reviewers for dereliction of duty, but ultimately these people are behaving with a large degree of expectation of good faith on behalf of the submitters. We aren't really expected or educated to go into it forensically, suspecting fraud at every turn. These issues are things I am becoming far more empathetic towards, having picked up multiple associate editor positions in the last year - it is difficult.
I will get very sick of the academic articles I write, and won't want to read them anymore. I won't ever read them when they're done, unless I'm looking something up. It becomes a little difficult towards the end of the process (which will invariably be countless hours), because I know the content so well that my brain starts to fill it in when I read it, instead of actually reading it, and so will become blind to some issues with grammar and clarity. There can also be issues with mismatches between how much I've thought about an aspect of the subject, and how much I've actually put into the document explaining those thoughts. I think these are two problems with the same cause: in which you spend so long with a document, the membrane between your mental model of the document and the document itself becomes permeable. It's then easy to miss that they're not entirely synchronised, and to forget that readers don't have your mental model of it available when they read it.