Thrabalen's recent activity
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Comment on US$ 30 million to reinvent the wheel (Bluesky vs. Mastodon) in ~tech
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Comment on I hate 2FA in ~tech
Thrabalen Link ParentRealistically, though, it won't be unless it's convenient. This thread shows that much. People don't like change (and 2FA is a big change), but they'll accept change, provided the overall work...Realistically, though, it won't be unless it's convenient. This thread shows that much. People don't like change (and 2FA is a big change), but they'll accept change, provided the overall work involved is similar. 2FA needs to get there, because that's what's stopping people from adhering, and it's the people who don't adhere that are the security risks.
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Comment on Facebook is censoring 404 Media stories about Facebook's censorship in ~tech
Thrabalen Link ParentNo worries, we're good. I guess I was a little sensitive about what I thought was a random funny getting dragged a bit. But hey, this is what I love about this place... we actually try to come to...No worries, we're good. I guess I was a little sensitive about what I thought was a random funny getting dragged a bit. But hey, this is what I love about this place... we actually try to come to a common ground.
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Comment on Facebook is censoring 404 Media stories about Facebook's censorship in ~tech
Thrabalen Link ParentAgain, I'm not. It's the same kind of amusement I get if I see a AAA truck getting fixed on the side of the road. They're absolutely entitled to subscription fees (and, in fact, such fees are...Again, I'm not. It's the same kind of amusement I get if I see a AAA truck getting fixed on the side of the road. They're absolutely entitled to subscription fees (and, in fact, such fees are often the only sure way to be profitable), the way it lined up just tickled my funny bone. No slight against them was intended.
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Comment on Facebook is censoring 404 Media stories about Facebook's censorship in ~tech
Thrabalen Link ParentI didn't say it was the same, at all. But it is funny to have it happen to this specific article.I didn't say it was the same, at all. But it is funny to have it happen to this specific article.
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Comment on Facebook is censoring 404 Media stories about Facebook's censorship in ~tech
Thrabalen Link ParentSo you're telling me that the article about Facebook blocking 404 stories about Facebook blocking... is being blocked by a subscribe wall. Sometime, irony abounds.So you're telling me that the article about Facebook blocking 404 stories about Facebook blocking... is being blocked by a subscribe wall. Sometime, irony abounds.
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Comment on AI and ethics - CP in ~talk
Thrabalen Link ParentWhile true that "child porn" is a horrible term, if we called it what it truly is, child rape, I think it would be perceived worse. But you're right in the "agree to disagree" department, I think.While true that "child porn" is a horrible term, if we called it what it truly is, child rape, I think it would be perceived worse. But you're right in the "agree to disagree" department, I think.
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Comment on AI and ethics - CP in ~talk
Thrabalen Link ParentThere's a lot of abuse in many industries, but the abuse isn't/shouldn't be the norm (even if widespread). I suppose my point is that abuse isn't part of the definition of the word, but it is with...There's a lot of abuse in many industries, but the abuse isn't/shouldn't be the norm (even if widespread). I suppose my point is that abuse isn't part of the definition of the word, but it is with CSAM. Mind you, I don't think we should relax on cracking down on abuse in other areas... any areas... where it occurs. But calling CSAM pornography, again IMO, lessens the perception of severity of the act. Pornography itself is a legitimate business market (much like clothing manufacture) despite the abuse (to continue the analogy, sweatshops), but involving minors is never legitimate.
I do agree, however, that we're never going to actually convince people to not use the term... my argument is almost entirely academic.
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Comment on AI and ethics - CP in ~talk
Thrabalen Link ParentI would actually argue the other way... calling CSAM pornography of any stripe implies that pornography can be non-consensual. While there can be non-consensual adult conduct, we have a word for...I would actually argue the other way... calling CSAM pornography of any stripe implies that pornography can be non-consensual. While there can be non-consensual adult conduct, we have a word for that, and it certainly isn't pornography (even if some would try to blanket the two together.)
That's not to say that there aren't those who try to pass off such recordings as pornography, but there are those who would try to pass off non-consensual adult conduct in general as sex, and that's a word which similarly does not apply IMO (sex should be reserved as a descriptor for consenting adults going in "eyes open.")
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Comment on What are some words or usage that became more prominent in 2024, either in your life or in general? in ~talk
Thrabalen Link ParentIt lasted for weeks, but it took only two days for it to wear out its welcome.It lasted for weeks, but it took only two days for it to wear out its welcome.
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Comment on What are some words or usage that became more prominent in 2024, either in your life or in general? in ~talk
Thrabalen Link ParentIt's not so much the campaign, but everybody seemed to jump on the bandwagon, and it diluted the effect so much. "I got fries at Wendy's, it was so weird."It's not so much the campaign, but everybody seemed to jump on the bandwagon, and it diluted the effect so much. "I got fries at Wendy's, it was so weird."
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Comment on What are some words or usage that became more prominent in 2024, either in your life or in general? in ~talk
Thrabalen LinkWeird. It was a great word, but during the Time of Strife (i.e., late October) it went from used, to overused, to ubiquitous, to meaningless in the span of 48 hours. I agree with the original...Weird. It was a great word, but during the Time of Strife (i.e., late October) it went from used, to overused, to ubiquitous, to meaningless in the span of 48 hours. I agree with the original sentiment of the way it was being used, but man... I think "weird" was used more than "the" was leading up to Stupor Tuesday.
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Comment on GOG reportedly suffering from staff turnover and poor management: “Current business model is likely running out of steam” in ~games
Thrabalen LinkThis hits me incredibly hard. I've been a fan of GoG since the beginning, and found it to be a welcome change from Steam (I still use Steam, but vastly prefer GoG.) I even bought BG3 from them two...This hits me incredibly hard. I've been a fan of GoG since the beginning, and found it to be a welcome change from Steam (I still use Steam, but vastly prefer GoG.) I even bought BG3 from them two days ago!
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Comment on Your partner asks for your phone, you refuse over privacy, they tell you they don't trust you. How do you respond? in ~talk
Thrabalen LinkI think the entire scenario is a doomed relationship. You can't have love without trust, and neither party trusts the other. They may be dating, but there's no "partnership" here. Now, if they're...I think the entire scenario is a doomed relationship. You can't have love without trust, and neither party trusts the other. They may be dating, but there's no "partnership" here. Now, if they're not serious yet, then maybe the trust isn't there, but honestly, the entire premise is very accusational.
As for what I'd say? Likely, "Either you trust me, and there's no need, because you know you won't find anything. Or you think I'm deceitful, and there's no need, because you know it would just confirm what you already know."
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Comment on James Webb Space Telescope finds stunning evidence for alternate theory of gravity in ~space
Thrabalen Link ParentIf I recall correctly, dark matter was very much a placeholder. It was a "solve for X" thing that just sort of stuck.If I recall correctly, dark matter was very much a placeholder. It was a "solve for X" thing that just sort of stuck.
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Comment on Where does your username come from? (Following up on last year's thread) in ~tildes
Thrabalen LinkI'm pretty sure I participated last year, but I love my handle, so here goes. Way back in the proto-internet, when access was not as widespread an a popular online (an American online service at...I'm pretty sure I participated last year, but I love my handle, so here goes.
Way back in the proto-internet, when access was not as widespread an a popular online (an American online service at that) service charged hourly for access, I was a user of said service. This service (which we'll call AOL because, well, it was) had various chat rooms, and one set of them were for roleplaying. The character I created for this purpose was a fantasy character with a surname I invented to sound vaguely European, very high fantasy, and quite unusual. Her surname was Smith... kidding, her surname was Thrabalen.
Seeing as how I made the name up, I grew fond of it, and used it for my online identity, and have been doing so for more than two decades. I don't think I'm going to stop anytime soon.
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Comment on How Bluesky, the rival of Elon Musk’s X, is seizing the moment in ~tech
Thrabalen LinkI stuck it out with Twitter until they banned free users from Tweetdeck, because the endlessly scrolling update was a hellscape for me. Only recently did I go to Bluesky (right at the election,...I stuck it out with Twitter until they banned free users from Tweetdeck, because the endlessly scrolling update was a hellscape for me. Only recently did I go to Bluesky (right at the election, but before it got suddenly massively plumped.) My take? It does remind me of older Twitter, but in a good nostalgic way. But also in a "not getting harassed" way. It's been incredibly friendly, and while I left Twitter over a year ago without looking back, I discovered again how much I missed the "buckshot of opinions" effect.
That is to say, I you used Twitter before Manchild acquired it, you know roughly how Bluesky works. If you never liked Twitter, you won't really like Bluesky (unless the toxicity is why you didn't like it, and I totally get that.)
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Comment on LGBTQ folks check-in thread - how're you all doing? in ~lgbt
Thrabalen LinkTreading water, mostly. Where I live used to be blue, but it reddened quite a bit. I'm waiting for crushing despair to hit, especially in the late night hours, but it surprisingly hasn't (as...Treading water, mostly. Where I live used to be blue, but it reddened quite a bit. I'm waiting for crushing despair to hit, especially in the late night hours, but it surprisingly hasn't (as someone who has grappled with insomnia due to invasive thoughts, this is welcome!)
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Comment on How Donald Trump won, and how Kamala Harris lost in ~society
Thrabalen Link ParentI wouldn't say it's uniquely American. The UK is having its own issues, just to name one example.I wouldn't say it's uniquely American. The UK is having its own issues, just to name one example.
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Comment on Character.AI faces US lawsuit after teen's suicide in ~tech
Thrabalen LinkAI chatbots are going to be an immensely interesting tool in our future, as soon as Artificial Intelligence is buoyed by Artificial Maturity and Artificial Responsibility. I'd love it if we also...AI chatbots are going to be an immensely interesting tool in our future, as soon as Artificial Intelligence is buoyed by Artificial Maturity and Artificial Responsibility.
I'd love it if we also worked on the natural versions of those eventually as well.
(It goes without saying that we've also got to remove the corruption and thievery elements from AI alongside those previously mentioned fixes.)
For me, the issue with the name Mastodon is it's an extinct creature. Not exactly the kind of thing that brings in crowds.